Tucson, AZ Road Trips

Tucson has always been a crossroads. Water was, until the onset of a severe drought in the late 1990s, relatively plentiful in Tucson, in spite of its location in the middle of a desert. This made it an important travel route, an agricultural center, and a communications nexus. Tucson's history is ancient, with evidence of human occupation stretching back 10,000 years. Between 200 and 1450 CE, the Hohokam culture dominated the area – the Pima and Tohono O'Odham peoples that still occupy the area are descendants of the Hohokam. In 1699, Father Eusebio Kino, S.J., established the Mission San Xavier del Bac, southwest of present-day Tucson. Over the next 100 years, other missions were established in the area, but European presence was minimal. It wasn't until 1775 that the Presidio of Tucson was created by Don Hugo O'Connor. At that time, it was the northernmost Spanish outpost in the New World. In 1821, Tucson became part of the new country of Mexico, and in 1853 it became part of the United States as a result of the Gadsden Purchase. In 1863, Arizona became a US territory, and by 1880, its population was around 8,000. In 1912, Arizona became the 48th state to enter the union. Tucson is still a crossroads, with European, Native American, Mexican, and Asian cultures bumping into one another, in sometimes conflicting and sometimes compatible – but always interesting – ways. Tucson has a hot desert climate with a long, hot summer and a mild winter. Fall and spring tend to be sunny and dry.

Barrio Viejo (Barrio Histórico), Bounded by I-10, W Cushing St, S 6th Ave, and W 18th St (by the Tucson Convention Center). One of Tucson's oldest neighborhoods, much of the barrio was destroyed when the Tucson Convention Center was built. There are many colorful adobe buildings housing shops, galleries, and residences. Best explored on foot. 1 El Tiradito (The Castaway), Just south of the intersection of S Main Ave at W Cushing St (Barrio Viejo). El Tiradito is the only shrine to a sinner in North America. In the 1880s, a young man had an affair with his mother-in-law. When caught in the act, his father-in-law shot him and he stumbled from bed and ran out of the house. He dropped dead on this spot, and because he had not confessed his sins, he could not be buried in the church yard. His family and friends interred him where he fell, but remembered him with candles and flowers. People still burn candles and leave offerings today. Best visited at dusk or after dark. (updated Aug 2016) 2 Sosa-Carrillo-Frémont House Museum, 151 S Granada Ave, ☏ +1 520-628-5774, [email protected]. Th-Sa 10AM-4PM. A remnant of Tucson's old barrio which survived and is now surrounded by the Tucson Convention Center, this historic adobe house was built in the 1870s. Free, donations welcome. 3 Fort Lowell Museum, 2900 N Craycroft Rd, ☏ +1 520-885-3832. Th-Sa 10AM-4PM. Fort Lowell was a US Army post, active in the late 19th century during the Apache Wars.

1 Arizona Theatre Company (Temple of Music and Art), 330 S Scott Ave (downtown), ☏ +1 520-622-2823 (box office), [email protected]. Box office: M-F 10AM-5PM/curtain, Sa Su noon-curtain. Also operating in Phoenix, the company performs six productions a year. Tickets can be purchased online. (updated Mar 2017) 2 Centennial Hall, 1020 E University Blvd (University of Arizona), ☏ +1 520-621-3341 (ticket office). Ticket office: Sep-Apr: M-F 10AM-6PM, Sa noon-5PM; May-Aug: hours vary; open 2 hr before performance. A venue for classical music, dance, jazz, and musicals. Tickets can be purchased online. (updated Mar 2017) 3 Leo Rich Theater, 260 S Church Ave (Tucson Convention Center), ☏ +1 520-837-4766 (ticket office), toll-free: +1 800-745-3000. Ticket office: M-F 10AM-5:30PM, 2 hr before event. The venue for concerts sponsored by the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music, and Tucson's primary space for ballet, theater, and musicals. Tickets can be purchased online. (updated Mar 2017) 4 Tucson Music Hall, 260 S Church Ave (Tucson Convention Center), ☏ +1 520-837-4766 (ticket office), toll-free: +1 800-745-3000. Ticket office: M-F 10AM-5:30PM, 2 hr before event. The home of Tucson Symphony Orchestra and the Arizona Opera. Tickets can be purchased online. (updated Mar 2017) 5 DesertView Performing Arts Center, 39900 S. Clubhouse Dr, ☏ +1 520 825-2818 (ticket office). Ticket office: M-F, but online at https://dvpac.net/. State of the Performing Art Theater located in the heart of SaddleBrooke live performances from Rock and Roll to Musicals and Symphonies. varies.

