Things To Do
Historic Fourth Avenue
Historic Fourth Avenue is a great area of Tucson to take a walk, do some shopping of local artisans, have a drink, or grab dinner. Our favorite restaurants are Anello's and BOCA tacos y tequila. Great bars include Sky Bar (they have a telescope on Friday nights), Portal Cocktails, and Surly Wench Pub. The Jewel Cafe has great casual coffee and breakfast!
Mercado District
The Mercado District is a little south of downtown. At the very end of the street is the MSA Annex with restaurants, shops, and a bar. Frequently has live music and free events. All along the street are other cute shops, restaurants, and markets. There is a free shuttle that goes along Downtown/Fourth Avenue/University area to the Mercado San Augustin if you are staying Downtown.
Downtown
Downtown Tucson is a great area to walk around and see what interests you, but here's a few of our recommendations: Tabu Bar- Tapas bar with good cocktails, and salsa dancing on the weekends. BATA- Small plates local Sonoran cuisine. Most of their food is cooked over a mesquite wood fire. On the fancier end, this is our favorite restaurant in Tucson! Hotel Congress- a super old, haunted hotel! The site of bank robber John Dillinger's capture in 1934. There are three separate stages here for live music and dancing. Breakfast and brunch are available at the Cup Cafe. Cobra Arcade- a fun barcade to play some arcade games and have a drink. Bar Crisol/EXO- a few blocks walk from downtown, this adobe house is a coffee shop during the day, and a bar at night, featuring a lot of infusions of Sonoran herbs in their drinks. Tough Luck Club- fancy craft cocktails in a speakeasy-type bar
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
The Desert Museum is an incredible place to spend the afternoon. After driving through Saguaro National Park, you'll find yourself out in the middle of the Sonoran desert. The desert museum features a huge native botanical garden, mineral museum, walking trails, and native animal zoo. Make sure to bring sunscreen, a hat, and water bottle if you go!!
Short Rest Tavern
Nerd bar! Hidden in the back of Tucson Games and Gadgets at the Tucson Mall, Short Rest Tavern has a massive mead selection, trivia nights, drop-in board games, and Magic the Gathering.
Saguaro National Park
You would be remiss to come out to Tucson and miss our beautiful National Park! Saguaro National Park is split in to two parks- East and West. Both sides are beautiful, and have a wide variety of hiking trails and scenic drives. Great place to take pictures, meditate, hike, or just drive around.
El Güero Canelo Restaurant
There are a few locations, but this is the best place to get our famous Sonoran Hot Dogs (basically a hot dog, wrapped in bacon, covered in taco toppings). They also have excellent Birria.
Tucson Botanical Gardens
A beautiful and large botanical garden featuring lots of native Sonoran plants. A great way to experience a piece of the desert if you're unable to get out to Saguaro or the desert museum. The Botanical Gardens also has a butterfly house, and a very cool miniature train.
Mount Lemmon
Mount Lemmon is a beautiful place for a hike or drive. There is a small ski resort where you can take a gondola up the mountain. There is a world-famous cookie shop near the summit. There are many beautiful hiking trails at all elevations.