Yuma

It turns out there are a cornucopia of reasons to stop in Yuma beyond refueling your rig and taking a potty pit stop on the way to San Diego. Yuma County, the nation's supplier of winter lettuce, greens and vegetables is promoting agritourism to give visitors a fresh taste of its bounty.

Foodies can take farm tours, pick vegetables and then enjoy a farm-to-table lunch prepared with the vegetables they picked by culinary students at Arizona Western College. There's also "date night in a date grove" and tours of area date farms.

Yuma boasts that its the sunniest place on the planet, which is a good reason to visit in the winter, spring or fall  when the rays feel warm but not hot on your skin.

Other area attractions include the Castle Dome Mining Museum and ghost town,  Yuma Territorial Prison and Yuma Quartermaster Depot state historic parks. Visitors to the Yuma Proving Ground  can take a tour to witness firing of some of the military's big guns.

And for a quieter exprience, Yuma has restored its riverfront along the Colorado with bike and walking trails and a revived wetlands area that attracts hundreds of bird species.

The river crossing is the historic reasons for the town's existence. The landmark Ocean-to-Ocean Highway Bridge, completed in 1915, was a vital crossing of the Colorado River. Visit the city's Gateway Park at the foot of the bridge to see the river and the wildlife it attracts.

There's another historic span, the McPhaul Bridge, about 5 miles north of Yuma on US 95. It's an 800-foot suspension bridge built over the Gila River in 1929 and used for nearly 40 years before it was replaced. 

Travelers can rent a bicycle at the Quartermaster Depot park to ride bike paths along the river and explore downtown Yuma.

Yuma's Main Street is lively on weekends with its brew pubs, galleries, restaurants and taverns.

There are a number of bars and restaurants in early 20th century buildings in downtown Yuma. Try the Main Squeeze Custom Winery for salads and sandwiches with wine.  Grab a burger and play pool at Lute's Casino, try the beer at the Prison Hill Brewing Co. or drink with the locals at Red's Bird Cage Saloon.  
​And it goes without saying that you have to pack your sense of Yuma when you visit.

Founded: 1854         
Elevation: 138  
​Population:96,522

Visitors can dip their toes in the Colorado River at Gateway Park, which has views of two historic bridges and the arching Interstate 8 bridge from the 1970s.

Yuma's Main Street is pedestrian friendly and has available free parking.

The art-deco San Carlos Hotel, built in 1930, provides elderly housing.