Chelsea & Aaron
Things To Do
Baja Cafe on Campbell
We came across this restaurant in search of the best breakfast in Tucson, and not only do we think it lives up to that title, it may very well be one of the best breakfasts we have had anywhere! Well known for their creative pancake and benedict selection, we are convinced that you cannot go wrong here. The snickerdoodle pancake and the Wyatt Earp benedict are both absolutely delicious and sure to give you the energy you need for a fun and exciting day in Tucson!
Taqueria Pico De Gallo
We cannot say enough good things about this local Mexican staple. Don't be afraid of the authentic look of this establishment, because they serve up the real deal! We have actually been here on two separate trips to Tucson and would recommend any of their tacos or tortas. Finish up with a Fresh Fruit Respado (Chelsea's favorite) and they have one of the best horchatas Aaron has ever tasted.
Ruiz Hot Dogs Los Chipilones
This is literally just a hot dog stand in an empty dirt parking lot, and it wins our award for the most unexpectedly scrumptious meal of our engagement weekend in Tucson! Chances are, the man in the cart does not speak English, but trust me when we say you must order a Sonoran Dog. In fact, get two! This local "dish" consists of a high-quality hot dog in a grilled, buttery, and fluffy roll, topped with beans, bacon, onions, tomatoes, salsa, mayonnaise, and mustard. I finished mine in about 37 seconds and had to painfully watch Chelsea eat the rest of hers, while I wished I had ordered two more! One thing to keep in mind, this is a cash-only establishment, so be sure to come prepared.
El Charro Café Downtown
The nation's oldest Mexican restaurant in continuous operation by the same family and the alleged creator of the chimichanga! We greatly enjoyed eating dinner here during our engagement weekend, and would highly recommend getting there early for Happy Hour (every day, 3-6pm) and ordering the Prickly Pear Margarita and the Carne Seca Chimichanga!
Cafe Santa Rosa
DIRECTLY across the street from Taqueria Pico De Gallo, this is a relaxed establishment that serves up authentic Native American fare. If you have never had a frybread taco, you need to put this on your to-do list! Here they call them popovers, where they are served with local green and red chile. Chelsea cannot get enough green chile when we make it out to the Southwest Region!
Charro Steak & Del Rey
We had dinner here after our engagement shoot and it was nothing short of fantastic. If you are looking for an upscale twist on grilled beef or seafood, this is this place. An excellent ambiance in the heart of downtown, this is certainly one of the best dining experiences we have had in Tucson. Highly recommend the Surf and Turf Enchiladas, the flame-grilled Carne Asada, and the Esquites!
Mi Nidito Restaurant
Perhaps the most famous restaurant in Tucson, thanks to a visit from President Bill Clinton, Mi Nidito is not to be missed. Chelsea ordered the very popular, President's Plate, complete with a Bean Tostada, Birria Taco, Chile Relleno, Chicken Enchilada, and a Beef Tamale, and claimed it to be one of the best Mexican meals she has ever had. Be prepared for a wait...they always have a line out the door. We were quoted a wait of nearly two hours, but were seated in about 45 minutes on a Saturday night.
Seis Kitchen
Another Tucson staple, Seis Kitchen always has a bit of a wait. Located in the beautiful courtyard of the Mercado San Augustin, the covered outdoor vibes are immaculate, and the food is also quite impressive. Chelsea enjoyed the variety of fresh taco options and Aaron preferred the gigantic Surf and Turf Burrito with grilled adobo steak and fresh shrimp. Seis Kitchen has the best horchata we have had anywhere as well!
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
A stop that really took us by surprise, this may be one of the best curated interactive museums we have ever been to. If we had to select only one activity during your visit to Tucson, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum may very well be our recommendation. Live rattlesnakes, spiders, wolves, mountain lions, black bears, bighorn sheep, otters, exotic birds, and much more, are all on display here, alongside an absolutely stunning desert botanical garden with over 1,200 different plant and cacti species that are tended to and exhibited beautifully. With the weather starting to cool off this time of year, it is the perfect place to see all that the local desert has to offer and even get a few steps in! This museum is located about 40 minutes from the Hacienda del Sol and right outside of the Tucson Mountain District of Saguaro National Park.
Sweetwater Preserve Trailhead
We had our engagement photo shoot here one evening and were blessed with the most beautiful desert landscape, complete with a perfect Arizona sunset. The area is dense with Saguaro cacti and has a very easy walk through the hills of East Tucson, perfect for a quick, up-close exposure to the desert environment that Tucson is famous for. We didn't have time that evening for a quick hike, but we would both highly recommend a short stop here, preferably in the early morning or evening hours!
Saguaro National Park
Broken up into two districts, this park is what brings most people to the City of Tucson. This is one of Aaron's favorite National Parks as he just adores the Saguaro Cactus, which is more prevalent in the greater Tucson area than anywhere else. After visiting both sides of the park extensively, we would recommend focusing on the western Tucson Mountain District, where the most iconic trails and viewpoints are located. A couple of the specific waypoints we would suggest would include the Bajada Loop Drive (fairly bumpy dirt road, but most any sedan can handle it) and the Valley View Overlook Trail (short easy hike with a stunning panoramic view at the end). Don't forget to swing by the Red Hills Visitor Center and pick up some awesome Saguaro NP souvenirs! The Gates Pass Scenic Lookout is directly adjacent to the park and is perhaps the most photographed and iconic view of the City below, so be sure to stop by and take in the views, or if you are an early bird, the best sunrise around!
