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Tucson Photos

        

All About Tucson

The stately saguaro cactus, symbol of the American Southwest, is the king here, dominating the entire landscape. Although Saguaro National Park preserves a sizable chunk of the Sonoran Desert, it is one of America's few national parks dedicated to protecting one specific plant. Saguaros are plants with personalities. They often look human, standing tall and proud, their arms reaching toward the sky or pointing the way. Though some achieve heights of 50 feet and weigh up to 8 tons, saguaros grow slowly. It usually takes them 15 years to reach 1 foot in height, and they don't flower or produce fruit until they're about 30. They take about 100 years to reach a height of 25 feet. Their maximum life span is about 200 years.

One of the hottest and driest parts of North America, the Sonoran Desert also has an amazing variety of life, more than any other of the continent's deserts. Although the saguaro forests dominate the horizon--and are consequently the first thing we notice here--this desert is home to dozens of other cacti, grasses, shrubs, flowers, and trees, as well as several hundred species of birds, mammals, and reptiles. Many of them are uniquely adapted to the demanding environment of this dry land. For instance, javelinas, those odd-looking piglike animals, have mouths so tough they can bite through prickly pear cactus pads in search of moisture; and kangaroo rats never need to drink--they extract all the water they need from seeds.

The park is composed of two separated sections. The Tucson Mountain District, also called Saguaro West, covers 32 square miles of Sonoran Desert west of the city of Tucson; while the Rincon Mountain District, also called Saguaro East, covers 104 square miles of saguaro forest, desert, foothills, and mountain terrain on the east side of Tucson. The two sections are about 30 miles apart.

Both districts have scenic drives and trails, with good wildlife viewing and bird-watching. When the rain cooperates, there are also spectacular shows of wildflowers and cactus blooms in the springtime.

Encircled by mountain ranges and bookended by the two units of Saguaro National Park, Tucson is Arizona's second-largest city, and for the vacationer it has everything that Phoenix has to offer, plus a bit more. There are world-class golf resorts, excellent restaurants, art museums and galleries, an active cultural life, and, of course, plenty of great weather. Tucson also has a long history that melds Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo roots. And with a national park, a national forest, and other natural areas just beyond the city limits, Tucson is a city that celebrates its Sonoran Desert setting.

At Saguaro National Park, you can marvel at the massive saguaro cacti that have come to symbolize the desert Southwest, while at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (actually a zoo), you can acquaint yourself with the myriad flora and fauna of this region. Take a hike or a horseback ride up one of the trails that leads into the wilderness from the edge of the city, and you may even meet up with a few desert denizens on their own turf. Look beyond the saguaros and prickly pears, and you can find a desert oasis, complete with waterfalls and swimming holes, and, a short drive from the city, a pine forest that's home to the southernmost ski area in the country.

Founded by the Spanish in 1775, Tucson was built on the site of a much older Native American village, and the city's name comes from the Pima Indian word chukeson, which means "spring at the base of black mountain," a reference to the peak now known simply as "A Mountain." From 1867 to 1877, Tucson was the territorial capital of Arizona, but eventually the capital was moved to Phoenix. Consequently, Tucson did not develop as quickly as Phoenix and still holds on to some of its Hispanic and Western heritage.

Tucson has a history of valuing quality of life over development, which sets it apart from the Phoenix area. Back in the days of urban renewal, its citizens turned back the bulldozers and managed to preserve at least some of the city's old Mexican character. Likewise, today, in the face of the sort of sprawl that has given Phoenix the feel of a landlocked Los Angeles, advocates for controlled growth are fighting hard to preserve both Tucson's desert environment and the city's unique character. However, the seemingly inevitable sprawl has now ringed much of Tucson with vast suburbs, though as yet, the city is far from becoming another Phoenix.

The struggle to retain an identity distinct from other Southwestern cities is ongoing, and despite long, drawn-out attempts to breathe life into the city's core, downtown Tucson has little to offer visitors other than an art museum, a convention center, a few historic neighborhoods, and a couple of good restaurants. There are currently plans for a major downtown renaissance project known as Rio Nuevo that, it is hoped, will reinvigorate downtown Tucson.

Despite this minor shortcoming, Tucson remains Arizona's most beautiful and most livable city. With the Santa Catalina Mountains for a backdrop, Tucson boasts one of the most dramatic settings in the Southwest, and whether you're taking in the mountain vistas from the tee box of the 12th hole, the saddle of a palomino, or a table for two, I'm sure you'll agree that Tucson makes a superb vacation destination.

Frommer's Unlimited © 2009 Wiley Publishing

Events in Tucson

4th Avenue Winter Street Festival

11 - 13 Dec 2009 (annual)
Tucson
Tucson hosts the massive 4th Avenue Winter Street Festival held between Ninth Street and University Boulevard. There are four stages...

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Daily
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Bordering Saguaro National Park west of Tucson, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a must for visitors to this stunning area. The...

Butterfly Magic

Nov 2009 - Mar 2010; not Mon (annual)
Tucson Botanical Gardens
Be one of the first in Arizona to see hundreds of tropical butterflies as the Tucson Botanical Gardens celebrate the return of...

Old Tucson Studios

Daily
Old Tucson Studios
The ¡Three Amigos! and Arizona are two of the many famous movies filmed at Old Tucson Studios,...

Frommer's Unlimited © 2009 Whatsonwhen Ltd

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