When I went to Tucson, Arizona, I had no idea what to expect. A few years ago, I traveled through the Southwest and could barely remember passing through the area. I knew there were a lot of cacti. And this region is known for its “dry” heat, so it’s a welcome relief from the sticky humidity of the south, where I live. What I didn’t expect was to spend four days in Tucson and leave feeling like I had been to a very stubborn and beautiful place. itself… A place that doesn’t try to be anything else.
What immediately struck me was the city’s unofficial motto: “Don’t Fit Right In.” Once you get there, you can get it right away. You can see it everywhere in the celebration of individualism. But what makes the Tucson truly unique is how its individualism is woven into a strong sense of togetherness. It’s like a cacophony of patchwork quilts that somehow all fit together perfectly.
This is a place where marginalized, ignored, and othered people – indigenous, Mexican, black, Chinese, and Anglo communities – layered their histories on common soil. While the rest of the country feels more fractured than ever, Tucson has embraced “one out of many” for more than 250 years.
Whether you’re traveling alone, with a partner (like I did), or with your entire crew in tow (I highly recommend all options!), here’s everything you need to know before you go.
Where to stay
Since Tucson is loved by many travelers, there are a wide variety of accommodation options available. If you’re looking for some serious R&R against the backdrop of the Sonoran Desert, you can choose from resorts and destination spas in the area. If you want to stay downtown, in the heart of the action, you’ll find plenty of cool, quirky, and contemporary hotels. If a rustic atmosphere sounds perfect for your family, consider a guest ranch or RV campground. You can also stay in a luxury Conestoga wagon!
We stayed at the JW Marriott Star Pass Resort & Spa, located on 50 acres in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains area. It’s an ideal starting point for exploring the city, but it can also easily be treated as a destination in its own right. The resort features a 20,000-square-foot spa (I’m still dreaming of restorative ritual massage), 27 holes of Arnold Palmer-designed golf, six dining options, and a multi-tiered pool and lazy river.
The beds are super comfortable, the views are next level (you’ll never get tired of looking at the saguaro-dotted mountain views), and there’s something for the whole family to do here.
what to do
Naturally, there’s plenty to do in Tucson, including museums, hiking trails, numerous gardens, a zoo, planetarium, pickleball clubs, and cultural and historical sites. The list goes on. Sure, it gets very hot during the summer months, but locals swear it’s actually one of the best times to visit because everything slows down. It’s languid and perfect for sleeping, relaxing, and exploring at night.
Here are some highlights of our visit.
Mitakue Oyasin ritual
The ceremony, a traditional Native American ceremony led by Larry Redhouse of the Navajo Nation, will be held on Salud Terrace at JW Star Pass. As the sun rises, make and burn a sage prayer tie while listening to the sounds of a Native American flute. It’s very central. I truly wish I could start each morning like this.
Saguaro National Park West & Red Hills Visitor Center
I’ll never forget how cool and humbling it felt to stand at the base of a towering saguaro cactus that is only found in a small part of the American Southwest. This park offers easy trails for all fitness levels. You can also drive along winding dirt roads if accessibility is a concern. Be sure to drink about 1 quart of water per hour of activity, and wear light, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing for this outing.
Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum
If your child balks at the word “museum,” this museum might turn them into a convert. Spread across 98 acres, this garden is like a zoo, aquarium, botanical garden, and art gallery all rolled into one. With 230 species of animals in their natural habitat and more than 1,200 species of plants, there’s hours of fun for the whole family. We recommend going early in the morning during warmer months to avoid the heat and crowds.
mission garden
This living agricultural museum is located on the grounds of a sacred Tohono O’odham Native American village at the base of Sentinel Peak. This is where Tucson’s thousands of years of agricultural history – Native American, Spanish, Mexican – literally continues to grow. A very cool framework for thinking about food.
San Agustin Market
Tucson’s first public market is exactly what a public market should be. It’s full of local artisans and delicious food. Grab a coffee at Presta, then pick up a bag of pastries at La Estrella Bakery (which were great and only a few dollars each, I stopped by several times during my stay), or grab lunch at Seis Kitchen (more on that later) before wandering around the shops. My favorites? Must, a gorgeous lifestyle boutique locally run by three badass women, and Laughlin Mercantile, a super cool men’s fragrance and apparel spot…and it even comes with a guitar.
