The University of Arizona

Places to See, Places to Eat, Places to Chill

                                                                                                            
St. Xavier Mission                                                                                      

In the vast desert just outside Tucson, Arizona , one would not expect to find a beautiful church. Located at 1950 W. San Xavier Rd., following the signs from highway 19 to directs you toward Mission San Xavier (pronounced as "hauv-e-air") del Bac, you approach this majestic "white dove of the desert" (as it is affectionately called). It is truly an awesome experience. The sheer size and bright color against a blue sky and the tan colors of the desert make San Xavier a striking sight.

For further information, please call 1-520-294-2624. This San Xavier del Bac Mission is located nine miles southeast of Tucson, Arizona . http://www.sanxaviermission.org/

Tucson Botanical Gardens

This beautiful oasis in the heart of Tucson was originally the home of Bernice and Rutger Porter. Dating to the 1920s, the earliest buildings on the property were constructed of adobe bricks made right on site. True to the vision of Mrs. Porter, Tucson Botanical Gardens is a place of beauty, inspiration and education about the natural world.
 
There are 16 different gardens within the grounds representing a variety of gardening traditions and botanical themes. Now through March 31st, get eye-to-eye with flowers that fly at Butterfly Magic, an indoor exhibit of live tropical butterflies.  

2150 North Alvernon Way* Phone: (520) 326-9686 * http://www.tucsonbotanical.org/ 

Sabino Canyon

Experience the beauty of one of the most unique Southwestern desert canyons on a Sabino Canyon tram ride. Sabino Canyon is a natural desert oasis located in Tucson’s Coronado National Forest and is home to spectacular desert landscapes and abundant wildlife. During the winter and summer rainy seasons, pools of water form in rocky outcroppings that wind up among hillsides resplendent with palo verde trees, cholla and prickly pear cactus and graceful groves of ocotillo.

http://www.sabinocanyon.com/


Bisbee

Bisbee, 90 miles southeast of Tucson, is the picturesque county seat of historic Cochise County . The community was founded in 1880 and named after Judge DeWitt Bisbee, a financial backer of the Copper Queen Mine.

Bisbee has since evolved into an attractive artist colony and retirement community emphasizing monthly special events and tourism. Travelers from all over the world come to Bisbee to savor its unique charm ... an uncommon blend of creativity, friendliness, style, romance and adventure — all wrapped in the splendor of the Old West.

Come stay in Bisbee. Stroll its sidewalks and find delight in the many art galleries, gourmet restaurants, coffee houses, book stores and specialty shops. Visit the charmingly restored neighborhoods of Victorian and European-style homes perched miraculously on the hillsides. Unwind ... relax ... and find soothing respite from your everyday world.

http://bisbeearizona.com/content/

Sedona

Sedona is situated in a unique geological area that has mesmerized tourists for decades. Indeed, this picturesque city is surrounded by beloved red-rock monoliths named Coffeepot, Cathedral and Bell even Snoopy because their massive shapes resemble these distinctive objects. Also, the site of this memorable city marks the mouth of unbelievably beautiful Oak Creek Canyon , a breathtaking chasm that even today, is wildly wonderful.

Towering high above Sedona and its hallmark canyon is the geologically dominating Mogollon Rim, formed from ancient deposits of limestone, mudstone and sandstone when this area was the west coast of a still-emerging continent. This awesome rim, which constitutes the southwestern boundary of the vast Colorado Plateau, is home to the largest contiguous stand of ponderosa pine in the world and imagine, the enormous plateau extends into parts of five other states.

The collection of Sedona's impressive, natural endowments also includes the 1.8 million-acre Coconino National Forest , which essentially engulfs this city and encompasses seven intriguing wilderness areas.

Some people visit Sedona for the breathtaking beauty that fills the senses and feeds the soul. Some visit Sedona to shop in the delightfully eclectic shops and galleries. Many others visit Sedona to savor the flavors and scents of our restaurants.

http://www.visitsedona.com/  

Desert Museum (not actually a museum)

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, all in one place! Exhibits re-create the natural landscape of the Sonoran Desert Region so realistically you find yourself eye-to-eye with mountain lions, prairie dogs, Gila monsters, and more. Within the Museum grounds, you will see more than 300 animal species and 1,200 kinds of plants. There are almost 2 miles of paths traversing 21 acres of beautiful desert.

http://www.desertmuseum.org/

Madeira Canyon

The Coronado National Forest is located in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico . It is comprised of 1,718,187 acres in Arizona and 68,936 acres in New Mexico . There are thirty-four developed campgrounds, twenty-one of which meet our selection criteria.

Coronado National Forest is widely scattered across southeastern Arizona . Composed of individual up-thrust mountain blocks called "sky islands," the Forest offers a broad spectrum of experiences. The fifteen "sky islands," reaching elevations of 10,720 feet, contain a variety of environments with plants, birds, and animals unique to the ecology. This biological diversity was first noted in the late 1800's and has laid the framework for today's study of eco-systems. Like those earlier visitors to the Forest, today, one encounters every eco-system found between Mexico and Canada and, at least two of the four seasons in each journey up a "sky island."

Birdwatching is one activity that must be mentioned. The Coronado National Forest boasts two "world-class" birding areas: Madeira Canyon and Cave Creek. More than four hundred species of birds have been recorded throughout the Coronado National Forest . The greatest attraction are the migrating Mexican birds where Madeira Canyon and Cave Creek are at the northern edge of their breeding-range.

 http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/southwst/coroinfo.htm  

 

 


Places to Eat and Chill in Tucson

Cafes:

Epic Café
http://www.epic-cafe.com/

Time Market
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Locations/ViewLocation?oid=oid%3A70750

Bentley’s
http://www.bentleyscoffeehouse.com/

Ike’s
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Locations/ViewLocation?oid=oid%3A4868

Crave
http://www.craveespressobar.com/  


Restaurants:  

Café Poca Cosa
http://cafepocacosatucson.com/

Guadalajara Grill
 http://tucsonrestaurantguide.com/display-n/id/5731282cbd  

Lerua’s
http://local.yahoo.com/details?id=20116289

 

Yoshimatsu

http://www.yoshimatsuaz.com/

Alibabas
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Best/MainFrame?oid=oid%3A49566&mode=archive  


Hotspots

Red Garter
http://www.aznightbuzz.com/stories/56408.php  

Hotel Congress
http://www.hotelcongress.com/

Plush
http://www.plushtucson.com/

Surly Wench
http://www.surlywenchpub.com/

Che’s
http://www.aznightbuzz.com/stories/42996.php