As you can guess, Tucson is a veritable hub of Southwestern and Mexican cuisine. But Tucson is an adventurous town (easily the most liberal metropolitan area in Arizona) and as a result of its diversity, has a vibrant culinary culture. One noteworthy concoction unique to Tucson, Phoenix, and southern Arizona is the Sonoran hot dog. First developed in Hermosillo, Sonora, it consists of a traditional hot dog wrapped with bacon and then grilled. It is served in a bolillo (a Mexican roll) with pinto beans, onions, and tomatoes, and topped with mayonnaise, mustard, and jalapeños. The hot dog is traditionally sold from street carts, but several of the longer-established vendors now have sit-down restaurants, with branches scattered around Tucson. 1 Beyond Bread Central, 3026 N Campbell Ave (original location, btw Glenn and Ft Lowell), ☏ +1 520-322-9965, [email protected]. M-F 6:30AM-8PM, Sa 7AM-8PM, Su 7AM-6PM. Amazing sandwiches on fresh-baked bread, made from ingredients that are as fresh as possible. (In addition to baking bread daily, the restaurant also roasts its turkey and beef on site.) They also have an espresso bar and pastries. A nice place for lunch, but watch out – it's very popular, and you may have to wait in line. Alternately, you can pre-order your meal for pickup online. Average sandwich (hot & cold) costs around $6-6.50, chips included. (updated Mar 2017) 2 Beyond Bread Northwest, 421 W Ina Rd (SE corner of Ina and Oracle), ☏ +1 520-461-1111, [email protected]. M-F 6:30AM-8PM, Sa 7AM-8PM, Su 7AM-6PM.

Tucson has an active wine community, with many retailers, restaurants and wine bars regularly offering scheduled wine tasting events. Cochise County, southeast of Tucson has many wineries, some of which welcome visitors. The majority of Tucson's nightlife for young and old is in three small areas of the town near the University of Arizona, all within walking distance to each other. The three are: 4th Avenue, University, and Downtown. Tucson nightlife tends to start later than nightlife in other areas of Arizona, such as Phoenix or Scottsdale. Expect bars and clubs to be sparsely populated until approx 10-10:30PM on an average weekend night. 4th Avenue stretches from University ave in the north to downtown Tucson in the south (only about ½ mile long). This stretch of 4th Avenue is the main nightlife strip of Tucson and filled with bars and restaurants of all varieties on each side of the street. The downtown Tucson area just south of 4th Avenue tends caters to a nicer and wealthier crowd and is home to many of Tucson's higher class restaurants and cocktail bars, as well as the famous Club Congress. The University Ave area of Tucson starts on University/Euclid on the west and runs several blocks until it ends into the school. It is approximately a 10-minute walk along University Avenue from the 4th Avenue area. Like 4th Avenue, University contains a strip of bars, stores, and restaurants that cater to a variety of tastes and ages (not just college kids). 1 Barrio Brewing Company, 800 E 16th St (corner of Toole Ave), ☏ +1 520-791-2739.

Some motels on West Miracle Mile Road and south of 3000th block of North Oracle Road tend to be cheaper, run-down motels. Good deals can be found, but one probably wouldn't want to take one's family to these. This area is a legacy of the pre-freeway auto courts, 1937 to 1965, called Miracle Mile. A number of the old motor lodges remain. If you need a room for $25 this is the place to start looking. 1 Hotel Congress, 311 E Congress St, ☏ +1 520-622-8848, toll-free: +1-800-722-8848, fax: +1 520-792-6366, [email protected]. This historic hotel was the site of John Dillinger's arrest. The rooms are small, but have a funky, historic feel. 2 Comfort Suites Sabino Canyon, 7007 E Tanque Verde Rd, ☏ +1 520-298-2300. Renovated and central. 3 Courtyard Tucson Airport, 2505 E Executive Dr, ☏ +1 520-573-0000. $109-$189. 4 Courtyard Tucson Williams Centre, 201 S Williams Blvd, ☏ +1 520-745-6000. $109-149. 5 Desert Trails Bed & Breakfast, 12851 E Speedway Blvd, ☏ +1 520-885-7295. Check-in: 3-6PM, check-out: 11AM. A unique adobe hacienda situated on acreage bordering Saguaro National Park East, ideal for hiking, birding, and wildlife viewing. Horseback riding available; dining and shopping close by. $140. (updated Mar 2017) 6 Sonesta Select Tucson Airport, 6885 S Tucson Blvd, ☏ +1 520-295-0405, fax: +1 520-295-9140. ½ mile south of the Tucson International Airport and minutes from the Desert Diamond Casino. 7 Lodge on the Desert, 306 N Alvernon Way, ☏ +1 520-320-2000, toll-free: +1-800-456-5634.

