Kathy And Richard's Guidebook
Sightseeing
We love Tucson’s oldest inn because it’s staff warmly welcomes visitors on its shady patio for drinks or meals. A great place to review your plans for the day or meet friends for cocktails. The bar at the Arizona Inn in this beautiful old Spanish style hotel with fancy cocktails and a guy who plays piano in the evenings. What's not to love?
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Arizona Inn
2200 E Elm StWe love Tucson’s oldest inn because it’s staff warmly welcomes visitors on its shady patio for drinks or meals. A great place to review your plans for the day or meet friends for cocktails. The bar at the Arizona Inn in this beautiful old Spanish style hotel with fancy cocktails and a guy who plays piano in the evenings. What's not to love?
Get your hat, your water bottles and a snack.... set out early in the morning and enjoy Tucson from a higher elevation! Take the tram up the mountain and enjoy the tour guide—- then walk down the road, or hike the switchback phoneline trail for incredible views of the Tucson valley. Other favorite features: Seven Falls (tough) or the water falls over the bridges in springtime!
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Sabino Canyon Recreation Area
5700 North Sabino Canyon RoadGet your hat, your water bottles and a snack.... set out early in the morning and enjoy Tucson from a higher elevation! Take the tram up the mountain and enjoy the tour guide—- then walk down the road, or hike the switchback phoneline trail for incredible views of the Tucson valley. Other favorite features: Seven Falls (tough) or the water falls over the bridges in springtime!
Tucson’s dark skies designation make it a global center for leading edge research of our universe. Learn about contributions our scientists have made to NASA and beyond: book an appointment to tour the lab, located under the football stadium. Learn how the mirrors created there are then shipped around the globe and assist in discoveries of the beginnings of our universe!
University of Arizona's Richard F. Caris Mirror Laboratory
527 N National Championship DrTucson’s dark skies designation make it a global center for leading edge research of our universe. Learn about contributions our scientists have made to NASA and beyond: book an appointment to tour the lab, located under the football stadium. Learn how the mirrors created there are then shipped around the globe and assist in discoveries of the beginnings of our universe!
Walk a few blocks and you arrive on campus ….. our weekly walk through the grassy mall, in and around buildings is an ever-changing delight of sculptures, gardens and rest spots to enjoy the architecture and cool breezes on a hot day!
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The University of Arizona
1200 East University BoulevardWalk a few blocks and you arrive on campus ….. our weekly walk through the grassy mall, in and around buildings is an ever-changing delight of sculptures, gardens and rest spots to enjoy the architecture and cool breezes on a hot day!
Casa Film Bar - this place has a zillion beers in cans and on tap and a ton of board games and is adjoined with the last remaining video rental spot in Tucson. They always have movies with subtitles playing and on weekends there's a food truck outside. Go in to the video rental side to snag some free popcorn.
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Casa Film Bar
2905 E Speedway BlvdCasa Film Bar - this place has a zillion beers in cans and on tap and a ton of board games and is adjoined with the last remaining video rental spot in Tucson. They always have movies with subtitles playing and on weekends there's a food truck outside. Go in to the video rental side to snag some free popcorn.
Mt Lemmon - our favorite escape from the heat and one of AZ's Sky Islands! Go from 2000' elevation to 8000' elevation in 30 miles and learn all about it in the easily downloadable audio guide put out by the u of a (highly recommended!). There are a ton of beautiful hikes you could do up here, or you can take the ski lift up radio ridge and go for a shorter walk. Go down into summerhaven and get a cookie from cookie cabin before you head back down.
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Mt. Lemmon Sky Center Observatory
9800 E Ski Run RdMt Lemmon - our favorite escape from the heat and one of AZ's Sky Islands! Go from 2000' elevation to 8000' elevation in 30 miles and learn all about it in the easily downloadable audio guide put out by the u of a (highly recommended!). There are a ton of beautiful hikes you could do up here, or you can take the ski lift up radio ridge and go for a shorter walk. Go down into summerhaven and get a cookie from cookie cabin before you head back down.
