Historic Tucson & surrounding areas

Description:

This 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. There is no admission fee. All stores and restaurants accept major credit cards.

Description:

This courthouse, designed in 1928 in Spanish Colonial style, is a nice architectural homage to Tucson's Spanish-Mexican past. If you are downtown, take your time to stroll around and view the building from all sides. Explore the courtyard and its arcade, created by arches and columns, or sit by the cool water of the fountain. The best part of the complex is actually its glittering tiled dome in vaguely Moorish style. Finally, walk upstairs (security check required) to see the only remaining piece of the original Presidio walls displayed there. Access is free during office hours.

Description:

This district was once considered the Mexican-American side of Tucson. It has been called Barrio Viejo or Barrio Libre since its Mexican inhabitants were more or less free to follow their own laws in the old days. That has changed, but the area has preserved its distinctly Mexican flavor with flat-roofed adobe (mud-brick) houses and roofs made from saguaro ribs and packed dirt (providing great insulation in the extreme Tucson climate). Some of Tucson's oldest structures can be found here and many of them nicely restored. Since most have been converted into private homes or offices, your visit will have to be confined to the exteriors.

Description:

This restaurant is adjacent to Tucson's historic barrio viejo and caters to tourists and area employees. The food is standard Sonoran-style Mexican fare, but it's done reliably well in a cozy, welcoming environment. This is the quintessentially Tucson Mexican restaurant: down-to-earth dishes smothered in delectable red sauce, served up on a hot-to-touch plate. On busy weekdays and weekends, vendors sell Mexican imports and gifts outside the front entrance.

Description:

There is an intriguing legend behind this shrine on Main Street near the old historic barrio, a story involving broken hearts and crimes of passion, but you'll have to read the plaque mounted on it to discover the tale. El Tiradito has been part of local folklore for a long time and is now a national historic site. Take a peek and make your own wish.

Description:

This historic downtown hotel is loaded with history and charm. The Dillinger gang famously stayed here in the 1930s, and many more notables have passed through the hotel's halls over the years. The rooms, with the exception of a handful of suites, are small and modest, with most featuring no more than a bed, dresser, and chair. There are no TVs here--a crucial bit of period detail for some visitors--but it only adds to the Hotel's uncluttered charm. Some rooms are located above the Club Congress downstairs, and guests are warned about possible bleed-through noise late into the night.

Description:

Adjacent to the lobby of the historic Hotel Congress in downtown Tucson, the Cup Cafe is nearly always busy with diners scrambling to win a seat inside the Cafe or on the outdoor patio. It's easy to see why the Cafe is so popular. Comfort food favorites are given a gourmet Southwestern twist, and the desserts are beautifully prepared and delicious. This is a quintessentially Tucson spot loaded with charm and deserving of its high reputation.

Description:

As the biggest Catholic church in the city, this is one of the most splendid architecturally with its high interior, tall windows and dome. Built in 1896, and renovated in 1967, it is a particularly imposing sight during late evening hours. A special attraction is the colorful Mariachi mass Sundays delivered in Spanish; your chance to get a taste of Tucson's rich Hispanic heritage.

Our Local Expert Says:

On weekends, locals often sell fry bread and other foods under mesquite shelters in front of the mission.

Description:

The Mission San Xavier del Bac, also called the White Dove of the Desert, is nearly as iconic an image to Tucson as sunsets and saguaros. Built between 1783 and 1797, San Xavier del Bac is still an active Roman Catholic church for Tohono O'odham on the San Xavier Indian Reservation. The mission weaves together Moorish, Byzantine and Mexican Renaissance styles and is considered one of the finest examples of Spanish colonial architecture in the United States. The Mission San Xavier de Bac should be at or near the top of any visitor's list.

Our Local Expert Says:

There are a couple branch locations of this legendary restaurant. While they serve the same excellent food, their look is generic. Stick to the original downtown location if possible.

Description:

El Charro Cafe has opened several locations throughout the Tucson area, but the downtown location on Court Avenue remains a favorite for locals and visitors seeking an authentic Tucson dining experience. Established in 1922, El Charro famously bills itself as the oldest family-run Mexican restaurant in continuous operation in the United States. It's not hard to see why the restaurant has survived for so many decades: the menu blends classic, never-out-of-style Sonoran-style cooking with Tucson-style Mexican creations. A local favorite, and perhaps the unofficial dish of Tucson, is the Carne Seca plate (literally "dried meat"), marinated lean Angus beef that is dried beneath the Sonoran sun, and then shredded & flash-grilled with green chile, tomato & onions. Served with guacamole, Pico de Charro salsa, beans or rice, and handmade flour or corn tortillas. If this sounds like your kind of dish, eat up while you're here. You'll be hard-pressed to find Carne Seca on any menu outside of Tucson.

