Dec, 2025. When we first visit a new city, we often visit the official Visitor Center to pick up…read moremaps and to get insiders' recommendations about the best things about their city. In this case, we visited the Southern Arizona Heritage and Visitor Center in Tucson, which is open daily (except holidays) from 10-5 and offers free admission. The two staff members at the Center were very helpful. When we asked about the free tours that are offered daily at 11 am and 2 pm (that were mentioned on their website), we learned that they're usually only for groups and that they only cover the indoor exhibits. (See next paragraph). A volunteer offered to accompany us as we reviewed the exhibits, but we declined. The Center was a great starting place to discover all that southern Arizona, the Sonoran Desert, and the Sky Islands have to offer. The Center is modern, clean, and successfully highlights the attractions of the area. There are seven large, multi-paneled storytelling portals that showcase innovation, history, arts and culture, food, recreation, water, and nature, as well as a huge topographic map, a theater with rotating content, and an attractive gift shop. After we reviewed the exhibits and picked up some souvenirs in the gift shop, we ventured outside into the courtyard -- finding that the free "Music in the Courtyard" musicians were just starting. Different musicians play on Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 am - 1 pm. (See website for list of scheduled performers). We were fortunate to be entertained by Liz and Pete's Sparrows, natives of Tucson. The duo, Liz Cerepanya and Peter Dalton Ronstadt, refer to themselves as songsters of the Postmodern American West. With two voices, a guitar, and a Pennsylvania stompbox, they played Americana, soulful desert, and roots music. The courtyard is a beautiful setting but, in our opinion, wasn't conducive for interactions between the musicians and the audience. They were so tucked into a corner that we could hardly see them. What we heard though was excellent. We next took in the beauty of the exterior of the Pima County Historic Courthouse, which was built in 1929 and was in-service for 86 years. It obtained its "historic" designation from the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It has been dubbed "the most outstanding Spanish Colonial Revival building in Arizona with its elegant blue-tiled dome recorded as its most prominent feature." We reflected and remembered at the January 8th Embrace Memorial. Nineteen people had been shot by a lone gunman as they gathered at a grocery store in NW Tucson in 2011, to speak Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords at an event designed for community engagement. Six persons were killed, and thirteen wounded. The Memorial is a tribute of remembrance and a tribute of hope. The film that shows in the VC theater also honors and remembers these victims. Our next activities, recommended by the VC, but taking us away from the VC were to: (1) walk "the Turquoise Trail" (Presidio Trail), which is a 2.5 mile self-guided walking loop through historic downtown Tucson, marked by a turquoise line painted, and sometimes peeling, line painted on the sidewalk, connecting over 20 historic sites like the Presidio Museum (starting/ending point), Hotel Congress, and the Pima County Courthouse. Printed maps are available at the VC and at museums for $2; there's also an app for $5. (2) to take the free Sun Link streetcar on its 3.9 mile route through five of Tucson's neighborhoods. Underground parking is easy at the El Presidio Parking Garage, at a minimum rate of $2 for 0-2 hours, increasing by $1 per hour up to a maximum of $8 (for 7+hours). Validated parking is available with a $20 purchase at the Visitor Center or with tickets from the Gem and Mine Museum. There are clean restrooms available.

Stopped in today to check out our new Tucson visitor center. It is just beautiful inside! Huge full…read moreimages of our life here in the desert! There are panels and gorgeous images of the festivals, the food, the wildlife, what to do, and much more, there's a video playing, a loop gift shop, and staff are super friendly and helpful. They got me in the right direction to find some scorpion lollipops right around the corner! It will be a pleasure to bring out-of-towners here!

just got back from the Land of the Seri Tour. Very unique. You get to go places most tourist…read morecannot. I may go on another of theirs.

I am a little late on this review but they deserve it! I planned our office Christmas party as a…read moretrip down to the Sonoita/Elgin wineries and then dinner at one of my favorites, Wilhelm Family Vineyard... South of the Border provided a 55 passenger bus to take us down. I gave a list of the stops and times and they handled it wonderfully.. our driver was very friendly and as the trip progressed he was very tolerable of festivities and fun we had on the trip. Excellent rates and really nice bus.. had a PA system to make announcements, but no music to pipe thru. Very easy to work with, I will definitely use them again!

