World-class golf courses, luxe resorts and gorgeous desert landscape are ready for you to explore. This itinerary is for those who want to both play and relax while checking out all the city and the surrounding area has to offer.

 

MORNING
Arnold Palmer Approves. Start this trip off at the golf course rated No. 1 on GolfAdvisor.com. The Starr Pass Golf Club is a 27-hole Arnold Palmer Signature Golf facility with unsurpassed mountain views and some pretty cool wildlife sightings. There are three courses to challenge yourself with.

AFTERNOON
Park It. Experience the largest cacti the desert has to offer at the Saguaro National Park. The Cactus Forest Scenic Loop Drive is an 8-mile paved road that offers scenic vistas where you can stop and appreciate (and photograph!) the beauty of the saguaros to your heart’s content. Up for more of a challenge? Try mountain biking or hiking through one of the park’s many hiking trails.

EVENING
Find Your Zen. Enjoy the JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort, a sprawling resort nestled among the Tucson Mountains complete with three swimming pools, lazy river and fire pits. It’s a family friendly resort, but you can find can find complete solace in your own private poolside cabana at the Hashani Spa after your Sedona mud wrap and yoga class.

MORNING
Stop and Smell the Roses. Start your day at Tohono Chul, a quiet and relaxing retreat hidden within the city where you can find 49 acres of botanical gardens, an art gallery and a charming bistro.

Tee Off. Continue your morning with a truly dynamic golf experience at Omni Tucson National, where you can walk in the footsteps of legends like Nicklaus, Trevino and Palmer, who have all played the course. If you’re in town in early March, catch the Tucson Conquistadores Classic, part of the PGA Champions Tour.

AFTERNOON
Downtown Discoveries. The area near Congress Street in downtown Tucson is bustling with boutiques, eateries and entertainment. You might enjoy watching glass blowing at Philabaum Glass Gallery or a stop in the Ben’s Bells Shop to learn how Tucsonans are spreading kindness through these colorful trinkets. Tired of walking? Hop on the Tucson Modern Streetcar, which connects you to five unique districts.

EVENING
Fancy Shmancy. Reserve a table at Cafe Poca Cosa for dinner, where chef/owner Suzana Davila takes Mexican flavors and cuisine to a whole new and sophisticated level. She selects only the freshest ingredients that very morning so the menu, brought to you tableside on a chalkboard, is always changing.

MORNING
Hit the Green. A little way outside the city you’ll find Casino del Sol, which is home to the award-winning Sewailo Golf Club. Work on perfecting your swing with a lesson from one of the PGA professionals on staff. And keep an eye out for wildcats—this is the home course for the University of Arizona.

AFTERNOON
Work Out the Kinks. Playing golf everyday can lead to sore muscles in strange places. Take advantage of the resort-style amenities at Casino del Sol by booking a post-golf massage at the Hiapsi Spa.

EVENING
Indulgent Fare. Round out your day at Casino del Sol with dinner at PY Steakhouse, where aged, prime cuts of meat and fresh seafood are paired with fine wines—many of them local—from the restaurant’s well-stocked cellars.

MORNING
Grab Your Binoculars. There’s a possibility you could spot a black-capped gnatcatcher or a Tennessee warbler when you join other birders on a Tucson Audubon Society field trip. If you want to expand your desert wildlife viewing, explore the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum where two miles of walking paths through exquisite desert landscapes will let you peek in on everything from an ocelot to a black bear.

AFTERNOON
History Lesson. Travel back in time at the Presidio San Agustin del Tucson Museum, a recreation of the Tucson Presidio built in 1775. Docent-led tours show off early life in the Santa Cruz Valley—view archeological remains, watch a blacksmithing demonstration or take a walking tour of the Turquoise Trail.

EVENING
Local Fare. Just a few blocks away from the Presidio, treat yourself to dinner with a European flair at The Coronet, another spot that takes Tucson’s World City of Gastronomy designation seriously. They use sustainably sourced protein, fresh organic vegetables and locally baked bread from Barrio Bread. You won’t be disappointed by the food (they make their own fennel sausage) or the extensive cocktail menu (there are 16 whiskies to choose from).

 

PLANNING A LONGER STAY?

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