10 Must-Do’s in Tucson, Arizona
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
Ever since moving to Tucson, I have fallen in the love with the rare beauty of the desert. Hiking here is always an interesting experience especially for those of us who grew up in completely different areas of the country. The Sonoran Desert is the most biologically diverse of the 4 major US deserts. Surprisingly, a diverse range of plants and animals thrive in the harsh conditions. Thanks to a strong summer monsoon season, the Sonoran is the wettest desert. The resulting lushness is amazing in comparison to other desert landscapes. I’m always surprised with how much greener the trails are here as I imagined dry sagebrush blowing around.
The iconic symbol of the Southwest, the grand Saguaro cactus, only grows in the southern portion of the state and portions of California and Mexico. Taking advantage of hiking in company of this gorgeous plant is definitely a must-do while you are in the area. That being said, attractions here go well beyond hiking with so many cultural attractions & fabulous restaurants to enjoy! Don’t worry if you are not into hiking – this is a great foodie city and there are plenty of interesting museums and scenic drives to enjoy as well.
I truly enjoyed every minute of my 2 years living here and the easy access to so many unique natural wonders. The cactus truly is an awe-inspiring sight to see.
Tucson vs. Phoenix
Tucson is the more overlooked of the 2 major cities of the Sonoran Desert. While most tourists make their way to Phoenix for the posh resorts, luxury malls, and spring training games, this underrated city tends to get passed over. While the metro is much smaller, the vibe is more laid-back for anyone seeking more of a peaceful retreat in the desert. I feel like this area retains more of its’ southwest charm and doesn’t feel as touristy. Whenever I plan a weekend roadtrip to Phoenix, I can’t wait to get back and relax.
Additionally, Tucson is a better choice for those who love the outdoors as the hiking trails are more stunning & easily accessible. Desert plant life is more abundant and the mountain vistas are more grandiose.
From exploring the country’s most unique national park, to enjoying authentic Mexican fare, to shopping for handmade Southwestern art work, there is a bit of something to do for everyone in “The Old Pueblo.” Enjoy my guide to some of the best activities and attractions to add to your bucket list.
1. Catalina State Park
One of the best places to hike within the metro area is Catalina State Park in Oro Valley. This beautiful quiet park is located in a suburb just north of the city. The dramatic Santa Catalina mountains provide a stunning backdrop for all the park’s hikes. Majestic tall Saguaro cacti surround you in every single direction – over 5000 to be exact acc to the park visitor center.
Hiking ranges from an easy 1 mile nature stroll to an intense all day adventure on the Romero Canyon trail. On this unique hike, you will encounter a number of seasonal swimming holes. Note – avoid this one during summer monsoon season.
If hiking isn’t your thing, there are also trails for mountain biking and horseback riding. Due to the lack of crowds, either activity is enjoyable. Bird-watching and picnicking are yet more options for those who prefer to keep it relaxed while still basking in the desert sunshine.
Admission is just 10 bucks per car, making Catalina a nice budget friendly alternative to Saguaro National Park. For those looking to keep it affordable, this is definitely the way to go.
More info on Catalina State Park
2. Mini Time Museum of Miniatures
This city is no Chicago or NYC when it comes to world-class museums, however, there is one interesting museum that you will want to place near the top of your to-do list. At the Mini Time Museum of Miniatures, intricate miniature pieces are displayed within 400 antique and modern dollhouses. I could look at these fabulous houses all day – I just can’t get over the amount of time it would take to create these tiny pieces. The patience these artists must of had to create such realistic detailing is simply astonishing.
Three distinct sections comprise the museum, each offering their own unique theme with gorgeous miniature pieces reflective of each. The History section features miniature collections inspired by the 17th-20th century. The Enchantment Realm features fantasy themed miniatures including various folklore legends. The Exploring the World exhibit, featuring collections inspired from around the world, is by far the most mesmerizing of the 3.
You will also find one of the oldest miniature houses in the US on display here – one that dates back to 1775! The historical value alone warrants a visit and it’s also a great activity to escape the summer heat.
More info on the Mini Time Museum of Miniatures
3. Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park is one of the nation’s most interesting parks to add to your bucket list, primarily due to the fact that it is home to thousands upon thousands of mesmerizing Saguaro cacti and other forms of desert plant life that you will not find anywhere else in the world.
You will be able to explore over 2 dozen cacti via scenic drives, hiking trails, and ranger programs. It is such an amazing experience seeing these unusual plants up close. Tucson is home to the largest Saguaro species. Saguaros can weigh up to 6 tons and grow up to 50 feet! Their life span is really long with some living up to 250 years!
The park is so massive that it is split into 2 different sections. One section offers better mountain vistas: the other is best for those wanting to see as many cacti as possible. Fortunately, your ticket includes admission to both parks for 7 days. You will need a bit of time to explore both.