Redington Road & Pass - the beautiful road less travelled! Take speedway (I believe? Look it up to confirm) all the way easy til it turns into Redington road. There are a few hikes you can take down to the river, but it's probably dry at this point. I'd recommend driving up and over the pass out to some serene spot for a picnic or a pretty purple sunset in a landscape that looks more Colorado than Arizona. Note: this is where people come to drive their side by sides and shoot their guns 🤷🏻♀️. Arizona!
East Redington Road
East Redington RoadRedington Road & Pass - the beautiful road less travelled! Take speedway (I believe? Look it up to confirm) all the way easy til it turns into Redington road. There are a few hikes you can take down to the river, but it's probably dry at this point. I'd recommend driving up and over the pass out to some serene spot for a picnic or a pretty purple sunset in a landscape that looks more Colorado than Arizona. Note: this is where people come to drive their side by sides and shoot their guns 🤷🏻♀️. Arizona!
Gate's Pass - The very best sunset spot! Grab a bottle of wine and some snackies (or tacos!) and get up here before the sun sets! You'll get a view of saguaro national park, disturbed only by the road travelling out there and a few buildings at old Tucson studios you can see in the distance. There are multiple great places to sit, but wear shoes you can scramble in and bring your phone to light your way back to the parking lot. Get here an hour early to secure a parking spot if you're going on the weekend.
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Gates Pass Scenic Lookout
7799 W Gates Pass RdGate's Pass - The very best sunset spot! Grab a bottle of wine and some snackies (or tacos!) and get up here before the sun sets! You'll get a view of saguaro national park, disturbed only by the road travelling out there and a few buildings at old Tucson studios you can see in the distance. There are multiple great places to sit, but wear shoes you can scramble in and bring your phone to light your way back to the parking lot. Get here an hour early to secure a parking spot if you're going on the weekend.
A Mountain (Sentinel Peak) - One of those Western mountains with a letter on it! This is another great sunset spot with a pretty view of downtown. Don't bother going on the weekends, it's super busy. Also I think the park is closed on Mondays.
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Sentinel Peak Park (“A” Mountain)
1001 Sentinel Peak Rd SA Mountain (Sentinel Peak) - One of those Western mountains with a letter on it! This is another great sunset spot with a pretty view of downtown. Don't bother going on the weekends, it's super busy. Also I think the park is closed on Mondays.
Arizona/Sonora Desert Museum - if you have any interest in desert flora or fauna definitely go here!! It's part open air zoo, part botanical garden, part science museum, and it's so great. Usually in the summers they have days where they're open late so you don't have to be outside in the hot sun. Definitely take advantage of that, they usually have some cool nighttime programming about bats and cactus flowers to go with. Or - go early in the morning to catch the raptor show: seeing the owls and hawks in flight is awesome!
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Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
2021 N Kinney RdArizona/Sonora Desert Museum - if you have any interest in desert flora or fauna definitely go here!! It's part open air zoo, part botanical garden, part science museum, and it's so great. Usually in the summers they have days where they're open late so you don't have to be outside in the hot sun. Definitely take advantage of that, they usually have some cool nighttime programming about bats and cactus flowers to go with. Or - go early in the morning to catch the raptor show: seeing the owls and hawks in flight is awesome!
Biosphere 2 - A fascinating scientific attraction! There was a documentary released about it a year or two ago that's with watching, I think it's on Amazon? Anyway it's a really wild place. Check out their website if you're not familiar. It's about a 40 minute drive North of tucson.
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Biosphäre 2
32540 S Biosphere RdBiosphere 2 - A fascinating scientific attraction! There was a documentary released about it a year or two ago that's with watching, I think it's on Amazon? Anyway it's a really wild place. Check out their website if you're not familiar. It's about a 40 minute drive North of tucson.