What a huge disappointment! I purchased four tickets for the…read moreCrawler for May 4, 2026 for 1:30pm. Two tickets were for my visiting brother and his girlfriend. We were early as two people in our party were handicaped and I wanted to make sure we could get good seats together. When it was time to load on the Crawler we all got into our seats, happy. Then the uncaring driver says we all have to get off "because that Crawler had be "charged". On top of all of us having to get off, now we were not in a position to get decent seats. Then the driver rolls up a tiny stretched golf cart, so small that only three people could fit in a row of seats so I had to move. The uncaring driver ignored my wife and my brother struggling to get in the stretched golf cart and only got a step to help them get in after I spoke up. Everyone was so tight that a couple people had to ride backwards on the back of the cart. The driver hardly told us how the earbuds worked and I had to share one of my earbuds with my wife whose connection did not function. The scenery was top notch but the Crawler was terrible! On the way back on the return trip we encountered a couple of elderly tourists waiting at a designated pickup spot, but there wasn't a single available seat. The couple, of course, were very embarrassed. The uncaring driver told them he would radio for another Crawler and guess what, a double Crawler drove by us down the way to pick them up. It was the Crawler that had to be "charged" that we were kicked off of. All in all, we were very disappointed! Listen up management, get your act together!

Amazing Tram Ride at Sabino Canyon!…read more I had the pleasure of experiencing a fantastic tram ride at Sabino Canyon, and I can't recommend it enough! For just $15.00, you get an incredible adventure surrounded by the stunning beauty of Arizona's landscape. The ride was filled with gorgeous views of towering cacti, impressive boulders, and lush trees, all complemented by the soothing sounds of running water from the creek. Each twist and turn in the canyon revealed breathtaking scenery that felt like a slice of paradise. The guide was professional and friendly, making the experience enjoyable for everyone. Whether you're a local or just visiting, this is a must-do activity. Grab your friends, hop on the ride, and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Sabino Canyon. I can't wait to return!

We had a great day. Rafa was an awesome guide. Having pick up and drop off service from our rental…read morewas so great.

Rafa, our tour guide was awesome! He's very knowledgeable & was friendly. He made the experience…read morefun & memorable! He picked us up on time & drove us back home safely. The shuttle was super clean & comfortable. The snacks and water were a life saver! We'll be definitely coming back and request him again!

The tour guides had a wealth of information about Tucson history, art scene, and community. They…read morehad many fascinating stories about the people and events that made Tucson the city that it is today. There were four very different food stops that provided a delicious and varied insight into the local cuisine. Highly recommend this tour if you want to know more about Tucson's history, culture, art, and food scene.

An absolutely marvelous afternoon walking tour! We learned some local history, learned about the…read moreartists & the amazing murals in the downtown area, & had some great local food along the way. The guides were informative & obviously enjoyed interacting with the group. Highly recommend!

I had a great visit to the Tucson Visitors Center ~ not only did I find plenty of brochures to…read moreutilize on my trip but the staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. They made many excellent suggestions and even gave me tips on a good location for dining. I was very pleased and pleasantly surprised by this quick stop. They have lots and lots of brochures about the area, they also sell the fun pass with coupons to various attractions and also have a gift shop to purchase items relating to Arizona, Tucson and the overall general desert area. There was parking at this location but is a bit confusing since there was some road construction going on but non the less parking was convenient and just outside the door.

Paul was great - worked with me right away and understood exactly what I wanted. He was always…read moreavailable with great suggestions and help when we needed it in Hawaii (small issue with keys/was the Airbnb's issue). We got great prices, unlike other travel agencies I went to (they were 4x as expensive). I'm definitely booking all future trips through Naked Pirate Travels (don't be thrown off by the name like I was a first, this is actually the best travel agent of the several I tried first!)

I booked a private historical tour with Lorraine. She was knowledgeable, very pleasant, and clearly…read morehas a passion and interest for the city. I enjoyed learning about Tucson's history, culture, and even plants/animals of note in the area. I appreciate that Lorraine picked me up from my hotel, Miraval, which is a bit of a drive and she arrived promptly at our agreed upon time. The tour was a good break from the retreat to learn more about the city I am visiting. 10/10 would recommend!

It was my first time visiting Tucson so I booked an introductory tour with Lorraine, a 40 year…read moreresident with a background as a local guide. We first took a scenic drive in the Saguaro National park, and saw the desert and cactus environment firsthand. Then, we drove through the historic downtown districts, and finally toured the Mission San Xavier del Bac, which is a must see. It was an excellent overview of Tucson's highlights, and highly recommend this business for an individualized tour.