Location: Yuma
Top Things to do in Yuma
- 1. Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park
- 2. Castle Dome Mines Museum & Ghost Town
- 3. Martha's Gardens Medjool Date Farm
- 4. Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park
- 5. Yuma Proving Ground Heritage Center
- 6. Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area
- 7. Gateway Park
- 8. Yuma Visitor Information Center
- 9. Imperial National Wildlife Refuge
- 10. Yuma East Wetlands
10 Things to Do in Yuma That You Shouldn't Miss
Once a busy river port sending military supplies shipped from California to forts and camps in the Southwest to fight the Apache wars, today Yuma is a winter retreat for thousands of visitors craving its warm, dry and sunny climate. With warm weather comes golf, and the city has several excellent courses. Bird watchers will enjoy the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, which is rich in migratory bird life and also offers hiking, fishing and boating facilities. For a step back in time to the days of frontier justice, visit the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, whose prison dates back to 1876, or the Yuma Crossing State Historic Park, for a walk through restored historic buildings. If these sites whet your appetite for more pioneer lore, check out the Century House Museum, which is chock full of pioneer artifacts and exhibits. And, speaking of appetite, be sure to stop for burgers and fries at Lutes Casino, Arizona's oldest pool hall, where old movie memorabilia graces the walls.
Restaurants in Yuma
1. Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Only remnants remain of this historic prison built in 1876, where you can see photographs of some of the prisoners who served time here over its 33 years of operation and get a feel for frontier justice.
Reviewed By DonHalazon - Seattle
Even if you don't go in check out the area outside the prison for some great history information! Check out all the famous people that spent a lot of years locked up!
2. Castle Dome Mines Museum & Ghost Town
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 339 reviews
Please call for reservations during the warmer months "What you will see here is a remnant town which stood larger than Yuma in 1878. Her weather beaten buildings remain great day trip in the lower Colorado river in an area little changed from the 1800's. The mills stand silent, housing original boiler, stamp mill, and elevator, as if tomorrow they will awaken to the thunderous roar of steel crushing rock. The boardwalks still creak, the church bell rings out, the five saloons just await the story of their last shootout. Over 50 building in 3 areas are now open, with more history being added. April 15 through September you will need to call for hours. October 1st through April 30th we are open 7 days a week.
Reviewed By Jim T - Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Can't believe how rude the owners are, no need for that, and calling us cheap a## Canadians is a little much, then telling us we can't take a picture without his permission,,that's the icing on the cake, to heck with that place !! After travelling down a very bad road we had to use the restrooms and were told we weren't allowed till we were a paying customer, you think we drove all that way for nothing, to be told we were cheap Canadian's and to go back home where we came from !! Will never recommend that trip to anybody !!
3. Martha's Gardens Medjool Date Farm
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 267 reviews
Reviewed By Kirk W - Yuma, Arizona
Nice area to sit out and eat your ice cream. Lots of date purchasing options. Staff was uninterested but were not rude and finished their tasks at an adequate speed. The famous Date Shake.... ice cream with dates added. It was ok. But, i am a 400 pound man and I didn't finish mine, if that is any clue.
4. Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 178 reviews
Once a major military supply point, this site contains the quartermaster depot and officers' quarters as well as restored historic buildings commemorating five centuries of transportation across the Colorado River.
Reviewed By MR2-Kermit - Blairsville, Georgia
Very interesting history and the importance of Yuma to the growth of the southwest prior to the building of dams is shown at the quartermaster depot. Never realized how important Yuma was to the growth of the southwest until this visit. Also, while there are many benefits to dams, it also showed how an area that was the transportation hub for the area changed due to trains and dams. A very interesting historical place for those interested in the old west.