Mission San Xavier - A Spanish church built in the...1500s? by natives converted by missionaries. It's really beautiful and incongruous with everything else out here! 15-20 minutes from downtown. Definitely worth a visit.
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Mission San Xavier del Bac
1950 W San Xavier RdMission San Xavier - A Spanish church built in the...1500s? by natives converted by missionaries. It's really beautiful and incongruous with everything else out here! 15-20 minutes from downtown. Definitely worth a visit.
Sonoita (wine country) - about an hour south of Tucson, there are some cute/fun wineries and a fancy pizza place to visit here. It's nowhere nice as Napa, and the best wines that come out of here have their grapes grown in California, but it is novel and slightly cooler (temperature)(😉) than Tucson!
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Sonoita
Sonoita (wine country) - about an hour south of Tucson, there are some cute/fun wineries and a fancy pizza place to visit here. It's nowhere nice as Napa, and the best wines that come out of here have their grapes grown in California, but it is novel and slightly cooler (temperature)(😉) than Tucson!
FOODIES
The Salvadoran (Mexican food truck) in front of the food city on Grande and St Mary's Roads. The pupusas are so good.
Consulate of El Salvador
5447 East 5th StreetThe Salvadoran (Mexican food truck) in front of the food city on Grande and St Mary's Roads. The pupusas are so good.
Their carne asada is probably my favorite in town. They have a topping bar for your tacos: roasted spring onions and chiles, and cucumbers and pickled onions and a few salsas. Their Sonoran hotdogs are pretty solid too.
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El Güero Canelo Restaurant
2480 N Oracle RdTheir carne asada is probably my favorite in town. They have a topping bar for your tacos: roasted spring onions and chiles, and cucumbers and pickled onions and a few salsas. Their Sonoran hotdogs are pretty solid too.
Karamelo King - a karamelo is like a quesadilla + a burrito- the closest thing In Tucson to a mission style burrito
Karamelo King
3749 East Grant RoadKaramelo King - a karamelo is like a quesadilla + a burrito- the closest thing In Tucson to a mission style burrito
Tacos Apson - this place rules. If you go during the daytime, drive down that same street to a raspado place and grab one of those too. Perfect for hot weather!
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Los Tacos Apson
3501 S 12th AveTacos Apson - this place rules. If you go during the daytime, drive down that same street to a raspado place and grab one of those too. Perfect for hot weather!
Frank's/Francisco - this is THE breakfast SPOT. Go during the day for a greasy spoon breakfast, or if you want Mexican food in a diner setting go at night. The staff is super nice and the food is v reasonably priced.
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Frank's & Francisco's Denoche Restaurant
3843 E Pima StFrank's/Francisco - this is THE breakfast SPOT. Go during the day for a greasy spoon breakfast, or if you want Mexican food in a diner setting go at night. The staff is super nice and the food is v reasonably priced.
Frank's/Francisco - this is THE breakfast SPOT. Go during the day for a greasy spoon breakfast, or if you want Mexican food in a diner setting go at night. The staff is super nice and the food is v reasonably priced.
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Robert's Restaurant
3301 E Grant RdFrank's/Francisco - this is THE breakfast SPOT. Go during the day for a greasy spoon breakfast, or if you want Mexican food in a diner setting go at night. The staff is super nice and the food is v reasonably priced.
The Taco Shop - go here for BURRITOS. Please note, a burrito in Tucson has no rice or beans in it, it's purely saucy saucy meat and it is so delightful.
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Taco Shop
1350 E Broadway BlvdThe Taco Shop - go here for BURRITOS. Please note, a burrito in Tucson has no rice or beans in it, it's purely saucy saucy meat and it is so delightful.
Exo Roast Co. - the place to get coffee before you make your way down fourth ave (more on that later). Before covid they had an awesome mezcal bar in the back. They might have opened it again??
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Exo Roast Co
403 N 6th AveExo Roast Co. - the place to get coffee before you make your way down fourth ave (more on that later). Before covid they had an awesome mezcal bar in the back. They might have opened it again??
