Day Trip 1 itinerary
Day Trip Adventures in Casa Grande
Experience an exhilarating day in Casa Grande, hiking Casa Grande Mountain, exploring Main Street’s charm, immersing in history at the Museum of Casa Grande, savoring luxury at Francisco Grande Hotel, and enjoying entertainment at Ak-Chin Circle, all before the captivating glow of Casa Grande Neon Sign Park.
Casa Grande Mountain
If you like to kick-off the day with a walk (hike), you might want to start at Casa Grande Mountain, with two trailheads and trails in varying degrees of difficulty. At its highest point, the mountain reaches an elevation of 2,538 feet and provides unparalleled views of the surrounding mountain ranges and valley.
Since starting with the very first volunteer trail built in April 2010, Casa Grande Mountain is now home to more than 17 miles of established and marked trails. Be sure to take plenty of water and ample protection from the sun, even in the winter.
Main Street Casa Grande
Next, stroll through the award-winning Casa Grande Main Street – the historical downtown district of Casa Grande. It is the heart of Casa Grande’s hometown charm and offers some locally owned, unique restaurants whose delicious signature dishes will have you coming back for more.
To walk off your meals, we suggest you visit The Museum of Casa Grande, Casa Grande Valley Historical Society, housed in the remarkably unique rock “church” building that is the hallmark of historic Casa Grande. The museum is open from mid-September to mid-May each year. Programs and events sponsored by the Historical Society include school tours, speakers, presentations, re-enactments, special events, workshops, and outreach-education programs.
The Museum of Casa Grande holds more than 16,000 artifacts and over 22,000 archival photographs and documents which are available for research by appointment. Guided tours and field trips for youth, students, and adult groups are available by appointment.
Francisco Grande & Ak-Chin Circle Entertainment Center
The next stop is at the renowned Francisco Grande Hotel and Golf Resort where the Duke (John Wayne) hung his hat in Casa Grande and the San Francisco Giants held Spring Training for several years. Learn all about this resort’s very unique history and be sure to enjoy the resort’s elegant cuisine – it puts the Grand in Grande.
If you are ready for more evening entertainment, drive west from the Francisco Grande on SR 284 then turn north on SR 347 to the city of Maricopa, where you can explore Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, a uniquely designed destination where you can dine at one of the many excellent restaurants or try your luck at gaming. For more entertainment options, especially if you have a variety of age groups in your party, go right next door to the Ak-Chin Circle Entertainment Center, for fine dining or casual dining options and entertainment such as laser tag, bowling, a multiplex movie theater and much more.
Casa Grande Neon Sign Park
During the gorgeous Casa Grande evenings, a must-see is our newest attraction – the award-winning Casa Grande Neon Sign Park, 408 N. Sacaton St. in historic downtown. Stroll around this most original park populated by neon signs, plaques and pedestals from dusk to