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Where to Go, What to See: Tucson and Southern Arizona

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There are all sorts of things to see, do, hear, touch, smell, taste, experience, and absorb that make Tucson and southern Arizona a unique place in the world! ... WhereAZ.com features "Snapshot Sketches and Summary Snippets" that HIGHLIGHT THE TRAITS of this special area ... For a little STROLL-AROUND, just SCROLL-AROUND below ... CLICK ON A SKETCH to see additional details ... Use the QUICK DRAW, SETTLEMENTS, INDEX, or LABELS for more organized explorations ...

Posts

Highlight of the Day ...

Blue Palo Verde Tree

April Flora Funky Gems May Sonoran Desert Spring Trees

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- Parkinsonia Florida, the Blue Palo Verde tree, is a species of palo verde native to the Sonoran Desert in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico - Its name means "green pole or stick" in Spanish, referring to the green trunk and branches, that perform photosynthesis ==> Spectacular yellow blooms in the springtime -Arizona state tree

Lucy's Warbler

Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona

Arts Foundation Gems Organizations

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Neotropic Cormorant

Agua Caliente Birds Fauna Funky Gems JimFav

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Cheyney House

Architecture El Presidio District Historic Houses Main Avenue Tucson-Downtown

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Viva Nogales!

Commercial Gems Highway 82 Hispanic Historic Interstate I-19 Mexico Nogales Santa Cruz County Santa Cruz River Valley Union Pacific Railroad

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Cholla Cactus Springtime Flowers

April Cactus Flora Flowers July June May Spring

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Evo A DeConcini US Courthouse

Architecture Congress Street Courthouses JimFav Tucson Tucson-Downtown

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Cochemiea Boolii

Cactus Flora Flowers JimFav Summer

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Dos Cabezas Peaks

Bowie Chiricahua Mountains Cochise County Dos Cabezas Mountains Funky Gems Highway 186 Interstate I-10 Scenic Views Sunsites Willcox

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Rex Allen Cowboy Museum

Cochise County Cowboys Funky Gems Highway 186 Historic Interstate I-10 JimFav Museums Unique Wild West Willcox

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Arizona Tree Frog

Fauna Frogs Funky

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Bison Smile

Fauna Humor Smiles

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Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Birds Endangered Species Fauna Funky Gems JimFav San Pedro River San Pedro Valley Tubac

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AMTRAK Sunset Limited

AMTRAK Benson JimFav Railroad Transportation Tucson

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Border Collie Smile

Dogs Farm Animals Fauna Funky JimFav Smiles

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Pima County Master Gardeners

Arboretums Birding Botanical Gardens Campbell Avenue Flora Funky Gardening Gems Information JimFav Pima County Tucson University of Arizona

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Nogales International Airport

Aerospace Airports JimFav Nogales Santa Cruz County

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Baby Giraffe Ndizi

February Giraffes Reid Park Tucson Zoos

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Amado

Amado Arivaca Birding Funky Interstate I-19 JimFav Santa Cruz County Santa Cruz River Valley Santa Rita Mountains Tubac Unique

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Life Under the Oaks Lavender Farm

April Catalina Foothills Farming Funky Gems Highway 77 JimFav June March May Oracle Relaxing Santa Catalina Mountains Spring

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Picacho Peak State Park

Birding Camping Coolidge Eloy Funky Gems Hiking Historic Interstate I-10 JimFav Marana Nature Preserves Parks Picacho Peak Picnic Areas Red Rock Scenic Views State Parks Walking Wildlife Refuges

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Prickly Pear Fruit

Agriculture August Cactus Flora Food Fruits Funky Gems JimFav July Prickly Pear September

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Gambel's Quail

Birds Fauna Funky JimFav

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That Green Valley Grin

Advertising Green Valley History Interstate I-19

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US Highway 80 ... The "Mother of Arizona Highways"

