10 must-visit places in Tucson, according to readers

I don't have to tell you this, but Tucson has a lot to love.

It's a city lauded for its outdoor beauty and culinary scene. It's a city surrounded by mountains and murals plastered on otherwise blank walls.

We asked our Instagram followers what spots they consider to be must-visit locations when they welcome out-of-town visitors to our desert city. Here are the top 10 answers we received, with the most-recommended spot at the very end. :)

10. San Xavier Mission

When you visit San Xavier Mission, 1950 W. San Xavier Road, you'll understand why it's called the White Dove of the Desert. It's a historic landmark founded by Father Eusebio Kino, who is said to have visited the Tohono O'odham village Wa:k in the late 1600s, with construction on the church beginning in 1783.

It offers Sunday mass and guided tours through the mission's history and architecture. The mission became a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places six years later.

9. Local shops

When I worked at a hotel in college, visitors frequently asked where they could pick up Tucson-themed souvenirs. Luckily, Tucson has countless shops owned by local creatives with items that are both Tucson-inspired and not.

Here are the shops that readers recommended:

• Antigone Books, 411 N. Fourth Ave. — This shop is home to tons of books, plus stationery and fun gift items.
• Bookmans, multiple locations — Here's where you'll find new and used books, magazines, musical instruments, movies, video games and Tucson-made trinkets and gifts.
• Di Luna Candles, 2700 N. Campbell Ave. — Di Luna's Maria Jose Cortes handcrafts candles in countless scents. Her shop also carries accessories, paper goods, home decor and more gifts from local and small businesses.
• Libra & Thorn, 101 S. Pantano Road — Known as a metaphysical art shop, Libra & Thorn has a blend of artsy items alongside tarot decks and crystal magic.
• Pop Cycle, 422 N. Fourth Ave. — One of Tucson's OG maker shops is Pop Cycle, home to local art including stickers, prints, handcrafted soap, apparel and jewelry.
• Sixth Avenue Antiques, 537 N. Sixth Ave. — Explore three stories of antiques at this shop, ranging from vintage clothing and decor to furniture and collectibles. 
• The Ninth House, 2563 E. Fort Lowell Road — This metaphysical shop offers pocket stones, ritual supplies, herbs, incense holders and more.
• Why I Love Where I Live, 267 S. Avenida del Convento — Find books written by local authors, paper goods and apparel inspired by Tucson and more gift items influenced by our desert city.

8. A walk through the heart of Tucson

There are four corridors that came up frequently in readers' suggestions, all of which are next door to each other: Barrio Viejo, downtown, Fourth Avenue and the University of Arizona.

• Barrio Viejo remains a beautiful and charming neighborhood, despite its fraught history that included demolition in the name of urban renewal in the 1970s. 
• Downtown is home to restaurants, museums, shops and plenty of event spaces. You'll find a very historic hotel, lots of tasty food options and tons of murals.
• Fourth Avenue is a bit more artsy, also filled with restaurants and stores. You'll find tattoo studios, delicious restaurants and shops selling books, art and clothing. 
• The UA is what makes Tucson feel like a college town. If you want a calm walk through pretty plants and prettier buildings, the UA is a good option. The UA also anchors Main Gate Square, which is home to restaurants and shops.

From Barrio Viejo, you can walk about three miles through downtown and Fourth Avenue to get to the University of Arizona. There's also a streetcar, which is currently free to ride, that will take you through downtown, Fourth Avenue and the UA. 

7. Tucson-specific museums

Tucson is home to loads of museums, from neon signs to trains to fine art.

Overwhelmingly, though, people recommended The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, which is home to tons of tiny exhibits you'll fall in love with. Think miniature houses and micro-sculptures on pencil lead. Find it at 4455 E. Camp Lowell Dr.

Also in the reader suggestions for museums and attractions:

• DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, 6300 N. Swan Road — This gallery celebrates the art of Ted DeGrazia with six permanent exhibits and a slew of rotating ones.
• Pima Air & Space Museum, 6000 E. Valencia Road — Part indoor, part outdoor, this museum features hundreds of historic aircraft across 80 acres. 
• Tohono Chul, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte — Set on 49 acres of desert, walk through saguaros and other native plants with views of the mountains.
• Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way — Take a stroll through nature and step into an exhibit where hundreds of butterflies flutter around you. The gardens are open year-round, but the butterfly pavilion is open October through May.

Spoiler: The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is listed lower in this story.

6. Mercado District

In recent years, the Mercado District has become a booming area filled with shops, restaurants and events. It's home to some of the city's most loved eateries alongside shops that boast clothing, items promoting sustainability, gifts, books and more. There's a flower shop, a wellness studio, and a salon.

The Mercado District is split into two, including the Mercado San Agustín at 100 S. Avenida del Convento and the MSA Annex at 267 S. Avenida del Convento, with businesses in between. The vibes are great, with plenty of outdoor seating, a bar and frequent events like a vintage flea and farmers markets.

