Most of you know that I have reviewed a few established Southern Arizona microbreweries recently, including Thunder Canyon at Foothills Mall, Barrio Brewing Company downtown Tucson, & Nimbus Bistro on Tanque Verde. I always take my trusty beer expert, Michael Polletta, with me to explain the finer point of microbrewing. I didn’t even know [...]
Continue readingThere are several routes to the top of Mt. Wasson in the Tucson Mountains. This is a pictoral story of Sweetwater and Kings Canyon trails.
Continue readingThis back road is one of our favorites, partly because it’s practically in our back yard and because it’s so indicative of the Sonoran Desert. Here in Saguaro National Park West you will be driving through a forest of giant Saguaros. And, within an easy quarter mile hike, you can get up close and personal with ancient Hohokam petroglyphs. From Tucson, take Speedway west from the I-10 Freeway (A). After a few miles, Speedway merges with Gates Pass Road which takes you over the Pass, down the other side (steep) and eventually to Kinney Road. At Kinney Road, you’ll see a sign for the Desert Museum. Turn right and head for the Desert Museum. Two miles past the Desert Museum is the Red Hills Visitors Center (B). Park and go in. Watch the brief orientation movie, get a map, and ask the Park Ranger or docent about current road conditions … Continue reading
Mt. Wasson is the highest peak (4,687′) in the Tucson Mountains west of the city. Take El Camino del Cerro (exit 252 from I-10) west about 5 miles from the freeway to the trailhead. From the top you will have an expansive east view of the city and Catalina Mountains. To the west, a grand view of the Avra Valley. Once you get to the top, you can turn around, but rather than coming all the way back to where you parked your car, you can pick up the trail north along the ridge to Picture Rocks. The trail ends at Picture Rocks Road. You might want to pre-arrange for a friend to pick you up in a car here and take you and your hiking companions back to the city. Alternatively, from the top of Wasson Peak, you can continue on the trail that heads down the west side … Continue reading
A docent at the desert museum talks about the Saguaro. Enjoy a walk about the extraordinary sourrounding and learn about the wonders of the Sonoran desert from knowledgeable volunteers.
Continue readingA docent at the Desert Museum talks about the fierce little Kestrel. This is one of four videos featuring docents from the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Southern Arizona’s jewel in the desert.
Continue readingThe Yetman Trail is an easy to moderate hike through a pretty saguaro-rich valley and up over the mountains near Gates Pass. From the east you can start at either the Starr Pass Resort or from the parking lot at the southern end Camino de Oeste after it crosses Speedway. From the west you can start at the trail head in the parking lot at the bottom of Gates Pass on the Desert Museum side of the mountain. The Yetman Trail was named for David Yetman, Ph.D, (research social science) former City Councilman and now host of a fine local Public TV program called The Desert Speaks. Out and back, the trail is about 5 miles. Plan on 3 hours. Take water. In the summer, start at first light. One of the sites along the way is the ruins of the Bowen House, built by an East Coast newspaper guy … Continue reading
Starr Pass Golf Club is 27 holes of nearly perfect desert golf. Pricey in-season, but worth it. Designed by some guy named Palmer. Visit the Website 3645 West Starr Pass Boulevard, Tucson … Continue reading
About 2 miles down the road from the Desert Museum is the Saguaro National Park Visitors Center. I know this is odd, but there are two Saguaro National Parks – East & West. In between is Metropolitan Tucson. If you only have time to visit one, go West. Pictured here is an unusual rainy day in April. Most Tucsonans wish we had a few more rainy days. Six inches in spring and six inches during the monsoon season is supposed to be normal. We haven’t had normal in years. We have family living in the Northwest. They just laugh when we talk about our drought. They say they will send us all the water we’re willing to pay for. Suggestion: get directions and a map at the visitors center. Then head out to explore the most exquisite desert in the world. Picnic at the Signal Hill picnic area and walk … Continue reading
The Desert Museum offers 3 places to dine plus various snack bars around the property. The Coffee Bar in the Gift Shop opens early and offers snacks, coffee, ice cream sandwiches and pastries. If you’re a member, coffee is FREE! The IronWood Terraces is cafeteria style, but don’t let the “cafeteria” label fool you. It offers a wide selection of more than just “cafeteria” food. Good food. Informal. The Ocotillo Cafe is more formal and upscale. Very good! Open Wed – Sunday in season. They serve lunch 11AM – 3PM December – April. Dinner: Saturdays June – August. Do call for reservation: 520-883-2702 … Continue reading
