Tucson Area Information & Attractions

Are you relocating to Tucson? As your Tucson Realtor, Sarah Ley can affirm that there are countless reasons Tucson residents love living here. Just to mention a few: daily brilliant sunrises and sunsets, a temperate climate, hiking, nature respites, resorts, spas, a wide variety of cultural activities, as well as a diverse job market with many high-tech jobs.

Tucson Facts

• Population: 884,000 and growing
• Median Age of Residents: 35
• Average Per Capita income: $32,300
• Largest Employers: University of Arizona, Pima Community College, Raytheon, and Davis Monthan Air Force Base

Tucson’s many claims to fame

• One of most bicycle friendly cities in the United States
• Tucson is one of the Astronomy capitols of the world
• A top resort, golf, and spa/wellness destination
• Quickly becoming a key retirement destination and Tucson is a very popular place for second homes.

Annual Events For a full list of this month’s events, check the Tucson Visitor and Convention Bureau

• JANUARY - FEBRUARY
  • Tucson Gem and Mineral Show
  • Rodeo (Fiesta de los Vaqueros) - even public schools give days off for this event!
  • Tubac Festival of the Arts
• MARCH
  • Fourth Avenue Spring Street Fair
  • Civil War Reenactment of the Battle at Picacho Pass at Picacho Peak
• APRIL
  • Tucson International Film Festival
  • UofA Spring Fling
  • Pima County Fair
  • Tucson International Mariachi Conference
• MAY
  • Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at Kennedy Park
• JUNE
  • Tucson Toros Baseball
• JULY
  • Peach Festival (Willcox)
• AUGUST
  • Summer Saturday Evenings at the Desert Museum
• SEPTEMBER
  • The Greek Festival
• OCTOBER
  • Oktoberfest on Mount Lemmon
  • Tucson Meet Yourself
• NOVEMBER
  • El Tour de Tucson
• DECEMBER
  • Lights at Winterhaven

Places to Visit in Tucson

• Map of attractions
• Pima Air and Space Museum
• Old Tucson
• Reid Park Zoo
• Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

History

• San Xavier Mission
• Arizona Historical Society

Science and AstronomyTucson is one of the astronomy capitols of the world, as the International Dark Sky Association (http://www.darksky.org/) has been successful in its mission to ensure that Tucson is one of the few cities where the stars can still actually be seen at night.

• Flandrau Science Center
• Kitt Peak National Observatory

The Arts, Theaters, Performance Venues

• Arizona Opera
• Arizona Theater Company
• Centennial Hall / UA Presents
• Gaslight Theater
• Tucson Convention Center
• Tucson Symphony Orchestra

Gaming (Gaming is allowed in Tucson only on its Indian Reservations.)

• Casino del Sol
• Casino of the Sun
• Desert Diamond

Big and Little Kids

• Golf & Stuff
• Funtasticks
• Tucson Children’s Museum

Museums

• Tucson Museum of Art
• On the University of Arizona Campus
  • Arizona State Museum
  • Center for Creative Photography

Outdoors Tucson is surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges on every side: the Santa Catalinas on the North, the Rincons to the East, the Tucson Mountains to the West, and the Santa Ritas to the South. If you love hiking, or even just taking a stroll, you can visit Sabino Canyon, or hike Saguaro National Park. For more outdoor experiences, check out the Southern Arizona Hiking Club.

Don’t throw out your warm winter boots; you can always “visit” the snow during the winter with a short drive (about 30 minutes) to Mt. Lemmon. There you can find winter skiing (weather permitting) at Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley.

Golf

• City Courses
• Del Urich
• El Rio
• Fred Enke
• Randolph
• Silverbell

Shopping

• Park Place Mall- East Tucson
• Tucson Mall- West Tucson
• Foothills Mall- Northwest Tucson
• La Encantada- Catalina Foothills

Spas

• Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa at the Westin La Paloma
• Canyon Ranch
• Westward Look
• Miraval, Life in Balance Resort
• Hashani Spa at Starr Pass

Restaurants Tucson has many award winning restaurants and is quickly becoming a gourmand’s paradise. You will be able to find your favorite chain restaurant in town, but don’t miss out on these restaurants that are unique to the Tucson area. Remember, in Tucson, it’s not unusual to find people dressed casually when visiting even the fanciest restaurants.

Upscale

• Jonathans Tucson Cork
• Le Rendez Vous (French)
• Anthony’s in the Catalinas
• Fleming’s
• Janos
• Vivace, 4310 N Campbell Ave- Italian

Casual

• Delectables
• Fronimos, 3234 E Speedway Blvd (Greek)
• Eclectic Cafe
• Fox Restaurants (Sauce, Wildflower, Zin Burger, North, Montana Avenue)

Mexican Eat at one Tucson’s many delicious authentic Mexican Restaurants!

• Mi Nidito (President Clinton ate here)
• Micha’s in South Tucson , 2908 South Fourth Avenue
• La Parilla Suiza

Coffee Shops If you like Starbucks, you will definitely find one nearby, but these other Tucson coffee shops can’t be beat.

• Bentley’s
• Le Buzz, 9121 E Tanque Verde Rd # 125
• Raging Sage, 2458 N Campbell Ave

Touristy Eat at Trail Dust Town - dare to wear a tie (an expendable one!) when you eat at Pinnacle Peak steak house. Also, check out Dakota Café if you’re not into exclusively cowboy fare.

To find a list of other great restaurants that exist in Tucson only, visit Tucson Originals.