We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Goff and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am from the small town of Oracle, AZ, which is where I currently live and work. I grew up on a working cattle ranch and was instilled with strong values surrounding nature, community, respect, and hard work. My love for nature and outdoor adventures was cultivated at a young age and has continued to play a major role in my life and the business that I run. If I am not at work, you can usually find me outside ‘oohing and aahing’ over the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. I was taught to respect and value the people in my life and this is something that I pride myself on today- my relationships and communities are everything to me. The lessons that I learned about hard work and never giving up as I watched my family work sun up to sun down ring truer to me now than ever before. I am proud to say that I am who I am today because of the way that I was raised.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Arizona Zipline Adventures is a place unlike any other in Southern Arizona. We offer a Zipline EcoTour through the Sonoran Desert that allows people to push themselves while getting to experience the local flora and fauna, Teambuilding activities for corporate, school, and organizational groups, Caving tours beneath the Catalina Mountains, and an Award-Winning Kitchen. We pride ourselves on creating lasting experiences for all our guests, whether they are coming to partake in one of our activities, dine at our restaurant or walk our hiking trails. We have gotten where we are today business-wise through patience, a willingness to try new things, and learning from our mistakes. We have faced many challenges, especially this year, but have always kept our community and our mission top of mind. We just had a nearby wildfire shut us down for over a week, but as soon as we were able to reopen, we did. If we can provide a space for people to see and learn about nature- at it’s best and worst, then we are going to do everything we can to make that happen. The one thing that I want people to know about our brand it is that everything that we do out here, we do with intention and heart. We love what we have created and love sharing it even more.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First, we would probably explore Oracle State Park. I would take them on the Arizona Trail and show them the native plants that I love. We would stop by Rancheros Carniceria in Mammoth and grill Carne Asada at my house while enjoying some Barrio Blondes from Barrio Brewing. The next day we would visit the Zipline and drive up the Control Road to Mount Lemmon. We would get out at Marshall’s Gulch and hike for a bit before getting a giant cookie from The Cookie Shack. We would drive down Catalina Highway and make our way back to Oracle. The following day, we would venture into Tucson. We would go to 4th Avenue and start with breakfast at the B Line Cafe. We would visit all of the fun shops there, and would make our way down to Congress Street and the MSA Annex, stopping at Maynard’s Market for an iced coffee along the way. We would drive out to the Sonoran Desert Museum and would finish the day with a sunset at Gate’s Pass. We would relax in Oracle the next day, visiting the Triangle L Ranch Sculpture Park, new community garden, and the 3C Ranch Bar. The last day of the trip we would drive to Catalina State Park and hike to Romero Pools, just to make sure that they know that there is *some* water in this desert of ours!   

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents, my siblings, and my partner Greg are the foundation of my support network and have encouraged me to push myself in every aspect of my life. They deserve a huge shoutout because I wouldn’t be where I am today without their love and encouragement.

Website: www.ziparizona.com
Instagram: @ziparizona
Facebook: @ziparizona
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/arizona-zipline-adventures-oracle