What's There To Do in Yuma;
A Closer Look At This Amazing Destination
by Nancy Reid

  Yuma is home to the only National Heritage Area in the west. With a rich cultural heritage, desert beauty and the Colorado River, it is the ideal hub from which to visit Southern Arizona, Southern California and Mexico.
  The climate blends desert sunshine with the sun shining 90% of the time, with the cool waters of the Colorado River. Clean air with vistas of rugged mountains, mild winters, temperate summers, a variety of recreational activities, cultural events, lush golf courses, great shopping and dining, make it one of the fastest growing cities in the country.
  The first inhabitants of the area were the Quechans, Cocopahs and Mohaves who gathered along the banks of the Colorado River. They used the river as a focal point for farming and trade and the Yuma Crossing became a central point for all trade routes. At that time the wild and untamed river cut a deep path through the Grand Canyon, swiftly flowing south until the unique geological formation of two granite outcroppings channeled the river to just 400 yards-making Yuma Crossing the only safe place to cross.
  In the early 1800s Yuma was under Spanish and Mexican rule until it became a territorial possession of the Unites States. Fort Yuma was founded in 1949 and with it came steamboats from California traveling up the river from the Gulf of California. With gold being discovered in California in the mid 1800s, Yuma grew as the only viable southern route for those seeking riches.
  In the late 1800s the first railroad bridge was completed allowing, for the first time, trains to enter from the west. The highway system followed soon after and in 1915 the Ocean-to-Ocean Bridge was finished, linking San Francisco to New York. Thousands of people looking for a better life, migrated west through Yuma.
  Yuma has a history of brothels and saloons; the building of the Territorial Prison that housed some of the most notorious and dangerous criminals of those times; and attempts to tame the river; steamboats and railroading. With amazing engineering feats like the Yuma Siphon, Laguna Dam and The Yuma Project, agriculture flourished and forever changed the nature and make-up of Yuma.
  Yuma now finds itself the subject of a remarkable plan to "conserve, enhance and interpret the natural and cultural resources" of the Yuma Crossing Heritage Area. This program defines seven districts; the West Wetlands; East Wetlands; and Downtown Riverfront Districts that focus on Yuma’s riverfront and the Colorado River’s potential for environmental renewal, recreation and commercial redevelopment; while the Main Street, Brinley Avenue, Century Heights and Southern Pacific Yards focus on historic preservation, sustainable economic development and interpretation of Yuma’s fascinating heritage.

  West Wetlands: Reclaiming 110 acres of riverfront that for years had been a landfill and turning it into a park with recreational facilities and access to the river started in 2002. This area, with the help of government agencies, non-profit and civic organizations and individual volunteers, has turned into an ongoing creation of equestrian areas, walking paths, lakes, bird sanctuaries, hummingbird and butterfly gardens, and tree farms.
  Downtown Riverfront District: Where the Colorado River meets old Yuma, in the heart of downtown Yuma, the improvement of Gateway Park will ultimately serve as an interpretation point for all the historical crossings of Yuma. There are plans to house the City of Yuma’s Endurance Flight Plane which flew 110 non-stop days to highlight Yuma’s military history, in a new multi- agency Visitors Center; the historic City Hall will be converted into a Yuma Heritage Center; and the museum at the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historical Park will be upgraded.
  East Wetlands: This is a plan to restore 1400 acres of riverfront by re-opening natural river channels, eliminating non-native plant growth, and planting native cottonwoods and willows. Within five years, these forests will provide new habitat and recreational opportunities.
  Main Street: This traditional hub of commerce is being revitalized to include a "convertible street" which accommodates festivals or normal traffic as well as a historic facade restoration of downtown storefronts. The historic Hotel Del Sol will be restored as part of the development of a multi-modal transportation center.
  Brinley District: Restoration of the Molina Block, Yuma’s first "strip mall" that housed shops and unique items, cleverly located where people exiting the train could buy supplies while the train took on water, is part of this plan. The Rio Colorado Chapter of the Arizona Historical Society is headquartered here. This includes the newly restored Gandolfo Theatre, the center of live entertainment until the 1950s, once used as the USO during World War II; and the Ortiz House built in 1901, privately restored as a commercial venture.
  Century Heights: This district contains the largest intact grouping of early residential architectural styles including Queen Anne, Spanish Colonial Revival and Bungalow. The plans call for the enhancement, interpretation and re-habilitation of Orange Avenue to better mesh with this neighborhood of superb landscaping and eclectic mix of architectural styles.
  Southern Pacific: The former railyards, owned by Union Pacific Railroad, are destined to become a new residential development which is sensitive to the area’s history and within walking distance of downtown.

Theme Tours

Bird Watching: There is always an abundance of bird life due to the superb climate and the variety of natural habitat ranging from mountains to desert, to sand dunes to the Colorado River, and the Salton Sea. The area has lakes, rivers, marshes, washes, spillways and ponds to attract numerous species of waterfowl, waders and shorebirds; rocky outcrop areas attracting osprey, eagles, and falcons; agricultural fields attracting flycatchers, warblers, thrashers, kingfishers, egrets, ibis, owls and orioles; mudflats and salt cedar marshes attracting gulls, avocets, stilts, storks, terns and even flamingoes.

Historic Northend: Yuma offers tours that trace the path of the early explorers letting you experience the authentic conditions of those times. You can pan for gold in the Colorado River, visit petroglyphs, take part in a candlelight ghost walk through the most haunted town in Arizona or even tour with Yuma’s own "ghostbusters" equipped with sophisticated electronic equipment to test for paranormal activity. You take in Main Street, Brinley District and Century Heights and learn about the unique architecture and some of Yuma’s more colorful historical characters.
  Colorado River Excursions: Choose from jet boat, paddleboat, canoe, kayak, fishing or pontoon boat; you can discover the cool, scenic Colorado River bordered by the desert. History, bird watching, wildlife, old ranch sites, wetlands and more come alive on these tours that offer spectacular photographic opportunities.
  Desert Adventure Tours: Walk along historic trails and learn about native trees that line the banks of the river, how the Native Americans used seed pods, leaves and bark, or see the largest riparian restoration project on the lower Colorado River. Experience sunset in the Imperial Sand Dunes, visit the Old Plank Road, the Old Tumco Ghost Town and Gold Mine and Palm Canyon in the rugged Kofa National Wildlife Refuge while looking for Desert Bighorn Sheep.
  Native American & Hispanic Culture Tours: Spend an afternoon with tribal elders and learn the history of Native peoples in Historic Fort Yuma; visit the St. Thomas Mission, Yuma Crossing State Historic Park with its original adobe Depot, Century House Museum and Yuma Territorial Prison State Park; or just minutes away is Los Algodones, BC Mexico.
  Agriculture Tours: From lazer-guided ground leveling to harvest, Yuma offers a look at what the agricultural industry has become. Even make your own fruit cocktail tree, harvest lemons and visit several farms in the process of managing their crops.
  Military Tours: Relive 150 years of military history, visit Yuma Crossing Park, Fort Yuma, Yuma Proving Grounds, the Gandolfo Theater and the Heritage Center.
                            
Sunsets & Soirées: A Medieval Candlelight Banquet, A Night In Old Mexico, A Taste of Yuma, Gourmet European Cuisine complete with a string quartet, the Paradise Casino, comedy at Yuma Landing Restaurant, an evening with Mark Twain on the Colorado King I Paddleboat and more.

There is more than enough to do from sunrise to sunset in Yuma, no matter what your age or your area of interest.