5. Yuma Proving Ground Heritage Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 75 reviews
We are the Museum Activity and Heritage Center for the United States Army Yuma Proving Ground. The most common comment we hear from our guests is that they had no idea. They had no idea such a nice museum was out here and they had no idea how much the Yuma Proving Ground has done over the years. We are located in Building 2 on the Colonel George Howard Cantonment area within YPG. This is a 14,000 square foot facility that covers our history from General George Patton's WWII training area known as the Desert Training Center to the present. Located in the former Post Headquarters building, we have fourteen exhibit galleries with a wide variety of information presented in many different formats. A small theater shows a 27 minute film about YPG and two of our galleries are commemorations of 9-11 and the 50th Commemoration of the War in Vietnam. There are security requirements to get on post, so stop by the visitor control center on Imperial Dam Road before coming on post. They will want to see your Drivers License, the Registration for your vehicle along with proof of insurance. If you visit on a Friday, the VSS is closes, so have the Security guard at the Howard Access Control Point check these items and issue your visitor pass. There are places to eat here as well. I look forward to seeing you out here.
Reviewed By hawtway - Alberta
We spent three hours reading about the weapons, tanks, vehicles tested at the Yuma Proving Ground. There were also videos playing historical events like Pearl Harbor, the WWII Halocost, Japanese unconditional surrender, testing portable bridges, navigating deep mud, water, snow, rough terrain etc.
6. Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 66 reviews
Reviewed By BethanyLeah - Wylie
The Colorado River, once called “the Nile of America” was a major barrier to those crossing the nation. Here at Yuma the river pinched just enough that a ferry could operate and, at the same time, the river was deep enough to maintain a port to support shipping by boat up from a branch of the Pacific Ocean (the Sea of Cortez). For decades, Yuma was a major transportation center, with a crossing so important that the United States built a fort here to protect it. To find out what happened to the Colorado and the port of Yuma, stop at the Visitors Center and watch the beautiful and poignant film “Chasing Water”, an award-winning film produced by National Geographic photographer Peter McBride. McBride grew up on a Colorado cattle ranch which depended upon water drawn from the Colorado and wrote a book of his 1,450-mile journey down the river in 2008.
7. Gateway Park
Overall Ratings
4 based on 66 reviews
Reviewed By Sue M - yuma, United States
This is a delightful area to enjoy a river walk, bicycle, rest in the shade or have a picnic. It is well utilized by locals and tourists. Situated below the Ocean to Ocean Bridge, near Old Town Yuma, the Visitors Center and several major hotels it's definitely a place to see. Also ideal for cooling off in the river or entertaining the dog. During the year it's the location for a variety of events and a Veterans Day military celebration. Gateway Park is just one of many great places in the Yuma Parks & Recreation Dept. collection.
8. Yuma Visitor Information Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 39 reviews
The official information center of Visit Yuma, located at Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park. Get information about all the exciting and interesting things to do and see in Yuma, Arizona — the sunniest city on Earth! Share your experiences with us by posting your photos on social media with #YumanNature. For more information about our area, visit our website or call to speak directly with our information specialists.
Reviewed By kanbaatar - Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
The Yuma Visitor Information Center, located at 201 N. 4th Ave, here in Yuma, Arizona, is OUTSTANDING. The amount of information available staggers the imagination. Racks and racks (I will show you in photos) of informative hand-outs. Exceptional employees (or are they volunteers) willing to...MoreThank you for your feedback. Our knowledgeable and friendly staff work hard to provide the high level of service you experienced. Yuma is a great place to explore and we have new and exciting changes every year. Please come visit again. Thanks again!
9. Imperial National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 46 reviews
Stretching 30 miles along the Colorado River, and encompassing desert and wetlands, this site has plentiful plant and animal life and is a great place for bird watching, hiking, boating and fishing.
Reviewed By jstauf51 - Oregon
I really enjoyed the drive! The variety of terrain was interesting - water, volcanic rocks, sand, white rocks, and higher sharp hills (maybe mountains if you haven't lived near the Rockies!). My camera was happy - lots of landscape photography available. My ONLY complaint was the lack of visible wildlife. I've been searching for the wild donkeys - have made 5 or 6 trips into the desert where they are purported to be . . . and all I have seen is their digestive leavings - i.e. poop! One of these days.
10. Yuma East Wetlands
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