Benson Benson Highway Bisbee Cochise County Douglas Highway 80 Tombstone Tucson

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OLLI: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Education Green Valley Institutions JimFav Organizations Tucson University of Arizona

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Arizona State Milepost System Roadmap

Arizona Maps Mileposts

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Southern Arizona Road Trip Planning Guide

Highway 186 Highway 191 Highway 286 Highway 77 Highway 79 Highway 80 Highway 82 Highway 83 Highway 85 Highway 86 Highway 90 Highway 92 Interstate I-10 Interstate I-19 JimFav Maps Portal Road Trip San Manuel Why

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Coronado National Forest

Arizona Trail Coronado National Forest Forests Funky Gems JimFav Maps Mountains National Forests Nogales Oracle Oro Valley Patagonia Portal Sierra Vista Sky Islands Sonoita Summerhaven Tucson Willcox

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Sky Islands

Baboquivari Mountains Chiricahua Mountains Coronado National Forest Fauna Funky Gems Huachuca Mountains JimFav Maps Mount Lemmon Highway Mountains Santa Catalina Mountains Santa Rita Mountains Sky Islands Tucson

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Sonoran Desert

Ajo Cochise County Deserts Gems Highway 286 Highway 85 Highway 86 JimFav Lukeville Maps Mexico National Monuments Pima County Pinal County Santa Cruz County Sasabe Sells Sonoran Desert Tucson World-Class

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Chihuahuan Desert

Chihuahuan Desert Cochise County Deserts Douglas Funky Gems JimFav Maps Mexico San Bernardino Valley San Pedro Valley San Rafael Valley Sierra Vista Tombstone Willcox

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The Tail of Two Deserts ...

Chihuahuan Desert Deserts Funky Gems JimFav Maps Mexico Sonoran Desert World-Class

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Roadrunner

Birds Coyotes Fauna Gems JimFav Roadrunners Unique

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Coyote Yip-Yip-Yip

Coyotes Fauna Funky Gems JimFav Nightlife

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Saguaro National Park - East

Arizona Trail Astro-Trail Birding Broadway Boulevard Funky Gems Hiking JimFav National Parks Parks Picnic Areas Saguaro National Park Sonoran Desert Speedway Boulevard Trails Tucson Unique World-Class

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Saguaro National Park - West

Astro-Trail Backpacking Birding Camping Flora Funky Gems Hiking Hohokam JimFav National Monuments National Parks Parks Picnic Areas Saguaro National Park Sonoran Desert Trails Tucson World-Class

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San Xavier del Bac Mission

Anza Trail Architecture Christmas Churches Funky Gems Historic Interstate I-19 JimFav LRFP National Historic Sites Old West Religious Seasonal Spirit Stamps Tohono O'odam Tucson World-Class

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25 Best Places to Travel in 2025

Funky Gems Tourism World-Class

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UNESCO City of Gastronomy ... Travel + Leisure #2 in the USA!

Cuisine Food Funky Gems JimFav Restaurants Tacos Tucson World-Class

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One of the World's Greatest Places!

Funky Gems Tucson World-Class

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Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway

Coronado National Forest Funky Gems JimFav Mount Lemmon Mount Lemmon Highway Mountains Santa Catalina Mountains Scenic Highways Scenic Views Summerhaven Tucson World-Class

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QUICK DRAW ...

Birds
Fauna
Flora
Funky
Gems
Maps
People
Smiles
World-Class

SETTLEMENTS ...

Ajo
Amado
Arivaca
Benson
Bisbee
Catalina
Douglas
Dragoon
Green Valley
Lukeville
Marana
Nogales
Oracle
Oro Valley
Patagonia
Portal
Rio Rico
Sahuarita
San Manuel
Sasabe
Sells
Sierra Vista
Sonoita / Elgin
Summerhaven
Tombstone
Tubac
Tucson
Vail
Willcox

INDEX ...

Click Here

LABELS ...

