• Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St., Tel. (520) 622-8848, [20]. If you feel like dancing, is the place to go. Located in the historic Congress Hotel, you'll find three bars and one dance floor, featuring techno dance beats and live bands. Call ahead to see who's playing. Cover charge.
• Plush, [21]. Live music - talented local, regional, and national touring acts 5-7 nights a week.
• 4th Avenue One of two locations with a large concentration of bars and nightclubs, most notably Maloney's (a Pub chain), O'Malley's (Sports bar/dance/live music), The Shanty (Pub), Bison Witches (Sandwich shop/bar), North on 4th (bar/pool hall), and The Surly Wench (bar/live music).
• Congress Street Home of Club Congress and other venues, including the District (a dive) and Asylum (darkwave/industrial music)

• Sabino Canyon, [6]. Spectacular desert canyon cut into the south side of the Santa Catalina Mountains, now on Tucson's northern urban fringe. A tram (for a fee) will take visitors up to stop 4 (stops 5 through 9 are now closed to the tram because of extensive damage to the canyon caused by landslides in 2006). To park you will need a National Park Pass ($5 day, $20 annual) which is also good to use on Mt. Lemmon.
• Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Rd., Tel. (520) 883-2702, [7]. More like Biosphere II than a walled institution, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is part zoo, part natural history museum and part botanical garden all in one Tucson attraction. From tarantulas to black bears, coyotes to scorpions, the museum-zoo is an entrancing and full-contact tribute to the Sonoran desert's wildlife (the wire fences are nearly invisible and the hummingbirds in the buzzing, walk-in aviary seem to think you are the attraction). Give yourself time to soak in the Southwest splendor and if time is all you have, the Museum is also on the fringes of Saguaro National Park, home to the world's largest forests of Saguaro cacti.
• Saguaro National Park, 3693 South Old Spanish Trail, Tel. (520) 733-5153, [8]. The most dense forest of the iconic cactus of the American West. The park has two unconnected units to the east and west of Tucson.
• Tohono Chul Park, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte, Tel. (520) 742-6455, [9]. "Tohono chul" means "desert corner" in the Tohono O'Odham's (desert people's) language, and this haven in the midst of Tucson's burgeoning north side offers a tea room, gift shop, book store, and art gallery in the middle of trails and gardens. There are extensive botanical exhibits explaining the native plants, and a wonderful plant-sale area in which to buy them for your own garden. Many kinds of desert birds are frequent visitors.
• Mission San Xavier del Bac, 1950 W. San Xavier Rd., Tel. (520) 294-2624, [10]. The "White Dove of the Desert" is a Tucson mission. Pure white and pristine against a hot desert backdrop, and still heady inside its elaborately colored and muraled interior from centuries of supplication, the Mission San Xavier del Bac was finished in 1797 when Arizona was still New Spain. It has recently been cleaned and restored by professional art conservators who worked with and trained members of the community.
• Old Tucson Studios, 201 S. Kinney Rd., Tel. (520) 883-0100, [11]. Ever notice that Hollywood's Old West, the backdrop for the gun-slinging and cryptic comments of Hollywood's Western icons -- Wayne, Eastwood, Douglas and Newman -- has much in common with the Wild West of today's Tombstone and Geronimo? They've all been filmed at the Old Tucson Studios, originally built in 1939 for the making of the William Holden vehicle "Arizona." Still an active film, TV and commercial set, it's also a nostalgia-themed park, with main drag shootouts, corseted can-can dancers, educational shows, pre-Prohibition saloons, restaurants and gift shops.
• El Tiradito (The Castaway), South Granada Avenue at West Cushing Street. El Tiradito is the only shrine to a sinner in North America. In the 1880s, a young man had an affair with his mother-in-law. When caught in the act, his father-in-law shot him and he stumbled from bed and ran out of the house. He dropped dead on this spot, and because he had not confessed his sins, he could not be buried in the church yard. His family and friends interred him where he fell, but remembered him with candles and flowers. People still burn candles and leave offerings today. The shrine is located in what remains of Tucson's barrio (much of which was destroyed when the Tucson Convention Center was built). Best visited at dusk or after dark.
• Center for Creative Photography, [12] is located on the University of Arizona campus, and routinely features works of famous (and not-so-famous) photographers. When they have their Ansel Adams collection up it is a must see.
• Kitt Peak National Observatory, [13] is one hour southwest of Tucson. A "don't miss" for the astronomy buff, there are several astronomical telescopes plus a large solar telescope. There are tours available.
• Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, Amado. Call ahead for tour information.
• Pima Air & Space Museum, 6000 E. Valencia Rd., Tel. (520) 574-0462, [15]. Features over 250 historic aircraft.
• Titan Missile Museum, 1580 W. Duval Mine Rd., Sahuarita, Tel. (520) 625-7736, [16]. Site south of Tucson preserves a Cold-War-era underground silo housing an unarmed Titan-II ICBM. Part of a larger field of such silos, this was one of the places from which nuclear war on the Soviet Union would have been waged.
• Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 North Alvernon Way, Tel. (520) 326-9686, [17]. This beautiful oasis in the heart of Tucson was originally the home of Bernice and Rutger Porter. Dating to the 1920s, the earliest buildings on the property were constructed of adobe bricks made right on site. True to the vision of Mrs. Porter, Tucson Botanical Gardens is a place of beauty, inspiration and education about the natural world.
• Kartchner Caverns State Park, Nine miles south of I-10, off State Hwy 90, exit 302, Benson, Tel. (520) 586-CAVE, [18]. Kartchner Caverns State Park, opened in 1999, is one of Arizona's newest wonders. Kartchner Caverns is a stunning limestone cave system considered one of the top ten in the world. Discovered in 1974 by explorers Randy Tufts and Gary Tenen, and not revealed until 1988, the opportunity existed to preserve the caverns in near pristine condition.
• Winterhaven Festival of Lights, An annual event in the Winterhaven subdivision north of Fort Lowell Road displaying a huge Christmas light festival involving several dozen homes in the subdivision. Typically, the festival starts in the middle of December, ending a few days before New Years Day. The event is very popular, and traffic to the event is always very crowded[19].

