Looking for a laid-back vacation? An action-packed vacation? Kill two birds with one stone in Marana. This chilled-out city is an oasis of family-friendly vacation fun, right in the middle of the Sonoran Desert.
Marana can sometimes get a bit overshadowed by its next-door big brother, Tucson. But despite being smaller, Marana has just as much personality. It’s a great a base for going off-the-beaten-path in the desert as well as treating yourself to fantastic farm-to-table cuisine. Tiny travelers will never run out of ways to burn off their excess energy here, and there's lots to keep older members of the family smiling, too.
With their desert backdrop, the farms that surround Marana not only make the outskirts of the city extremely photogenic, they also provide a stream of locally grown, ultra-fresh ingredients for the restaurants and produce markets Marana is known for. Beyond the farms lie the vast tracts of wilderness that offer scenic settings for hiking, biking, camping and climbing. The hilly desert landscape of Saguaro National Park is expansive enough to make you feel the smallest you've ever felt, in a good way.
And if all that sounds too energetic, you can always take things down a notch or two with a relaxing day on one of the local golf courses.
In the market for a real treat? Head to one of the ultra-upscale resorts in the hills around the town, for an escape from reality that will leave you feeling truly relaxed, yet invigorated.