Travel Guides > Tucson, AZ

Tucson Travel

Located in between the growing metropolis of Phoenix and the border with Mexico, Tucson blends both the charm of early southwestern America and the unique natural beauty of the Arizona desert, making it an exciting destination for travelers with many varying interests.

The city of Tucson is surrounded by five majestic mountain ranges so the scenery here is breathtaking. On the outskirts of town, you'll find beautiful flowering desert that paves the way to the mountains.

Downtown, there are plenty of soaring skyscrapers but travel down a different street and you'll find classic adobe homes, brightly painted and indicative of the Spanish, Mexican, and Native American influences on the city.

The Arizona State Museum, a Smithsonian Institution affiliate, will provide you with an interesting overview of the history of the state and the indigenous tribes of Arizona and the northern portion of Mexico. Opened in 1893, this is the oldest anthropology museum in the Southwest.

Tucson's Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a combination of three attractions in one; a zoo, a natural history museum, and a botanical garden. Its goal is to re-create the look and feel of the Sonoran Desert Region. You'll find 1,200 kinds of plants, 300 species of animals, and 2 miles of trails to help you explore the 21 acres of desert.

For the chance to experience more of Arizona's natural beauty, travel to Kartchner Caverns State Park where you'll enjoy guided cave tours, interactive exhibits, video presentations, and hiking trails.

Active travelers may also enjoy a stop at Saguaro National Park West, with 150 miles of hiking trails that carry you up into the nearby Rincon Mountains.

Pima Air and Space Museum is the largest of its kind in the West. Visitors to Tucson can explore decades of aircraft and space-related memorabilia that have made their mark on U.S. history.

For some good ol' Western family fun, visit Trail Dust Town, once a movie set but now home to cool Wild West activities like panning for gold and exciting stunt shows. Enjoy a magnificent traditional Western steak dinner here, too, or ride the miniature train and carousel.

Tucson has long been a winter destination for golf aficionados. The city and surrounding areas is home to about two dozen golf courses created by the best designers in the business, such as Robert Trent Jones, Jr., Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Weiskopf.

This desert city is also the winter home of three major league baseball teams: the Colorado Rockies, the Chicago White Sox, and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Visitors can arrange to see the teams in action during training or in a pre-season game.

Also worth checking out: Phoenix, Las Vegas