Tucson is a small southwestern city home to Saguaro National Park!

Tucson Tips:

It’s hot! Crazy insight here, I know. I visited in September and it was over 100 degrees every day, so just be mindful of when you’re planning to visit.
- June to September is monsoon season, so just be aware that things can get a bit wonky with wind and water during those months.
The beer scene in Tucson is not super impressive—there is a good number of breweries but they tend to be just average at best.
Parking in downtown Tucson can be an absolute nightmare. If you’re heading downtown in the evening/on the weekend I’d recommend a rideshare or walking as much as possible.
Planning a Southwest road trip? Check out my Phoenix guide here, Sedona guide here, Las Vegas guide here, and my Grand Canyon guide here!

Adventures & Ales Top Tucson Recommendations:

Explore Saguaro National Park: This park is full of giant Saguaro cacti. It is split into East and West sections on each side of Tucson which are about 45 minutes apart.
- Gould Mine Trail: This trail is 2.4 miles long with 400ft of elevation gain and took 1 hour. There are nice views of the Saguaros and you also have a fantastic view of the surrounding mountain ranges. Keep your eyes peeled for desert tortoises too!
- Valley View Overlook Trail: This is a quick and easy hike with a nice overlook of the valley. Overall it was 1 mile long, mostly flat and took about 20 minutes. There are also nice signs along the way with information about the plants.
- Bajada Loop Drive: This is a scenic drive on a dirt road with nice views throughout. The road can be a bit sketchy if you’re visiting during the rainy season due to washout, but it is a quick and pretty trip.
- If you venture to the East side of the park Bridal Wreath Falls is supposed to be great, I chose to skip it because there would not have been water on the falls during the time of year for my visit and there was extreme heat.
Crooked Tooth Brewing Co.: A nice brewery with a solid beers that tend to be Sour focused. They have a cute taproom and a back patio. They also have a small snack menu or you can order from neighboring Anello, a pizza restaurant.
Ermanos Bar: This is a cute bar with a wide selection of craft beer, cocktails, wine and a full food menu. They also have a back patio for outdoor dining. The beer selection is pretty great and the cheese board was delicious.
Pueblo Vida Brewing Company: A small brewery in the heart of downtown with average beers and a nice team.
Stay at Hotel McCoy: A super cute hotel with vintage vibes and modern amenities. They have a fantastic pool and outdoor area with ping pong, foosball, and more. They are located 6 minutes from downtown. Overall the hotel is definitely geared towards younger folks with DJs and events, but it is still a family friendly spot and quiet in the evenings.

Tucson Tourist Spots Actually Worth Visiting:

Explore the Sabino Canyon: This is a gorgeous area that I highly recommend visiting.
- Take the Sabino Canyon Crawler into the canyon. This is an hourly shuttle through the canyon with various stops. You can hop off at different stops as you please or it is a 1-hour roundtrip journey if you stay on for the duration of the canyon. The crawler departs every hour and is $15 to ride. Book your seat in advance as it does fill up. The ticket price also includes a guided narration via headphones of the canyon which was quite informative.
- Parking in the lot is $8 daily or free with a National Park Pass.
- Bear Canyon is also nearby and another option to explore!
Linda Vista Loop Trail: This is a 2.7 mile long trail with 426ft of elevation gain in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness. There are beautiful cacti, red rocks, mountain views and city views throughout the trail. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete.
Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway: This a scenic drive through Coronado National Forest and the South Catalina Mountains. It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to the summit which is at 9171ft of elevation. There are lookouts along the way with nice panoramic views of the area. There are many hiking trails, camping areas, a few restaurants, and ski areas (seasonally) at the top of the mountain.

Other Tucson Things To Do:

Borderlands Brewing: A brewery with a nice outdoor patio full of misters for the Arizona heat. They also have a small food menu and chill vibes. I found the beer here to be average and pricey, but I would still recommend checking it out if you’re in the area.
Harbottle Brewing Company: A mediocre brewery in South Tucson. Unfortunately when I visited there was one staff member working for both the bar and kitchen and the spot was overrun with 20+ children and just a few adults. The beer was average at best and the food looked not great.