Cities

Tucson

Visit Arizona’s second-largest city, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy and a year-round outdoor playground.

You can be secluded or social in Tucson. The city’s central core is a vibrant area with the University of Arizona, Fourth Avenue and a lively downtown. Stray in any direction from the interior to find endless outdoor space. Tucson is known for its culture and incredible dining, which can be found no matter where you are.

Tucsonans support Tucsonans. Sit down at a craft brewery and the bartenders will likely recommend another you’d like down the street. Shopping in Tucson is a popular activity for visitors and locals alike. Walk into one-of-a-kind shops to discover only-found-here goods, Tucson pride t-shirts and hats, and an enthusiasm for talking about the locals behind every product. The people are also enthusiastic about the place: the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum showcases wildlife, flora and fauna that’s as engaging for residents as it is for visitors.

Outdoors

There are more than 350 days of sunshine in Tucson, and people here love to soak it up. Golfing? Got that! On warm summer days, hiking trails that end in monsoon-rain-filled watering holes rise in popularity, and adventurers flock to the Sky Island of Mount Lemmon, where temperatures are cooler and pine trees offer an escape from the Sonoran Desert. Closer to the city, Tumamoc offers miles of views. Surrounding it all is The Loop, a paved multipurpose trail that’s more than 130 miles in length for bikers, horseback riders and power walkers. Saguaro National Park straddles the east and west sides of the city, with more than 91,000 acres to explore.

Centuries-old culture

Step back through the history of Tucson to see how the city today unifies Hispanic, Native American and Anglo cultures. Mission San Xavier del Bac has seen the region transition from New Spain to Mexico to Arizona. Explore the remnants of the 1775 Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón, from where the City of Tucson was established. Wander the colorful adobes in Barrio Viejo, one of Tucson’s first neighborhoods. Every February, the rodeo shows off with horse and cattle events, and the world's longest non-motorized parade. And in November, the All Souls Procession unites cultural traditions — like Dia de los Muertos — to memorialize and celebrate love and loss. But nowhere combines Tucson’s cultures better than the menus of local restaurants.

World-renowned dining

Flavors here are centuries in the making. A driving force behind Tucson’s designation as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy was the embracing of native ingredients such as tepary beans, chiltepin and prickly pear — chefs here use them creatively and boldly fuse the region’s cultural influences. The Tucson Meet Yourself festival lets you sample dozens of traditional dishes. If you have to choose one item to try: Sonoran hot dogs are a claim to fame.

Visit City Website

Saguaro National Park

See giant symbols of the Southwest in the only place where saguaros grow in the Sonoran Desert near Tucson.

Sabino Canyon

On the northeast edge of Tucson, Sabino Canyon is a popular gateway to outdoor adventures in the Santa Catalina Mountains.

Madera Canyon

Just south of Tucson near Green Valley, the Santa Rita Mountains offer spectacular outdoor excursions.

Catalina State Park

Visitors lace up their hiking boots to enjoy this magnificent natural area north of Tucson.

Outdoor Adventures

Birding in Arizona: A Guide to Tucson & Southern Arizona

A foremost bird expert shares his favorite Arizona birding spots in Tucson and Southern Arizona.

Search Filters

Search Results

Family Activities

Southwestern Fair Commission I

The Southwestern Fair Commission, Inc., is a non-profit, private corporation, established in 1975 by Pima County to operate the fairgrounds...

The Old West

Tanque Verde Ranch

Tanque Verde Ranch is one of America's top old-time cattle and guest ranches. We're located on 60,000 acres of Tucson's most breathtaking...

Family Activities

Titan Missile Museum

At the Titan Missile Museum, near Tucson, Arizona, visitors journey through time to stand on the front line of the Cold War. This preserved...

Nature & Wildlife

Tohono Chul Park

Embrace the authentic beauty of the Sonoran Desert year-round at Tohono Chul, Tucson's charming crossroads of nature, art and culture....

Tours

Trail Blazing Southwest

Trail Blazing Southwest specializes in designing highly-customized itineraries for free, independent travelers who are seeking unique...

The Old West

Trail Dust Town

Trail Dust Town, home of Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse, is rich with history and fun. You'll find people come from all over the world to...

Outdoor Adventure

Tucson Bike Rentals

Tucson Bike Rentals and Tours delivers new and premium road, mountain and hybrid bikes as well as top of line bicycles for kids and women....

Nature & Wildlife

Tucson Botanical Gardens

Located on the site of the historic Porter property, Tucson Botanical Gardens was recently named one of the top 10 North American Gardens...

Sports

Tucson Mountain Bike Rentals And Tours

Rent Specialized, Marin, Giant front shock/full suspension mountain bikes at Fantasy Island Mountain Bike Park (Most Popular), HoneyBee...

History

Tucson Museum of Art & Historic Block

The Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block encompasses an entire city block in historic downtown Tucson, and features original and...

Outdoor Adventure

TucsonLoop.org

Tucson Loop biking, walk and discover the breathtaking 137 mile CAR-FREE Tucson Loop shared use path, which winds through the picturesque...

Discover

Cities & Regions

From the abundance of Saguaro cactuses and unique wildlife in the Sonoran Desert to the high country and forests of the White Mountains to the breathtaking Grand Canyon, Arizona’s regions are full of experiences that don’t disappoint.