Last year when we were discussing destinations for a spring break family trip, the Hubs suggested Tucson, Arizona. Hmmm. When I think of spring break, I think of lounging on a quiet beach, sipping tropical cocktails garnished with colorful paper umbrellas, and frolicking in crystal blue oceans. Not exactly the mental picture you get when you think of Tucson. But when it comes to travel, I am game for anything, especially when exploring a city I've never before visited. We booked our flights and hotel and happily counted the days until our trip to the desert.
When we first arrived (btw, we visited at the end of April, which was an ideal time weather-wise), I was overwhelmed by how beautiful the mountains are. They are majestic and breathtaking.
Our hotel was located at the foothills of the Catalina Mountains, and the views were nothing short of stunning. Our balcony overlooked a golf course and faced west, so we had stunning views of the setting sun each evening as well as the city lights of Tucson at night.
I was worried that we'd be at a loss for things to do in Tucson, but I was completely wrong about that. On our first day, we had a full day planned at the Sonora Desert Museum and Saguaro National Park, so we needed a hearty breakfast. My nephew (who attended University of Arizona) recommended Bobo's. When we pulled up to the restaurant, it reminded me of a place you'd see on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. If you like pancakes, this is the place to get them. They are enormous and incredibly delicious.
The Sonora Desert Museum is the place to go if you want to get a glimpse of the local landscape. The museum is a world-renowned zoo, botanical garden, and natural history museum, and it just happened to be the perfect place to become educated on all things plants and animals that are native to the Tucson area.
We saw this majestic mountain lion at the museum, just peeking out long enough for me to snap a picture. We also caught a quick glimpse of a roadrunner before it swiftly ran off.
I thought we'd end up spending most of our time at the hotel pool, but Tucson offers so many outdoor activities from hiking in the mountains to exploring downtown Tucson and the area surrounding the University of Arizona.
My favorite activity was hiking in Saguaro National Park. The sweeping views of the mountains and the cactii were spectacular.
Whether you want to relax and unplug for a few days or be active, Tucson offers it all. After exploring all morning, we were only too happy to return to our resort to spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool.
One thing I always make a point of doing while on vacation is experiencing the local food culture. Whether it's deep dish pizza in Chicago, tacos in San Diego, or bagels in New York City, sampling the foods that are native to an area is always a travel priority.
As soon as we booked our trip to Tucson, I knew I wanted to get a good taste of the local food scene. I knew Mexican/Southwestern food and fresh margaritas would be at the top of my list, but what surprised me was all the other good food we ate along the way.
Are you ready to start planning your trip to Tucson? Check out visittucson.org to start planning your trip to Tucson today and to get ideas for what to do, where to stay and eat, and how to make the most of your time in this dynamic city.
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