Tucson here I come!!!

mincemo

Hi ladies! I will be traveling to Tucson next week and I was wondering if there are any "can't miss" attractions I should know about. I've never been to AZ before. DH and I will be staying at the Westin La Paloma. Please let me know if there's anything exciting we should get out to see! TIA :-)

lilikoi48

I love La Paloma.  Good choice.  It depends on what you like to do.  (and if golf is a choice La Paloma does have a nice course).  It is going to be hot next week.  Maybe take a drive up to Mt. Lemmon.  The view is amazing and it is cooler up there.  There are quite a bit of hiking trails up there as well.  I enjoyed the Desert Museum but again, most of it is outside so it gets hot.  I recommend going to www.visittucson.org.  They have lots of info to help determine what you may want to see.  HTH, and have fun!

mincemo

thanks! i'll have to check it out! i checked the waether on TWC and it looks like we'll have nice weather... sunny and high 90's all week. i'm sure we'll spend a lot of time at the pool(s) at the resort, but i thought it might be nice to get out and see some sights too!

lilikoi48

I am so jealous.  While I am sitting at work next week I know another nestie will be out laying at the pool :-)  I don't know if you are in town for work or just relaxing... but since you plan on just kind of hanging out I will definitely recommend taking the drive up to Mt. Lemmon.  It is relaxing and like I said, the view is awesome.  And depending on your budget, I have heard that some of the jeep tours are really fun.  And since you are at La Paloma... I recommend visiting the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa.  I have gotten a few massages there and really like it.  There are quite of few little strip like malls that have cute shops that are great to look around.  Also, there are tons of great restaurants, especially in the area you are staying in.  And if you have time for a day-trip I recommend going down towards Tombstone, Bisbee, Tubac area. You will have to let us know how you liked it here :-)

mincemo

i'm actually traveling for work/play... i earned the trip thru my job :-)  i'm in direct sales (a party plan business), and this is our genral incentive trip (no work on this trip~ just fun in the sun!). i'm so excited because this is the first time i have ever earned a free vacation!!! a message the red door spa sounds great! DH and i will actually each get a $50 activity credit, so that sounds like a nice way to enjoy it! i heard the botanical gardens are nice too, have you been there? thanks for your thoughts!

lilikoi48

I have not been to the botanical garden.. if you go, definitley let me know what you thought. 

Mystery2B

The botanical gardens are nice, but it depends on your frame of reference. Compared to the Chicago Botanical Gardens or some in the Bay Area, Tucson's is SMALL, but it is nice and some of the cactus may be blooming.  Check with the hotel, there are frequently coupons for a discount on admission (where the brochures are in the lobby?).

Other ideas:
- a hike up Sabino Canyon (you can take a tram part of the way)
- Kartchner Caverns (about 1 hour drive from Tucson) but very unique and cool. You need reservations for this. - The Air and Space Museum if you are into that type of thing, DH went without me and liked it. I didn't go and don't feel a strong need to.
- If you're driving around, A Mountain has good views. Mt Lemmon is also nice, but if you're from someplace that's not a desert it may not be as novel as it is after you've been in Arizona for a while. Great views though on a clear day. I'd stay away from the Cafe in the village on Mt Lemmon though - well known for their pie but I was not impressed with the food, service, or pie.

Do you need restaurant recs as well?

mincemo

i've never been to any of the other botanical gardens you mentioned... we're from PA. my brother-in-law lives is montana (he's a botanist) and has been there. he actually recommended we go there. i'll have to check into the discount, thanks for the heads-up!
i'm not sure if we'll be renting a car or not, but it really sounds like mt. lemmon might be a good place to go!
rec's for places to eat migth be nice, but i thnk we will only need to worry about dinner 1 night. my company is setting up special dinner events for the time we're there. but, we will also be on our own for lunch each day. we could eat lunch at the resort, but it might be nice to check out some local fav's! thanks for your in-put!  

Mystery2B

My two suggestions are Bistro Zin (nicer, cool wine flights) and Pico de Gallo for a lower end lunch. If you do go to Mt Lemmon I'd suggest stopping at AJ's (high end grocery store) and get items to have a picnic at one of the vista points. Also, I'd stop and buy a pack of bottled water, because you'll go through quite a bit of it in general.

Hope you have a great time! Come back and tell us what your highpoints were!