There are countless reasons to visit Tucson, including the beautiful scenery, the all-year dry desert climate and great recreational facilities. With a population of nearly a million, it’s located 100 miles south of Phoenix via Highway I-10. Some 60 miles south is Nogales on the border with Mexico.

How To Get To Tucson: The airport (TUC) is served by many major national and international airlines. It’s a 20-minute ride into the city by taxi, limo or bus. flytucsonairport.com

Must See Sights: Along the north side, Sabino Canyon is an unspoiled desert area within the Coronado National Forest. In many areas, there are soaring 40-foot-high saguaro and other cactus varieties, including cholla, prickly pear and ocotillo. Each springtime, they blossom with brilliant colors.
Hikers and bikers share the extensive trails with coyotes, wildcats, horned toads, javalinas, rattlesnakes and many varieties of desert bird life. sabinocanyon.com

The Pima Air & Space Museum: It’s adjacent to Davis-Monthan U.S. Air Force Base. It displays varieties of aircraft from aviation’s past. Preserved in the dry desert air and surrounding the museum are hundreds of warplanes dating back to World War II. pimaair.org

Old Tucson Studios: Visitors enjoy this huge Western movie set, including vintage Arizona streets, saloons, haylofts and stagecoaches. Throughout its 90-year history, hundreds of movie and TV episodes have been filmed there, including those starring John Wayne, James Stewart, Gene Autry, Clint Eastwood and many others.

The desert surroundings serve as a perfect backdrop, and Western-style entertainment and eateries add to Old Tucson's appeal. oldtucson.com

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort: It's located in the foothills of Tucson’s Santa Catalina Mountains. With two magnificent championship golf courses, it attracts the world’s prime players to its tournaments. For a perfect vacation, add all -year tennis, swimming, cactus-lined desert biking and hiking trails. Prices from about $250. loewshotels.com/Ventana-Canyon-Resort

El Charro Restaurant: After more than a century, El Charro, with four locations in Arizona, this eatery is the oldest continuously family-owned Mexican restaurant in the U.S. It’s located in the historic El Presidio district in the heart of downtown Tucson.

A favorite is El Charro Carne Seca: shredded beef, grilled with green chiles, tomatoes and onions, and served with guacomole, rice and tortillas. Prices from $20. elcharrocafe.com