Southside

Find history, culture, and Tucson's Best Mexican Food.

The south side of Tucson and the City of South Tucson might be the first area you encounter as you come from Tucson International Airport (TUS) and there's a lot to explore in this part of town.

If you're hungry for authentic Mexican Food, then head towards 12th Avenue. Here you'll find some of the best Mexican restaurants in the entire Tucson area, so make sure to come hungry.

From there, start your journey to some of Tucson's best attractions by heading east on Valencia Road to Pima Air & Space Museum where you'll see more planes than you knew existed, from artifacts from the beginning of the manned flight to the monstrous presence of a 787. Or continue south towards Green Valley/Sahuarita to find the Titan Missile Museum, where you can stand on the front line of the Cold War and uncover secrets of America’s largest nuclear weapon at this preserved United States missile site.

If history and architecture are on your radar instead, Mission San Xavier del Bac is a must-see National Historic Landmark located on the Tohono O'odham Nation's San Xavier District. This historic church is widely considered to be the finest example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States with marvelous original statuary and mural paintings filling its interior. If you choose to visit, please be respectful as this is a working church that's primary function is to serve its parishioners. 

Looking to explore the great outdoors? Drive south to the Santa Rita Mountains, which hold Mt. Wrightson, Southern Arizona's highest peak, and Madera Canyon, a renowned birding mecca thanks to the presence of hummingbirds and other magnificent species both native and migratory. 

Returning north to Tucson, two casinos are nearby. Casino del Sol and Desert Diamond Casino offer gaming, dining, regular concerts, and accommodations. 

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