MSA annex
Just down the street is the MSA Annex, a must-see extension of the San Agustín market. Fifteen small businesses occupy an organized maze of converted shipping containers. Japanese kitchens, burger joints, tattoo parlors, and overdue bookstores can be found along Avenida del Convento. Pro tip: Warm Shape is a premier spot for quirky souvenirs and local art prints at affordable prices. (I’m obsessed with the quail print made by the owner.)
Tohono Chol Garden, Gallery, Bistro
Voted one of the world’s great botanical gardens by travel + leisure One of North America’s top secret gardens. National Geographic Travelerthis hidden oasis is such a lovely escape. It has an art gallery, a botanical garden, a cafe and we started our day with avocado toast which was very tasty and very fresh. There’s also a children’s museum on site, so it’s perfect for families with young children.
Tucson Museum of Art and Old Town Artisans
A great way to spend an afternoon downtown, this museum features Western, Latin American, and modern and contemporary art in a historic block. Across the street, Old Town Artisans is a 150-year-old adobe building with six galleries and shops showcasing local artists. There are lots of great, affordable, handmade finds here. I was also able to purchase incredible vintage jewelry for just a few dollars at a thrift store called Crow’s Nest.
Kitt Peak National Astronomical Observatory
I feel like if I live to be 100 years old, this will still be there with my favorite memories. Located on the Tohono O’odham Nation about an hour from the city, Kitt Peak is home to the world’s largest collection of optical and radio telescopes. The nightly stargazing program here will ruin all other stargazing. As we observed Jupiter and the Andromeda galaxy through giant telescopes, and watched shooting stars and satellites flit across the night sky, we were reminded of just how small our place in the universe really is. 10/10, highly recommended.
where to eat
Did you know that Tucson was named America’s first UNESCO World Gastronomic City, thanks to its millennia-long agricultural history and culinary culture? Naturally, there’s no shortage of truly great dining options. This is what we hit on.
- six kitchen: Inspired by Mexico’s six culinary regions, everything is made from scratch, including handmade tortillas, fire-roasted salsas, and locally sourced ingredients. Get the fish tacos!
- Tito & Pep: Chef John Martinez draws on more than 20 years of experience and the Southwest’s multicultural history to create truly unique mesquite-inspired dishes. The vibe here was so good that if we lived locally, this would be our favorite date spot.
- 5 Points Market & Restaurant: Five Points is a really cool part of town, and the scratch-made American food at this little cafe isn’t just delicious, it’s also good for you. Ingredients are sourced in Arizona, with a focus on organic meats and vegetables. I had the smoked beet sandwich and have been trying to recreate it at home ever since.
- Tucson Mirix: The team at the award-winning Arizona Vineyard just opened a downtown tasting room in early 2026, and it’s definitely a staple for girls’ night out. The food was next level and the nightlife in the area was fun (it’s right near the Fox Theater).
- coronet cafe: This dreamy little counter service spot is located on beautiful grounds in Barrio Viejo, Tucson’s oldest downtown area. When you go there, you can clearly see that this is a locals’ favorite and it’s easy to see why.
- La Chateria: Every time you travel, there’s always one place you visit that you weren’t expecting, and La Chaiteria was it for us. Bold flavors, generous (!) portions, and unpretentious flavors…you can’t ask for anything more. Well, I had the best lunch of my life here (try the jackfruit tacos, I promise you won’t regret it).
Main points
Honestly, there’s so much to love about Tucson that I can’t write about it in one article. This is the headquarters of Dark Sky International and is also home to the Astro Trail. There is also a hot dog trail. Need a soft restart? She’s your girlfriend. A winter escape to warmer climates? surely.
And in a country so obsessed with fitting in, there’s something truly invigorating about spending time somewhere you’ve never been before. go. Drink plenty of water. Watch the sun set over Saguaro. You know what I mean.
