Tucson is a fast-growing city known as much for its metropolitan sophistication as for its unique blend of cultures. Vast deserts, green canyons and majestic mountain ranges form an impressive backdrop, and close proximity to the mexican border is evident in the architecture, distinctive cuisine, lively fiestas and the annual festivals. As you travel along the banks of the Santa Cruz river, you will find the city of Tucson, Arizona. Four mountain ranges surround this beautiful city. Tucson's mild, dry climate blessed with year-round sun, makes it a popular winter resort.
Mexican and native american influences are pervasive, and the city has a distinctly western flavor. There's also a college-town atmosphere, the University of Arizona, which has its own share of museums and a science center.
Enjoy a fascinating journey through southern Arizona's diverse history. Explore ancient native american archaeological sites from murray springs and signal hill to dank worth village. In fact, Tucson was originally a native american village called stook-zone, which means water at the foot of a black mountain. Sabino canyon in the Catalina mountains is a great place to hike, bike, swim or picnic. If you are an aircraft enthusiast, your Tucson vacation should include a trip to the Pima air museum, where 220 are on display. The collection, which is the largest in the world, includes president Kennedy's air force one.
Of all the neighborhoods in Tucson, downtown offers the most variety. Century-old adobe homes, victorian mansions, imposing government buildings, museums and affordable restaurants lie within easy walking distance of each other. It's a favorite destination for artists and art lovers, with numerous galleries and studios situated in and around the old town artisans marketplace, just a block north of the Tucson museum of art.
A walk along the Barrio historico, the now-gentrified hispanic historic quarter south of the convention center, where the old spanish-style homes that have been largely restored to their original beauty is worth seeing. The small municipality of south Tucson has become a largely hispanic community and for out of town visitors, its main attractions are the mexican restaurants, which, although low profile and inexpensive, offer the best of south-of-the-border food in town.