22nd Street 23 Miles Accommodations Activities Adventures Advertising Aerospace Agriculture Agua Caliente Agua Prieta

Airports Ajo Ajo Way Alameda Street Allen Street Alvernon Way Amado Amphibians Amphitheater AMTRAK Amusement Park Antennas Anza Trail Apache Apartments April Aquariums Arachnids Aravaipa Canyon Arboretums Arcade Games Archaeological Sites Archery Architecture Arivaca Arivaca Road Arizona Arizona Trail Art Art Galleries Arthouses Artisan Markets Arts Artwork ASDM ASL Astro-Trail Astronomy Atascosa Mountains Attractions August Automobiles Aviation Parkway Baboquivari Mountains Backpacking Bakeries Barrio Barrio Viejo Bars Baseball Basketball Beachs Bear Canyon Beer Benson Benson Highway Best in the USA Biking Biodiversity Birding Birds Bisbee Blimps Blind BLM Boating Bonita Books Boots Borderland Borderlands Botanical Gardens Boutiques Bowie Bowling Brewery Avenue Brewery Gulch Bridges Broadcasting Broadway Boulevard Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge Buffalo Soldiers Bugs Buried Treasures Bus Tours Business Butterflies Cactus Campbell Avenue Camping Canelo Canoa Ranch Canyons Carmen Carnival Carnivores Cars Casa Adobes Casa Grande Casinos Catalina Catalina Foothills Catalina State Park Cats Cattle Caverns Celebrations Cemeteries Center of the Universe Chihuahuan Desert Children Chili Chiricahua Mountains Chiricahua National Monument Christmas Church Avenue Churches Cienaga Creek Cienagas Cinema Circus Cities City Halls City Parks Clothing Cochise Cochise College Cochise County Cochise Stronghold Collages Comedy Commercial Communications Companies Concerts Congress Street Conservation Conservation Areas Consulate Convenience Stores Convention Center Coolidge Corn Maze Coronado National Forest Court Avenue Courthouses Cowboys Coyotes Crafts Cranes Craters Craycroft Road Creeks Crime Critters Croquet Cuisine Cultural Centers Cycling Dams Dance Dangerous Dark Sky Parks Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Deaf December Deer DeGrazia Deserts Diets Discounts Dogs Domesticated Animals Dos Cabezas Mountains Double Adobe Douglas Dragoon Dragoon Mountains Dude Ranches Economic Development Economy Education Eggs El Presidio District Electricity Elfrida Elgin Elm Street Eloy Endangered Species Entertainment Entrepreneurial Environmental Organizations Equestrains Ethnic Event Space Faces Fairs Fall Famous People Fantasy Farm Animals Farmers' Markets Farming Fast Food Fauna February Federal Fellowship Festivals Fireworks First Avenue Fish Fishing Fitness Centers Flora Florence Flowers Flowing Wells Folk Arts Folklore Food Football Forests Fort Huachuca Fort Lowell Road Foundation Fourth Avenue Frogs Fruits Fry Boulevard Funkolicious Bisbee Funky G Avenue Galiuro Mountains Gambling Gangsters Gardening Gardens Gems Geologically Interesting Geronimo Ghost Towns Gifts Gila River Giraffes Glenn Street Golf Golf Links Road Government Graham County Grande Avenue Grant Road Grapes Grasslands Green Valley Halloween Hamburgers Harrison Road Haunted Places Health Clubs Hereford High Schools Highway 181 Highway 186 Highway 191 Highway 286 Highway 77 Highway 79 Highway 80 Highway 82 Highway 83 Highway 85 Highway 86 Highway 90 Highway 92 Hiking Hispanic Historic Historical Markers History Hobbies Hockey Hohokam Holiday Season Horses Hospitals Hot Air Balloons Hot Dogs Hot Springs Hotels Houghton Road Houses Housing Huachuca City Huachuca Mountains Hummingbirds Humor IBA Iconic Ina Road Industry Information Innovation Insects Inspirational Institutions International Interstate I-10 Interstate I-19 Irvington Road Jaguars January Jeep Jewelry JimFav Jogging Journalism July June Kartchner Caverns Kinney Road Kino Kino Parkway Kino Springs Kolb Road Lakes Landmark Lawmen Legal Libraries Live Cameras