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The old Spanish Missions are well preserved
The mission San Xavier del Bac is located nine miles south of Tucson on the O'odham Indian Reservation. This eighteenth century mission is an excellent example of early Spanish colonial architecture and is still used by the local inhabitants for daily religious services. About 40 miles south of Tucson, the abandoned but well-preserved mission San Jose de Tumacacori is a National Historical Monument. It is located near the old Spanish settlement of Tubac, which is now filled with shops selling the works of local artists and craftsmen.
Twenty miles further south is the border town of Nogales, a great place to cross into Mexico for a few hours of shopping. Like most border towns, it is filled with shops and street vendors selling native pottery, jewelry, leather goods and gifts at very reasonable prices. Be careful where you eat and drink in any Mexican border town, as the water supply and sanitation may be lower quality than you normally expect.
San Xavier
©USATourist.com
You can visit the vast "Boneyards" of retired military aircraft
For a very different experience, visit the Pima Air Museum just south of the city. In addition to viewing their wonderful collection of military and civilian aircraft, you can take guided tours of the "Boneyards" at neighboring Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Over 5000 military aircraft including hundreds of huge B-52 bombers awaiting destruction are parked in endless rows at the Aerospace Maintenance and Reconstruction Center (AMARC). It is hard to even imagine so many aircraft parked in one place.
There are huge open pit copper mines near Sahuarita just south of Tucson and in Bisbee south of Tombstone. Both mines offer public tours. A 29-mile road winds its way up the Catalina mountains to the 3000-meter high peak of mount Lemmon where temperatures average 10 deg. C lower than the city below.
Some interesting activities in Tucson
La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Rodeo is held in late February. The Yaqui Easter Ceremony combining Native American traditions with Christian beliefs occurs during Easter week in early Spring. The Tucson International Gem and Mineral Show is held in late February. It is the largest such event in the world, so hotel accommodations will be hard to find during those two weeks.
Written by: Mike Leco
Top Photo: Tucson Skyline by Steve Renzi © Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau
