What To Do In Tucson & Southern Arizona
- Restaurants - Attractions - Hiking Trails - Golf Courses
Restaurants
Southern Arizona cuisine is a vibrant blend of Native American, Mexican, and Southwestern influences. The region is known for its use of fresh, local ingredients, including chiles, corn, and beans, often featured in dishes like tamales, enchiladas, and carne asada. The area's rich cultural heritage is reflected in its diverse culinary offerings, celebrating both traditional recipes and modern interpretations.
1) El Charro Café
A historic spot known for its authentic Sonoran Mexican cuisine, including its famous carne seca.
El Charro Café - Nationwide Shipping - The Nation’s Oldest Mexican Restaurant (elcharrocafe.com)
2) Tavolino Ristorante Italiano
Massimo’s vision for Tavolino is to fuse an intimate neighborhood trattoria, a place where family and friends can come together as his own family once did, within a modern elegant setting.
3) Tucson Tamale Company
Specializing in handmade tamales with a variety of fillings, showcasing the region's Mexican heritage.
4) Zinburger
A gourmet burger joint that pairs craft burgers with an extensive wine list, located in the heart of Tucson.
Burgers, Shakes and Fun | Beer and Wine | Zinburger (zinburgeraz.com)
5) Vivace
Northern Italian fare served in elegant surrounds, plus a lengthy wine list.
6) The Oink Café (Oro Valley)
A local favorite for breakfast and brunch, offering hearty comfort food in a casual setting, famous for its pancakes and bacon.
Oink Cafe is Your Home for Everything BACON! Join Us for Breakfast!
7) Sullivan’s Steakhouse
Jazzy Steakhouse serving beef, seafood & cocktails in swanky surrounds with live music.
8) Guadalajara Grill
Guadalajara Grill has been offering a wide variety of the best Mexican food including favorite dishes and innovative fresh dishes.
Attractions
Tucson and Southern Arizona are rich in natural beauty, cultural heritage, and outdoor activities. From desert landscapes and historic missions to immersive museums and parks, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in this diverse region.
Take A Hike With Sara Jane - click here to book your guided tour - www.TakeAHikeWithSaraJane.com! Specializing in beginner to intermediate hikes.
1) Saguaro National Park
This stunning national park features the iconic saguaro cactus, symbolizing the American Southwest. Visitors can explore scenic drives, hiking trails, and beautiful desert landscapes, showcasing diverse flora and fauna.
Saguaro National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
2) Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
This unique museum combines a zoo, botanical garden, and natural history museum, offering an immersive experience of the Sonoran Desert ecosystem. It features live animal exhibits, educational programs, and stunning desert landscapes.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, AZ - Zoo, Botanical Garden and Art Gallery
3) Mission San Xavier del Bac
Known as the "White Dove of the Desert," this historic Spanish mission is a beautiful example of colonial architecture. Visitors can admire its intricate artwork, serene grounds, and learn about its rich history and cultural significance.
San Xavier del Bac Mission - Tucson, AZ (sanxaviermission.org)
4) Tucson Botanical Gardens
A peaceful oasis in the city, this botanical garden features a variety of themed gardens, including a butterfly garden and a desert garden. It's a perfect spot for a leisurely stroll and to learn about desert plant life.
Tucson Botanical Gardens - Your Urban Oasis in the heart of Tucson
5) Pima Air & Space Museum
One of the largest aerospace museums in the world, it showcases a vast collection of aircraft and spacecraft. Visitors can explore exhibits, including historic planes and helicopters, and learn about aviation history.
6) Old Tucson Studios
A fun, family-friendly attraction, Old Tucson is a recreated Wild West town that offers live shows, historic buildings, and film sets. It’s a great place to experience the Old West atmosphere and enjoy cowboy-themed entertainment.
7) Catalina State Park
Nestled against the Santa Catalina Mountains, this park offers hiking trails, picnic areas, and stunning vistas. It’s ideal for outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore the natural beauty of Southern Arizona.
8) Kitt Peak National Observatory
Home to one of the largest arrays of optical and radio telescopes, Kitt Peak offers public tours and nighttime programs for stargazing. It’s a fantastic destination for those interested in astronomy.