Live Performances Livestock Lizards Lodges Lottery Lounges Lowell LRFP Lukeville Madera Canyon Main Avenue Malls Mammals Manufacturing Maps Marana March Maricopa County Marketing Mascots May McNeal Medical Medicinal Meditation Memorials Mental Relaxation Mercado San Augustin Mexico Mileposts Military Minerals Mining Monsoon Monuments Mormon Mount Graham Mount Hopkins Mount Lemmon Mount Lemmon Highway Mountain Biking Mountains Movie Sites Movie Stars Murals Museums Music Naco National Conservation Areas National Forests National Historic Sites National Memorials National Monuments National Observatory National Parks National Scenic Trail National Wildlife Refuges Native American Heritage Nature Conservancy Nature Preserves Neighborhoods News Nightlife Nogales November Nursery Observatories Ocean October Oddity Offices Old Bisbee Old Tucson Old West OLLI Optics Oracle Oracle Junction Oracle Road Orchards Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Organizations Oro Valley Ostriches Overviews Owls Palominas Pantano Road Park Avenue Park Place Parking Lots Parks Parties Patagonia Peacock Pecans Peloncillo Mountains Penaleno Mountains Pennington Street People Pests Petroglyphs Pets Petting Zoo Phoenix Photography Photonics Picacho Peak Picnic Picnic Areas Pima Community College Pima County Pinal County Pinaleño Mountains Pizza Plants Playgrounds Poetry Police Ponds Portal Post Offices Pottery Power Prickly Pear Promotions Publications Publicity Puerto Peñasco Pumpkin Patches Pusch Ridge Raccoons Racing Radio Railroad Ramsey Canyon Ranching Raptors Rare Reclamation Recreation Red Rock Redington Road Refreshments Reid Park Relaxing Religious Renewable Energy Reptiles Research Resorts Resources Restaurants Retirement Communities Rincon Mountains Rio Rico Riparian Areas River Road Rivers Road Trip Roadrunners Rock Climbing Rocky Point Rodents Rodeo Roger Road Romantic Running Ruthrauff Road Sabino Canyon Sabino Canyon Road Safford Saguaro Cactus Saguaro National Park Sahuarita Saint David Saint Mary's Road Salon Saloons San Bernardino Valley San Manuel San Pedro River San Pedro Valley San Rafael Valley San Simon San Xavier del Bac Sandario Road Santa Catalina Mountains Santa Cruz County Santa Cruz River Valley Santa Rita Mountains Sasabe Scenic Highways Scenic Views Schools Science Scott Avenue Sculptures Seasonal Spirit Sells Sentinel Peak September Serenity Shopping Sierra Vista Silverbell Road Sixth Avenue Sixth Street Skiing Sky Islands Skyline Drive Skyscrapers Smiles Smithsonian Institution Snakes Snowbirds Snyder Road Soccer Solar Sonoita Sonora Sonoran Desert Sounds South Tucson Space Exploration Spanish Spas Special Events Special Services Speedway Boulevard Spices Spiders Sports Spring Squirrels Stamps Stars State Parks Statues Stone Avenue Sulpher Springs Valley Summer Summerhaven Sun Historic District Sunbathing Sunrise Drive Sunset Views Sunsites Swan Road Sweetwater Wetlands Swimming Table Tennis Tacos Tanque Verde Tanque Verde Road TBG Tea Technology Telescopes Television Tennis Theaters Theme Parks Therapeutic Toads Tohono O'odam Tombstone Toole Avenue Tourism Tournaments Tours Towns Toys Trails Transportation Travel Trees Trivia Tubac Tucson Tucson Botanical Gardens Tucson Mountain Park Tucson Mountains Tucson-Downtown Tumacacori Turtles Twin Peaks UA Banner Medical Center UFO Ugly UNESCO Biosphere Preserve Union Pacific Railroad Unique University Boulevard University of Arizona Upscale Utilities Vacation Spots Vail Valencia Road Valleys Vegetation Videos Visitor Centers Volcanic Walking Warren Wasps Water Water Parks Waterfalls Wearables Weather Western Image Whetstone Why Wild West Wilderness Wildlife Refuges Willcox Willcox Playa Wilmot Road Wine Winter Wolves Women-Owned World-Class Yaqui Zoos

