Explore Tucson: Restaurants, Sightseeing & Souvenir Shopping
Sightseeing
This might be an obvious one but for those who aren’t familiar with Tucson we are home to Saguaro National Park. Tucson actually splits the park into two so there is both a west side and east side. Some parts of the park are so densely covered with saguaros that it feels like you could be on another planet! They are truly a spectacular species the more you learn about them. Of course maybe I’m a bit overly enthusiastic being a biologist.
Сагуаро
This might be an obvious one but for those who aren’t familiar with Tucson we are home to Saguaro National Park. Tucson actually splits the park into two so there is both a west side and east side. Some parts of the park are so densely covered with saguaros that it feels like you could be on another planet! They are truly a spectacular species the more you learn about them. Of course maybe I’m a bit overly enthusiastic being a biologist.
This is a great place to watch the sunset. Make sure to get there early enough to find parking and a good spot to sit.
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Gates Pass Trail
6400 W Gates Pass RdThis is a great place to watch the sunset. Make sure to get there early enough to find parking and a good spot to sit.
A 45-60 minute drive to this breathtaking scenic view at high elevation. You can even go on a hike in the woods afterwards or check out the little town further up on Mount Lemmon.
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Windy Point Vista
A 45-60 minute drive to this breathtaking scenic view at high elevation. You can even go on a hike in the woods afterwards or check out the little town further up on Mount Lemmon.
Hiking
Some of my favorite trails not too far from the house.
This is a beautiful hike that brings you into both Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro National Park. Take a right at the first fork in the trail to avoid going to the resort.
Camino de Oeste Trailhead
415 N Camino De OesteThis is a beautiful hike that brings you into both Tucson Mountain Park and Saguaro National Park. Take a right at the first fork in the trail to avoid going to the resort.
This is a gorgeous hike starting off in Saguaro National Park. You can stop at the visitor center on the way there if you’d like. The hike takes you all the way to Wasson Peak but I usually only take people up to the first peak which is about 1.5 miles in. It’s a lot of stairs but the trail is well maintained and the view from the top is totally worth it. Before the trail takes you to the next peak there’s a grouping of large boulders you can take shade in and enjoy a snack with a view.
Hugh Norris Trail
This is a gorgeous hike starting off in Saguaro National Park. You can stop at the visitor center on the way there if you’d like. The hike takes you all the way to Wasson Peak but I usually only take people up to the first peak which is about 1.5 miles in. It’s a lot of stairs but the trail is well maintained and the view from the top is totally worth it. Before the trail takes you to the next peak there’s a grouping of large boulders you can take shade in and enjoy a snack with a view.
This is a mellow but picturesque hiking trail just a short drive away.
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Painted Hills Trailhead
3590 W Anklam RdThis is a mellow but picturesque hiking trail just a short drive away.
This a paved but very steep walking path in town. Locals love using it for exercise and getting out in nature since it’s so close to town.
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Tumamoc Hill Hiking Trail
Tumamoc Hill RoadThis a paved but very steep walking path in town. Locals love using it for exercise and getting out in nature since it’s so close to town.
Birding
If you love to go bird watching here are a few recommendations…
Beautiful hikes and a great spot to check out some desert species.
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Sabino Canyon Recreation Area
5700 North Sabino Canyon RoadBeautiful hikes and a great spot to check out some desert species.
Madera Canyon is a great place to look for oak woodland species. Whenever I go with my birding friends we always stop at this lodge because they have a ton of feeders up. There’s always so many hummingbirds!
Santa Rita Lodge
1218 S Madera Canyon RdMadera Canyon is a great place to look for oak woodland species. Whenever I go with my birding friends we always stop at this lodge because they have a ton of feeders up. There’s always so many hummingbirds!
This is a wastewater treatment facility in town with great birding! It’s also right off of the bike path so if you have bikes take a trip on down and go for a walk around.
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Sweetwater Wetlands Park
2511 West Sweetwater DriveThis is a wastewater treatment facility in town with great birding! It’s also right off of the bike path so if you have bikes take a trip on down and go for a walk around.
Plant Lovers
Beautiful place to walk around and enjoy nature with a splash of art. They also have a nice garden bistro to grab food and drinks.
