Travel to Tucson, Arizona – Episode 596

Hear about travel to Tucson, Arizona as the Amateur Traveler talks to Misty Foster from Green Suitcase Travel about her adopted desert home.

Misty says of Tucson, “It’s a dry heat. I say that jokingly but I do know a lot of people think the desert is so hot. Yes, there are some months when it is very hot, but there’s a good 6-8 months out of the year when it is absolutely beautiful. Especially right now (January) our highs are in the 60s and 70s and we have a “snowbird” population that comes down just for that reason. I have actually come to love the summer.”

She recommends we start by getting out into nature. There are great hikes. There are caverns and natural wonders.  “Arizona, in general, is an outdoor adventurer’s paradise. People come for bird watching. Spend some time out in the foothills in one of our many resorts.” Or she suggests spending a few days camping on mount Lemmon instead. The base of Mount Lemmon is Saguaro National Park and there is great biodiversity on the mountain.

Come into town for the arts and cultural activities. “Tucson is cool because it is this untouched mid-century modern city. It still feels like it’s the late 60s in a lot of ways but it’s also had a renaissance in the last 5 years.” Misty tells us some of the shops that we should visit on 4th avenue as well as what to see downtown.

We talk about the history of Tucson which dates from 1775, which is old by western U.S. standards. Tucson also has its place in the west of dime novels and gunslingers as Tombstone is a convenient day trip from Tucson.

People come from all over the world to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show that celebrates the richness of the state’s resources. Misty also recommends the Tucson Jazz Festival and the Tucson Festival of Books.

We learn where to get some great tacos and tamales (and other southwestern food) as well as why you should buy a Sonoran hot dog.

Come with the snowbirds or come in the hot summer when the locals have the town to themselves but see why this city my capture you… like it did Dillinger.

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Show Notes

Green Suitcase Travel
Visit Tucson
Tucson
Tucson Gem and Mineral Show
Miraval Arizona Resort and Spa
Canyon Ranch
Loews Ventana Canyon Resort
Mount Lemmon
Hotel Congress
University of Arizona
Fourth Avenue
Mercado San Agustin
Saguaro National Park
Sabino Canyon
Kartchner Caverns
Colassal Cave
Dillinger Days
Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón
Agustin Kitchen
Mission San Xavier del Bac
Rialto Theatre
Fox Tucson Theatre
Tucson Jazz Festival
Tucson Festival of Books
Flandrau Science Center
Desert Museum
Reid Park Zoo
Boca Tacos
El Guero Canelo
Sonoran hot dog
Ermanos
Tucson Tamale Company
Seed Library
El Charro Cafe
Bisbee, Arizona
Copper Queen Hotel
Jerome
Tubac
Tombstone
The Circus Academy Tucson
Gates Pass
Sonoran Hot Dog in Tucson

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