Description:

Located on a busy corner in the Barrio Viejo in downtown Tucson, the Cushing Street Bar and Restaurant is situated inside a historic old adoble. The Bar fills up quickly with locals and visitors looking to soak up the establishment's Old Tucson charm and jazz-inflected sounds. Live music on the weekends, and occasionally during the week, add to the already-lively atmosphere. This is a local institution and a great place to grab a nightcap if you should find yourself near downtown. Dinner and drinks available on the patio.

Description:

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 bookstore accepts major credit cards.

Description:

When Spaniards built the Tubac Presidio in 1752, Tubac became the first European settlement in Arizona. In the 250 years that followed, Tubac saw bloody battles with Apaches, then nearly became a ghost town, then transformed into a mining boomtown, then almost another ghost town again. But in the 1940s, the tiny community in the Santa Cruz Valley 45 miles south of Tucson started attracting artists. Today, Tubac has a thriving artists colony, a golf resort, excellent restaurants, and rich history that can be seen the ruins of the Tubac Presidio and the nearby Mission de Tumacacori, a Spanish mission built in 1691.

Description:

In Arizona's scenic southern desert, along the Santa Cruz River, lies Tubac Presidio. Within the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park are the remnants of a military fort founded by the Spanish in 1752. It was uncovered by archaeologists from the University of Arizona. An underground display features portions of the original foundation walls and plaza floor of the fort. Spanish soldiers established the fort to control the local Pima and Apache Indians and serve as a base for further exploration.

Visitors to the site will have access these fascinating archaeological remains including Arizona's first European settlement, the Tubac Presidio (1752), also the old Tubac Schoolhouse (1885) and Otero Social Hall (1914). Additionally the onsite museum has pre-European, Spanish Colonial, Mexican Republic and Territorial period exhibits, including the press that printed Arizona's first newspaper The Weekly Arizona in 1859. The park serves as a trailhead for the Anza Historic Trail.

Picnic tables are provided for to tourists to enjoy a relaxing meal and restrooms are handicapped accessible. The scenic little town of Tubac is full of art galleries and restaurants and is well worth a visit.

Recreational...

Description:

Open since 1958, the family-owned Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlor is a Scottsdale landmark in the heart of Old Town. The pink, white, and black vintage decor is awash in nostalgia, and yes, very cute, but don't let the cuteness factor stop you from ducking in for a sweet treat. The "Super Fancy Sundaes" menu is a go-to for locals who know the pleasures of the Top Hat (creampuff filled with vanilla ice cream and smothered in hot fudge) and the Gosh-Awful-Gooey Banana Split, featuring Turkish coffee ice cream, caramel sauce, red raspberry sorbet, and marshmallow sauce. Not the best place to go if you're on a diet, although the Sugar Bowl also features a sandwich and salad menu with items for the calorie-counters. The walls of the Sugar Bowl feature original art from Bil Keane of "Family Circus" fame. The famous comic strip artist was a Paradise Valley resident who visited the Sugar Bowl with his own young family, and the ice cream parlor was often featured in his popular strip.

Description:

One of its kind in the city, Rusty Spur Saloon is a bar that reminds one of the old world charm and offers live entertainment seven days a week. Previously a cowboy salon, this bar features numerous mementos and souvenirs. With a full-stocked bar that offers the choicest variety of liquors and spirits, this place is extremely popular amongst the locals.

Description:

Los Olivos is a Scottsdale institution, one of the last restaurants in Old Town that dates to the days when cowboys tied up their horses on Main Street. Although the food is just standard Mexican fare, the building is a fascinating folk-art construction. The entrance is a bit like a cement cave, with strange figures rising from the roof. Amazingly, this throwback to slower times is only steps away from the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. On Friday and Saturday nights, there's Latin dancing from 9:30pm to 1am.

There's another Los Olivos up in north Scottsdale at 15544 N. Pima Rd. (tel. 480/596-9787).

Description:

Built in 1930 by cowboy-turned-artist Lon Megargee, Hermosa Inn was once his home and studio. After he was forced to sell, the place changed hands several times before the current owners restored it in 1992, and set it up as a luxury resort while still maintaining the Hacienda-style architecture. Most rooms come with fireplaces. Lon's at the Hermosa is a four-star restaurant that has won numerous culinary awards. Relax while walking along paths lined with olive and mesquite trees.