9) Biosphere 2
located in Tucson, Arizona, is a unique research facility designed to study Earth's ecosystems and explore the feasibility of sustaining human life in closed ecological systems. Originally constructed in the late 1980s, it features diverse biomes, including a rainforest, ocean, desert, and savanna, all within a massive glass structure.
Hikes & Trails
These trails offer a variety of experiences, from easy walks to challenging hikes, showcasing the natural beauty of Tucson and Southern Arizona.
Top 10:
1. Saguaro National Park - Cactus Forest Loop Trail
- A scenic loop showcasing iconic saguaro cacti and diverse desert landscapes. This relatively easy trail is perfect for families and offers stunning views.
2. Mount Lemmon - Marshall Gulch Trail
- This beautiful trail winds through lush forests and offers a cooler climate, especially in summer. The trail is moderate in difficulty and leads to picturesque views.
3. Sabino Canyon - Sabino Lake Trail
- A popular trail that follows the canyon's streams and leads to a picturesque lake. It's ideal for hiking and wildlife watching, with options for shorter or longer hikes.
4. Tanque Verde Falls Trail
- A moderately challenging hike that leads to beautiful waterfalls and pools, perfect for a refreshing dip. The trail offers stunning views of the surrounding canyon.
5. Catalina State Park - Romero Canyon Trail
- This trail offers a moderate hike through lush desert vegetation, leading to impressive views and the chance to see waterfalls in the spring.
6. Bear Canyon Trail to Seven Falls
- A breathtaking hike that takes you to a series of waterfalls. The trail features a mix of terrain and is great for those looking for a rewarding destination.
7. Pima Canyon Trail
- A popular trail that starts in the foothills and leads into a beautiful canyon. It offers a moderate hike with opportunities to spot wildlife and enjoy scenic views.
8. Mount Wrightson - Old Baldy Trail
- The trail to the summit of Mount Wrightson offers challenging terrain and rewarding panoramic views of Southern Arizona. It's ideal for experienced hikers.
9. Colossal Cave Mountain Park - Colossal Cave Trail
- A family-friendly trail that combines hiking with a visit to the famous cave. The trail offers beautiful desert scenery and is suitable for all skill levels.
10. Rincon Mountain District - Freeman Homestead Trail
- This moderately easy trail features historical remnants of an old homestead and offers beautiful views of the Rincon Mountains and surrounding landscapes.
Tucson Golf Courses
These golf courses offer a range of experiences, from luxurious private clubs to accessible public options, all set against the stunning backdrop of Tucson and Southern Arizona's desert landscape.
1) The Golf Club at Dove Mountain
Home to the PGA Tour's Tucson Open for many years, this course features beautiful fairways and a challenging layout, perfect for golfers of all skill levels.
2) Ventana Canyon Golf & Racquet Club
Offers two challenging courses set against the backdrop of the Catalina Mountains, known for its stunning scenery and exceptional service.\
3) La Paloma Country Club
A luxurious course designed by Jack Nicklaus, featuring dramatic elevation changes and breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.
4) Omni Tucson National Resort
This resort features two championship courses, the Catalina and the Sonoran, both known for their beautiful settings and challenging layouts.
5) Sewalio Golf Club
A historic public course with a rich tradition, offering two 18-hole layouts and a relaxed atmosphere for golfers of all skill levels.
6) El Conquistador Country Club
A scenic course that flows through the foothills, featuring lush fairways and views of the Santa Catalina Mountains, ideal for golfers of all levels.
7) The Highlands at Dove Mountain
A stunning course designed to challenge golfers while providing breathtaking views of the Sonoran Desert, known for its top-notch conditions.
8) AZ National Golf Course
A One of the most celebrated golf course architects of his time, Robert Trent Jones, Jr., is known as the “Frank Lloyd Wright of golf course architecture” because of his ability to design golf courses in harmony with their natural settings.
9) The Quarry Pines Golf Club
The Links, which was designed by Brian Huntley, was unlike other Tucson Arizona golf courses because it was built on the edge of a 90+ acre, 100 foot deep sand and gravel quarry.
10) Randolph Golf Course
A historic public course with a rich tradition, offering two 18-hole layouts and a relaxed atmosphere for golfers of all skill levels.
11) Tubac Golf Resort & Spa (Tubac)
A historic resort with a championship golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones II, featuring beautiful views and a variety of terrains.
Golf Courses near Tucson AZ | Tubac Resort & Spa (tubacgolfresort.com)
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