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Cities in Arizona
City and
Destination Information
The following information was provided by the City of
Tucson. Additional information can be found when you visit their website at www.tucsonaz.gov.
Tucson, too SAHN or TOO sahn, is one of the oldest towns in
the United States. Tucson was orginally an Indian village called Stook-zone,
meaning water at the foot of black mountain. Hugo O'Conor established the Tucson
Presidio in 1775. August 20th, 1775 is considered Tucson's birthday. Spanish
settlers arrived in the area in 1776. Tucson officially became part of the
United States with the Gadsden Purchase of 1854. Tucson served as capital of the
Arizona Territory from 1867 to 1877.
Tucson boasts the best of both worlds...the progress and
innovation of a metropolitan community and the friendly, caring atmosphere of a
small town. Tucson's rich cultural heritage centers around a unique blend of
Native American, Spanish, Mexican and Anglo-American influences. Blessed with
the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert and an unsurpassed climate of 360 sunny
days a year, Tucsonans embrace a rare lifestyle and are committed to preserving
that quality of life.
Tucson's climate varies from the 2400 foot desert basin to the
9100 foot forests of the Santa Catalina mountains. The City's dry desert air and
winter sunshine make it a popular health and winter resort.
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Accommodations Suggestions
Click Here for Accommodations Suggestions for
Tucson
Things
to See and Do
Golfing in Tucson
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Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum -
When visiting the Tucson
area, and you only have a few days to do the city, be sure that the
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is first on your list of things to see and do. This
world-renowned attraction is a combination of gardens, natural history and a
wonderful assortment of animals and birds that call the Sonoran Desert their
home. For a guided tour of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum,
CLICK HERE.
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Tanque Verde Ranch, located on 640
beautiful acres in the foothills of the Rincon mountains east of Tucson
Arizona, offers Arizona horseback riding, tennis, guided hiking, mountain
biking, nature walks and much more, all included in your nightly rate. If
you're looking for dude ranch family vacations or adventurous horseback
riding vacations , look no further! This Arizona dude ranch, founded in 1868
in the verdant Sonoran desert, offers the very best of a Southwestern resort
along with a historic Arizona dude ranch experience in a secluded natural
setting.
www.tanqueverderanch.com.
Trail
Dust Town has been a Tucson landmark for over forty
years. Originally constructed as a movie set, it features wooden boardwalks, red
brick streets, detailed old-fashioned town square, and centerpiece gazebo.
Considered Tucson’s premier “in-town” western town, over 500,000 people visit
each year to enjoy the fine specialty shops and old-fashioned ambiance. An
evening stroll in the soft glow of gas light adds to the town’s 19th century
charm. There are a couple of restaurants in the town, Including
Pinnacle Peak (my
favorite, Jim). Trail Dust Town hosts
a variety of attractions including the Fiesta del Presidio carousel, C.P.
Huntington miniature train, gold-panning, stunt shows, and the Museum of the
Horse Soldier. There is no
admission charge,
but there is a small charge for the carousel, train ride and the shootin
gallery. Also, it is nice to tip the performers at the end of the stunt show.
www.traildusttown.com.
Old Town
Artisans -
Not only is the area of the Old Town Artisans
filled with interesting and unique shopping opportunities, but the area is
filled with history. Old Town Artisans is located on the site of El Presidio San
Augustin del Tucson, the fort built by the Spanish in 1775 to stake claim to the
northern frontier of New Spain. Our block was the stables area, and our north
wall is the location of the fort's north wall from which Apache attacks were
repelled. Construction of the adobe buildings was begun in the 1850's. The 1882
Tucson Directory lists a variety of early residents, including assayers, clerks,
a ladies' nurse and a grocery store. In 1888 Julius Goldbaum, a liquor merchant,
bought the property for use as a distillery and his family's residence. Stroll
through the shops and you will see original ceilings made of saguaro cactus
ribs, packing crates, and whiskey barrel staves with remnants of imported
wallpaper and gold-leaf mouldings. Located in the El Presidio Historic District,
you can reach the artisan area with entrances off of Court, Washington, Meyer
and Telles Streets. If you are doing a MapQuest to find it, use the address of
201 N. Court Avenue; or get additional information and directions by calling
520.623.6024 or 1.800.782.8072.
www.oldtownartisans.com
or
nota@mindspring.com.