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Тохоно Чул
7366 N Paseo Del NorteBeautiful place to walk around and enjoy nature with a splash of art. They also have a nice garden bistro to grab food and drinks.
This is a cactus retail nursery. Make sure you drive slow on the way in and out so you can fully enjoy all of the old growth cacti. Their show greenhouse is also a must see as well!
Bach's Greenhouse Cactus Nursery
8602 N Thornydale RdThis is a cactus retail nursery. Make sure you drive slow on the way in and out so you can fully enjoy all of the old growth cacti. Their show greenhouse is also a must see as well!
A modest sized botanical garden that hosts art exhibits. Fun place to walk around. They also have a place to grab to grab food and drinks as well. They do have a butterfly house but it is usually only open October 1st - May 31st.
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Тусонские ботанические сады
2150 N Alvernon WayA modest sized botanical garden that hosts art exhibits. Fun place to walk around. They also have a place to grab to grab food and drinks as well. They do have a butterfly house but it is usually only open October 1st - May 31st.
Museums
The Desert Museum is not quite a museum… It is more like a desert animal zoo mixed with a botanical garden. It’s very close to the west side of Saguaro National Park so might be worth checking out if you’re already heading that way. My favorite parts have to be the hummingbird house and the mountain lion exhibit!
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Музей пустыни Аризона-Сонора
2021 N Kinney RdThe Desert Museum is not quite a museum… It is more like a desert animal zoo mixed with a botanical garden. It’s very close to the west side of Saguaro National Park so might be worth checking out if you’re already heading that way. My favorite parts have to be the hummingbird house and the mountain lion exhibit!
Souvenirs
Great places to pick up some locally made Souvenirs.
They have some great locally made jewelry and artist designed t-shirts as well as a lot of up-cycled crafts. It’s a fun place to visit and to grab some souvenirs to bring home.
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Pop Cycle
422 N 4th AveThey have some great locally made jewelry and artist designed t-shirts as well as a lot of up-cycled crafts. It’s a fun place to visit and to grab some souvenirs to bring home.
Old Town Artisans
201 N Court AveGreat place to find local art and pottery.
This is a cute little store focusing on Tucson and desert themed souvenirs.
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Why I Love Where I Live
267 South Avenida del ConventoThis is a cute little store focusing on Tucson and desert themed souvenirs.
Great for everything talavera. They also have lots of art, rugs and fun nick-nacks. I love going here to get fun things for the garden.
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The Happy Saguaro
7974 North Oracle RoadGreat for everything talavera. They also have lots of art, rugs and fun nick-nacks. I love going here to get fun things for the garden.
Make sure to check out all of the different buildings spread out. There’s 5 or 6 I believe. Furniture, wall art, sculptures, etc. They also have a ton of outdoor plants, greenhouses and plant pottery too. Fun place to walk around.
Zocalo Village
3384 E River RdMake sure to check out all of the different buildings spread out. There’s 5 or 6 I believe. Furniture, wall art, sculptures, etc. They also have a ton of outdoor plants, greenhouses and plant pottery too. Fun place to walk around.
Some great local artists have their stuff here. There’s even a bar inside so you can grab a drink and walk and shop.
Proper Shops
Some great local artists have their stuff here. There’s even a bar inside so you can grab a drink and walk and shop.
This is a strip of beautiful shops to explore. Lots of furniture and home decor that are unique. Tooley’s Cafe is right there as well so it’s fun to spend a few hours exploring the stores and grab something to eat.
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Lost Barrio
200 S Park AveThis is a strip of beautiful shops to explore. Lots of furniture and home decor that are unique. Tooley’s Cafe is right there as well so it’s fun to spend a few hours exploring the stores and grab something to eat.
Food scene
On 15 December 2015, Tucson, Arizona, became the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy designated in the United States. The food here tells a story that dates back 4,000 years. The city’s culinary heritage is a tapestry of Mexican and Native American traditions. Eating local means honoring history, and each bite is an experience.
Amazing breakfast, lunch and now even dinner! Outdoor and indoor dining. The huevos rancheros and smoked beet sandwiches are to die for! They also have great scones and breakfast cakes, but my favorite has to be the Kouign-amann!