By plane

Tucson International Airport (IATA: TUS), 7250 S. Tucson Blvd., Tel. (520) 573-8000, [2]. Served by a number of airlines. Some people fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor and then take a shuttle to Tucson. In recent years the cost savings and the cost of shuttle service going up because of gas prices has made this less and less of an attractive option unless you don't care about time and really want to save money.

By train

The local Amtrak +1 520 623-4442, [3] station is at 400 N. Toole Avenue, and is served by the Los Angeles - New Orleans Sunset Limited [4] line.

By car

I-10 from the north and southeast, and I-19 from the south.

I-10 from West Prince Road on the north side of Tucson to the I-10/I-19 interchange has been reduced to two lanes of traffic each direction and drivers aren't allowed to enter or exit the freeway between these points due to construction that is expected to be completed sometime in 2010. You need to exit the freeway and take the frontage road if you want to take any streets into downtown. This appears to have not created any major traffic problems in these areas, as locals appear to be avoiding the area altogether during commute times.

By bus

Greyhound Lines, Station: 471 W. Congress St., Tel. (520) 792-3475, [5].

• By Bus. Extensive metropolitan bus system, Sun Tran
• By Car. I-10 and I-19 are the only freeways in Tucson. East-west travel on surface streets above I-10 can be slow during the work day. Tucson has far fewer miles of freeway than other U.S. cities of its size. All east-west travel and all travel on the east side is done via surface streets.
• By Bike. Tucson is a bike-friendly community, and has an extensive system of bike routes and paths (but something you don't want to do in the summer unless you are experienced riding in very hot dry weather).

• The Summit Hut. 5045 E. Speedway at Rosemont, Tel. (520) 325-1554 and 605 E. Wetmore at 1st Avenue, Tel. (520) 888-1000, [24]. Offers great gear and resources for getting outdoors around Tucson. A very local shop with more than 30 years of experience. Go in and ask questions, these guys will take the time to help you out.
• "Silver Sea" 137 E. Congress St. (520)624-9954 Offers sterling silver jewelry at competetive prices Interesting little figurines (fantasy, gothic, egyptian, skulls) and a variety of giftie-type things. Silver Sea has been in business since 1993 and moved downtown in 2003. Silver Sea is owner operated-Lizzie will help you find the perfect goodie to bring back with you. "Lizzie Stardust" label jewelry available in limited supply lots of OOAK items!

As you can guess, Tucson is a veritable hub of Southwestern and Mexican cuisine. But Tucson is an adventurous town (easily the most liberal metropolitan area in Arizona) and as a result of it's diversity, has a vibrant culinary culture.

