Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest
Visiting Arizona proves to be a rewarding experience when you view a southwestern sunset for the first time. Or take a cautious step to peer over the railing into the Grand Canyon for the first time. Arizona weather conditions and scenery are perfect for all types of outdoor activities year round.
Tucson is the second largest city in the state and is full of activities, cultures and flair that make exploring this city of ours exciting. With a little over five hundred thousand people, Tucson continues to spread across the valley enticing old and new businesses alike to come join our community and help enhance all that we have to offer.
AREA ATTRACTIONS TO SEE FIRST...
Fourth Avenue/Downtown area - A walk through the downtown streets and along Fourth Avenue is a welcome treat for eclectic and conservative tastes alike. Fourth Avenue is one of the best places to find authentic southwestern items, specialty second hand stores, and merchants who carry everything under the Arizona sun. In April and December the Fourth Avenue Merchants Association closes the street for one weekend to hold the Fourth Avenue Street Fair. Many foods are available representing the many cultural influences present in Tucson and its surrounding areas. The venue provides street vendors and local artisans an outlet to sell their handmade crafts and artwork. A walk through the downtown area houses reveals some of the oldest historic buildings in Tucson with some dating back a hundred years or more.
Sabino Canyon - A recreational outdoor wonderland of desert scenery, mountain views and wildlife abound this area located at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Beautiful year round, the park has a visitor center and tram rides to take visitors up the length of the canyon. There are picnic areas, waterfalls, a stream and many trails for those who want to explore the canyon on foot.
Mount Lemmon - The peak of the Santa Catalina Mountains standing above Sabino Canyon at a little over nine thousand feet high. Mt. Lemmon houses a ski lodge in the Mount Lemmon Ski Valley area as well as many shops and eateries in the town situated at the top of the mountain called Summerhaven Village. Ski lift rides are available year round and while the snow season is somewhat short (I wouldnt plan on coming just for the skiing), the view and temperature change are just delightful. Because of continuing construction to improve highways and repair damage from forest fires, its important to make sure you call before making a trip up the mountain. There are occasional road delays and other circumstances that can limit your ability to see all Mount Lemmon has to offer.
Arizona Sonora Desert Museum - Specializing in the presentation of animals native to the desert areas of Arizona, the museum has presented animals in their own environment for years to tourists and locals alike. In order to gain a greater understanding of these animals, the museum provides tours and educational classes to help increase the publics awareness of these creatures. Located in Southwest Tucson the museum is open everyday including holidays.
LOCAL AREA SHOPPING...
Shopping in the Tucson area has greatly improved over the past five years. Tucson has five area malls as well as many strip malls located throughout the city. Our five main malls are detailed below:
La Encantada - An outdoor shopping experience is the biggest difference in the newest mall to be built in Tucson (opened in 2003). With a focus on upscale shopping, La Encantada has stores like Crate and Barrel and Williams Sonoma along with clothing stores like Talbots and Victoria Secret. Also notable about the mall is AJs Fine Foods located on the main strip of the mall. Perched at the base of the Santa Catalina mountains, it offers stunning views of the mountains with binoculars located throughout to get a view of the city or mountains looming directly behind the mall.
The Foothills Mall - Located in northwest Tucson, this mall is newly renovated and houses a variety of standard mall shops and many outlet stores as well as a movie theater. Foothills Mall has a strange yet adequate array of stores ranging from the normal mall merchants to a furniture store specializing in fine furniture and home decor.
The Tucson Mall - Located near north central Tucson, also renovated within the last two years was once the biggest mall in Tucson. It houses all the standard mall stores, department stores and eateries one would expect to find. It also has one corridor on the lower level of the mall adjacent to the food court dedicated to southwestern gifts, clothing and other items specifically designed with an eye on southwestern tastes.
El Con Mall - This is Tucsons oldest mall located in the center of town, close to the downtown area. The mall has been undergoing renovations for some time and is still quite empty as a result. There are a few department stores remaining and the mall is expecting new arrivals over the next year or so. The movie theater housed on the north side of the property has been remodeled and enlarged to accommodate the anticipated business the mall will receive once construction is complete. The theater itself proves to be the biggest attraction to the mall in its present condition. El Con does however have quite a few stores that are tailored towards southwestern items and artwork and is worth the walkthrough if only to see these stores and experience the oldest mall we have.
Park Place - Once called Park Mall, Park Place received the biggest facelift of any of the malls a few years ago. The mall received the addition of a few hundred thousand more square feet and in that enticed bigger and trendier department stores to come to Tucson. Park Place houses one of the most comfortable movie theaters in town, complete with reclining seats and love seats for couples. The food court is massive with a standard offering of fast food establishments as well as sit down dining establishments too. The food court is punctuated on the north end with an adjoining play area for children that is fully visible from all areas of the food court.
Another notable shopping outlet is located in central Tucson called Plaza Palomino. Complete with a Saturday farmers market the plaza is ornately designed with seating areas throughout its courtyards. Upscale clothing boutiques, culinary stores and custom designed southwestern jewelry stores line the walkways. Fine dining is available at any one of the unique restaurants located on the property. Plaza Palomino is truly a must see for those with discerning tastes and a desire to escape from the fast moving pace on the other side of the surrounding walls of the plaza.
TUCSON RESOURCES...
For a full list and reference guide to any of the places mentioned in this article please visit one of the following websites for directions, location hours and other particulars relating to your destinations.
www.dotucson.com
www.cityoftucson.org
TUCSON AREA HELPFUL HINTS
As a word of caution to any potential visitors, please remember that youre in the desert. When venturing out on any excursion please bring plenty of water with which to hydrate yourself and pay attention to signs posted for warnings and other messages important to your safety and enjoyment of all Tucson has to offer. Never leave animals or children in a parked vehicle for any amount of time. Temperatures inside a car can reach over a hundred degrees within a matter or moments. Arizona sun is unforgiving and impartial to the people or animals it affects.
When visiting any area outside the city limits or near the mountain areas like that of Sabino Canyon or Mount Lemmon, please pay close attention to signs posted by Arizona Fish and Game regarding the presence of wild animals in certain areas. These are to protect both you and the animals and it is important that you use caution and heed warnings posted.
Enjoy the sun and sights youll discover when you visit the Old Pueblo. With 360 days of sunshine per year there isnt a bad time to come visit.
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