Both parks offer numerous hiking trails of varying distance & difficulty, a scenic loop drive, and ongoing programs. The Rincon Mountain District is my preferred park as I loved the paved drive and the trails here are all well marked & maintained. Plus, they have a really nice visitor’s center and ongoing specialty events where you can learn all sorts of unique things. For example, have you ever wondered how to harvest water from a cactus?
The Tucson Mountain district on the other hand is nearby a number of other touristy attractions like Old Tucson and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. I recommend combing a few activities to save yourself the hassle of driving around Tucson (it’s not fun with all the stop lights!).
My guide to visiting Saguaro National Park
4. Mercado San Agustin
The Mercado is a public open-air marketplace located just outside of downtown. After my first visit here, it quickly became part of rotating lineup to enjoy coffee here and then hike at Tumamoc. This great little gathering area features a number of restaurants, authentic Mexican bakeries, a wonderful coffee shop, and a few local shops.
Seis Kitchen serves up the most delicious breakfast tacos and burritos you will find anywhere in the city. Presta Coffee Roasters is a wonderful local coffee shop. La Estrella is a really popular bakery which serves up the best authentic Mexican pastries in town. Agustin Kitchen is a classy French restaurant which uses locally sourced ingredients for all their dishes. Everything really is top notch. I’ve tried them all but I come back to Seis most often – you can’t beat their tacos (personally I love the Chile Verde Con Papas tacos).
Mercado is just a great place to enjoy a leisurely brunch or meet up with friends or exercise groups. The vibe is casual and relaxing with a beautiful shared old-world style courtyard amongst the businesses. It’s heavily treed so perfect for the hot summer season. I see so many cyclists enjoying the pastries at La Estrella, fueling up for their big ride (this is a great biking city!). It’s definitely the best place in the city for coffee and brunch in a beautiful atmosphere.
On going events include farmer’s markets and special antique markets. There seems to be something going on anytime I visit.
5. Bowen Hidden Canyon trail
The Bowen Hidden Canyon trail is an easy 2 mile loop within Tucson Mountain Park, a huge park home to 62 miles of trails. This trail begins at the beautiful JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort. Even if you are not staying at this resort, it’s open for public use. Out of all the trails in the metro, this is the one I came back to most often.
Surprisingly, this amazing trail sees very little foot traffic. The scenery is absolutely beautiful and wildlife is plentiful. Be on the lookout for bobcats early in the morning – I have seen several crossing the road! The peacefulness and solitude you will experience is what really sets it apart, Plus, There are lots of Saguaro and nice overviews of the mountains the entire trek.
The drive over is beautiful too with towering cacti covered mountains in the distance. The trail is short and moderately easy, and thus, easy enough for most in moderate shape. Be aware -there is no shade, so this one is best suited for the fall/winter season. Another bonus of choosing this trail is that it is just 10 minutes away from Mercado San Agustin, so you can treat yourself to some tasty tacos pre-hie.
More info on the Bowen Hidden Canyon trail
6. The Fox Theater
I really love seeing shows at the gorgeous Fox Theater – it’s one of the nicest I’ve ever been to. It stands out as the shining centerpiece of downtown, and thus, is known as the “Crown Jewel.” This building is on the National Historic Register due to its’ impressive Southwestern Art Deco design. This historic beauty opened back in 1930 and continues on to this day to be a place where the community can attend various events and enjoy screenings of classic films.
The holiday season is the best time to plan your visit as they always screen wonderful classics like White Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life. It’s so much fun to see these old movies on the big screen “as they were meant to be seen.”
It’s definitely my number 1 in the downtown region. I would pair a visit here with breakfast at the Cup Cafe inside the historic Hotel Congress. The serve the most delicious Baked Eggs!
7. Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway/Hiking in the Pines
A quick daytrip up the Catalina Highway, aka Mt Lemmon Scenic Byway is the number 1 way to beat the summer heat. This 27 mile drive begins just outside the city and travels thousands of feet up in elevation. Along the way, you will travel through a variety of landscapes, from the Saguaro studded desert, up into the fresh green ponderosa pine forests.
Mt. Lemmon is known as a Sky Island, commonly found in the states of Arizona and New Mexico. A sky island is basically an isolated mountain which is surrounded by lower elevated areas. The lower altitude areas feature dramatically different natural ecosystems (i.e. cacti instead of pines).
When you arrive at the top of the road you will reach a small community called Summerhaven. Here you will find numerous hiking trails, a scenic ski chairlift ride, and a handful of restaurants. A bit of foliage in the fall and snow (there is a seasonal ski resort) in the winter means you can enjoy fun seasonal recreational activities no matter when you plan your visit.
The great thing about Mt. Lemmon is that the summer temperatures are typically about 20 degrees lower than due to the drastic difference in elevation (2000 in Tucson vs 8000 at the base). So, if you need a break from the intense summertime heat and don’t feel like driving far, this is your only option. In terms of summer hiking options, this is the only safe place to complete any lengthy hike.
