What To do
in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson might be a quiet city with a decidedly small-town feel, but there’s definitely no shortage of things to do. If you have a little extra time during your stay, here are a few of our top picks for things to do.
On the Ranch
Tanque Verde Ranch offers an abundance of activities on site, including trail rides, horsemanship lessons, mountain biking, guided hikes, fishing, tennis, and yoga.
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Get a little R&R
Johnny’s way
Though it may be hot, nothing beats desert golf. Johnny’s pick of top Tucson golf courses for your not-so-top golf game.
Ventana Canyon Golf & Racquet Club
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The Loews Ventana Canyon and the Lodge at Ventana Canyon share two golf courses in conjunction with the Ventana Canyon Golf & Racquet Club. Both Tom-Fazio designed championship 18-hole courses blend into the Santa Catalina Mountains behind them, weaving through desert cacti and scenic canyons.
The 6,902-yard Mountain Course is home to the most photographed hole west of the Mississippi. Its signature third hole is a short par-three tucked into the mountains that plays over a canyon of cacti and showcases sweeping views across the Sonoran Desert. The 6,838-yard Canyon Course winds through Esperero Canyon, and its 18th hole features a dramatic cascading waterfall.
Omni Tucson National Resort
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The Catalina Course at the Omni Tucson National Resort is home to the PGA Tour Champions Tucson Cologuard Classic, and former home of the PGA Tour’s Chrysler Classic and Southern Arizona Open. The Catalina Course consists of traditional-style fairways sitting atop a bluff overlooking the Santa Catalina mountains; pros rank the 18th hole on this course one of the most challenging finishing holes on the tour. The resort also features the Sonoran Course, a Tom Lehman-designed desert-style course.
Forty Niner Country Club
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The closest option to the Ranch but not to be overlooked, this semi-private course hosted the PGA Tour’s Tucson Open throughout the 1960’s. It’s known for lush, mature landscaping meandering along a wooded riverbed and fairways lined with mesquite, giant cottonwood, eucalyptus and weeping willow trees.
Charlotte’s way
Two of the top spas in the world are located right here in Tucson: Miraval’s flagship Life in Balance and the original Canyon Ranch Resort. Take a day trip out to one of these luxury spa destinations, or stay right where you’re at and book a treatment at Tanque Verde Ranch’s own La Sonora Spa.
Loews Ventana Canyon Lakeside Spa
7000 N Resort Drive ・ 85750
Miraval Arizona Life in Balance Spa
5000 East, E Vía Estancia Miraval ・ 85739
Explore the desert
Hiking is one of Tucson’s favorite pastimes. There’s no shortage of trails to pick from. Here are a few of our favorites, from easiest to most challenging. But before you go, a few words of advice to take very seriously: wear a hat and sunscreen, don’t touch the cacti, and bring twice as much water as you think you will need… it is a dry heat after all.
Sabino Canyon
Easy
One of Tucson’s most popular hiking destinations for a reason, it’s accessible to all skill levels thanks to a paved main thoroughfare, restrooms and water fountains throughout the park, and a shuttle to take you to the top and back. The shuttle is a one-hour narrated trip with 9 stops and costs $10 for adults, $5 for children. It departs the Visitors Center every 30 minutes between 9AM and 4PM. The main paved trail (along which the shuttle runs) is 7.5 miles out-and-back with an elevation gain of 800 feet.
There are numerous other trails branching off of the main path, so you can make the trip as long or short as you would like; Sabino Dam is a great easy option at only 2-3 miles total, while the Bear Canyon Trail covers 9 miles and an elevation gain of 1100 feet.
Make sure to pick up a map at the Visitors Center on your way in.
Entry fee: $8 per vehicle
Bridal Wreath Falls
Moderate
The trailhead for Bridal Wreath Falls is located just outside of the entrance to Tanque Verde Ranch in Saguaro National Park. This is a popular 5.5 mile roundtrip hike with well-defined trails and plenty of mile markers. The trail starts out relatively flat for the first half-mile before beginning to climb into the foothills. It can be a steep climb at times, but at the end you’ll find a 25 foot waterfall.
From the trailhead, follow Douglas Spring Trail for 2.5 miles until it intersects with the Bridal Wreath Falls Trail, turn right.
Bear Canyon Trail to Seven Falls
Challenging
Most hiking sites classify this hike as “moderate”, but we’re marking it as “challenging” just because it is an 8.5 mile roundtrip hike that takes around 3-4 hours and it will get HOT. If you decide to try this hike, set out very early in the morning, wear lots of sun protection, and make sure to pack plenty of water.
As mentioned above, this trail branches off from Sabino Canyon. From the Visitors Center, follow signs for Bear Canyon Trail along the main road. There is a restroom and water fountain at the end of the paved road before you begin the hike up the wash. The trail is fairly easy to follow, and signs for Seven Falls are well marked. June is the driest month of the year in Tucson, so there’s a chance the falls might not be actively flowing, but it’s beautiful hike regardless.
Or maybe a little shopping
Mercado San Agustin & MSA Annex
Located at the west end of Tucson’s streetcar loop, Mercado San Agustin (MSA) and it’s sister property MSA Annex are open-air marketplaces that host local shops and restaurants with a focus on artisan goods and regional ingredients.
The Spanish-colonial style MSA courtyard is home to 11 independently owned businesses, including La Estrella, one of the top Mexican bakeries in Tucson, and Sonoran Sno-Cones, a shop specializing in raspados, juices, and other Mexican snacks (their Mangoyada was featured on Travel Channel’s Delicious Destinations). The MSA Annex, an expansion of Mercado San Agustin, is a modern space built from shipping containers and host to 13 an additional small business.
Fourth Avenue
Decidedly eclectic, 4th Ave is lined with more than 100 shops and restaurants encompassing just about everything. There are period specific thrift shops, a funky bookstore, southwestern inspired art galleries, an up-cycled boutique, glass blowing and smoke shops, a co-op named Food Conspiracy, and an espresso bar/sweet shop named the Chocolate Iguana.
La Encantada
La Encantada is Tucson’s most high-end shopping center. Located in the Catalina Foothills area, the shopping center has beautiful views of the mountains and overlooking the valley. The two-level, outdoor space is home to familiar brands such as Anthropologie, Crate&Barrel, West Elm, and Tommy Bahama in addition to a number of Arizona-favorite restaurants including NORTH Italia and Blanco Tacos & Tequila.
The Lost Barrio
This warehouse shopping district is home to around a dozen unique shops carrying accessories and furnishings from around the world. You’ll find quirky gifts, Mexican Colonial furnishings, hand-painted tiles and pottery, punched-tin decor, and more.