Jessica Dunham - Moon 52 Things to Do in Phoenix & Tucson: Local Spots, Outdoor Recreation, Getaways

JESSICA DUNHAM

Connected by the craggy beauty of the Sonoran Desert, Phoenix and Tucson are sister cities, thriving metropolises teeming with things to do and places to see.

First things first: When Phoenicians say Phoenix, what we really mean is the Valley, a cluster of neighboring communities whose borders bleed into one another. Each offers a unique highlight. The college town of Tempe is home to Miss Gay Arizona Pageant. The Fresh Foodie Trail threads through the farmlands of Gilbert, Mesa, and Queen Creek, granting a taste (literally) of Arizonas agritourism hub. The nations Major League Baseball teams gear up for the season at spring training games in Scottsdale. And theres big-city Phoenix with its laid-back ways, where a James Beard Award-nominated chef like Silvana Salcido Esparza of Barrio Caf cruises her neighborhood in a low-rider.

In Tucson, cycling is the preferred mode of transportation. Locals on two wheels take to the bike-friendly streets or ride The Loop, a paved path that surrounds the city. Tucsonans love a good party, too. The Return of the Mermaids festival celebrates the deserts monsoon season, while La Fiesta de Los Vaqueros (cowboy party) is a rodeo so beloved in town that adults take off work to attend and kids skip school to watch the parade. Youll find Mexican influences everywhere, from the Sonoran-style food to the street names.

Then there are the people. Many of us who live in Phoenix and Tucson came from somewhere else. We found our way to the desert for any number of reasonsbetter health, sunny daysand because of that, theres a lively energy among Phoenicians and Tucsonans of having discovered a second lease on life, a chance to start again, a do-over, perhaps. Theres a sense that this scorched-in-the-sun place was chosen. Its not the home we were givenits the home we made.

Take to the sky in a

Cheer on at Crescent Ballroom

Taste the

Tour

Stretch out at

Play hooky at a game

Learn about Arizonas at the Heard Museum

Explore Phoenixs

Celebrate the

Play at the

Taste Tucsons

Honor the dead at the

the Loop

Outfit yourself in

Join

Raise your glass in

at sunrise

See on Fourth Avenue

Transform your backyard with

Taste the

Buy authentic

Learn about Arizonas at the Heard Museum

Hunt for

Pick

Cheer on at Crescent Ballroom

Discover at local bookstores

Hear at Arizona Storytellers Project

Feast on at Mrs. Whites Golden Rule Caf

Dive into the

local

Honor the dead at the

Join

Stroll the at Rillito Park

Haunt a

Take to the sky in a

at South Mountain Park

at sunrise

See along the Salt River

Helicopter over the

in the desert

Join a

Tour

Discover at local bookstores

Hear at Arizona Storytellers Project

Buy authentic

Learn about Arizonas at the Heard Museum

Explore Phoenixs

Celebrate the

Play at the

Dive into the

Ply the waters of

at South Mountain Park

Lace up your boots for an

the Loop

See along the Salt River

Helicopter over the

Dip into

Trek the

Cool off in

Join a

Stretch out at

Go behind the scenes at

Play at the

See on Fourth Avenue

Stroll the at Rillito Park

Pack up for a

Join a

Taste the

Toast an

Take a field trip on the

Feast on at Mrs. Whites Golden Rule Caf

Taste Tucsons

Raise your glass in

Savor

in the desert

Go

Follow the

Discover at local bookstores

Buy authentic

local

Outfit yourself in

Stroll the at Rillito Park