Art & Entertainment
Amado Territory Ranch & Inn – This western-themed ranch features art galleries and studios, a charming Bed & Breakfast Inn, a Dinner Theatre, and special events throughout the year. The ideal location to host art events, art retreats, needlepoint and scrapbook retreats. For details – Click here.
Desert Diamond Casino: Sahuarita, AZ. Tel: (888) 332-9467 or (520) 294-7777

Southwest Fiber Festival: Premier fiber purveyors and artists, animal exhibits, fleece and fiber competitions, demonstrations, classes. Presented by the Southwest Fiber Arts Guild, and held annually in Amado, AZ. Read more about the Southwest Fiber Arts Festival.



Astronomy
A dark sky community, Amado is the ideal spot for star gazing, and is home to the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory.
Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory: Located at the base of Mt. Hopkins in the Santa Rita Mountains, just south of Tucson and just within the boundary of the Coronado National Forest, the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory Visitors Center features displays and exhibits on astronomy and astrophysics, natural science, and cultural history. For details – Click here.

Birding, Nature & Outdoor Recreation
Nestled in the Santa Cruz River Valley, Amado is a rural paradise for birdwatchers, nature-lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. Outdoor adventures include birding, wildlife viewing, bicycling, horse riding, golf, fishing and boating, hiking, and camping.

Amado Territory Ranch & Inn Year-round birding destination situated on 17 acres of lush riparian habitat, in the heart of Southern Arizona's migratory bird flyway. Close to birding areas Madera Canyon, Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, and Patagonia Lake State Park. For details – Click here.

Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge: Located between Amado and Arivaca, this preserve features over 118,000 acres of riparian and semi-desert habitat for threatened and endangered plants and animals, and is home to more than 325 bird species including the Masked Bobwhite Quail and the Gray Hawk. For details – Click here.

Madera Canyon: Just a few miles from Amado in Green Valley, Madera Canyon is a resting location for migrating bird species, boasts an extensive trail system of the Santa Rita Mountains, and sits at an elevation just over 5000 Feet. There are also camping and picnic facilities. For details – Click here.

Patagonia Lake State Park: Covering two and a half miles in length and 250 surface acres, Patagonia Lake is a popular birding area, boasting plenty of waterfowl. Located in Patagonia, the park is just a 30 minute drive southeast of Amado, and features picnic sites, camping and RV facilities, hiking trails, fishing and boating. For details – Click here.

Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve: A haven for birders with trails running along perennial streams, this Nature Conservancy Preserve is best known for the 300 bird species observed there. This preserve is located in Patagonia, just a 30 minute drive from Amado. For details – Click here.

Pena Blanca Lake and Recreation Area: Located south of Amado, this outdoor destinations features forty-nine acres of water for boating and fishing, hiking in grassy Oak tree dotted hills, birding, picnic and camping facilities. For details –Click here.

Sonoita Creek State Natural Area: Located in a transitional zone between the Sonoran Desert and the Chihuahuan Desert, Sonoita Creek State Natural Area features over 275 resident and migratory bird species, guided hikes, boat tours and special programs. The visitor center is located within Patagonia Lake State Park, just a 30 minute drive from Amado. For details – Click here.

Golf
Nestled in the Santa Cruz River Valley, Amado is surrounded by 10 golf courses located in the nearby communities of Tubac, Green Valley, Rio Rico and Nogales.

Robert Trent Jones Sr. Championship Golf Course: Located just south of Amado, the Esplendor Resort at Rio Rico features one of the few original Robert Trent Jones Senior designed golf courses remaining. Experience 18 magnificent holes beneath the shadows of the San Cayetano Mountains and amidst the beauty of the high Sonoran Desert. Consistently rated one of Arizona’s top public courses, the tree lined fairways play host to many large championship tournaments and locals who want to keep the course a Southern Arizona secret. The course is fair for all levels of experience, long off the tee but tee to green fairways, no forced desert carries as with so many of the newer desert courses. For details – Click here.

Canoa Hills Golf Club: 1401 West Calle Urbano, Green Valley. Tel: (520) 684-1880
Canoa Ranch Clubhouse LLC: 5800 S. Camino del Sol, Green Valley. Tel: (520) 393-1966
Country Club of Green Valley Inc.: 77 E. Paseo del Golf, Green Valley. Tel: (520) 625-8806
Desert Hills Golf Club: 2500 S, Circulo de Las Lomas, Green Valley. Tel: (520) 625-5090
Haven Golf, LLC: 110 N. Abrego Dr., Green Valley. Tel: (520) 625-4281
Kino Springs Golf Club: 187 Kino Springs Dr., Nogales. Tel: (520) 287-8701
Quail Creek Country Club: 1425 N. Quail View Loop, Green Valley. Tel: (520) 393-5802
San Ignacio Golf Club/Canoa Hills: 4201 S. Camino del Sol, Green Valley. Tel: (520) 648-3468
Tubac Golf Resort: 1-19 to Exit 40, 1 Otero Rd, Tubac. Tel: (520) 398-2211

Museums & Historic Attractions
Rich is history, Amado is surrounded by historic attractions including missions, museums, and historic parks. The area has also been used in the filming of many western movies, and was a popular destination for stars such as John Wayne.

ASARCO Mineral Discovery Center: Learn about copper and mining. Located just north of Amado, in Sahuarita, AZ. Tel: (520) 625-7513

Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail: In 1776, as Americans fought for their independence in the East, Spanish Captain Juan Bautista de Anza led almost 300 people over 1200 miles to settle Alta California. It was the first overland route established to connect New Spain with San Francisco. Walk in their footsteps from Nogales, Arizona to San Francisco, California; or take the Auto Tour Route. For details – Click here.

Pimeria Alta Historical Society: Located south of Amado, in Nogales, this museum features exhibits that include photos depicting early history of the Olde West and Mexico, and the area and the city of Nogales. It also features a library, family history and newspaper archives.136 North Grand Ave. Nogales, AZ,  85628. Tel: (520) 287-4621

San Xavier del Bac Mission: Known as ‘The White Dive of the Desert’, and completed in 1797, it stands in the San Xavier District of Tohono O'odham Nation, as one of the Sonoran Desert missions. San Xavier is still served by Franciscans, and still serves the Native community for which it was built. A museum including many artifacts of the church is attached. It is located about 20 minutes north of Amado, off of I-19. Tel: (520) 294-2624

The Titan Missile Museum: The only publicly accessible Titan II missile site in the nation. Located just north of Amado, in Sahuarita, AZ. Tel: (520) 625-7736

Tumacácori National Historic Park: Protecting three Spanish colonial mission ruins in southern Arizona: Tumacácori, Guevavi, and Calabazas, the adobe structures are on three sites, with a visitor center at Tumacácori. These missions are among more than twenty established in the Pimería Alta by Father Kino and other Jesuits, and later expanded upon by Franciscan missionaries. For details –Click here.

Tubac Presidio State Historic Park: Features the Old School House and Otero Community Hall which is on the National Register of Historic Places; a Museum; underground archaeology display; the Anza Trailhead; and a picnic area. For details – Click here.