Tell me about Tuscon, Az.

[Foxtrot's]

I'm coming to Tuscon early December. Any must sees, or must do's, or must try, or must eat? I like native art, crafts. Never been to that area.

[lesyl]

Hmm well do you know what part of Tucson you'll be in? That would help a little.

Must see's depend on your time and transportation (own car versus shared car), and what sort of horse activities your also doing.

Local - San Xaviear del Bac Misson is pretty beautiful, there are a couple glass blowing studios and quite a few art/crafts. The Lost Barrio has some great finds, and there is a farmer's market at St Phillips Plaza and Plaza Palimino. Both farmer's markets have crafts.

Food - Cafe Terra Cotta!! Feast, Dagwoods for great sandwiches. It is a super foody town for it's size.

[Foxtrot's]

Thanks for the tips - I'm quite excited about going since I've never been anywhere near that area. As far as where in Tuscon, I don't know, but it is a racehorse conference.

[hitchinmygetalong]

It is spelled Tucson. Pronounce it "Tuck-son" to yourself and you'll never misspell it again.

I lived in Phoenix for a number of years, swore if I ever moved back to Aridzona I would live in the Tucson area as I found it MUCH more "southwestern" than Phoenix. All I know about it now is that Arizona in general has some serious problems with illegal immigrants.

Don't know how long you will be in the area but the Sonoran Desert Museum is an interesting day. If you have time for a field trip, the Heard Museum in Phoenix is a MUST SEE for anyone interested in Native American art.

Have a great trip!

[BabyGreen]

1. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum about 15 miles west of Tucson out in the desert.

"The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, all in one place! "

Best thing, by far, in that area.

2. Near to 1, Old Tucson, which is a bunch of old building used as movie sets. They have staged gunfights, etc. Maybe even some horsies.

December is a good time to go.

[Foxtrot's]

Oops - sorry for the spelling error - see I really don't know where I'm going. I can check out the tourist sites, but insider knowledge is better. Thanks.

[tkhawk]

I am assuming you are Canadian? If so make sure to keep your passport or some such with you if you venture south of Tuscon . They have a few checkpoints there by Border Patrol. The ones here are not as friendly as the ones you see in the Canadian border!;)

Tuscon was ok, but I really liked the hills south. It is very pretty. I drove out to Sonoita, AZ and stayed a night there-the scenery changes the higher you go. Then drove out to Organ Pipe cactus national Monument. This park is right at the southern border and I hiked a bit and watched the sunset. really nice to sit alone in the desert and the cactus and watch the sun go down. Both areas are in the illegal immigration corridor. But they usually leave you alone-they want to pass through and go away to a big city , not draw attention to themselves. Real pretty country-mountainous and desert at the same time.

If you have time, San Diego is about an 8 hr drive away and you could spend a day or two there too. The first part of the drive is flat and boring, but gets real nice once you hit the hills. If you are into offroading, Imperial sand dunes is close to the AZ/CA border and you can rent or go on an ATV tour there. I really enjoyed that.

http://www.desertusa.com/sandhills/sandhills.html

The weather should be nice there now. Have fun!

[Foxtrot's]

Offroading is fine by me as long as the horsepower has four legs...

[azeventer]

I second the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum suggestion.....really cool. I love that place....