Tucson and the De Anza Trail Getaway

Tucson is the second-largest city in the state of Arizona. At an elevation of 2,400 feet, it has slightly cooler temperatures than its desert cousin, Phoenix. It’s situated in the biologically diverse Sonoran Desert.

Tucson has always been a crossroads, where European, Native American, Mexican and Asian cultures collide. Until recently, water was relatively plentiful in Tucson, making it an important travel route, an agricultural center and a communications nexus. Tucson’s history is ancient, with evidence of human occupation dating back 10,000 years.

The city is a hub for Southwestern and Mexican cuisine. It also boasts a number of excellent parks including Saguaro National Park and Sabino Canyon.

Hollywood’s Old West, the backdrop for the gun-slinging of Western icons like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, was often represented by Tucson. The Old Tucson Studios, originally built in 1939, is still an active film, TV and commercial set. There’s even a nostalgia-themed park, with shootouts and corseted can-can dancers.

About 45 miles south of Tucson off Interstate 10, there is a historic site well worth visiting. The old village of Tumacacori was a Franciscan mission till the days of the Mexican war of independence when the missionaries were told to leave. The mission was then taken over by the devout Akimel O'odham people, who maintained it, fighting off Apache raids until they, too, had to abandon the village. Today, an annual history festival tells the story of the mission. Each year during the first Sa and Su of December, visitors can watch demonstrations of pottery, weaving and other Native American or Spanish arts.

The village of Tubac, located about 45 miles south of Tucson off Interstate 19, was the first European settlement in what is now the State of Arizona. It has become a haven for artists and a favorite destination for visitors to Southern Arizona, offering more than 80 shops, restaurants and galleries. The Tubac Center of the Arts features ongoing exhibitions of Southwestern art. Every year, more than 200 artists display and sell works on the streets during the Annual Tubac Festival of the Arts in early spring. Admission is free. Parking is available for a small fee, with free horse-drawn trolleys taking you to and from the village.

Just outside Tucson, the Lodge at Ventana Canyon is a golf and nature lover's paradise with Arizona's beautiful Santa Catalina Mountains as a backdrop to the resort and its spectacular championship Tom Fazio designed golf courses. The Lodge at Ventana Canyon is as intimate as it is beautiful.Featuring the Canyon Course and the Mountain Course, Tom Fazio's two 18-hole Ventana Canyon Golf Courses in Tucson, The Lodge earned Golf Magazine's Gold Metal Award as one of America's 20 best golf resorts. Additional facilities include a fitness center open around the clock, twelve lighted tennis courts, men's and women's saunas and whirlpool spas, and a sports swimming center. Vacation activities abound, such as desert jeep tours, horseback rides, hot air ballooning and visits to Tucson highlights like the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum and San Xavier Mission.The property also offers fine dining at the Hearthstone Dining Room or the outdoor Sabino Terrace, both with panoramic vistas of the Santa Catalina Mountains and the golf course. This property features 50 private suites nestled in the foothills of the Arizona canyon terrain. Guests relax in spacious, luxurious suites full of delightful touches like mission style furniture, southwestern art, plush bathrobes and full service kitchens.

This attraction is to Tucson what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, except it's more ancient. Founded in 1700 by the Spanish missionary Father Kino, 10 miles south of what is now downtown Tucson on the Tohono O'odham Indian reservation, San Xavier del Bac is considered one of the finest examples of Mexican folk baroque architecture. Indian crafts shops and a cafe are nearby. The parish is still active, so please be respectful of religious activities when visiting.

Old Town Artisans is a place not to be missed when sightseeing in downtown Tucson. The old adobe structure in the historic Presidio district invites visitors to explore its shops, galleries and restaurants, or to just sit and relax in the wonderful courtyard shaded by palm trees. It's a kind of art shopping center catering to tourists eagerly looking for souvenirs from the Southwest. In fact, it offers everything from Navajo rugs to dried prickly pear jam.

Within the Old Town Artisans complex in the El Presidio District, this contemporary cafe presents an imaginative menu in attractive surroundings. Choose to dine in the slightly formal indoor space or go casual under the tree-shaded outdoor tables. Entrees run the gamut from deli sandwiches to a variety of pastas. Ribs, steaks and pastas are also offered. Lunches are mostly in the $7-9 range. A small wine list is offered and the owners also operate Two Micks, the lively bar across the way, where you'll find full bar service.

Just outside Tucson, the Lodge at Ventana Canyon is a golf and nature lover's paradise with Arizona's beautiful Santa Catalina Mountains as a backdrop to the resort and its spectacular championship Tom Fazio designed golf courses. The Lodge at Ventana Canyon is as intimate as it is beautiful.Featuring the Canyon Course and the Mountain Course, Tom Fazio's two 18-hole Ventana Canyon Golf Courses in Tucson, The Lodge earned Golf Magazine's Gold Metal Award as one of America's 20 best golf resorts. Additional facilities include a fitness center open around the clock, twelve lighted tennis courts, men's and women's saunas and whirlpool spas, and a sports swimming center. Vacation activities abound, such as desert jeep tours, horseback rides, hot air ballooning and visits to Tucson highlights like the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum and San Xavier Mission.The property also offers fine dining at the Hearthstone Dining Room or the outdoor Sabino Terrace, both with panoramic vistas of the Santa Catalina Mountains and the golf course. This property features 50 private suites nestled in the foothills of the Arizona canyon terrain. Guests relax in spacious, luxurious suites full of delightful touches like mission style furniture, southwestern art, plush bathrobes and full service kitchens.

Clarion Suites Yuma is two miles from the historic downtown area and the Southgate Mall, 12 miles from the Mesa Del Sol Golf Course, and approximately three miles from Yuma International Airport. Desert Hill Golf Course is less than two miles from the hotel. Hotel amenities include the outdoor swimming pool and spa tub and complimentary daily breakfast buffet. The hotel also offers high-speed Internet access in public areas, free parking, and 24-hour front desk service. All rooms feature microwaves, coffeemakers, refrigerators, cable TV, irons and ironing boards, hairdryers, air-conditioning, and voicemail.

Of all the natural attractions in and around Tucson, Sabino Canyon is certainly the most popular. This large chasm in the Santa Catalina Mountains is where ancient Hohokam people built irrigation dams while mammoths roamed the ground. Access is free, but there is a charge for parking. Highlights are swimming (conditions allowing) in clear pools after a six-mile hike to Seven Falls and summer evening shuttle rides by pre-paid reservations. Sabino tram and bear shuttles rides are available.