Golfing in Tucson
Arizona National Golf Club
(formerly The Raven Golf Club at Sabino Springs) is desert golf at its finest.
Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the golf course meanders among the foothills
of Tucson, Arizona’s beautiful Santa Catalina Mountains as it follows the rugged
natural flow of the land across shady mesquite-lined arroyos and skirts craggy
rock outcroppings. The surrounding vistas at Arizona National Golf Club are
unmatched by any golf club in the Tucson area. From atop the tee boxes on many
holes, you can see panoramic views that stretch across Tucson and all the way to
Mexico. Along the way, Arizona National Golf Club’s diverse 6,785 yard
course layout will throw enough decisions
and classic golf-in-the-desert challenges at you to test the very limits of your
golf ability. Enjoyment can be found on each unique hole! Arizona National Golf
Club is part of the Wildcat Golf Trail (www.WildcatTrail.com).
Forty Niner Country Club
is an upscale semi-private facility designed by William Francis Bell. The golf
course opened in 1961 and though not as demanding as the many desert-style
courses in the Tucson area, the tree lined fairways and tightly guarded doglegs
pose the same challenges it did more than 35 years ago when the golf club hosted
the PGA Tour's Tucson Open.
Spread over 110 acres, the
course
layout is known for its lush, mature landscaping and excellent
conditioning. It is lined with mature stands of mesquite, giant cottonwood,
eucalyptus and weeping willow trees. The fairways are Bermuda grass, over seeded
in the fall with perennial rye grass. The elevated Bermuda greens are known
locally for their swift putting surfaces in the winter months. The golf course
has three lakes that come into play and is bordered on the south by the Tanque
Verde Wash. The Forty Niner Country Club
is part of the Wildcat Golf Trail (www.WildcatTrail.com).
If you have something you
believe should be added to this section of Getting Away, just contact Jim.
mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
Restaurants
and Dining Suggestions
Ike's Coffee and Tea
When I moved to Arizona, Ike's was just down
the street from where I was staying temporarily while my house was being built.
I found it a perfect place for breakfast or coffee while I used their free WiFi
access to keep current with my website and email. The atmosphere was nice, the
folks were friendly, and the quiet jazz seemed to keep me relaxed while I
worked. They have a nice, simple menu with everything from soups and salads to
sandwiches, and a great selection of coffees and espressos and loose-leaf
teas. Located at 3400 E. Speedway Blvd. 323.7205. I highly recommend Ike's. Jim
Cattletown Steakhouse
Cattletown Steakhouse has been serving steaks, sandwiches, and Mexican dishes to
Tucsonans for eleven years. Open for both lunch and dinner, and sporting a full
service bar, most meals are prepared over a mesquite log fire. The attire is
casual or nicer, and reservations are generally not required except for larger
parties. There is plenty of attached, private parking and daily Happy Hours.
Hours and contact information: Sunday - Thursday 11 AM to 10 PM • Friday and
Saturday 11 AM to 11 PM. Saturdays and Sundays steak and eggs brunch. 3141 East
Drexel Road • Tucson Arizona 85706 • 295-1141
Chad's Steakhouse &
Saloon
Chad's Steakhouse has been around for a dozen years or more. Locally
owned and operated, Chad's offers some of the best Prime Rib and Steaks
you can find in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. Open for lunch daily between
11 and 4, you can enjoy one of the best bargains in town with a nice steak
or 1/2 rack of ribs for around $10. I really enjoy this place and I am
sure you will also. Located at the corner of N. Swan and Fort Lowel,
881.1802, www.chadssteakhouse.com. |
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| Mimi's Cafe - I have had the pleasure
of dining in several Mimi's Cafe restaurants in Arizona and California and
have found their food to be very good and consistently reliable from
restaurant to restaurant. I have had several selections from their
breakfast, lunch and dinner menus and have found all of them to be very
good. I especially enjoy their omelettes for breakfast. fish and chips,
chicken pot pie, meatloaf and grilled chicken for lunch or dinner. The bread
pudding is good anytime of the day, as is the apple cinnamon crisp. When you
are in any of the cities where they have restaurants, be sure to give them a
try. Jim. Mimi's Tucson, 120 South Wilmont Road. 520.747.7273.
www.mimiscafe.com |
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Mona's Danish Bakery
For some great place to get good baked goods, try Mona's. They specialize in
Danish along with other European-style baked goods, such as breads, pastries and
cakes. Locate at 3701 West Ina road, Suite 102. 520.579.1959.
