Tucson Travel Guide

Tucson is Arizona's second largest city and the home of the University of Arizona.

Tucson is home of the Tucson Rodeo, now in its 76th year. It also hosts the Tucson Rodeo Parade.

Every year, Tucson hosts the Gem and Mineral Show which brings visitors and merchants from all over the world.

The best cup of coffee and the best Italian soda in town are at Safehouse. As long as you can put up with strange clientele and a funky, smoke-filled atmosphere, you're in for a treat. There's no need to head for a Starbuck's in Tucson; locally owned cafes with better coffee and fantastic pastries are all over this city. In the middle of the night, avoid Denny's and head for the Grill, on Congress, which is open 24 hours and serves fantastic food for about the same as chains.

For Mexican food at bargain prices, there are few places betterr than El Guero Canelo, on 12th Avenue. It's cheaper than cheap, has outside seating only, and boasts a fantastic condiment bar. Stop at Oasis for an amazing fruity shaved ice treat on the way back, and watch cruisers take over 12th Ave on a hot summer night from their outdoor patio.

Visitors on less stringent budgets should be sure not to miss Café Poca Cosa, claimed by many natives to be the best restaurant in town. The Mexican fare offered by Susana Dávila varies daily, and is quite distinct from the native Sonoran cuisine, more reminiscent of the finer restaurants of Central Mexico.

For souvenirs, head over to Picante on Broadway and Country Club.

Travelers looking to stay at a youth hostel may consider The Hotel Congress; just don't believe the Dillinger hype, as he himself (as opposed to his gang) was actually caught a bit northwest of the hotel, in a house on 2nd Ave. Looking for something to do? Check out the Tucson Weekly's Best of Tucson. Or, if you're feeling a bit adventurous, head down to 4th Ave. Thrift stores abound, and you're sure to see something odd, even if it's only a troupe of hippies. Value Village's insane pricing system and lack of dressing rooms are atoned for by the tremendous size of the store and likelihood of bargains. The best coffee on 4th Avenue belongs to the ITL Cafe, which features local art, local music, and intellectual pursuits such as chess tournaments and spelling bees. The best pastries and nicest staff, though, are at Epic, on the corner of University and 4th Ave; nice outdoor seating makes for great people-watching year round. Delicious and cheap sandwiches, along with a mean beer and wine selection and some fine pizza, are around the corner on University and 3rd Ave at Time Market, which is owned by a swell local fellow (who even lives in the neighborhood). 

You can drink poshly at Barrio Grill, or cheaply and sleazily at the Buffet. The Shelter, on Grant, offers a time warp into the 1960s and good drink prices, but the ventilation system leaves much to be desired. Danny's Baboquivari has a fantastic jukebox and the best wallpaper seen outside of a 1950s sitcom. Blue Mondays at Club Congress are a whole sea of dancing drunk 80s fans.

Tucson Newspapers The Tucson Citizen - The Evening Paper The Arizona Daily Star - Mornings and Sundays. The Tucson Weekley - The free press, distributed around town on Thursdays. The Arizona Daily Wildcat - Distributed free around campus and around town.