Tucson is Arizona’s second city after Phoenix and a much more rugged experience, with a touch of the wild west and set in the dramatic Sonoran Desert.
Photo by James Randklev – Courtesy of Tucson CVB
Tucson is home to about a million people and is the main city between Phoenix and the Mexican border, which is about 70 miles south at Nogales. There is a very strong Mexican influence in Tucson, along with Native American culture and a feel for the old wild west. It’s the mix of these backgrounds which mean that Tucson retains a unique character, and has not been over-run by modern American culture.
Tucson Music and Culture
That isn’t to say that the city is old-fashioned. It has a big student presence as it is home to the University of Arizona, which hosts one of the biggest book festivals in the United States each March: The Tucson Festival of Books. The Tucson Gem Show in February is one of the largest gem and mineral shows in the world. Tucson is also a big music city, having produced artists including Linda Ronstadt and Calexico, and its music ranges from the Tucson Symphony Orchestra to the mariachi music of Mexico. It also has some top museums.
Tucson Food
In the foothills in the north of the city are several luxurious spa resorts, and there is a busy contemporary dining scene, with chefs inspired by its cultural mix. In particular, you can eat some of the finest Mexican food in the country in Tucson. Indeed, so good is Tucson’s food that it was the first US city to be declared a City of Gastronomy by UNESCO.
The Movies
Its diverse background is easy to explore in its main attractions for visitors. Number one is the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, to the west of the city, with a collection of wild animals in their natural landscape. Close by is Old Tucson Studios, where classic westerns like Gunfight at the OK Corral and Rio Bravo were filmed, but which is currently temporarily closed.
Saguaro National Park
The most distinctive feature of the desert landscape that surrounds Tucson is the saguaro cactus, best viewed by going hiking in the Saguaro National Park, which is divided into two parts, one to the east and one to the west of the city. There are other hiking trails, canyons, and recreation areas in and around the city, making it a good place for an active vacation. With several museums, gardens, historic buildings, and excellent shopping, Tucson has a lot to offer the visitor to this part of southern Arizona.
Other Attractions
South of the city is the mission church of San Xavier del Bac, founded in 1692 and one of the most beautiful Spanish mission churches, while in total contrast is the Pima Air and Space Museum, a huge display of over 300 aircraft and spacecraft from around the world.
OUR PICK OF THE GUIDES
From that blues bar you haven’t visited yet to the desert hike you keep meaning to plan, experience something new right here at home with Moon 52 Things to Do in Phoenix & Tucson.
- Cool things to do in and around the cities: Kick back at a Spring Training game or squeeze into the grandstands of El Gran Mercado for some lucha libre. Bike the famed Loop in Tucson, kayak Tempe Town Lake, and lace up your boots for an urban hike in the Phoenix Mountains. Support local BIPOC writers at Palabras Bilingual Bookstore and taste what’s on tap at a women-owned brewery. Savor Sonoran-style food like tamales and carne asada or try authentic Tohono O’odham fry bread.