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Five Points Market & Restaurant
756 South Stone AvenueAmazing breakfast, lunch and now even dinner! Outdoor and indoor dining. The huevos rancheros and smoked beet sandwiches are to die for! They also have great scones and breakfast cakes, but my favorite has to be the Kouign-amann!
A hole in the wall Mexican Restaurant with great food south of 22nd street. This is a local favorite. I love their veggie tamale pie.
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El Torero Restaurant
231 E 26th StA hole in the wall Mexican Restaurant with great food south of 22nd street. This is a local favorite. I love their veggie tamale pie.
Great fresh Mexican food near downtown Tucson. Lots of vegetarian and vegan options as well.
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La Chaiteria
1002 W Congress StGreat fresh Mexican food near downtown Tucson. Lots of vegetarian and vegan options as well.
This place is right in downtown Tucson and has very tasty cocktails. It’s a nice ambience to have a few drinks and appetizers to start off the night.
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Penca
50 E Broadway BlvdThis place is right in downtown Tucson and has very tasty cocktails. It’s a nice ambience to have a few drinks and appetizers to start off the night.
The breakfast place is actually called the Coronet Market Cafe. You order inside and then get to eat your meal in a beautiful little courtyard in the middle of the Barrio. The Shakshouka is my favorite thing to get here.
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The Coronet
198 W Cushing StThe breakfast place is actually called the Coronet Market Cafe. You order inside and then get to eat your meal in a beautiful little courtyard in the middle of the Barrio. The Shakshouka is my favorite thing to get here.
Hole in the wall coffee and breakfast burrito place. They do have some outdoor seating but it’s more so a pickup place. Absolutely delicious burritos!
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Barista Del Barrio
1002 N Grande AveHole in the wall coffee and breakfast burrito place. They do have some outdoor seating but it’s more so a pickup place. Absolutely delicious burritos!
Incredible handmade pasta and sandwiches. They don’t have any seating but it’s unbelievably worth trying. So delicious!
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CERES Pasta
77 West Washington StreetIncredible handmade pasta and sandwiches. They don’t have any seating but it’s unbelievably worth trying. So delicious!
Outdoor courtyard called The Mercado. Seis is a Mexican restaurant within it but there is also a coffee shop and Mexican bakery there.
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Seis Kitchen
1765 E River RdOutdoor courtyard called The Mercado. Seis is a Mexican restaurant within it but there is also a coffee shop and Mexican bakery there.
Cup Cafe has both outdoor and indoor dining and is located right in the heart of downtown Tucson. It’s part of an old hotel (Hotel Congress) that was renovated and is now used for music venues, bars and dining. I think the breakfast is delicious but they also have dinner and sometimes even music at night. More likely on the weekends.
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Cup Cafe
311 E Congress StCup Cafe has both outdoor and indoor dining and is located right in the heart of downtown Tucson. It’s part of an old hotel (Hotel Congress) that was renovated and is now used for music venues, bars and dining. I think the breakfast is delicious but they also have dinner and sometimes even music at night. More likely on the weekends.
Delicious Ethiopian Restaurant great for large groups and a good bang for your buck.
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Cafe Desta
758 S Stone AveDelicious Ethiopian Restaurant great for large groups and a good bang for your buck.
Great pizza place with a hidden local bar behind. You can hang out in the back and have a drink while waiting on your pizza. The bar is very “Tucson.”
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Empire Pizza & Pub
137 E Congress StGreat pizza place with a hidden local bar behind. You can hang out in the back and have a drink while waiting on your pizza. The bar is very “Tucson.”
Miss Saigon Downtown
88 N 6th AveThai and Pho in downtown
BATA
This is a great place for a fun and fancy night out.
Now called “JoJo’s”. Fun place to go for the atmosphere and walk through all of the shops. They also usually have music sometimes during the day and in the evenings. You can check who is playing on their website. I love getting their sticky bun for breakfast; it’s not too sweet and so scrumptious!
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LaCo Tucson | Outdoor Downtown Tucson Restaurant
76 N Court AveNow called “JoJo’s”. Fun place to go for the atmosphere and walk through all of the shops. They also usually have music sometimes during the day and in the evenings. You can check who is playing on their website. I love getting their sticky bun for breakfast; it’s not too sweet and so scrumptious!