Pro
Desert beauty, rich history, and laid back attitude
Con
Heat (May - October)
In a nutshell
Overall, Tucson is a place to enjoy the desert and its many attractions.
15 Reviews We were staying at a hotel on the east side of Tucson, and I just saw on the Tuscon To-do magazine the word Mt Lemmon, saying that it offered great views of the city. So, I added Mt Lemmon to my navigation system and saw this road on the map which seemed to go up a mountain...and sure it was :) Just...
37 Reviews Before I had my son, I took my 12 year old daughter with me anywhere I went. One of her favorite things to do was feeding the pigeons downtown Tucson. On one such occasion, we stumble upon the timeline of Southern Arizona. Located on Almeida street is a small area designated to the history and time...
42 Reviews There were also aircraft from other countries on display. Here you see two British Aircraft and some Russian Migs that were exported to other countries. I do not know the nomencalture for the first aircraft can one of our British friends help me with that? Info from a fellow VTer (thanks!): The RAF...
13 Reviews I lived in Tucson, AZ for 20 years. If you want to meet the local crowd, go to some concerts down on 4th Avenue in a bar or club (unfornately, the live jazz bar and restaraunt "Cafe Sweetwater" has closed boo-hoo but there is a club in its place). Also, many times a year, the Avenue hosts outdoor...
5 Reviews West of Sixth Avenue: Vaudeville: No theater is performed, but it is a fairly cool bar. Tables, chairs and pool tables are all crowded in front of medium-sized stage against a short bar. Live music most nights, usually with a cover under $5. This is where the pretentious indie crowd heads on every...
10 Reviews If you're coming as a tourist: yes, you do need a car. The most popular sites in the city, such as the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon and Mount Lemmon are virtually inaccessible without a private car. Public transit just does not reach them. However, as a...
9 Reviews Driving around Tucson I must admit that I didn't have a lot of problems with finding a parking lot for my car. Surely it's not so easy to find a free parking in a downtown (there are parkometers with limited parking time at daytime in business days), but there are a lot of parkings around Tucson...
8 Reviews This shop is owned by a company that owns several retail stores in the Southwest. They design the rugs in the Navajo tradition and have the weaving done in India. The prices on a durable Navajo Style rug are less than 25% of what you would pay for the real thing. The quality is superb, the colors...
4 Reviews Tucson Mall has a great selection of shops to choose from. It offers large department stores (including J C Penney, Sears, Dillards and Macy's) and small specialist stores - it's a great opportunity to pick up any items you may require during your trip. MALL OPENING HOURS : Monday to Saturday :...
7 Reviews The combination of college students, a somewhat cowboy mentality and large liberal population give Tucson a great bar scene. A few of things to know about Arizona law: 1. Bars can open at 6am every day, and some actually do. 2. Last call is at 2am. 3. Opening and closing of the bars is also tied to...
5 Reviews In this area there are at least two cultures mixed: Hispanic (Mexican) and Native Americans. Haha, I tried to speak with these two young smiling people on my picture in ITL Coffee Shop. I must admit that I coudn't understand them although they were talking in English. They could understand me but I...
5 Reviews As long as you stay in the TUCSON city limits you should be fine. Do not go to South Tucson which is a city of its own. It is a working class area with gangs and lots of car theft reports. To be on the safe side, just stay north of downtown. Its definitely not one of the most dangerous cities...
4 Reviews Tucsonans and other desert-dwellers are often made fun of for the idea that we freak out about a little rain. What people fail to understand though is that Tucson really does not have any sort of drainage system: it's all natural. Streets gradually flow into washes, which gradually flow into one of...
4 Reviews This was one of the best tours I've ever been on, and I've been on lots of them. I remembered hearing about Biosphere 2 years ago, but learned so much about the experiments on this tour. The facility is incredible - the ocean, the rain forest. There isn't anything like it anywhere else in the WORLD....
3 Reviews Although I have been to Tucson twice, I did not visit this either time, mainly because a friend who lived there when I fist went said it was a complete tourist rip off. OK I have to say, after talking to some who have been there, I would say if you have kids they would probably have a great time at...
6 Reviews In the summer, bring a light t-shirt, shorts, and flip flops. Don't forget the sunscreen. When the sun is beating and the temp is 105 F, you will burn fast. In the winter, bring a jacket with you. The days are nice. Temps in the 70's but overnight lows can drop into the upper twenties and lower...
4 Reviews I read several articles on Nogales Mexico, and not having traveled there for a few years, I was unsettled about whether to go on a recent trip to Tucson. I was told not to for safety reason, by two different businesses telling me to go to Tubac instead. Years ago I noted that Tubac while pretty was...
Kitt Peak National Observatory.
14 Reviews The road leading to Kitt Peak is Arizona Highway 86 also known as the Tucson-Ajo Highway. It runs through the Tohono O'odham Nation. You drive down 86 until you come to Junction 386 the Kitt Peak turn-off. Kitt Peak is 12 miles up the road. Please note that this is a mountain road with steep grades...
23 Reviews Driving along Arizona highways I occasionally saw these birds running across the desert. It's impossible to photograph them in open wild because they are so hyper so fast. In Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum I got the opportunity to see them in captivity. Even in the cage they are still hyper and hardly...
8 Reviews When we travel we always try to take are little furry family member, but he is not always allowed in the hotel or time share accomodations. So I search for places that I can keep him nearby. I found this place on the web and after talking with them felt he would be comfortable and safe here. Once we...
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Comments (1)
Tucson is a way better travel vacation destination than the manicured lawns in the middle of the desert in Phoenix.
I tend to agree. Phoenix is a sprawling mini la/ golf resort. Tucson is more like a gritty Hugh plains drifter town. Nit as swanky but more character.