I have a soft spot for Globe and Miami that most travel guides don't share. They are working copper-mining towns — not preserved-in-amber like Jerome, not gentrified into a Bisbee. People live and work here, the mines still run, the haul trucks still rumble through, and the historic downtowns still have their original 1900s brick storefronts because nobody had the budget to tear them down and put up something newer. It's the kind of town where the bartender remembers your name on the second visit and the museum docent will talk to you for 40 minutes if you let him.
What this means for you: prices are reasonable, the food is excellent, and Besh-Ba-Gowah, the partially reconstructed 700-year-old Salado pueblo on the edge of Globe, is one of the most under-visited archaeological sites in the state. Here's how I do a half-day, plus what to add if you want to make it a full one.
Besh-Ba-Gowah Archaeological Park — start here
Besh-Ba-Gowah is the reason to drive out, even before the food and the antiques. It's a partially reconstructed Salado pueblo on a low ridge about a mile from downtown Globe, and you walk through 200+ rooms at ground level. A few have been rebuilt with original-style log-and-mud ceilings so you can duck inside, climb a ladder up to a recreated second-story dwelling, and stand in a space that approximates how people actually lived here in the 1300s.
The on-site museum is small but punches well above its weight. Salado polychrome pottery, woven yucca sandals, the explanation of how the pueblo grew from a handful of rooms into a 200-room complex housing maybe 400 people. The ethnobotanical garden behind the museum quietly identifies every desert plant the Salado used — medicine, fiber, food, dye — and it's the kind of thing I now point out on every desert hike.
Admission is $5, the parking lot is rarely full, the whole visit takes about 90 minutes, and they're closed Mondays. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 9 AM to 4:30 PM. Plan accordingly — I've shown up on a Monday twice and felt very dumb both times.
Historic downtown Globe
Globe's downtown runs along Broad Street — about 8 blocks of preserved early-1900s brick buildings, antique shops, art galleries, and old hotels. It's flat, walkable, and almost never crowded. The Old Gila County Courthouse, now the Cobre Valley Center for the Arts, is the architectural standout — a 1906 building that still has the original courtroom upstairs and rotating local-artist exhibits downstairs. Admission is free and the volunteer at the front desk will give you a tour if you ask.
The Drift Inn Saloon dates to 1902 and is still pouring. The Pickle Barrel Trading Post is a sprawling antique store that swallows hours — three floors, no logical organization, and exactly the right kind of dusty. I have left there with a 1940s Pendleton blanket, a pair of mismatched silver spurs, and one time a working 1960s Pyrex casserole set, none of which I went in looking for.
Allow an hour to wander, two if antiques are your thing, and longer if it's a Saturday and the galleries are open late.
- Cobre Valley Center for the Arts (the historic 1906 courthouse, free)
- Drift Inn Saloon (1902, still operating, lunch counter in back)
- Pickle Barrel Trading Post (three floors of antiques, no logic)
- Bullion Plaza Cultural Center in Miami (small but excellent local museum)
- Old Dominion Mine Park (free, walking paths through preserved mining ruins)
Where to eat
Chalo's Casa Reynoso is the local Mexican institution and the actual reason a lot of Phoenicians drive out here for lunch. Family-run since 1969, the chile relleno is genuinely the best I've had east of the Valley — a real Anaheim chile, hand-battered, not the gluey egg-and-flour thing that passes for one in most places. Combo plates are generous, the salsa is excellent, and there is always a wait on weekends. Worth it.
For lunch in a hurry, Guayo's El Rey in Miami has been doing tacos and burritos the same way since 1938 — the carne asada burrito with their red chile is the move. For coffee and a sandwich in the morning, The Copper Hen in downtown Globe is the modern bright spot — local roasters, real breakfast plates, and a quiet patio.
Make it a loop with the Salt River Canyon
Globe sits at the southern end of the Salt River Canyon scenic drive on US-60. If you have a full day rather than a half, extend the trip north into the canyon for the views — about an hour of switchbacks, overlooks, and the dramatic 2,000-foot descent to the Salt River bridge. It's one of Arizona's most underrated scenic drives, and very few people do it because there's no major destination at the other end.
Combined with Besh-Ba-Gowah and lunch at Chalo's, the Globe-Miami plus Salt River Canyon loop is about 8 hours of total time including drives, and you'll see almost no out-of-state plates the whole day.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Globe Arizona from Phoenix?
About 90 miles, or 90 minutes via US-60 east. The drive is scenic from Superior onward, climbing through the Pinal Mountains.
What is there to do in Globe Arizona?
Besh-Ba-Gowah archaeological park, historic downtown Globe with antique shops and the old courthouse, and excellent classic Mexican food at Chalo's. Extend with the Salt River Canyon drive for a full day.
Are Globe and Miami the same town?
They're separate but adjacent — about 5 miles apart, often treated as one destination. Globe is larger; Miami is the smaller copper-mining sister with its own historic main street.
Is Globe safe for tourists?
Yes. The downtown and Besh-Ba-Gowah areas are quiet and welcoming. Standard small-town awareness applies — it's a working town, not a tourist zone, and that's most of the charm.