Pinnacle Peak
This is one of those places that not only has good food, but is a fun place in
which to enjoy your meal -- even with the kids! In fact, bring the kids (or your
grandchildren) as they will enjoy walking around Trail Dust Town where they can
try their luck in the shootin gallery, ride a 100-year-old merry-go-round, take
a ride around the town on the old train and much more. But, I'm getting off
track here. For about 50 years now, Pinnacle Peak has been serving up "Cowboy
Steaks" to Tucsonans and visitors alike. "Cowboy Steaks" must be cut from the
short loin just as they were a hundred years ago on the open range. They must be
cooked over a roaring log fire on an open grill, and only mesquite wood can be
used (mesquite smoke imparts an exceptional flavor to fine beef). "Cowboy
Steaks" are cut from the short loin just as they were a hundred years ago on the
open range, then they are cooked a roaring mesquite wood fire on an open grill
so that the mesquite smoke imparts an exceptional flavor to the beef. Add to
this the pork ribs, several other great steaks, chicken, salmon and lots of good
sides. And, for the little ones, they have a nice cowboy menu for them also.
www.pinnaclepeaktucson.com
Todd's Restaurant at Ryan Airfield
Located about 15 miles west of I-10, this place has a good menu with reasonable
prices and good food. I like the BBQ ribs for lunch. For breakfast, try one of
their Belgian waffles or "build your own omelet." Their business card states,
"RVs, Trucks, Planes OK." And, they are right as you can land at Ryan Airfield
and taxi your plane right up to the airport entrance. Todd's is open for
breakfast and lunch from 7am (8am on Sunday) to 2pm. 9700 West Ajo Way, Tucson,
85735. 520.883.7770.
http://www.tucsonairport.org/ga/html/ga_ryan_ryanwings.html.
Books, Maps and Travel
Guides
Click on
Phoenix,
Sedona,
or on
Tucson for travel guides, brochures, and money savers to help
you plan your visit to these cities in Arizona.
Area Travel Packets was created to
help travelers get the most out of popular destination and to help them
plan their vacations ahead of time.
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DAY TRIPS FROM PHOENIX, TUCSON,
AND FLAGSTAFF
- Enjoy a welcome change of pace and discover a world you may not know
exists in your own backyard. Day Trips describes hundreds of fascinating
and exciting things to do, many free of charge and most within a two-hour
drive of Phoenix, Tucson, or Flagstaff. Outlining 42 unforgettable day
trips and two-day vacations, this indispensable guide specifies where to
go, what to see, where to eat, and where to shop. You may walk the streets
of Tombstone, past the O.K. Corral, marvel at the carved cliffs of
Mogollon Rim country, ascend Picacho Peak for a sprawling view of the
Sonoran desert, witness a Hopi ceremonial dance or step into the
microcosmic world of Biosphere 2. Each day trip includes travel
directions, destination highlights, other places to visit along the way,
choice restaurants, lodging and shopping. |
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Links
Cheap Car Rentals in Tucson!
Terra Verde Farms
is a family owned and run specialty foods business. We began as a small organic
farm in the Texas Hill Country growing stone fruit, figs and heirloom vegetables
for market in Austin, Texas. In March, 2004, we sold the farm to relocate "Out
of the Texas Hill Country" - Fredericksburg, TX to the "Valley of the Sun" -
Phoenix, Arizona. Our specialty foods can be found at throughout the
Southwestern United States at Farmers Markets, Gourmet Food and Wine Events,
Fine Arts & Craft Show and at selected retailers in Arizona, Texas and New
Mexico. For events in your area go to:
Markets & Events.
They are also available for shipment nationwide through our
Online Market!
Terra Verde Farms' seasonal gift baskets make great gifts for any occasion.
www.terraverdefarms.com.
Cheap Car Rentals in Arizona!
If you have something you believe should be added to this page
of Getting Away, please contact Jim at Getting Away. mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
