Things to do in Tucson
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Obsidian Gallery
Obsidian Gallery For art and jewelry.
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Turquoise Door
Turquoise Door For stunning baubles.
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Tucson Symphony Orchestra
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Tucson Portrait Project
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Tiny's Saloon & Steakhouse
See that cluster of motorcycles and pick-up trucks in the parking lot? That's your true-blue sign of approval right there. Inside, once your eyes adjust, slide into a booth, nod at the regulars at the bar then order a steerburger with a cold beer. And toast your good fortune. A docent at the Pima Air & Space Museum told us that Tiny's has the best burgers in town, and we think he might be right. Truth be told? For a saloon, Tiny's is actually family friendly – at least during the day – and makes a nice stop after a day at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum or Saguaro National Park. Cash only but ATM on-site.
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St Philips Plaza
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Sabino Canyon Trail
- Tucson, USA
- Activities › Other
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Presidio Historic District
The Tucson Museum of Art is part of this low-key neighborhood, which embraces the site of the original Spanish fort and a ritzy residential area once nicknamed 'Snob Hollow.' This is (per current historical knowledge) one of the oldest inhabited places in North America. The Spanish Presidio de San Augustín del Tucson dates back to 1775, but the fort itself was built over a Hohokam site that has been dated to AD 700–900. The original fort is completely gone, although there's a short reconstructed section at the corner of Church Ave and Washington St.
The historical district teems with adobe townhouses and restored 19th-century mansions. Shoppers should steer towards Old…
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Mt Lemmon Ski Area
- Tucson, USA
- Activities › Other
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Gus Balon's
Tucson's premier breakfast destination is a great place to fuel up if you're heading off to hike in Saguaro National Park's eastern district. Twenty-four types of pie and the cinnamon rolls are huge.
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Grill at Hacienda del Sol
The sunset views compete with the smart, grown-up ambience, the Spanish Colonial decor and, of course, the exquisitely composed nouvelle Southwesterncuisine featuring herbs, veggies and fruit grown on site. Oenophiles have an extensive wine list to ponder. Reservations are required.
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Fox Theatre
This renovated art-deco theater on Congress St downtown is a 1930s beauty with fluted golden columns, water fountains and a giant sunburst mural radiating from the ceiling.
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El Tiradito
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Barrio Histórico District/Barrio Viejo
This compact neighborhood was an important business district in the late 19th century. Today it's home to funky shops and galleries in brightly painted adobe houses. The Barrio centers on 100 S Stone Ave and is bordered by I-10, Stone Ave and Cushing and 17th St.
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Arizona Theatre Company
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Arizona Opera
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Antigone Books
Great indie bookstore with a fun, girl-power focus.
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4th Avenue
Linking historic downtown and the university, lively 4th Ave is a rare breed: a hip yet alt-flavored strip with a neighborhood feel and not a single chain store or restaurant, oops, except for Dairy Queen. The stretch between 9th St and University Blvd is lined with buzzy restaurants, coffee houses, bars, galleries, tattoo parlors, indie boutiques and vintage stores of all stripes.
Under the overpass that crosses 4th Ave and Broadway is the Tucson Portrait Project, one of our favorite public art projects anywhere. This wall-to-wall mosaic of about 7000 Tucsonian faces is a simple yet powerful testament to the diversity of the city's population.
The best time to visit 4th…
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University of Arizona Museum of Art
Across the road from the CCP, peruse 500 years of European and American paintings and sculpture. The permanent collection features such heavy hitters as Rodin, Matisse, Picasso and Pollock.
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Ski Area
In winter, Mt Lemmon has the southernmost ski area in the USA. With snow levels rather unpredictable, it’s really more about the novelty of schussing down the slopes within views of Mexico than having a world-class alpine experience. Rentals, lessons and food are available on the mountain.
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Sabino Canyon
Sabino Canyon, a lush, pretty and shaded mini-gorge, is a favorite year-round destination for both locals and visitors. Narrated hop-on, hop-off tram tours along the Sabino Canyon Trail (adult/child $7.50/3) depart every half hour for a 45-minute, nine-stop loop with access to trailheads and riverside picnic areas. It’s nicest in the afternoon when the sun plays hide and seek against the canyon walls. A non-narrated shuttle ($3/1) provides access to Bear Canyon and the trailhead to Seven Falls, which has picnic sites and swimming but no facilities. From the falls, the trail continues up as high as you want to go.
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Pasco Kitchen & Lounge
The farmers market salad with yard bird is superb at this breezy new eatery near the University. The menu offers fresh, locally sourced comfort food that's prepared with panache and a few tasty twists – think grass-fed all natural burgers topped by braised pork belly and a fried egg, or grits with catfish and fried okra. The owners call it urban farm fare; we call it delicious. Service can be a bit too easygoing, but that may be a first-year kink.
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Hub Restaurant & Creamery
The Hub has injected Congress Ave with industrial-chic style: red brick walls, lofty ceiling, wooden floors and, coolest of all, a walk-up ice-cream stand beside the hostess desk. Upscale comfort food is the name of the game here, from ahi tuna casserole to chicken pot pie, plus a few sandwiches and salads. Even if you don't want a meal, pop in for a kickin' scoop of gourmet ice cream. Choices include salted caramel and bacon scotch.
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El Guero Canelo
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Club Congress
Skinny jeansters, tousled hipsters, aging folkies, dressed-up hotties – the crowd at Tucson's most-happening club inside the grandly aging Hotel Congress defines the word eclectic. And so does the musical line-up, which usually features the finest local and regional talent. Wanna drink at a bar? Step inside the adjacent Tap Room, open since 1919.
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