News Releases

Walk the Line – Discover Downtown Tucson’s treasures old and new by following the new Presidio Trail, a self-guided, urban walking tour of historic and cultural sites. The scenic, two-mile loop is marked by a turquoise line painted on the sidewalk connecting 23 sites, including several restaurants. Walkers visit an archaeological dig for remnants of the original Spanish Presidio of Tucson, an outdoor shrine for lost lovers, and a café in the 1920-era hotel where infamous John Dillinger gang were arrested. A brochure and map is free from the Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau. For more information, call 520-624-1817 or log on to www.VisitTucson.org.

Calling all Wyatt Earp Look-alikes —The American Old West’s most-famous lawman is remembered, with a Memorial Day weekend festival, May 27-29 in Tombstone, Arizona. Still the “Town Too Tough to Die” after 125 years, this well-preserved 1880s mining boomtown bustles with old-time entertainment, including lively saloon music, antique stagecoach and carriage rides, historical re-enactments, museum exhibits, and an annual chili cook-off; while merchants offer everything from Western apparel to Victorian antiques. Visitors can throw their hat into the contest to see who looks the most like the handsome Wyatt Earp, best known for his role in the legendary “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.” For more information, contact the Tombstone Visitors Center, (520) 457-3929 or www.tombstoneweb.com.

Oceanfront Property in Tucson? – Well, sort of. The Ocean Discovery Center at the Tucson Children’s Museum has been renovated, with the help of volunteers from the Sonoran Sea Aquarium. Young explorers, ages 6-12, are diving into learning about the Sea of Cortez — a unique ecosystem where the desert meets the ocean, about 200 miles south of Tucson, across the Mexico border. Hands-on exhibits teach about the area’s abundant marine wildlife and the importance of conservation. Kids can captain a submarine, listen to humpback-whale songs, or play with sea-creature puppets. For more information, contact the museum at (520) 792-9985 or www.tucsonchildrensmuseum.org.

Yes, Café Poca Cosa is Open – The world-renowned Café Poca Cosa has reopened, with free parking, on the ground floor of the six-story Pennington Street Garage, at 110 E. Pennington St. The café still serves its famous, daily-changing menu of mid-priced, inspired Mexican food that has delighted diners for more than a decade. Fans can expect the same friendly service, now fashionably delivered in sophisticated, urban surroundings. If you go, congratulate chef-owner, Suzana Davila who just received the Mayor’s 2006 “Heart of Tucson” award for her significant contributions to the improvement of Downtown Tucson. For reservations, call (520) 622-6400.

Drive South, Hassle Free - Visiting popular south-of-the-border cities is easier than ever, thanks to cooperation between the states of Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. As part of the “Only Sonora” program, U.S. motorists now can visit favorite destinations—Hermosillo, Guaymas, and San Carlos, for instance—without obtaining a vehicle permit. This “vehicle free-zone” is a blessing for travelers from Tucson (the U.S. gateway to Mexico) who regularly drive back-and-forth for Sonora’s seaside resorts, colonial cities, and business opportunities. Still, cross-border travelers must carry a tourist visa, and car insurance is advisable. For more information, log on to www.gotoSonora.com.

Tucson Golf for Every Player – Summer is the perfect time to check out Tucson’s golfing bargains, as green fees are reduced and long days allow for early morning rounds. The 50-plus golf courses in the Tucson area offer opportunities for all budgets and levels of experience. Fans of desert target-style golf will want to test the new Sonoran course at the Omni Tucson National Golf Resort & Spa. Designed by PGA tour veteran and 2006 Ryder Cup Captain, Tom Lehman, this track features steep elevation changes and magnificent desert views. Also on Tucson’s Northwest side, the 18-hole Crooked Tree Golf Course at Arthur Pack Regional Park (a municipal course built in 1977, with help from Lee Trevino) recently underwent a $2 million facelift that attracted 51,000 players in 2005, an increase from 42,000 before upgrades. For Tucson-area golf listings, comparisons, and interactive maps, visit www.visitTucson.org, or call (520) 624-1817.

Geotourism – The National Geographic Society has selected the Sonoran Desert as the subject of its fifth MapGuide project and, with regional partners, will produce a map highlighting the unique “treasures” of the region. Locals and visitors are encouraged to submit nominations for inclusion in this publication. Examples range from a scenic drive or historic area to a special festival or landmark architecture. The Geotourism MapGuide of the Sonoran Desert is National Geographic’s first bi-national project, covering Southern Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. “Geotourism” is a hot trend for travelers seeking experiences that sustain or enhance the geographical character of a place - its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well being of its residents. To nominate your favorite place in Southern Arizona, or for more information on the project, visit www.sonorandesertgeotourism.org.

High-tech Team Building at Tucson Resort – Tucson’s JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort, with its surrounding desert wilderness acreage, is on the cutting edge by offering “geo-caching” adventures to groups bored with traditional team-building programs. Geo-caching is similar to the old-fashioned scavenger hunt, except geo-cachers use a GPS (global positioning system) unit to pinpoint the caches, or treasure boxes. Starr Pass geo-caches include items ranging from Arizona-themed trinkets to resort memorabilia and coupons for free stays. For more information, contact the resort at (520) 792-3500 or www.jwmarriottstarrpass.com.

Bicycle Friendly Town, Again – The City of Tucson is the nation’s second-best city for bicycling, in its population category, according to Bicycling Magazine. In its March 2006 issue, Tucson scored points for good weather and terrain, and a bicycle-friendly infrastructure. The city’s more than 325 miles of striped bike lanes, outlined in the free Tucson Metro Area Bike Map, also were cited as good reasons for biking in Tucson. Another highlight is the El Tour de Tucson perimeter cycling-event that attracts thousands of peddlers every November. For a list of tours for cycling and mountain biking, log on to Day Trips at www.VisitTucson.org, or request a Tucson Official Visitors Guide from the Metro Tucson CVB at (520) 624-1817.