The Mercado (Presta Coffee / Seis / La Estrella) - a delightful one stop shop, go for coffee from presta, donuts from la Estrella, and a breakfast burrito from seis. There are some cute/bougie shops you can stop in as well. If you're there you might as well wander down to the MSA annex where you can poke your head in the shops or get a beer at westbound or a Japanese snacky Kukai. You can take the street car from here over to downtown, fourth ave, or the u of a- I think it's free for the rest of the year because covid.
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Mercado San Augustin
100 South Avenida del ConventoThe Mercado (Presta Coffee / Seis / La Estrella) - a delightful one stop shop, go for coffee from presta, donuts from la Estrella, and a breakfast burrito from seis. There are some cute/bougie shops you can stop in as well. If you're there you might as well wander down to the MSA annex where you can poke your head in the shops or get a beer at westbound or a Japanese snacky Kukai. You can take the street car from here over to downtown, fourth ave, or the u of a- I think it's free for the rest of the year because covid.
The Coronet - best atmosphere, great food, beautiful patio, on Sundays they have live music. The inside part of the restaurant miiiight be open again but sit on the patio if you can!
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The Coronet
198 W Cushing StThe Coronet - best atmosphere, great food, beautiful patio, on Sundays they have live music. The inside part of the restaurant miiiight be open again but sit on the patio if you can!
Penca - fancy fancy very legit authentic and delicious Mexican food. Highly recommend, make a reservation if you're going on the weekend.
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Penca
50 E Broadway BlvdPenca - fancy fancy very legit authentic and delicious Mexican food. Highly recommend, make a reservation if you're going on the weekend.
Anello - fancy pizza and salads in a very baby restaurant! They have great wine and the price is so right. Love the cute vibe here.
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ANELLO
222 E 6th StAnello - fancy pizza and salads in a very baby restaurant! They have great wine and the price is so right. Love the cute vibe here.
Time Market - very cute fancy market with great pizza, breakfast, and beer and a nice patio with ~*misters*~
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Time Market
444 E University BlvdTime Market - very cute fancy market with great pizza, breakfast, and beer and a nice patio with ~*misters*~
The Little One - upscale Mexican breakfast spot, it was the sister restaurant to a truly great Tucson standby that closed last year. They're only open for brunch time hours during the week but it is worth going if you're free!
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The Little One
151 North Stone AvenueThe Little One - upscale Mexican breakfast spot, it was the sister restaurant to a truly great Tucson standby that closed last year. They're only open for brunch time hours during the week but it is worth going if you're free!
Monsoon chocolate - Tucson's very own chocolatier! TheY make incredible bonbons and have recently reopened their cafe. Go get a choco-taco!
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Monsoon Chocolate
234 E 22nd StMonsoon chocolate - Tucson's very own chocolatier! TheY make incredible bonbons and have recently reopened their cafe. Go get a choco-taco!
Ceres Pasta and also Ice Cream - we still haven't made it over here but their ice cream looks freaking GOOD. Check out their IG for more details.
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CERES Pasta
77 West Washington StreetCeres Pasta and also Ice Cream - we still haven't made it over here but their ice cream looks freaking GOOD. Check out their IG for more details.
Eegee's - a Tucson must. If you're here in July be sure to get a watermelon eegee (tucson's favorite flavor). Otherwise I recommend lemon! Non-tucsonans aren't usually impressed by the sandwiches (it's the nostalgia of soccer games and school party catering) but I don't have anything bad to say about them! The sandwich to get is a turkey, grinder style, with whatever cheese you like. I'd also recommend getting french fries and asking for some Buffalo ranch to go with.
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Eegee's
2510 E Speedway BlvdEegee's - a Tucson must. If you're here in July be sure to get a watermelon eegee (tucson's favorite flavor). Otherwise I recommend lemon! Non-tucsonans aren't usually impressed by the sandwiches (it's the nostalgia of soccer games and school party catering) but I don't have anything bad to say about them! The sandwich to get is a turkey, grinder style, with whatever cheese you like. I'd also recommend getting french fries and asking for some Buffalo ranch to go with.
Sonoran dogs from El Nene (ruthrauff and river) / El sinaloense (Alvernon between speedway and Pima) / Los chipilones (22nd and south 6th) - All of these are permanently set up food trucks, and at this point they all have places to sit. I'd just go to whichever one you're closest to. Or better yet, just stop when you see a food truck in a parking lot. I doubt you can go wrong!
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Taqueria Aqui Con El Nene
4415 N Flowing Wells RdSonoran dogs from El Nene (ruthrauff and river) / El sinaloense (Alvernon between speedway and Pima) / Los chipilones (22nd and south 6th) - All of these are permanently set up food trucks, and at this point they all have places to sit. I'd just go to whichever one you're closest to. Or better yet, just stop when you see a food truck in a parking lot. I doubt you can go wrong!
Tucson Hop Shop - A sweet sweet beer bar (they have a few bottles of wine) with a beautiful lil patio. It's hoppin' on the weekends but is pretty quiet during the week. The center they're in is pretty cute too. They close relatively early (9 or 10 depending on the day)
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Tucson Hop Shop
3230 N Dodge BlvdTucson Hop Shop - A sweet sweet beer bar (they have a few bottles of wine) with a beautiful lil patio. It's hoppin' on the weekends but is pretty quiet during the week. The center they're in is pretty cute too. They close relatively early (9 or 10 depending on the day)
The Shelter - if you like a JFK themed dive bar this one's for you!! There's pool and a room you can smoke in complete with video poker.
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The Shelter Cocktail Lounge
4155 E Grant RdThe Shelter - if you like a JFK themed dive bar this one's for you!! There's pool and a room you can smoke in complete with video poker.
Owl's Club - dark, moody bar built in an old funeral home. The main bar looks like a chapel and the adjoining rooms like a parlor from Clue. They recently opened up an outdoor space that's really cute. This is the only bar we go to that ever has lines to get in!
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Owls Club
236 S Scott AveOwl's Club - dark, moody bar built in an old funeral home. The main bar looks like a chapel and the adjoining rooms like a parlor from Clue. They recently opened up an outdoor space that's really cute. This is the only bar we go to that ever has lines to get in!
St Charles - a dive bar with a great beer selection and a dusty but great backyard. They have a pretty solid beer selection and the lady who owns it often bartends and is super nice.
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Saint Charles Tavern
1632 S 4th AveSt Charles - a dive bar with a great beer selection and a dusty but great backyard. They have a pretty solid beer selection and the lady who owns it often bartends and is super nice.
MOVIES
The Loft - our local (incredible) indie theater. Check what's playing while you're in town, they often play cult classics and have been screening movies outside and it's a delight. You can get beer and food from their snack bar as well.
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The Loft Cinema
3233 E Speedway BlvdThe Loft - our local (incredible) indie theater. Check what's playing while you're in town, they often play cult classics and have been screening movies outside and it's a delight. You can get beer and food from their snack bar as well.
SHOPPING
Midtown Mercantile Merchants - Wonderful antique market with excellent finds!
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Midtown Mercantile Merchants
4443 E Speedway BlvdMidtown Mercantile Merchants - Wonderful antique market with excellent finds!
Bookman's - Excellent used book store with a variety of wares. Worth a look anytime! used book store of all time. The one at speedway and wilmot is the largest. If you're there at lunchtime, get a sandwich at beyond bread, the best local chain that will be forever stuck in the 90s.
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Bookmans Midtown Entertainment Exchange
4841 E Speedway BlvdBookman's - Excellent used book store with a variety of wares. Worth a look anytime! used book store of all time. The one at speedway and wilmot is the largest. If you're there at lunchtime, get a sandwich at beyond bread, the best local chain that will be forever stuck in the 90s.
Diamond Lil's - a great consignment shop that is only open the same hours as El corral, the Western restaurant it shares a parking lot with.