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POPULAR POSTS ...

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

- In Southern Arizona, the Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus Americanus) is a rare, reclusive, and federally threatened bird known as the "Rain Crow" for its tendency to call before summer storms - These birds are elusive "ghosts" of the canopy, more often identified by their guttural, wooden-sounding "Kowlp" calls than by sight - Southern Arizona is a critical stronghold for the western population ... while they are traditionally found in lush riparian gallery forests (cottonwood and willow), recent research shows they also thrive in drier habitats unique to this region - Riparian Strongholds: The San Pedro River (especially between San Manuel and Mammoth) and the Santa Cruz River near Tubac are prime locations - Sky Islands: Look for them in the mountain foothills of the Santa Catalina, Chiricahua, and Whetstone Mountains

Cholla Cactus Springtime Flowers

- Cholla cactus flowers are known for their vibrant, waxy petals that bloom in a stunning array of desert colors - Depending on the species, these cup-shaped blooms can range from brilliant magenta and reddish-rose to buttery yellow, orange, and even pale green - They typically emerge from the spiny tips of the cactus segments in late spring and early summer, often between April and July

Arizona Tree Frog

- The Arizona Tree Frog (Dryophyes Wrightorum) is the official state amphibian of Arizona - Often confused with the Canyon Treefrog (Dryophytes Arenicolor), which is actually more common in the state, the true Arizona Tree Frog is a high-elevation species known for its bright green color and distinct "quacking" call. - Appearance: Typically bright green, though they can shift to copper or gold ... they feature a prominent dark eye stripe that extends from the snout, through the eye, and past the shoulder, sometimes reaching the groin - Size: A small species, adults usually measure between 0.75 and 2.25 inches (19–56 mm) - Sound: Their call is described as a series of metallic clacks, short low-pitched notes, or even a trill. - Habitat: Found in "Sky Island" mountain forests, wet meadows, and coniferous forests above 5,000 feet (1,524 m) ... they are primarily found in the Huachuca Mountains in southern Arizona

Black-tailed Jackrabbit

- The Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus Californicus) is a common hare of the western United States and Mexico, easily recognized by its massive, black-tipped ears and the black stripe along its tail - Despite the name, it is a hare, not a rabbit, meaning its young (leverets) are born fully furred with their eyes open and can hop within hours - These hares can reach speeds of up to 40 mph and leap over 10–20 feet in a single bound to evade predators - Their iconic ears are not just for hearing; they are filled with blood vessels that help dissipate body heat, keeping the animal cool in hot desert environments - With eyes positioned on the sides of their heads, they have a nearly 360-degree field of vision to spot threats like coyotes, hawks, and bobcats They are primarily nocturnal or crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk). During the day, they rest in shallow depressions called "forms" under shrubs to stay hidden and cool - They are common in the Sonoran Desert around Tucson, th...

Tucson Gem and Mineral Show

-An annual event that takes place in Tucson, Arizona in February -One of the largest mineral shows in the world -Features a vast array of minerals, gemstones, fossils, and other geological specimens, as well as jewelry, art, and other related products -The show attracts visitors from around the world, including industry professionals, collectors, and enthusiasts -In addition to the extensive vendor displays, the show also offers lectures, workshops, and special exhibits that highlight various aspects of the mineral world

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