Tucson is located in southern Arizona, surrounded by five mountain ranges. The second-largest metropolitan area in Arizona, its million-plus metro residents mingle with students from the University of Arizona.
Getting to Tucson
Many airlines serve the Tucson International Airport. Drivers can reach Tucson on I-10 from Phoenix or southern New Mexico, and from the south on I-19. It lies 60 miles north of the Mexican border town of Nogales.Amtrak's Sunset Limited connects Tucson with Los Angeles, New Orleans and Orlando.
Things to Do
Tucson is a surprise. When you first enter the city, you may conclude that a short visit should suffice to see everything it has to offer, but it doesn't take long to realize that there's enough to do in and around Tucson to keep you busy for much longer.Allow at least two days to cover Tucson's top attractions, and up to a week if you explore some of the other Tucson attractions or use Tucson as a base to explore the surrounding area.
The Kitt Peak Observatory night program is an activity I highly recommend. Spending an evening exploring the universe with guidance from professional astronomers, under crystal-clear Arizona skies, is an experience not to be missed.
If you're looking for relaxation, you can find it in Tucson. Two of their spas, Mirival and Canyon Ranch, were ranked among the world's best destination spas according to Travel and Leisure magazine.
Plan ahead and you can save money. Order a Tucson Passport filled with 2-for-1 coupons that can save up to $250. Allow enough time for the passport to arrive in the mail before you leave home.
Tucson Day Trips
If you start early enough, you can explore a number of attractions east of Tucson in a day. Start at Kartchner Caverns, possibly one of our country's most beautiful limestone caves, then head for Old West entertainment in Tombstone, or drive further south to the former copper mining town of Bisbee where you can take a tour inside the old Queen Mine.Heading south, stop at beautiful Mission San Xavier del Bac, visit a decommissioned Titan Missile silo, then travel back in time at Tumacacori National Monument, where the ruins of three Spanish colonial missions are preserved.
To the north, a day trip loop leads to Mount Lemmon, or you can explore it on your way between Tucson and Phoenix.
