A Desert Day in Tucson

The Sonoran Desert makes Tucson unique. To understand what I mean, you'll need to experience it. Wake up to a canyon walk followed by breakfast in a desert garden. Explore local art before visiting desert animals in an outside setting. Take in the sunset to the tunes of a Native American flute before retiring to your room where Eastern girls came West to be educated in desert ways. You just might want to stay.

1Web-4572761167_0902177326_b
Sabino Canyon
Not many cities can boast of a wild canyon setting in the heart of suburbia. A walk in Sabino Canyon will get your day in Tucson off to a good start. A mile into the paved trail and you'll wonder where the city setting went. You'll be surrounded by saguaros, mountains, canyon walls and wildlife.
2Web-4637940412_442e0e995f_b
Tohono Chul Park Tea Room
You won't believe this garden setting in Tucson. That's right, in the heart of the Sonoran desert. And, breakfast on Tohono Chul's patio is a fine way to start your Tucson day surrounded by lush vegetation and twittering birds. Guard your breadcrumbs. The birds will steal them.
Suburbia has encroached on the hacienda's desert surroundings but it's still a uniquely Tucson place to stay.
3Web-4109906649_de4381973f_o
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
The Desert Museum, as Tucson locals call it, is a combination zoo, botanical garden and natural history museum. You'll only find native animals and plants here, no tigers, pandas or elephants. My favorite is the raptor show but you might like the baby javalenas in the spring. Beware, their mamas are mean.
4Web-4302953786_5cbc229424_b
The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain
End your desert day in Tucson with a drink on the patio at The Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain. As you sip a prickly pear margarita, the soothing notes from a Native American flautist reverberates through the canyon, where you'll find petroglyphs on the rocks. The sunset is free.
5Web-sr_cf78af4f891320
Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch
Wealthy families from Back East, used to send their privileged daughters to school in the desert. Now the former swanky school is an upscale guest ranch. Suburbia has encroached on the hacienda's desert surroundings but it's still a uniquely Tucson place to stay.
And, breakfast on Tohono Chul's patio is a fine way to start your Tucson day surrounded by lush vegetation and twittering birds.
Map View Hide Map

About the Author

Donna Hull
Donna Hull
Tucson-based freelance writer, Donna Hull, specializes in travel and human interest content for online and print publications. You'll also find her travel advice for active baby boomers at My Itchy Travel Feet, The Baby Boomer's Guide to Travel. And, she should know because she is one. A bit of a princess, Donna appreciates luxury travel, including small ship cruising. But that doesn't stop her from hopping into a jeep with her husband to explore the trails of the Southwest U.S. What's next? How about snow-shoeing in Montana?
Websitehttp://myitchytravelfeet.com
More Lists by Donna Hull
×

© 2006 - 2012 Uptake Networks, Inc.

Uptake

Get the best tips and advice by discovering which of your friends have been to Tucson, and also reach our helpful and experienced Uptake travel community. Sign in!

×
Uptake

Did you know that your Internet Explorer is out of date?


To get the best possible experience using our website we recommend that you upgrade to a newer version.

Close