Tucson, AZ

Gateway to the Desert Southwest

While Tucson may be off the beaten path as far as destinations go, the reality is that of a city with an amazing desert landscape, attractions and a thriving arts & culture scene. Set in the southern part of Arizona, Tucson is about 60 miles north of the Mexican border in the beautiful Sonoran Desert. Although the summers are hot, the climate is far cooler than Phoenix’s, which means summers are not spent seeking out air conditioned attractions. The winters are nice and mild with temperatures in the 60’s and very little rain. The beautiful desert landscape comes from Tucson’s location in the Sonoran Desert. Characterized by the ubiquitous saguaro cactus, the local desert boasts hundreds of animal species and thousands of native plants. Taking a day for a guided off-road tour is one of the best way to see and experience this unique and picturesque environment. A great way to experience this unique environment and learn more about the local culture is to visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Over its 98 acres, guests can visit a natural history museum, zoo & aquarium, botanical garden and art gallery.


The city of Tucson perfectly embodies the unique Southwestern atmosphere and blends it with a sophisticated and lively downtown. It consists of old, historic neighborhoods with adobe buildings along with modern and contemporary structures. In the early 2000’s, downtown went through a major revitalization, leaving it a pedestrian-friendly center that is a wonderful place to spend a day under the warm sun. And for some action in the evenings, Tucson has 4th Avenue, a lively strip of bars, clubs and eateries. When it comes to culinary appeal, Tucson has authentic Mexican and Southwestern cuisine that showcases the thriving local food scene. Tucson Food Tours provides a tour of the downtown eateries where guests get the opportunity to sample food from six of the top restaurants in town. Another area where Tucson really shines is in its luxurious 5-star desert resorts. For example, the Loew’s Ventana Canyon Resort is right at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains and is decked out with five restaurants, two pools, a spa and room views of the gorgeous mountains.