Good question I used to think, as we would drive past this blip on the map of Southern Arizona. Highway 191 is a route we often take in our journeys towards day trip adventures or delivering our papers, but I never thought that there was much to write about here, so we would drive on by glancing westward and noticing their quaint little boardwalk in front of businesses such a real estate offices, hardware stores and the cafe on the corner. But a phone call inquiring about my day trip articles with an offer to show us "what's to do in Sunsites" certainly brought a plethora of answers that I am delighted to share with you now.

   Peggy Brock had called and said, why not come and allow me to show you around and enjoy our small community and the spirit that keeps it strong. And I said, why not! So our adventure begins. She suggests that we plan on an overnight stay because she had an entire agenda ready for us to take in - her excitement was contagious. Arrangements were made for us to stay at the Shadow Mountain Motel just across the street from the hub of Sunsites, the Shadow Mountain Golf complex and that is where we met our great and enthusiastic tour guide. This newly built complex of 10 rooms is perfect for an overnight stay. Clean and spacious everything is thought of with a coffee maker, refrigerator and microwave oven provided.

   To orientate us with the golf complex, which is known as the hub of Sunsites, we walked across the way to the restaurant. The atmosphere was classic golf. Tables were put together, the bonds of a good golf score shared over a tasty sandwich or omelet and plans made for the next opportunity to share a morning on the golf course. I think it was my first glimpse at the community spirit shared in this small town on the east side of the Dragoon Mountains.

   After a very tasty lunch we were treated to a ride on the golf course. We saw Sunsites from the inside out, so to speak, as the golf course is certainly the core of this community. Greetings were shared as we coursed our way through the 18-hole facility, friends cheering on good strokes and commiserating the missed one. The course is rich with beauty from the ponds sharing space with the different waterfowl, duck and coots, to the far-reaching views of the mountains that are celebrated in this area. And not being a golfer certainly did not distract from the delightful tour of greens and fairways cultivated from the strength of this community.

   Adding to the character of this locale are two businesses that are a benefit to those whose goal is health. The Gym, as it is called, offers circuit training with hydraulic resistance equipment with plans for expanding into a facility to meet all your spa/fitness needs. And across the street is the Shangri-La Physical Therapy Center. This facilities offers a whole host of physical therapy modalities including ultra sound, electrical stimulation applications, meridian acupuncture and chiropractic services in a state of the art place to heal after a physical injury. A tour through both of these facilities highlighted the community spirit that runs deep in Sunsites, a community that supports health and fitness and the well-being of its family.

   After completing our tour of the golf complex we headed to "downtown" Sunsites. That quaint little boardwalk that I noticed each time we drove by was going to turn out to be the most delightful collection of shops and services starting off with our first stop - Sweet Treats. A few years ago we used to enjoy our visits out this way so much when we could count on a visit with Marcia, the goat soap lady in nearby Pearce. But after selling her recipe for that wonderful product and leaving her business we had lost track of her. I cannot tell you the delight I felt when, after entering this perfect treasure trove of tasty treats, I was greeted with a great big hug from my long lost friend Marcia. This is a definite must stop place on our route through the area now - a shop loaded with all the goodies of days gone by along with the scents and aromas of specialty candles nestled amongst a touch of nostalgia that fits with what one would expect in a perfectly delightful and delectable sweet shop. Sweet Treats carries 30 different varieties of black licorice, who knew there were that many!

   Also along this boardwalk in their downtown district we visited in The Paper Trail, a charming little place where faxes, copies and balloon gift baskets are just the beginning. The Paper Trail also offers many different crafts for sale all made by local artists. I also learned that this is the place for music and even voice lessons. There's more to this place than just paper, that's for sure!

   All you treasure hunters out there listen up. We found an incredible cache of such desirables in Sunsites. And as the saying goes, "one man's trash is another man's treasure," this place is rich with treasures. Don't let the name on the building fool you. John's Valley Appliance is much more than washers, dryers and refrigerators. A trip to Sunsites from now on will not be complete without a trip through the back rooms of John's place where treasures of all kinds can be found from Mexican imports to used books. Shelves upon shelves take up space in the back rooms of this old building. Shelves of kitchen gadgets, dishware, tools, lamps... the list could go on and on, but as every true treasure hunter knows, it's these out of the way places that can have some of the best used goods - one man's trash can certainly be someone's treasure so be sure and remember, there's more to this place than appliances.

   What's a small town without it's waterin' hole? T.J.'s Tavern is the place in Sunsites right on the boardwalk where "everyone knows your name." A great little place with a friendly atmosphere and I would tend to think that no one stays a stranger long here. Good food, pool tables and a pinball machine complete the picture in this tavern.