8. Tumamoc Hill
Tumamoc Hill is one of the most easily accessible trails, but definitely not the easiest trek. This beautiful piece of land is owned by the University of Arizona’s Science department. It’s a tough journey for anyone up for a challenge. With over 700 feet in elevation gain, you will get in your workout and more for the day. Fortunately, for your effort you will be rewarded with magnificent bird’s eye views of the city and surrounding mountains. Not to mention a sense of accomplishment in completing such a difficult task!
Beautiful saguaros and other forms of desert plant life line the paved trail. The path is wide and accommodates the big crowds that are drawn to the rare beauty of the desert. The trail gets much steeper at the halfway point and many choose to stop here. I recommend challenging yourself to complete the entire walk – the views are even more gorgeous at the summit! Although a water fountain is located at the halfway point, I recommend bringing much more.
This trail is conveniently located near downtown so you can fuel at the wonderful Mercado San Agustin before or after your workout.
My experience hiking Tumamoc Hill
9. B and B Cactus Garden
B and B Cactus Farm is a really unique place where you can buy any cacti imaginable. I could walk around here all the day – the plants are so beautiful. The owners have been in business for 30 years and are very knowledgeable about anything cacti related. They can answer any question you may possibly have, plus they give you a handy little printout of instructions detailing how to care for your new plant.
There are so many different species of cacti available here, including rare varieties you may never have seen before. Cacti of all different sizes, at all different price points are available. They also have a nice selection of colorful pottery pieces on-site. They take care to package every plant perfectly and can even ship your purchase to your home so you do not have to try to cram it into your suitcase!
More info on B and B Cactus Farm
10. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the state. This combination zoo, botanical gardens, aquarium, and history museum, is a nice place for those who want to enjoy the beautiful outdoors and also learn more about the history of the Sonoran without working up too much of a sweat. The 100 acre museum nicely integrates both a zoo & botanical area within the natural habitat of the Sonoran.
While the botanical gardens are nice enough, I prefer hiking as it’s free and even more of a rustic experience. On the other hand, for first time visitors the gardens are a nice introduction to the variety of plant species native to the Sonoran Desert. There are some interpretative signs and not as much sweating involved as a hike.
There are 2 miles of walking paths through diverse desert habitats and lots of wildlife to see including mountain lions and bobcats. The aquarium is very nice considering it’s not the primary focus. Also, the extensive mineral collection in the Earth Sciences Center is pretty impressive.
My experience visiting the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
A few more must-dos
Here are a few additional attractions I recommend checking out if you have the time.
For non hikers: Sabino Canyon is a perfect alternative for those who can’t hike. You can still enjoy the desert scenery here without sweating via a 3 mile tram ride, in which you will learn all about the desert ecosystem and maybe even see some wildlife along the way (we saw rattlesnakes and a coati). The ride is relaxing and educational, and therefore, great for tourists who wish to take it easy on vacation. For those who prefer to work up a sweat, the steep 3.5 mile walk up the Tram Road is a must! What a workout – what a view!
My experience visting Sabino Canyon
For animal lovers: The city’s zoo is pretty small at just 24 acres, although nicely landscaped and pretty affordable compared to most big city zoos. It’s worth a look if you are going to be in town for a while and are looking for more to do. However, the attractions mentioned above are definitely more worthy of your time. Be sure to visit adjacent Reid Park, a beautiful community park featuring several ponds, a seasonal rose garden, and a pretty paved walking/biking path.
For health & fitness types: A great healthy day out is biking the Rillito River and then shopping at the Heirloom Farmers market. This 12 mile paved recreational path which is also part of a series of connected trails (over 100 miles) throughout the city of Tucson known as “The Loop.” This trail is very flat and fast and really popular with all types of athletes including joggers, walkers, and bikers. It’s a great place to escape the suburban congestion and get in a fresh workout in the natural surroundings. I used this trail frequently for both long distance training and long weekend bike rides.
Every Sunday a huge Farmer’s Market is held at Rillito River Park. Local farmers selling fresh produce and dairy products as well as beauty products are all on-site. Combining a relaxing walk/ride on the path with a visit to the market is the perfect healthy Sunday activity.
For those seeking a short hike with big views: The Linda Vista is a great little local trail in Oro Valley in a most unexpected location, right next to an apartment complex. This gorgeous loop trail is just short of a mile and features spectacular views of the Catalina Mountains. It’s also one of the top places in town to see wildlife, especially bobcat and bighorn sheep. If you are looking for a quick easy trail with beautiful natural surroundings, it doesn’t get much better than this. And best part of all, it’s completely free to park here!
If you are looking for even more to do, here are my favorite daytrips where you can enjoy more stunning sites in the Sonoran.
A note about hiking in the desert:
Taking weather into consideration should be the major factor in planning your trip. Spring or winter is the best time weather-wise to ensure that you avoid the 100+ daytime heat. However, you must be aware that it is extremely dry during the winter months. Bring plenty of extra water to avoid serious dehydration. During my time living here, I have come across so many reports of hikers found dead or severely ill!
