Tucson Vacation Guide
Tucson, Arizona, or "Old Pueblo," as it is called by locals, is a contrast in eras. At once modern with all the cultural amenities of a large city, it is also a city forever preserved amid the cacti and the desert out of which it grew. Vibrant and eclectic, serene and pristine, Tucson is an idyllic setting for an Arizona vacation. A day's itinerary can include hiking, horseback riding, golf, tennis, sight-seeing, shopping, taking in a Wild West show, or just lounging by a pool as you enjoy the magnificent scenery. You can enjoy all of this when you stay in Tucson rental homes.While in Tucson, a can't-miss attraction is the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum. Set in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, this museum pays homage to the fertile lands that make up the surrounding terrain. Exhibits here reflect the full diversity of Sonoran Desert life: from plants and insects to fish, mammals, and reptiles. All of these co-exist in this ecosystem that is made up not only of arid desert but also of forested mountains, rivers, springs, and streams.
The saguaro cacti are the preeminent symbol of the American West's desert and they only occur naturally in the Sonoran Desert. To protect them from developers, the State of Arizona established the Saguaro National Park, which has two different sections on two sides of Tucson. Be sure to drive the Bajada Loop Drive, where you will find exquisite views of the park, as well as an extensive array of hiking trails. The museum and park make great day trips when you choose Tucson rentals for accommodations on your Arizona vacation.
For a bit of Hollywood, kick up your spurs at Old Tucson Studios, a Western town originally built as a movie set for the movie Arizona. Old Tucson was the setting for famous John Wayne films like Rio Bravo, El Dorado, and Rio Lobo. Clint Eastwood filmed The Outlaw Josey Wales here and this is where Kirk Douglas brought the character of Doc Holiday to life in the film Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Later, another Doc Holiday, Val Kilmer, would walk the same streets as Douglas in the film Tombstone. Old Tucson is also a Wild West theme park with family oriented entertainment such as staged shootouts, fake fistfights, and stagecoach rides.
Tucson is hiker's country. One of the most popular places to pull out your walking stick is in the Mount Lemon Recreation Area at the end of the Catalina Highway. One of the more popular trails is the Aspen-Marshall Gulch Loop. This trail extends for 5 miles and climbs over a thousand feet in elevation.
Tucson is also a magnet for golfing faithful. Probably the most famous courses in the area await duffers at the Ventana Canyon Golf and Racquet Club. The two courses on the property are perfect examples of desert "target golf." The Omni Tucson National Golf Resort is home to the Tucson Open, which is held each spring. The 465-yard 18th hole is routinely ranked by PGA pros as one of the most difficult finishing holes in golf. If you want golf set against scenic wonder, you can't make a better choice than the El Conquistador Country Club. With the incredible views of the surrounding Santa Catalina Mountains, you may just throw out your scorecard altogether.
Tucson has charms that will soothe the savage vacationer. Head north a half-hour to Biosphere 2, and see what a colony on Mars will resemble. Or make the trek to the Pima Air and Space Museum to see one of the largest collections of historic aircraft in the world and the maintenance facility known as "The Boneyard," where mothballed planes are taken once their duty is done. Take a historic walk through downtown Tucson and see how people lived in the 1800s. Hop on a horse or a mountain bike for an up-close-and-personal desert experience.
However you choose to spend your Tucson vacation, rest assured that you could not have made a better destination decision, especially when you stay in Tucson vacation rentals.