The local library was another stop on our tour. This unique rammed earth building, built mostly by volunteers, houses the other hub of Sunsites. Books, computers and periodicals fill this small building that opened in May of 1984 and has been servicing the community with free loan of books, audio books and videos ever since.

A full day's activities were topped off with a delicious meal at Nick's at Shadow Mountain. Nick is Nicholas McNamara who most recently was a chef at the popular Metropolitan Grill in Tucson. Nick along with his assistant chef Vanessa Gramaglia saw to it that our meal was perhaps one of the best we ever had. A complete menu from incredibly delicious burgers to hand cut steaks and perfectly prepared salmon awaits your visit and at a price that does not require a loan to enjoy a great meal out! Not only was the food exquisite, the atmosphere was relaxed and home-like with a touch of that wonderful community spirit.

After a good night's rest at the Shadow Mountain Motel we met up with Peggy and ventured out on our next adventure to the Strawbale Manor. This is the home of Charles and Thelma Tyler and one of Sunsites'unique bed and breakfasts. A bit out of the way, but well worth the trip, this splendid location is rich with scenic views, alive with wildlife and the perfect hideaway for those who want to get away from it all. Hikers, birders and golfers all enjoy this cozy home where you will be treated to their delectable home-made breakfast. Our journey brought us on a day when Charlie had made some apricot scones and served them with their own mesquite and prickly pear jellies and some luscious Arizona marmalade. After our morning meal we were treated to a sight I could never take for granted. It was just past 10:30 when we heard the call. The incredible call that only comes with the migrating sandhill cranes. Overhead there were cranes to numerous to count, all heading for the meal somewhere in the tilled up fields in this Sulphur Springs valley. These cranes are seasonal to our area and it was a real treat to be able to witness their splendor as they soared above us.

The seasonal migration of the sandhill cranes brings lots of people to this area, binoculars in hand, to the AEPCO Ponds located just east of the power station on highway 191. It's just a short drive on a gravel road to where a viewing station has been set up to witness the masses of these migratory birds that flock to this area and are known to spend part of their day here. This was probably one of the highlights of our time in this glorious section of our county. The views were incredible this entire trip. We were treated to the glorious views of the Dragoon Mountains and the Cochise Stronghold and in that panorama of majesty as we directed our eyes to the east we knew the Chiricahua Mountains loomed ahead where pillars of stone create a vision incomparable to any other. It was as if being in one of those paintings you see where far off in the distance the artist has put something your eye is drawn to focus in on and you know when you see it, the picture is complete. And what a completion to our journey it was through Sunsites when to our amazement we were treated with a view many have never seen before. A view so majestic you just pause and sigh and send thoughts of gratitude for the gift you just received. A gift I will never forget. This land is rich with soaring birds, hawks, falcons, and even golden eagles, all of which I am always drawn to in the sky or perched on a pole along the roadway, but this was a treat with unrivaled beauty. It was a bald eagle! Yes, my friends, even here in Cochise County, in our glorious desert and among the many forms of wildlife and birds, the symbol of the original people who called this place home, the emblem of our country, the bald eagle stood gracefully upon a fence post far off in the distance, content to wait and ponder the majesty of it all --- and I witnessed it all because of the invitation to visit Sunsites.

With gratitude for a wonderful visit to a community rich with people who care and scenery to melt your soul, Sunsites is truly more than just a golf destination; it is a destination for all kinds of activities shared with a spirit rich with friendship and pride for their neighborhood.

Information about Sunsites can be obtained at their visitor center located on the frontage road off of highway 191. Staffed by a wonderful group of volunteers, this center can be your starting point to get information while in Sunsites of what's to do. There is so much more than I have written about here to take in while staying in Sunsites. Just a hop skip and jump from Sunsites is the ghost town of Pearce, a must see while in this area. And following the Ghost Town Trail gets you to the remains of two towns, Courtland and Gleeson and the infamous Rattlesnake Crafts. There is also the Amerind Foundation Museum where artifacts from early American Indian history are on display and well worth the trip to see these. Don't miss the pistachio and pecan farms around where these delectable treats are available right from where they were grown. The Cochise Stronghold is a beautiful woodland area where the protective ramparts of granite domes and sheer cliffs served as a fortress for the Apache Chief Cochise and his people against the U.S. cavalry. Hiking, birding and camping all are part of fun you can have here. And as mentioned above, the Chiricahua National Monument is not far from here where its beauty rivals the Grand Canyon. For information about all of these Southern Arizona locations in one spot you can visit Tombstone Arizona Information. The Pearce/Sunsites Chamber of Commerce is also a good place for more information at www.pearcesunsiteschamber.org. And for information about the Shadow Mountain Golf Complex visit their website at www.shadowmountaingolfcourse.com. For information on Strawbale Manor B & B visit www.strawbalemanor.com.