8 Great Reasons to Visit Tucson Arizona

When we decided to visit Tucson Arizona we got a lot of questions as to why. for all the places in Arizona, it’s not one of the more visited, but for me, I want to go to all the places. I didn’t need more of a reason to visit Tucson other than I just hadn’t been there before.

However, if you’re not obsessive like me, and you need to know what’s in Tucson and why you should visit it, you’re in the right place. We truly enjoyed our time there and would go back. Which is why I want to share 8 great reasons you need to visit Tucson Arizona.

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How to Get to Tucson

Tucson is in the south part of Arizona and very close to the boarder of both California and Mexico. We flew to Phoenix but you can fly directly to Tucson. It was cheaper flying to Phoenix so we did the 1.5 hour drive from there. I would have rather flown straight to Tucson but I will take the inconvenience to save the money.

Why Visit Tucson Arizona

Tucson has a lot to offer and it’s much bigger than I expected. The food is amazing (not just the Mexican- I’ll get to that), and the landscape completely unique.

Colorful Barrio Viejo Neighborhood

In Tucson, there is a neighborhood of colorful houses and it’s the perfect place to take photos. However, remember, people live in these houses so be sure to be respectful and quiet.

Endless Hiking Trails

Next up, there is no shortage of hiking trails in the area. I knew there was a National Park nearby which always has trails, but what I didn’t know is that Catalina State Park is also near by and has lots of great hiking as well.

Delicious Food

I also knew that there would be great food in Tucson as I had read about the Mexican food. The Mexican food didn’t disappoint but we also went to a great Italian food place as well. I was also impressed with how many different restaurants there are. But also… Don’t miss the tacos at Boca!

Cute & Local Shopping

This one really surprised me. I always like to shop when I travel and where there are local, artistic places, it’s even better. Tucson had no shortage of these. The St. Phillip’s Farmers Market alone was great but there’s also several shops that combine products from various artists. Be sure to check out Why I Love Where I Live and Pop Cycle– they were two of my favorites.

Sunsets at Gates Pass

Gates pass is located inside Tucson Mountain Park and it is a great place to watch the sunset behind the giant cactus. Get there early to explore around a little and wear good shoes. There’s several hiking trails or you can just sit and watch the sun.

Mount Lemmon

I always love doing some sort of adventure tour when we travel and Mount Lemmon was perfect for rock climbing. We went rappelling with Altitude Mountain Guides and it was definitely an adrenaline pumper!

Few People

Tucson is one of the few places left (especially in the states) that you can be hiking and see no one. We were technically there on the shoulder season (late April) and not during any school holiday but I was assured that it was normal to be alone hiking.

Saguaro National Park

Finally, let’s talk about what got us started on planning to visit Tucson Arizona: Saguaro National Park. It did not disappoint! The giant Saguaro cactus dot the landscape and there’s plenty of fun hikes not to miss. You can do the park in one day but keep in mind there are two sides and you might want 2 days as they are a little ways away from each other.

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