Introduction to Tucson

And What Should We Know about Tucson?

(Another good question. What smart kids you are!)

Tucson by Day

The name Tucson is derived from the Indian word, "Chuk-son," meaning "village of the dark spring at the foot of the mountains."

Tucson is in a valley at 2,389 feet above sea level and covers nearly 500 square miles (SF is 7*7, or 49 sq mi). The extremely varied landscape includes:

• flowering desert
• rolling hills
• winding dry riverbeds
• rugged canyons  
• and pine-topped peaks

...all beneath a clear, blue sky (sunny for 350 days a year out of 365!). 

Scenery on the 60-minute drive from downtown Tucson to the top of our highest mountain peak, Mt. Lemmon, at 9,157 feet above sea level (can you figure out the distance between the top of Mt. Lemmon and bottom of Tucson valley?) is so varied that it's like what you'd see on a trip all the way from Mexico to Canada!

Here, the Santa Cruz and Rillito Rivers converge, five mountain ranges form a protected valley, and majestic saguaros stand guard on the desert floor while aspen and pine whisper high above them on the mountain peaks.

<--- Saguaro cacti on a hillside, guarding... I dunno, me?


Yes, Tucson is surrounded by 5(!!!) mountain ranges:

•    The sun rises over the Rincon Mountains on the east side
•    Legendary sunsets silhouette the Tucson Mountains on the west
•    Flanking the north/northeast are the prominent Santa Catalina Mountains
•    Rising to the south/southeast are the Santa Rita Mountains
•    The Tortolita Mountains shelter the northwest

Tucson is also one of the oldest continually inhabited areas in North America!

The Hohokam Tribe lived and farmed here for 4,000 years before Spanish missionaries and soldiers arrived in the late 1600s—so, since 2400 BC!!!

Those missionaries established the Presidio San Agustín del Tucson and the Mission San Xavier del Bac—the two most historic structures in the area. 

Because of them, Tucson's nickname is still "The Old Pueblo."

There are tons of things to do and see in town.

Here are the Top 12 Tucson Area Sites—again, according to SOMEONE we don't know.

I feel like I should go hiking every day and stargaze every night...

but I'd love your advice.

What do you think I should see and do? 

What do you want to hear about?

Tucson by Night