Just north of the town of Vail, Arizona there is a secret hidden in the heart of the mountain. Deep underground dwells a place of other-worldly architecture. Huge columns and draperies made of translucent white minerals decorate the rooms. It's all part of an ancient cave system so extensive they named it Colossal Cave.

Just north of the town of Vail, Arizona there is a secret hidden in the heart of the mountain. Deep underground dwells a place of other-worldly architecture. Huge columns and draperies made of translucent white minerals decorate the rooms. It's all part of an ancient cave system so extensive they named it Colossal Cave.

At times along this Amtrak route, the train comes very close to the border of Mexico. The influence of the Mexican culture is predominant along this route, and probably the biggest influence is in its regional foods.

At times along this Amtrak route, the train comes very close to the border of Mexico. The influence of the Mexican culture is predominant along this route, and probably the biggest influence is in its regional foods.

Images of stark, silhouetted buttes and vast expanses of desert, and of course the ever present Saguaro cactus, have filled the television and movie screens both here in the United States and abroad. You can still find working cowboys and cowgirls, as well as Native Americans on landscapes reminiscent of yesteryear.

Images of stark, silhouetted buttes and vast expanses of desert, and of course the ever present Saguaro cactus, have filled the television and movie screens both here in the United States and abroad. You can still find working cowboys and cowgirls, as well as Native Americans on landscapes reminiscent of yesteryear.

Fort Bowie now stands as a window into history. As a site of the National Park Service, Fort Bowie gives visitors a chance to visit this important historical rest-stop. The experience takes visitors on a path to view the Fort Bowie ruins, a Butterfield Stage Coach Station, and even the spring at Apache Pass.

Fort Bowie now stands as a window into history. As a site of the National Park Service, Fort Bowie gives visitors a chance to visit this important historical rest-stop. The experience takes visitors on a path to view the Fort Bowie ruins, a Butterfield Stage Coach Station, and even the spring at Apache Pass.

In the southeast corner of Arizona, volcanic peaks tower above the surrounding desert grasslands. The Apaches called this isolated mountain range the land of standing-up rocks. Today scientists consider the Chiricahua Mountains a sky island of immense biological diversity.

In the southeast corner of Arizona, volcanic peaks tower above the surrounding desert grasslands. The Apaches called this isolated mountain range the land of standing-up rocks. Today scientists consider the Chiricahua Mountains a sky island of immense biological diversity.