Discover Tucson: Nature, Museums and Culture

Tucson combines impressive landscape experiences with urban history, museums and a diverse cultural program. Anyone looking for a vacation rental or vacation home can choose their accommodation based on whether the focus should be on nature, historic sites, exhibitions or events.

Between Saguaro National Park and the City

Saguaro National Park has two districts: the Rincon Mountain District and the Tucson Mountain District. The city of Tucson separates these two areas. For your travel planning, it therefore makes sense to consider both districts as separate destinations. This allows you to combine your stay specifically with other experiences in Tucson without treating the different sides of the national park as identical.

Museums with Different Areas of Focus

The Pima Air & Space Museum focuses on the history of aviation. It displays around 400 historic aircraft, including a Wright Flyer and a 787 Dreamliner. The exhibitions are located outdoors across 80 acres and indoors in hangar space covering 250,000 square feet. Those interested in technological development and historic aircraft will find a clear focus for their travel plans here. The distinction between outdoor and indoor exhibitions can also help you fit this museum visit appropriately into your daily itinerary.

The University of Arizona Museum of Art offers exhibitions, programs and events for visitors of all ages year-round. It complements the technical and historical topics with an art-focused museum visit. The Tucson Presidio Museum also offers guided tours through a century of history along a scenic one-mile route. If you prefer to learn about history as part of a guided tour, this is another way to experience Tucson.

Historic Neighborhoods and Living Traditions

The San Xavier del Bac Mission was founded in 1692 by Jesuit missionary Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, SJ. In Barrio Viejo, historic significance and preserved architecture come together: the neighborhood is a National Historic Landmark and includes one of the largest collections of 19th-century adobe buildings in the United States. For visitors interested in urban history, architecture and regional traditions, Barrio Viejo therefore offers a distinctive experience.

A special event is Tucson Meet Yourself. The event takes place every year in October and is an annual celebration of the vibrant traditional arts of Tucson’s diverse ethnic and folkloric communities. Tucson Meet Yourself is a free three-day event featuring hundreds of artisans, home cooks, dancers, musicians and special exhibitions. If you travel in October, you can include this specific event date in your search for suitable accommodation.

Getting Around Tucson and Choosing Accommodation

For getting around the city, the Tucson Sun Link Streetcar offers 23 stops along a 3.9-mile route. It provides travel between several historic entertainment districts in Tucson, including Main Gate Square, the University of Arizona, Downtown, Fourth Avenue and Mercado San Agustín. Anyone wishing to explore several of these areas can base their search for a vacation rental or vacation home on their preferred urban and cultural itinerary.

For further orientation, you can also look at Redington Estates in addition to Tucson. You can find more location pages under Tortolita, Oro Valley, Arivaca, Sasabe, Marana, Drexel Heights and Ajo.

For the higher-level travel overview: Pima.