How would you spend a Wednesday in Tuscon?

[onejayhawk]

Next spring Judith and I are taking a land cruise. We'll ride an Amtrak sleeper for about 1500 miles to Tuscon, spend a day and come back. The train station is downtown, about 1/2 mile from AU campus. This will be a Wednesday while school is in session.

It's still more than six months away, but I'm looking for ideas. Other than catch a museum and try some New-Mex food I have no ideas.

J

[DMT]

Tucson is about the outdoors.

Desert Museum
Saguaro National Park (via Gates Pass)
Many other great hikes: https://www.visittucson.org/10-great-tucson-area-hikes

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/20/travel/what-to-do-in-tucson.html

If you like space, there is Kitt Peak (45 mins south) and also the UA planetarium.
4th Avenue for shopping/drinking (take the streetcar to/from downtown)

Not sure what new-Mex is but there is plenty of good Mexican food.

Sonoran hot dogs at Guero Canelo
Tacos Apson probably my favorite but it's not much on ambience
Guadalajara Grill
Mi Nidito is where Bill Clinton ate when he visited
Cafe Poca Cosa
El Minuto Cafe has great margaritas

[Bernie Brewer]

Drunk and ashamed.

[Judge Jude]

writing T U C S O N on a blackboard 100 times

[DMT]

Most people don't know that the proper pronunciation is Tuke-son, they assume (or have been incorrectly taught) it's a silent C.

[DMT]

writing T U C S O N on a blackboard 100 times

I didn't even notice he misspelled it, oy.

[Kevin Seitzer]

I would highly recommend the Sonoran Desert Museum (first on DMT's list) if you can make it out there.

[Judge Jude]

Most people don't know that the proper pronunciation is Tuke-son, they assume (or have been incorrectly taught) it's a silent C.

that could be its own thread. states pronounced differently by locals than tourists:
ORE-i-gin
NEVAHHHHDA
ELL-inois
NEW YAWK

then of course there are the cities of Nawlins and Balmer, home of the NFL's Saints and Ravens

[onejayhawk]

I would highly recommend the Sonoran Desert Museum (first on DMT's list) if you can make it out there.

That's a possibility. We will be on foot or in a cab, so a lot of driving is out.

@JJ There is the ArKansas river.

J

[Gregg]

When I first read this post, I thought why would anyone make Tucson a destination? I googled it and was quite surprised to read about it.

Since you asked what would you do; I would make sure I went to the Desert Museum. This was an easy one for me. It was affirmed by DMT in the first post. I hope to get there someday.

Whatever you choose I hope you have a great time.

[overkill94]

Hmmm, not having a car will make things difficult since Tucson is so spread out. Used to spend every Christmas there growing up (it's where all my relatives live) - and the only sites I remember fondly are the previously mentioned Desert Museum as well as Old Tucson which is a theme park as well as the location for a bunch of movies (most notably Tombstone). It's not exactly in the city though so you would definitely have to take a taxi to get there. Then again, I haven't been there since I was like 12 so hard to say whether it would be fun as an adult

[hacko]

Hmmm, not having a car will make things difficult since Tucson is so spread out. Used to spend every Christmas there growing up (it's where all my relatives live) - and the only sites I remember fondly are the previously mentioned Desert Museum as well as Old Tucson which is a theme park as well as the location for a bunch of movies (most notably Tombstone). It's not exactly in the city though so you would definitely have to take a taxi to get there. Then again, I haven't been there since I was like 12 so hard to say whether it would be fun as an adult

Uber/Lyft will take the place of a car . I used it in Boston and it was great. Less expensive then Taxi.

[DMT]

Uber/Lyft will take the place of a car . I used it in Boston and it was great. Less expensive then Taxi.

Even Lyft will be pricier than renting a car. Public transport is sorely lacking and Tucson is very spread out. It's actually nearly as many square miles as Chicago (not including suburbs obv). I'd definitely rent a car unless you hate driving.

[DMT]

Hmmm, not having a car will make things difficult since Tucson is so spread out. Used to spend every Christmas there growing up (it's where all my relatives live) - and the only sites I remember fondly are the previously mentioned Desert Museum as well as Old Tucson which is a theme park as well as the location for a bunch of movies (most notably Tombstone). It's not exactly in the city though so you would definitely have to take a taxi to get there. Then again, I haven't been there since I was like 12 so hard to say whether it would be fun as an adult

Old Tucson is fun with kids but with just one day and no kids I didn't list it.