I have visited Tucson every year since my birth as most of my close family has resided here for the last forty years and my mom was raised here but moved away at a young age. Family time is a unique phenomenon that cannot be explained because they know and understand you for the person you have been since you were a child and they hope for the best potential for you in the future. You can learn a lot from your elders if you take the time to sit and listen as their life experience can grant you vast knowledge. I always love hearing my grandparents stories from growing up on a farm during the Depression or even just the family dynamic between my mom and her siblings. I have enjoyed the last week here and shout out to my aunt and uncle for letting Lucy and I stay with them so comfortably.
What To Do & Where To Go in Tucson:
Since this is a travel blog, let me lay out some of my favorite spots and things to do in Tucson. First if you can, avoid the larger malls like Tucson and Park for shopping and hit up 4th avenue down by the University of Arizona (http://www.fourthavenue.org). There are locally made Native American jewelry shops, cute clothing boutiques, great cafes and even out of place corporations like Urban Outfitters on University Blvd. One of my favorites is the Peony Silk Road shop in the back of a marketplace building at 522 N. 4th ave. because Rona Mandal sells one of a kind pieces, while educating you on the stones and meanings (she also has an Amazon store under the same name). In addition, the area has tons of tourist souvenirs at great cost compared to the airport or malls like acrylic encased tarantulas and tequila-flavored scorpion lollipops. While you are down there, if you love photography or want to explore the art of it, please check out the photography exhibits at the U of A Center for Creative Photography (http://www.creativephotography.org). They have the largest collection of Ansel Adam originals (he has inspired my entire trip and my love for photography) but you have to make an appointment to see them in a private room and handle them with gloves. Tucson surprisingly has a lot of art to check out and another great stop is the Tucson Museum of Art (http://www.tucsonmuseumofart.org), which is downtown. It has constantly changing exhibits that range from Andy Warhol to Rock and Roll Photography along with a great gift shop. They have an amazing permanent exhibit of Western and Colonial art in an old historical house that my aunt and I love to explore room by room while it really makes you feel nostalgic. Around the corner from the museum is the old and still current courthouse that displays the wonderful regional architecture. There are also a lot of artist shops throughout the area but do not drift too far from your immediate surroundings. Something hokey but equally entertaining is Old Tucson Studios, which is a small scale theme-park for the old Western movies (http://oldtucson.com). It is very kitschy and as a child I would run around, play carnival games and watch live cowboy shows. Lastly there is the Gaslight Theatre, where we would see holiday shows with bottles of sasparilla while singing along with the hilarious actors (http://www.thegaslighttheatre.com). A lot of the things I have spoken about I did not experience on this trip but throughout my twenty-plus years of vising Tucson and they go across the board in entertaining different ages so you pick and choose.
If you are in the region, you have to get outside, even though it is over a hundred degrees in the summer. Some of the natural wonders that you can experience in Tucson are the Saguaro National Park and Sabino Canyon. The National Park is truly a desert atmosphere so I have never wanted to camp there with rattlesnakes and coyotes but there are multiple hikes and horse trails throughout (Photos #1-5) . I usually just take the Cactus Forest driving tour but hope to one day take the eight mile bike ride in the evening. The hills and turns are very fun to drive in a car but try to go early or later in the day as the desert heat can be killer. Tucson has some of the best sunsets even compared to the Caribbean so try to go at sunset (park is open sunrise to sunset) and get a one-of-a-kind view at Javelina lookout. Cactus can be so ugly while still so beautiful and there are many different shapes and sizes. I have seen Roadrunners, which have to the funniest bird, along with jackrabbits, squirrels and doves but there are also bobcats, mountain lions, bats and even tortoises. More locally visited is Sabino Canyon, which has a very well-thought out layout through somewhat of a desert oasis as there are green mesquite trees, pricky pear cactus and even small natural pools higher up in the canyon (http://www.sabinocanyon.com). There is a tram that can take you half way to Seven Falls, my favorite childhood spot, which is a total seven mile hike to large boulders with a small waterfall falling into cool spring pools. There are tons of hikes but a shorter walk is up the first hill on the east side to a large white cross - the view there is also spectacular at sunrise. If you are here in the winter, you can see some snow in the desert on Mount Lemon and experience some winding mountain driving. We loved to have picnics here as a child and I do believe my name is still carved in a tree somewhere (not that I condone doing this now, especially in National Parks).
What To Eat:
Eegee's (photo #6) is a must for one who is visiting Tucson and is always my first stop from the airport usually. Even this week I have had an Eegee's four times but I always stick to lemon. It is like a 7-11 icee and Italian ice combined into greatness called an Eegee's. I have never eaten here though. My family recently enlightened me about the famous Sonora dog as I love Chicago hotdogs but this is very different while also but not equally as good. You have to venture to Ruiz' on the northeast corner of 6th ave and 22nd street (photo #7). It is a crisp beef hotdog charred lightly on a sweet homemade bun with mayo, diced tomatoes and the famous regional diced green chiles (photos #8-10). It was much better than I expected and I would definitely get one again, especially for $2.50. Last but certainly not least is my favorite place in the entire country to eat real Mexican - Poco and Mom at Kolb and 22nd. In fact I ate there twice in one day. First for lunch I had the chile rellenos with a sour cream green chile sauce. Then for dinner, I had the taste of New Mexico plate with a chile rellenos in just green chile sauce (very spicy but in a good way), a chicken and cheese enchilada with a red chile sauce and a crispy Machaca taco, which is slowly marinated beef. Everything on the menu is under ten dollars and the guacamole is very fresh. You can easily eat here for under ten dollars and be full. You have to end the meal with the freshly made sopapillas or start the morning with some coffee and one. They are lightly fried dough with honey or powered sugar on them. I hope I did not leave you too hungry but if so go grab some local grub.
