Tucson Tourism Introduction

My visitor recommendations for Tucson

From a resident & tourist since 1967

Here's the Google Map with all these locations: 

 https://drive.google.com/open?id=1DuoRLTFbDlh2TvgCHZrxy5rYoxQ&usp=sharing 

* - (my opinionated perspective ;) 

Tucson is a unique hybrid between a true Western town and a small city.  Less than an hour from Mexico and 90 minutes from Phoenix, it's beautiful, historic and home to the University of Arizona (Bear Down!).  Most tourists find Scottsdale easier to navigate, unless they truly discover Tucson... with exceptional sights and great activities layered on a more spectacular, more natural Westernlandscape.

Tucson is 2400' above sea level, surrounded by mountains; some over 9000 feet high. It's a bit cooler than the Phoenix area with mountain views from literally every place you stand.  Whether in town or in the hills, Tucson boasts breathtaking vistas both day and night. 

What to do in Tucson?  Relax, explore, pamper, eat and discover. 

Where to stay?  There are six exceptional, large resorts (Westin, Loews, Marriot, Hilton, Wyndham and Omni) that offer everything you could want in a resort; all nestled in the desert foothills.  Four additional, world-class luxury properties offer incredible, unique experiences: The Arizona Inn, the original Canyon Ranch, Miraval Spa and the Tanque Verde Guest Ranch.  And there's a ton of hotels in and near town. 
* - Resort - I prefer Loews Ventana Canyon; nestled at the edge of the mountain for it's beauty and golf.  It's 25 minutes from U of A. Need to be closer?  Westin La Paloma and Marriott Starr Pass are about 10-15 minutes away. Westward lok=ok may have a bargain rate. 
* - Other - I prefer the Arizona Inn for its truly unique beauty, charm and history.  Tanque Verde Ranch is a horse-centric property and the other two are famous spas. My favorite sleeper bargain?  Lodge On The Desert has huge, boutique rooms in an upper-scale property and rates are occasionally a surprise.

The Cuisine?  Tucson offers endless exploration of Mexican & western restaurants with old school famous spots like Lil' Abners (think 32oz Mesquite steaks) and Mi Nidito (Mexican) (two presidents ate there).  But recent years have brought scores of exceptional restaurants that blend culinary excellence with southwest touches.
* - Go West(ern) young man! -  Lil' Abners is simply a must.... Best steak you'll have in an authentic setting. For Mexican?  Again go for authentic with Mi Nidito or an inch upscale with El Charro downtown.  Pinnacle Peak in an in-town western setting is great for families. Lots of great, less authentic restaurants on the list as well.

Sights?  Where to begin.... Historically great spots include: 

• Old Tucson, the working western movie set (over 400 movies etc filmed there) and theme park that entertains adults and kids. 
• * The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a world famous zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, natural history museum, and art gallery spread over 21 desert acres. 
• * Sabino Canyon offers incredible hiking, biking and strolling through miles of canyon waterfalls (bring a camera). 
• The spectacular Sonoran Desert with its towering Saguaro cactus is easy experience. You can walk or drive through with Saguaro National Parks on both the East and West side of town. 
• Two, great cave experiences are worth exploring: Colossal Cave, with hourly tours of it's massive stalactite/and stalagmite formations was opened in the 30's. It's great for families, and easy to combine with horseback riding next door. Kartchner Caverns, developed just 20 years ago was voted "Best Arizona Attraction" and Best Cave Tour in the US by USA today. 
• Gates Pass is a Tucson tradition like the sunset celebration in Key West. Located on the edge of a mountain pass on the town's west side. Bring wine, cheese and binoculars to enjoy a 60-mile (!) desert sunset vista.
• Mt. Lemmon. 26 winding road miles from town and 9000 feet high, go from desert to a town nestled in pine forest in just an hour, with skiing in the winter (Mt. Lemmon the the southernmost ski area in the US). The road up winds through the gorgeous Catalina Mountains in the Coronado National Forest.
• Kitt Peak National Observatory boasts a 7,000 foot high observatory telescope and visitor center, with daytime astronomy tours and nighttime stargazing.
• Davis Monthan Air Base Boneyard  is home to 4,500 aircraft (planes, jets, helicopters, and space shuttles) sitting on a tarmac and maintained for parts. Aviation fans should also see the Pima Air Museum.  Pinal Airpark is unique as a famous resting ground for commercial aircraft, but harder to get in to.
• Biosphere II, just north of town is famous for its fascinating treasure of science history.  If you aren't familiar with Biosphere's scientific and political/controversy, 5 minutes of online reading will ensure a visit.  