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area
Perhaps containing even more iconic desert landscape than even Saguaro National Park itself, Sabino Canyon is just 10 minutes from the Hacienda del Sol. The hikes in this park are simply breathtaking and there are options for all skill and enthusiasm levels. After all, taking just a few steps out of the parking lot puts you into a forest of Saguaro Cacti and a seemingly different planet! For an easy hike you can knock out in an hour or less, take the Sabino Lake Loop Trail. For a more extensive moderate-level hike through the majority of the park, check out the Esperero, Rattlesnake, and Phoneline Trail Loop. Lastly, if you would like a semi-challenging 6-mile hike to where we got engaged, take a steep walk up to Blackett's Ridge for some truly awe-inspiring views.
Mount Lemmon
Take the Catalina Highway up to the highest point in the Santa Catalina Mountains, where there is an Astronomy Observatory, a small town, and even a ski resort! This destination is time-consuming, as it is a bit out of the way on a long and winding mountain road, but we would recommend a stop at the more easily accessible Windy Point Vista for a killer sunset view, which is about halfway up the mountain.
Pima Air & Space Museum
Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time on our last trip to stop by here (Chelsea was thankful) but if you love planes, you can't miss this place! Pima is one of the largest non government-funded aerospace museums in the world and is home to over 400 aircraft spread out over nearly 80 acres. Adjacent to the museum is The Boneyard, or "The Graveyard of Planes", the largest aircraft storage and preservation facility in the world, with over 4,000 private, military, and commercial aircraft on over 2,600 acres. Thanks to the area's high altitude, limited rainfall, and low humidity, Tucson is an ideal location for such a facility. Since COVID, the area has been off-limits without proper government clearance, but a drive by along the fenced-off perimeter is still quite impressive in scale.
San Xavier del Bac Mission
Built in the late 1700's, this mission is the oldest European structure in the state of Arizona and believed by many to be the best example of Spanish mission architecture in the U.S. If you enjoy old churches or architecture, then this is a stop for you.
University of Arizona
Home of the Wildcats, and the oldest university in the State of Arizona, the University of Arizona was modeled after the University of Virginia, albeit in a desert environment of course. UA is one of the most highly awarded public universities by NASA for their extensive aerospace and astronomy research. Check out their beautiful campus and take in the views below at Tumamoc Hill.
Biosphere 2
Located about 40 minutes north of the Hacienda del Sol, this is an attraction that you are not likely to find anywhere else. As the largest enclosed ecological system ever created, this facility serves for continual research and outreach on all topics related to the Earth's living systems. Another stop that we were unable to make it to during our Tucson visits, you can purchase tickets online and make a reservation for timed-entry. Now run and managed by the nearby University of Arizona, this unique 3-acre structure contains a living rainforest, ocean with it's own coral reef, mangrove swamp, savannah grassland, fog desert, and additional agricultural and human living and research areas. Biosphere 2 was originally created in the late 1970's to determine the viability of closed ecological systems to support and maintain human life in outer space as a substitute for the Earth's biosphere.
Bisbee
Located about two hours southeast of Tucson, Bisbee is a historic mining town. We ventured down to Bisbee during our engagement shoot weekend and were blown away by the quirkiness and artistic vibe of the old town. We enjoyed walking up and down the numerous terraced streets, where every corner has something funky to discover. Be sure to stop by the Copper Queen Mine for a unique railcar tour deep inside the old mine! This is an experience that can't be found anywhere else. Perhaps the best part is the constant cool temperature of the mine to temporarily escape the brutal heat of the desert. On your way back, be sure to detour a couple of miles south of the town to see the massive mining pit from above and drive through the town of South Bisbee, where everything seems to be frozen in time.
Phoenix
If you do decide to fly into Phoenix, we have a few places you should consider visiting before heading south to Tucson. If you're in need of a tasty casual breakfast, look no further than Matt's Big Breakfast on N 1st St for a massive southwest-style breakfast burrito, locally-sourced thick-cut bacon, and perhaps the best waffle we've ever had (order two). Right across the street is The Churchill, which is a food hall built from shipping containers with a variety of culinary options. For those looking for a high-end cocktail, Rough Rider, a Teddy Roosevelt inspired speakeasy, cannot be beat. Papago Park, just east of metro Phoenix, is a free 1200-acre desert oasis filled with giant cacti, palm trees, miles of walking trails, a beautiful pond, and the popular Hole-In-The-Rock sandstone formation, which makes for cool photos of Phoenix and the surrounding landscape. Lastly, the Lost Dutchman State Park is a very popular place to hike amongst the nearby Superstition Mountains.
Scottsdale
Just outside of metro Phoenix is the popular vacation town of Scottsdale, where you can take a quick drive through the Old Town area. While we did not get to spend more than a few hours here, Scottsdale is perfect for those who love golf, shopping, and opulent desert resorts. Voted one of the best places to live for golf, Scottsdale has over 200 beautiful courses to access, for those looking to hit the links. In addition, Scottsdale is an art haven, offering more than 100 galleries in the downtown area. Every Thursday night, the city hosts one of the oldest Art Walks in the US.
Tombstone
If you are feeling very adventurous and nostalgic, in a cheesy way, then drive about 75 minutes Southeast of Tucson and you will find the historic town of Tombstone, Arizona. Perhaps one of the most famous towns of the Old Wild West and the home of the OK Corral, Tombstone is filled with silly, yet charming, tourist traps and has a historic Old Town street that is recreated in the likes of the Wild West days. General Stores, Bars, Saloons (we would recommend Big Nose Kate's), and Museums are everywhere, but free theater shows and shootouts in the street happen quite frequently for all to see. Don't forget your chaps, gun belt, and cowboy hat!