I am leaving the region to truly start this huge journey to nine more National Parks, so please keep reading as I take on some real adventures in the next month. Also on a side note, please click anytime you see font in blue as I have learned to make links, which make my website easier to navigate.
What To Do & Where To Go in Tucson:
Since this is a travel blog, let me lay out some of my favorite spots and things to do in Tucson. First if you can, avoid the larger malls like Tucson and Park for shopping and hit up 4th avenue down by the University of Arizona (http://www.fourthavenue.org). There are locally made Native American jewelry shops, cute clothing boutiques, great cafes and even out of place corporations like Urban Outfitters on University Blvd. One of my favorites is the Peony Silk Road shop in the back of a marketplace building at 522 N. 4th ave. because Rona Mandal sells one of a kind pieces, while educating you on the stones and meanings (she also has an Amazon store under the same name). In addition, the area has tons of tourist souvenirs at great cost compared to the airport or malls like acrylic encased tarantulas and tequila-flavored scorpion lollipops. While you are down there, if you love photography or want to explore the art of it, please check out the photography exhibits at the U of A Center for Creative Photography (http://www.creativephotography.org). They have the largest collection of Ansel Adam originals (he has inspired my entire trip and my love for photography) but you have to make an appointment to see them in a private room and handle them with gloves. Tucson surprisingly has a lot of art to check out and another great stop is the Tucson Museum of Art (http://www.tucsonmuseumofart.org), which is downtown. It has constantly changing exhibits that range from Andy Warhol to Rock and Roll Photography along with a great gift shop. They have an amazing permanent exhibit of Western and Colonial art in an old historical house that my aunt and I love to explore room by room while it really makes you feel nostalgic. Around the corner from the museum is the old and still current courthouse that displays the wonderful regional architecture. There are also a lot of artist shops throughout the area but do not drift too far from your immediate surroundings. Something hokey but equally entertaining is Old Tucson Studios, which is a small scale theme-park for the old Western movies (http://oldtucson.com). It is very kitschy and as a child I would run around, play carnival games and watch live cowboy shows. Lastly there is the Gaslight Theatre, where we would see holiday shows with bottles of sasparilla while singing along with the hilarious actors (http://www.thegaslighttheatre.com). A lot of the things I have spoken about I did not experience on this trip but throughout my twenty-plus years of vising Tucson and they go across the board in entertaining different ages so you pick and choose.
If you are in the region, you have to get outside, even though it is over a hundred degrees in the summer. Some of the natural wonders that you can experience in Tucson are the Saguaro National Park and Sabino Canyon. The National Park is truly a desert atmosphere so I have never wanted to camp there with rattlesnakes and coyotes but there are multiple hikes and horse trails throughout (Photos #1-5) . I usually just take the Cactus Forest driving tour but hope to one day take the eight mile bike ride in the evening. The hills and turns are very fun to drive in a car but try to go early or later in the day as the desert heat can be killer. Tucson has some of the best sunsets even compared to the Caribbean so try to go at sunset (park is open sunrise to sunset) and get a one-of-a-kind view at Javelina lookout. Cactus can be so ugly while still so beautiful and there are many different shapes and sizes. I have seen Roadrunners, which have to the funniest bird, along with jackrabbits, squirrels and doves but there are also bobcats, mountain lions, bats and even tortoises. More locally visited is Sabino Canyon, which has a very well-thought out layout through somewhat of a desert oasis as there are green mesquite trees, pricky pear cactus and even small natural pools higher up in the canyon (http://www.sabinocanyon.com). There is a tram that can take you half way to Seven Falls, my favorite childhood spot, which is a total seven mile hike to large boulders with a small waterfall falling into cool spring pools. There are tons of hikes but a shorter walk is up the first hill on the east side to a large white cross - the view there is also spectacular at sunrise. If you are here in the winter, you can see some snow in the desert on Mount Lemon and experience some winding mountain driving. We loved to have picnics here as a child and I do believe my name is still carved in a tree somewhere (not that I condone doing this now, especially in National Parks).
What To Eat:
Eegee's (photo #6) is a must for one who is visiting Tucson and is always my first stop from the airport usually. Even this week I have had an Eegee's four times but I always stick to lemon. It is like a 7-11 icee and Italian ice combined into greatness called an Eegee's. I have never eaten here though. My family recently enlightened me about the famous Sonora dog as I love Chicago hotdogs but this is very different while also but not equally as good. You have to venture to Ruiz' on the northeast corner of 6th ave and 22nd street (photo #7). It is a crisp beef hotdog charred lightly on a sweet homemade bun with mayo, diced tomatoes and the famous regional diced green chiles (photos #8-10). It was much better than I expected and I would definitely get one again, especially for $2.50. Last but certainly not least is my favorite place in the entire country to eat real Mexican - Poco and Mom at Kolb and 22nd. In fact I ate there twice in one day. First for lunch I had the chile rellenos with a sour cream green chile sauce. Then for dinner, I had the taste of New Mexico plate with a chile rellenos in just green chile sauce (very spicy but in a good way), a chicken and cheese enchilada with a red chile sauce and a crispy Machaca taco, which is slowly marinated beef. Everything on the menu is under ten dollars and the guacamole is very fresh. You can easily eat here for under ten dollars and be full. You have to end the meal with the freshly made sopapillas or start the morning with some coffee and one. They are lightly fried dough with honey or powered sugar on them. I hope I did not leave you too hungry but if so go grab some local grub.
I am leaving the region to truly start this huge journey to nine more National Parks, so please keep reading as I take on some real adventures in the next month. Also on a side note, please click anytime you see font in blue as I have learned to make links, which make my website easier to navigate.
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