What Southwest city is close to five unique mountain ranges, enjoys distinction as the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the U.S. and boasts a vibrant university scene? If you guessed Tucson, Arizona, you deserve a rejuvenating weekend getaway to the “Soul of the Sonoran Desert.”
Perhaps nicknamed “Old Pueblo” for the wall that once surrounded the city, the town of nearly 543,000 residents is located approximately 116 miles southeast of Phoenix and 70 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. Visiting here invites an immersive journey in cultural history and heritage, divine dining options, outdoor adventures and boundless desert beauty.
Day One
Visit Tucson
You can easily opt for a mostly car-free adventure in Tucson by making The Leo Kent Hotel your base for three days of exploration. The boutique hotel in the heart of downtown features St. Cruz Restaurant, inspired by the Santa Cruz River that flows through the city. The restaurant serves fresh, locally sourced Southwest cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner, handcrafted cocktails and a selection of local beers and wines at the open bar and dining room.
Drop your bags, then get your bearings on a self-guided walking tour, The Turquoise Trail, courtesy of The Presidio San Agustin del Tucson Museum. Download the Presidio Museum Tours App (for a fee) with links to landmarks and nearby restaurants, or pick up a free map at one of several downtown locations. Begin with a two-minute walk to the Presidio Museum, a reconstruction of Tucson’s first European structure, then plan for 90 minutes to two hours to complete the tour. Follow the printed map and/or listen to the audio on the app. and note which locations to revisit for a closer look during your stay.
Launch your Tucson dining adventures at Charro Steak & Del Rey, the latest innovative dining space of the burgeoning restaurant brand founded by the Flores family. Iconic El Charro Café is recognized as the nation’s oldest Mexican restaurant in continuous operation by the same family since 1922. Legend says the chimichanga originated here when Tia Monica Flin accidentally dropped a burrito into a pan of cooking oil while frying ground beef tacos. On the verge of crying out with a well-known Spanish expletive, Tia Monica switched instead to saying “Chimichanga” (thingamajig) with nieces and nephews standing nearby.
The combined dining space at Charro Steak & Del Rey, “Nueva leyenda” (new legend), features favorite Northern Mexican-Sonoran food using natural ingredients: delectable grass-fed beef, scrumptious sustainable seafood and cage-free poultry.
Day Two
Visit Tucson
Depart for Tohono Chul Gardens, about a 20-minute ride from downtown via Uber/Lyft. A half-day or more spent here¾at the nexus of art, nature and culture¾is a day well spent in beauty and relaxation.
Breathe in the peaceful ambiance of the Garden Bistro for brunch indoors or on the courtyard patio. Many of the menu ingredients are grown on-site in the Ethnobotanical Garden and Heritage Orchard. The Sonoran Eggs Benedict won me over with flavorful bacon, mildly spicy roasted poblano, two perfectly poached eggs, lime hollandaise & pico de gallo.
Wander the nature trails and themed gardens to view local flora and fauna, outdoor sculptures, and gathering spaces. Volunteer docents chat with guests on daily guided tours, offering insights about botanical beauties like barrel cacti—“the last to flower and the last to fruit”—La Reina de la Noche (Queen of the Night), which “most often resembles dead sticks but blooms dramatically into a sweet, fragrant white flower one night a year.”
Stop by the galleries for art inspiration and bring home a souvenir of your visit from the shops and plant nursery.
Follow your visit to Tohono Chul with a ride on the free Sun Link Streetcar to your next destination, Mercado San Agustin Public Market and MSA Annex. The Streetcar connects five distinct Tucson districts along a 3.9-mile, 30-minute route.
Browse for home goods and local treats at Mercado San Agustin, or among the 15 locally owned small businesses housed along the Mercado District’s Avenida Del Convento. An engaging conversation at Seis Kitchen, a counter-service restaurant, reveals the passion and love for Mexico’s street food. Wisdom from behind the counter: “Tamales are personal. You make them when you’re happy, and when you’re sad to remember your ancestors.” Then, “The word ‘chimichanga’ makes you want to dance!” And finally, “Carna seca (dried beef) — you either like it or you don’t.”
Visit Tucson
Day Three
Step inside history at Hotel Congress, where members of John Dillinger’s notorious gang once rented rooms and were soon after arrested when recognized. Enjoy breakfast in the colorfully quirky Cup Café featuring Southwestern dishes like the Congressional Omelet, including optional green chilies, jalapeño, chorizo and asadero (Mexican soft, white cheese). Or go for the Vegan Breakfast Tamale, a medley featuring vegan poblano cashew crema, tofu scramble, calabacitas (sautéed squash) and pico de gallo.
Delve into more of Tucson’s history with a visit to Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum inside the historic Pima County Courthouse. You might expect to spend an hour or two browsing the collection, but be prepared to stay longer once you become entranced with the vast array of sparkling gems on display. Save time to explore Dillinger Room and Southern Arizona Heritage and Visitor Center for an in-depth look at Tucson’s storied past.
Cap your Tucson weekend getaway with dinner at Tito & Pep. Owner/chef John Martinez is a James Beard Finalist, offering diners a culinary menu rooted in Indigenous, Hispanic and Mexican traditions.
Plan your weekend in Tucson at https://www.visittucson.org.