1 Tucson International Airport (TUS IATA), 7250 S Tucson Blvd, ☏ +1 520-573-8100. Served by a number of airlines from various cities in the U.S.: (updated Apr 2020) Concourse A: Southwest, Sun Country, United. Concourse B: American Airlines/American Eagle, Alaska Airlines, Delta/Delta Connection. The airport is on the far southern end of the city. A taxi to central Tucson (University of Arizona area) will run about $25-30 and take 25 minutes. Bus services (Rt #11 and 25) to and from the airport is significantly cheaper but will take at least 60 minutes to/from downtown Tucson. Some people fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) and then take a shuttle or rent a car and drive to Tucson (about 2 hours). American Eagle operate 1hr flights between Phoenix and Tucson. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport. Arriving by train to Tucson is possible as the city is served by Amtrak via its triweekly Sunset Limited train between New Orleans and Los Angeles. This train also conveys Texas Eagle carriages, offering a direct route to and from Chicago. Eastbound trains arrive around 7:30AM while westbound ones arrive early evening. Notice however that delays are quite common. 2 Tucson railway station, 400 N Toole Ave. Located next to downtown, this historic station has both a waiting room and a ticket office. (updated May 2019) Interstate 10 (I-10) is an east-west cross-continental route, coming from southern New Mexico to the east and from Phoenix from the northwest.

9 Sun Tran, 3920 N Sun Tran Blvd (main office), ☏ +1 520-628-1565 (customer service), [email protected]. M-F 6AM-7PM, Sa-Su 8AM-5PM. An extensive metropolitan bus system, with routes and times listed here. The buses can accommodate up to two bicycles in the front; only folding bikes are permitted inside the bus. All Sun Tran rides have been free for all passengers since March 2020. (updated Jul 2024) Sun Link Streetcar. A streetcar route which extends from the University of Arizona to the downtown area and the Mercado district. It has now been integrated into the Sun Tran public transportation system; the streetcar route map can be downloaded here. It is especially popular in the evenings for making the rounds between University and the night life on 4th Ave. I-10 and I-19 are the only freeways in Tucson, which has far fewer miles of freeway than other U.S. cities of its size. Since I-10 and I-19 mostly skirt the west and south sides, all east-west traffic and all east-side traffic is on surface streets. Surface street travel can be slow during the workday, and even slower during rainstorms. Many older streets become completely flooded as they are the original "U-shape" where the entire street width is for rain drainage, instead of the modern typical street pitching down towards curbs. And several main surface streets have "reversible lanes", also dubbed "suicide lanes", where the center turn lane becomes an additional through traffic lane for peak hours.

If you go walking in the desert parks, or on your own, learn desert-safety tips. Take water, always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to get back, and if you have a cell phone, take it with you and have it on. It's disturbingly easy to get lost in the desert. Also, watch for snakes and bugs, as a few are dangerous to your health. When hiking, for example, rattlesnakes are easy to come across. When putting your slippers on in the morning, scorpions can be an unpleasant surprise. Midtown (specifically the section along Alvernon Road between Grant and Ft. Lowell) and the south section of the city (in the general area between I-10, I-19, and Valencia) are not the safest places to be – but there are no real attractions in these areas anyway. Downtown is heavily occupied until 2AM when the bars close. If you are downtown after 2AM, be cautious. While murder rates are fairly low, they are violent and sometimes random. There is gang activity but for the most part it is directed against rival gangs. There are many homeless people downtown. The center city is heavily populated by the "young and restless", so it may seem a spooky to more conservative travelers due to the dirt and noise the youngsters create. Tucson has one of the highest rates of vehicle theft in the USA, and there are a few locations in the city you're more likely to have your car/truck stolen at than at any other place in the town, such as the 19 Walmart on 1650 W Valencia Rd and the 20 Park Place mall.