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5. Mount Lemmon

Mount Lemmon is our personal getaway. It's where we go when we want to experience snow in winter, colorful leaves in fall and much cooler temperatures in summer. The saguaros are completely gone here, which means Mount Lemmon is a small vacation away from our normal desert surroundings.

The top of the mountain is home to Summerhaven, which has lodging options in addition to a handful of restaurants, shops and a ski lift that's open all year. 

On your way up or down from the mountain, stop at any of the viewpoints such as the popular Windy Point. You might spot beautiful city views or even a sunset if you're lucky. 

Hot tip: If you're looking for a closer option to get views of the city, our No. 11 reader-recommended spot is "A" Mountain.

4. Saguaro National Park

There are two districts of Saguaro National Park, one on the west side and one on the east.

Recommended the most was Gates Pass, a road on the west side that has beautiful sunset views. Pack some snacks or a picnic basket, drive down Gates Pass until you find a parking lot and enjoy the glorious pink skies. 

Both districts have picnic tables and hiking trails that range in difficulty. On the east side is Cactus Forest Drive, which is a one-way drive through our beautiful saguaros. It's $25 for a week-long pass for one car. 

3. Sabino Canyon

Immerse yourself in desert beauty at Sabino Canyon, 5700 N. Sabino Canyon Road.

One of the best things about Sabino is that it's a perfect option for very experienced hiking experts, but also the folks who just want a nice shuttle ride through the desert. There are miles-long trails that lead to waterfalls (if you visit after it rains) and tons of up-close encounters with cacti and other desert plants.

If hiking isn't quite your thing but you still want to explore, Sabino offers easy and completely paved walks, plus a daily shuttle that drives through the canyon alongside narrations of what you're seeing.

Daily admission is $8 per car, or $10 for a week. Shuttles range from $8-$15. Stop at the visitors center if you need more info!

2. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

If you visit any attraction during your visit to Tucson, this should be it.

You'll first drive through a forest of cacti before landing at the 98-acre museum, which is part garden, part zoo, part gallery. Walk through paths of desert habitats to see 242 animal species including an ocelot, a bobcat, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs and a mountain lion named Cruz. 

You'll find thousands of plants, including a cactus garden that blooms beautifully in spring. Minerals, a small aquarium and an exhibit with a stingray touch are also part of the museum.

Admission to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is $29.95 for adults, $19.95 for kids ages 3-12 years old. The museum is located at 2021 N. Kinney Road.

1. Food, food, food

By a huge margin, food came out on top in our reader submissions. Tucsonans are fierce about their favorite restaurants, and for good reason. These eateries were mentioned the most:

• Baja Cafe, multiple locations — You know this brunch spot is good because everyone you ask has a different favorite menu item. My personal favorite is the King Kong, but people die for the snickerdoodle pancake and the Black Widow eggs Benedict. 
• BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs, multiple locations — Though BK has a menu of tacos, burros and tortas, BK is often recommended for the Sonoran hot dogs. (If you're new here, you should probably try a Sonoran hot dog, even if it's just to say you did it.)
• Chappopin Cafe, coffee truck — This cafe on wheels serves up coffee inspired by the owner's Latin culture. Think Abuelita chocolate melted with an espresso shot.
• Coop by CowPig, 429 N. Fourth Ave. — Coop is home to some of the best chicken tenders in town. Also on the menu: loaded fries, sandwiches and chicken and waffles. Their sister is CowPig, a food truck that serves up mean burgers.
• Eegee's, multiple locations — Homegrown favorite Eegee's started decades ago and now has locations allover Tucson. They're known for their sandwiches, ranch fries and namesake frozen slushy. 
• El Charro Cafe, multiple locations — This is the country's oldest Mexican restaurant in continuous operation by the same family. Try the carne seca, which you can see sun-drying on the roof of the downtown location.
• El Guero Canelo, multiple locations — This fast-casual spot won a James Beard Award in 2018. They're most known for their Sonoran hot dogs, but they also have a menu of Mexican favorites like tacos and burros.
• El Taco Rustico, multiple locations — You can't really go wrong here, but the menu offers tacos, quesadillas and specialities like nopales. Rustico is most known, though, for the birria. 
• Rollies, multiple locations — Rollies has delicious birria and it's added into tacos, flautas, quesadillas, ramen, enchiladas and even burgers. 
• Scented Leaf, multiple locations — Pretty much anytime you visit Scented Leaf, it'll be packed with students and professionals plugged in on laptops or reading books. Beyond the good vibes, Scented Leaf makes delicious tea concoctions. 
• Seis Kitchen, multiple locations — There's a reason why Seis' Mercado location almost always has a line. It's delicious! Whether you choose a plate of tacos, nachos or mini chimis, make sure to also order a glass of horchata. 

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