A Tucson Vacation - Enjoy the Cultural Capital of Arizona

Added: 05/02/2006

The largest city in southern Arizona and the second largest city of the state after its capital Phoenix, Tucson is recognized as one of the most visited cities in the United States, which has much to offer to each of its visitors, regardless of age and interests. After the period of serving as a colonial outpost under the Mexicans and Spanish, the city has managed to grown to one of the most important centers of cultural and industrial life of Arizona that can rival Phoenix in many aspects. It stands to reason then, that a Tucson vacation will provide a great getaway in the cultural capital of Arizona!

Home to a great number of museums, art galleries and other historic and cultural venues, Tucson Arizona attracts huge crowds of travelers each year, who come to enjoy its annual cultural events, shows and fairs, parks and outdoor attractions, exciting nightlife and shopping, fine dining restaurants and luxurious hotels. Among those enjoying the greatest popularity among travelers are the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, held each February and regarded as one of the most famous mineral and gem shows worldwide.

There doesn't exist a single location for numerous displays, but rather several locations spread across the city - many large hotels are occupied, with professionals displaying exhibits in hotel bedrooms, tents and lobbies. The show, seen as one of the most important occasions on the cultural calendar of Arizona, attracts over 50,000 people from more than twenty countries.

Another popular celebration, which draws a large number of travelers enjoying their Tucson vacations, Fiesta de los Vaqueros, known also as the rodeo week, is held at the beginning of the rodeo season.

Art lovers consider Tucson vacations as a great opportunity to visit the numerous art galleries and museums, notably the Arizona Historical Society, featuring a collection of artifacts that reflect the early history of the city; the Tucson Museum of Art, established as part of the art school and featuring some 6,000 objects of the American art and its influences.
The University of Arizona Art Museum which includes works by such artists as Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock and Franz Kline; the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, devoted to Southwestern plants and animals; the Pima Air and Space Museum, situated to the southeast of Tucson and featuring some 250 historical and modern artifacts; the Titan Missile Museum; the Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum and more.

Located in Tucson are over 120 beautiful parks, the Reid Park Zoo, 26 pools, including seven all-the-year-round pools, three urban fishing lakes, three tennis centers and five public golf courses, all of them enjoying great popularity among travelers on their Tucson vacations or some shorter stays. Other points of interest include Saguaro National Park, the Tucson Botanical Gardens, Biosphere 2 and Sabino Canyon.

Situated close to the University of Arizona is Fourth Avenue, home to an array of bars, restaurants and shops and playing host to the annual 4th Avenue Street Fair held every December and March. The same great number of retail shops, restaurants and bars can be found along the University Boulevard, leading to the UA Main Gate.

For music fans Tucson vacations are a wonderful opportunity to enjoy performing arts and such music groups as the Arizona Opera Company, established in 1971 as the Tucson Opera Company, the Tucson Boys Chorus, the Tucson Symphony Orchestra founded in 1921, Civic Orchestra of Tucson and Southern Arizona Symphony.

Some of the renowned theater groups include the Invisible Theatre; the Gaslight Theatre performing melodramas; and the Arizona Theater Company performing in the Temple of Music and Art.

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