* - Get your Western on, with a trip to Old Tucson if you have kids, or the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum; a desert "zoo" famous worldwide.  Gates Pass is a lovely short trip at sunset with a view like no other... A visit to Colossal Cave is a natural wonder, professionally-guided with depression-era CCC history. Sabino Canyon equally thrills visitors and locals. It's 5 million years old but the tram has been ferrying guests up the canyon since 1978.

• More and In-Town...  Tucson's downtown Presidio and Barrio Historico is a offers history, culture and color.  Reid Park offers a great zoo, lakes and exceptional park for young and old near town. Tour U of A - one of the prettiest university campuses in the West.  The stunning 330 year old *San Javier Mission rivals the great missions of California in its Spanish architecture and detail.  Close but not too close to San Javier is the Casino del Sol Resort and Casino.  Tucson's downtown has been revitalized in award-winning fashion. Near the Hotel Congress where John Dillinger was famously captured, it's a great walking/eating experience much like a smaller Austin or Nashville. The intersection of Congress and Scott is the center. Before the downtown re-do?   The great, eclectic street-walk was and still is *Historic 4th Avenue. Near campus, it's all about vintage clothing, eclectic eats and crafts.

* - San Javier Mission is captivating and only 15-20 minutes from town.  A stroll through the University or 4th Avenue each satisfies different senses and tastes. 

Activities? For those that want to break a sweat or get out the GoPro, Tucson has no lack of options:

• Tucson Golf is truly excellent, with Ventana Canyon and Tucson National among about a dozen resort courses surrounding the city.
• *Hikes... Sabino Canyon is the famous one, but there's more... Tucson must have 100 trails easily accessible to tourists. Many start on the edge of town, taking you through cactus-rich trails and ascending into different layers of wildlife and vegetation, and each with a breathtaking view of the city, hills and canyons. Chiva Falls and Seven Falls are ambitious but marvelous hikes.  The road to Mt. Lemmon may have 100 hikes of its own, and the higher elevations are distinctly different with pine forest and lakes. Camping areas in the park are endless, and of course you can ski there in the winter. 
• Tucson is my favorite place to ride horses.  Stables surround the town, and nothing beats an off-trail ride through desert hills and canyons.  The landscape makes it; up close and personal to the area's famous saguaro, prickly pear and cholla cacti, along with mesquite and palo verde trees. Don't mind the roadrunners jackrabbits, harmless bobcats, lizards and an occasional Javelina boar on the trail.
• Hot Air Balloon rides are plentiful west and north of town, many in nearby Avra Valley.  Skydiving is also plentiful in that area north of town.
• Mexico is less than an hour away and the town of Nogales has fun shopping and is safe.  On the way there be sure to visit the Titan II Missile Silo Museum,  Tubac with it's Southwestern galleries and Tumacacori, with its three beautiful, famous missions. 

* - Golf, a hike or a horseback ride is a must!  Choice just depends on age and what makes you happy.  All three are uniquely Tucson; more so hiking and horseback adventures. Tucson hikes are so close to town and the views are outstanding.


Great all/most Day trips?   Biosphere, Nogales, Kitt Peak, Kartchner Caverns, Tombstone and Mt. Lemmon.

* = Kartchner Caverns is one of a kind if you love or are curious about Caves.  It's a scientific and engineering marvel.  My Lemmon is both a trip AND destination in any weather but especially in Summer and Winter.  Every nerd like me has to see Biosphere at least once. Each trip has it's fans and it's own appeal.


This map is for my friends who ask - and provide me the opportunity to share 45 years of enjoying this exceptional  part of the American West.  Thanks for reading.....