Budget

• El Molinito. 3675 W Ina Rd, Tucson, AZ 85741 (520) 744-1188 A Local Favorite! Great mexican food at a great price. Has been in Tucson for at least 20 years and has great service! Known for their amazing frozen margaritas. Try their beans and carne asada tacos on a soft flour tortilla!
• Epic Cafe. 4th Avenue at University. An eclectic coffee house with outdoor tables, free WiFi, good organic food, intricately tattooed wait staff, and an independent vibe. Bulletin boards to see what is going on in town. Coffee $1-$3; soups, pastries, and sandwiches $3-$8.
• Pat's Chili Dogs. Mission Road between St. Mary's Road and Speedway. An old time "drive in" (carhop service however does not exist - you must walk up to the order window). Lunchtime is packed with Tucsonans ordering the most famous Chili and Cheese Dogs in the State (I drive from Phoenix occasionally just to eat them!). French fries made from fresh potatoes on site. Lots of hot sauce. Arriba!!
• Birreria Guadalajara. Southeast corner of 22nd. Street and 4th. Avenue. A hole in the wall Mexican diner frequented by the Hispanic workers and Gringos in the know. All the standard Mexican fare, but an unusual emphasis on caldos or soup. Birria is shredded beef in it's own broth. This place makes the best!
• Yoshimatsu Healthy Japanese Food. 2745 N Campbell Avenue, Tel. (520) 320-1574 Local, home-made Japanese food. Recently opened a sushi bar within the same building. Great romantic location and a separate vegetarian menu.
• Beyond Bread. 3026 N. Campbell Ave., Tel. (520) 322-9965, [25]. Amazing sandwiches on fresh-baked bread, made from ingredients that are as fresh as possible. (In addition to baking bread daily, the restaurant also roasts its turkey and beef on site.) They also have an espresso bar and pastries. A nice place for lunch, but watch out -- it's very popular, and you may have to wait in line. Average sandwich (hot & cold) costs around $6-6.50, chips included.
• Buddy's Grill, 4821 East Grant Road, Tel. (520) 795-2226. Buddy's Grill dishes up American meals dominated by seafood and steaks. Expect the average entrée to cost roughly $8 to $12.
• Home Town Buffet, 5101 North Oracle Road, Tel. (520) 888-1060. You'll find that Home Town Buffet focuses on American food. Expect the average entrée to cost in the range of $8 to $12.
• eegee's, [26]. A favorite sub shop of the locals, noted for its flavored ices. There are several locations, but the chain is exclusive to the Tucson area.
• Char Thai. 5039 E 5th St, Tel. (520) 795-1715. It's not always easy to find good Asian restaurants in the desert, but this hole in the wall has to be near the top of anyone's list of favorites. Owned and operated by former residents of Bangkok, the restaurant has a huge selection of tasty curries and noodle dishes. The lunch specials are a great value.
• Viva Burrito Co. A local fast food chain known for its large, tasty breakfast burritos at a cheap price ($2.10). Open 24hrs.
• El Güero Canelo. 5201 S. 12th Ave. 12th Ave. south of Irvington. Tasty food, especially their hot dogs wrapped in bacon.

Mid-range

• Vero Amore.3305 N Swan Rd # 105, Tucson, AZ 85712, Tel. (520) 325-4122 Website: www.veroamorepizza.com‎

This is a certified pizzeria that hand-makes their mozzarella, and has the finest ingredients from Italy. Their pizza crust is crispy and chewy and oh-so-delicious! Try their Prosciutto Caprese Salad ($9.50) and Margarita Pizza ($9.25). Another favorite is the Capricciosa Pizza($11).

• Cafe Poca Cosa, 88 E. Broadway Blvd., Tel. (520) 622-6400. Fantastic Southwestern cuisine in a fun atmosphere. Downtown, Cafe Poca Cosa serves Mexican cuisine as you've never tasted it before. Order the Plato Poca Cosa ($20), and chef-owner Suzana Davila will choose three entrees for you to sample. Trust her judgment. (dinner for two, about $46).

• Cup Cafe, 311 E. Congress St., Tel. (520) 798-1618, [27]. Unusual, eclectic mix of Indian, Thai, Japanese, American and Mediterranean food, easily the most interesting restaurant in Tucson. You'll find plenty of vegetarian and some vegan options. On a nice day you can sit outside.

• El Charro Café, 311 N. Court Av., Tel. (520) 622-1922, [28]. Opened in 1922, El Charro is the oldest continuously-operated, family-owned Mexican restaurant in the United States. The food is classic Southwestern, with more Sonoran influences than many Tucson restaurants.

• El Minuto Cafe, 354 S. Main Av., Tel. (520) 882-4145. Authentic Sonoran cuisine in an adobe house in the barrio, open since 1936. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but do order the mole if they have it on the day you are there. The carne seca is superb and the chiles rellenos are magnificent. Make sure to sample the fresh, made-on-the-premises tortillas. Combine this with a visit to El Tiradito, which is nearby.

• Rosa's Mexican Food, Ft. Lowell Rd. at Campbell Avenue. Excellent Sonoran-style Mexican food in this family-owned and operated storefront restaurant. Rosa's salsa is consistently voted one of the top three in Tucson by the readers of the Tucson Weekly. The food is heavy on the meat and cheese, with buttery tortillas and delicious refried beans. Entrées $7-$10.

