Tucson Travel Tips

One number: 340. That's the average number of sunny days Tucson sees each year. And with daytime temperatures rarely dipping below the mid-60s, Arizona's second-largest city makes a great cold-weather retreat. But Tucson is much more than an incubator for snowbirds. Deeply rooted in Hispanic heritage, "The Old Pueblo" is a hotbed of historic and cultural attractions, not to mention a Mecca for those in search of some spicy Mexican cuisine north of the border.

Despite its ever-expanding size, Tucson exudes a small-town atmosphere. Neighborhoods like the El Presidio Historic District and the Barrio Histórico -- complete with colorful adobe buildings and quaint shops -- make you feel like you're in an old Mexican village. Meanwhile, the high-end restaurants and resorts of the Catalina Foothills district add a contemporary flair that may soon rival that of Phoenix's ritzy 'burbs like Scottsdale. And the trendy shops and rowdy bars surrounding the palm tree-laden University of Arizona campus infuse this city with a youthful spirit. And unlike the sprawling state capitol, Tucson has yet to overpower its surroundings; nearby mountains and wilderness areas like Saguaro National Park offer a true taste of the Sonoran Desert.