Tucson: Are You Feeling 'Hot, Hot, Hot?'

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Economy Alert! You won't have to experience pain at the pump in this low gas price city.

A mere 60 miles north of Mexico, Tucson (pronounced TOO-sonn) got its start as a colonial outpost under the Spanish and Mexicans. Today, it’s a thriving mini-metropolis of more than 1 million people and plenty of desert sunshine.

With the University of Arizona as a hub for the young, Tucson is practically divided in half between a student population and that of retired citizens who have come looking for the sun. Because of this diversity, Tucson is really a tale of two cities in one. The students energize the city and add to the nightlife scene while the retirement communities bring a peaceful aura to the area.

Coming to Tucson is revitalizing. The mild climate and clear air energize the body. The serene natural beauty inspires. And the calm, relaxed pace makes it easy to shed the stresses of everyday life. The lands in and around Tucson are picture perfect with long strands of desert portraits, forested flanks of Mount Lemmon and the rolling foothills of Saguaro National Park.

Take a Hike or a Bike

Enjoy a sunrise or sunset on Gates Pass—a panoramic view of Tucson and Avra Valley. Wind through green pines and spectacular rock formations at Marshall’s Gulch. Mountain bike though high desert mountain terrain at Chiva Falls. And satisfy your wanderlust with a ride on Arizona Trail—a pathway that stretches the entire length of the state. One thing to remember: always take plenty of water with you!

Other places of great beauty include Mt. Lemmon, named for the first woman to climb it, Botanist Sara Lemmon. The beautiful pines offer a reprieve from the desert heat. It is a local favorite outdoor destination. The diversity of vegetation alone represents a trip from Mexico to Canada in 25 miles. Due to the diverse eco-environment, the birds and animals found on Mt. Lemmon are also vast. The Mexican Spotted Owl and other rare birds call Mt. Lemmon home, as do black bears and white-tailed deer.

Go Spa-ing

Believe it or not, Tucson is nationally recognized as the land of the spa. Treat yourself to a soothing and relaxing experience at spas with rich, luxurious names such as Mirror Image, Spirit, Ascend and Generations Day Spa.

Southwestern Spirit

Like to shop? Tucson has the best in Southwestern and Native American jewelry, art, and crafts. For instance, the Kaibab Courtyard Shops represent a conglomeration of stores, creating a number of gift-giving ideas indigenous to the Southwest. And, it’s been said that a visit to Enchanted Earthworks is a magical and exciting shopping experience like none other.

There are a number of small boutiques alongside contemporary art galleries and delicious restaurants. The Eclectic Café is known for its scrumptious tortilla soup. While Elle, a Wine Country Restaurant, serves more than 40 wines by the glass to accompany elegant entrees. There are many other choices—you will not go hungry in this town.

Come and enjoy!

City Resources

• All About Tucson
• Newspapers
• Recreation and Attractions
• Museums and Libraries

The Official City of Tucson Web site
This site provides everything you need to know, including Tucson history and cultural events, local farmers’ markets and even the bus schedule.

Do Tucson
Lots of great insider information on what to do and where to go in Tucson. A fun and easy-to-navigate site that sums up nightlife, shopping, museums, bike trails and more! If you only go to one website about Tucson, make it this one!

Arizona Daily Star
An online version of the statewide Arizona Daily Star newspaper.

Tucson Citizen
Features local Tucson news, plus sports, opinion columns, business, entertainment, national and international news.

Weekly Wire
An online version of the characteristically funny and irreverent Tucson Weekly, the Big Noise Electrazine, the Film Vault, Music Bin, and other ‘infotainment’ centers.

Gates Pass
One of Tucson’s gems, enjoy hiking, biking, and panoramic sunrises and sunsets.

Tombstone
They call it the town too tough to die. Famous for its 1881 O.K. Corral shoot-out, this landmark is only an hour’s drive from Tucson.

Agua Caliente Park
This hot spring water source flows into three ponds and was once the home of a health spa and ranch in the late 1800’s. Now a historic land, a trip to this park is relaxing, beautiful and fun.

Tucson Botanical Gardens
A beautiful place of leisure, relaxation amongst vegetation from the entire Sonoran Desert.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
For years the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum has intrigued millions of visitors with its exhibits of live animals in astonishingly natural settings, not to mention its fascinating educational programs. The museum is a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, all in one place.

Pima Air Museum
The aircraft collection here is one of the largest in the world. It displays over 200 aircraft examples, some that cannot be seen anywhere else.

Arizona State Museum
This museum at University of Arizona is an exciting place that brings to life the culture and history of the Greater Southwest. It is the region’s largest anthropological museum of its kind and is not to be missed.

Arizona Health Sciences Center
www.ahsc.arizona.edu.

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