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El Corral
2201 E River RdDiamond Lil's - a great consignment shop that is only open the same hours as El corral, the Western restaurant it shares a parking lot with.
The Golden Goose - If you're going to biosphere and they're open you may as well stop in! This is one of those thrift stores that's hit or miss but when it's hit it's VERY hit.
Golden Goose Thrift Shop
15970 N Oracle RdThe Golden Goose - If you're going to biosphere and they're open you may as well stop in! This is one of those thrift stores that's hit or miss but when it's hit it's VERY hit.
Neighborhoods
Fourth Avenue - the one walkable street in Tucson! This is sandwiched between the university and downtown, so this is where all the college kids hang out, especially on the weekend (you will recognize which bars are college bars instantly). I'd ride the tram from the mercado to 6th and Broadway, make a stop at Pueblo vida, and then walk north to Congress, then west to fourth ave. Walk north and poke your head in anywhere that strikes your fancy. Once you get to 8th there are stores down the east west streets as well.
Definitely stop in to Tiny Town just south of 6th St, it's a shop owned by friends! It's a great place to pick up Tucson-themed merch, stickers, souvenirs and cheap t-shirts, and you might see some of my daughter's prints and books there.
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North 4th Avenue
North 4th AvenueFourth Avenue - the one walkable street in Tucson! This is sandwiched between the university and downtown, so this is where all the college kids hang out, especially on the weekend (you will recognize which bars are college bars instantly). I'd ride the tram from the mercado to 6th and Broadway, make a stop at Pueblo vida, and then walk north to Congress, then west to fourth ave. Walk north and poke your head in anywhere that strikes your fancy. Once you get to 8th there are stores down the east west streets as well.
Definitely stop in to Tiny Town just south of 6th St, it's a shop owned by friends! It's a great place to pick up Tucson-themed merch, stickers, souvenirs and cheap t-shirts, and you might see some of my daughter's prints and books there.
Barrio Viejo - once the college stuff on Congress ends, you can go just north or south of downtown to see cool old houses from ye olde Tucson. Would recommend starting at the Tucson museum of art and going north from there, then go west when you can't go north anymore. If the shops at La Cocina are open stop in there; Ceres is here as well! If you're in town on Mondays at 5 pm, "Meet Me At Maynards" allows you to join the walkers/runners on various routes through the barrio....and earn discounts on food and beverages!
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Barrio Viejo
Barrio Viejo - once the college stuff on Congress ends, you can go just north or south of downtown to see cool old houses from ye olde Tucson. Would recommend starting at the Tucson museum of art and going north from there, then go west when you can't go north anymore. If the shops at La Cocina are open stop in there; Ceres is here as well! If you're in town on Mondays at 5 pm, "Meet Me At Maynards" allows you to join the walkers/runners on various routes through the barrio....and earn discounts on food and beverages!
HIKING
Madera Canyon - about an hour south of tucson, this is an excellent hiking spot when it's cool enough to go! It's a bit cooler than most spots in Tucson and has hikes of various lengths and a river in spring and fall.
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Madera Canyon
Madera Canyon - about an hour south of tucson, this is an excellent hiking spot when it's cool enough to go! It's a bit cooler than most spots in Tucson and has hikes of various lengths and a river in spring and fall.
We love being up close and personal with our saguaros - and the beauty of the desert. There are hiking trails for all levels. Stop at the visitor's center where the dedicated and knowledgeable rangers and volunteers will advise you and answer all your questions. Ask about full moon hikes - just incredible......but daytime hikers: don't forget your sunscreen, hat and water bottles!
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Saguaro National Park East
We love being up close and personal with our saguaros - and the beauty of the desert. There are hiking trails for all levels. Stop at the visitor's center where the dedicated and knowledgeable rangers and volunteers will advise you and answer all your questions. Ask about full moon hikes - just incredible......but daytime hikers: don't forget your sunscreen, hat and water bottles!