• Black Angus Restaurant, 5075 North Oracle Road, Tel. (520) 293-7131. If you try out Black Angus, you'll find a steakhouse that serves patrons American dishes where people frequently get steaks. Entrées $12 to $20. Dress casual.

• Café Terra Cotta, 4310 North Campbell Avenue, Tel. (520) 577-8100. Su-Th 11AM-9PM; F,S 11AM-12AM. Café Terra Cotta focuses on preparing southwestern American cooking. Entrées $12 to $20. Plan to fit the scene by dressing casual.

• Roma Caffe, 4140 West Ina Road, Tel. (520) 744-2929. This place focuses on an Italian cuisine. Entrées $12 to $2. Dress casual.

• Takamatsu, 5532 East Speedway Boulevard, Tel. (520) 512-0800. Takamatsu concentrates on Japanese and Korean dishes where it's common to order sushi. Entrées $12-$20. Also, you'll notice that there is habachi-style cooking.

• Vivace Restaurant, 4811 East Grant Road, Tel. (520) 795-7221. Vivace is an upscale restaurant that focuses on and serves Italian dishes. Entrées $12 to $20, casual dress. The atmosphere is enhanced by flowers at the tables. The establishment is spacious. Table talk requires you to speak up a bit here. Also, you'll notice that there is an open kitchen.

• Yamato, 857 E. Grant Rd. Sushi and Japanese.

• North, 2995 E. Skyline Dr. Located in the La Encantada mall. Italian in heritage, but extremely experimental. Dishes range from pizzas to pasta to steak, and are normally in the range of $19-$25 (others depend on market prices).

• Sushi Ten, 4500 E. Speedway Blvd. Japanese, sushi.

• El Mezon del Cobre, 2960 N 1st Ave. A lesser known but not unknown, great Mexican restaurant. Great place to go to dispel fears that Mexican food equals heat. The seafood, particularly the fish, is great for those with delicate palates. Dinner time includes roaming Mariachi singers.

Splurge

• Hacienda del Sol. 5601 N. Hacienda del Sol Rd., Tel. (520) 529-3500, [29]. Mobil four-star American-style grill featuring (Fall 2004) swordfish, Angus beef, buffalo sirloin, lamb, Scottish salmon, and other entrées . Reservations recommended.
• Angelo's, 4405 West Speedway Boulevard, Tel. (520) 624-8946. Focusing on Italian, Greek and European cuisines, this is an upscale restaurant. Expect the average entrée to cost between $20 and $30. The restaurant has a contemporary European style decor. The restaurant has a romantic atmosphere -- a favorite among couples.
• Arizona Inn, 2200 East Elm Street, Tel. (520) 325-1541. Serving an American fare, this is a fine dining facility. Expect the average entrée to cost in the range of $20 to $30. Architecturally, the restaurant is in an historic structure. The restaurant has a southwestern U.S. style decor. The interior is enhanced by prints and flowers at the tables, and the lighting is set quite dim. This is a white tablecloth restaurant, and the fireplace adds to the atmosphere and mood here. The establishment has several dining rooms. It has a romantic atmosphere.

• Kon Tiki, 4625 E Broadway Blvd, ☎ (520) 323-7193, [30]. A Polynesian themed bar with fruity, Cruzan-laden concoctions that's been in Tucson since 1963. Don't mind the snake behind the bar or the slightly musky smell, the servers are nice and there is no cover. A reasonable place to drink, as $10 can get you feeling quite good. The Scorpion here is a must - but be sure to arrange for a designated driver. Weekends can be very busy. $4.50-7.50.  edit

• Barrio Food & Drink, 135 S. 6th Ave., Tel. (520) 629-0191. One of the best bars in Tucson, with fully-stocked offerings, and knowledgeable, friendly staff. The decor is quintessentially Southwestern, and is both casual and elegant.

• Bison Witches, 326 N. 4th Ave., Tel. (520) 740-1541. Located at the heart of Tucson's 4th Avenue historic district, Bison Witches is a funky little bar that serves amazing sandwiches and the best margaritas in town.

• The Surley Wench, 424 N 4th Ave. Serves a lot of Rolling Rock.

• Maloney's, 213 N 4th Ave. Large bar with pool tables, dance floor and multiple levels. 2 for 1 drinks on Thursday nights, but beware, it can get packed with the college crowd on Thursday and Saturday nights.

• Nimbus 3850 E. 44th Street Suite 138, (520) 745-9175, [31]. Popular microbrewery with a monkey as it's mascot.