Wonderguide by

Heather Knight

Tucson - All The Things

A guide to my favorite spots to explore in Tucson, including food, coffee, beer and sightseeing.

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Restaurants

Favorite restaurants in Tucson

Place

Seis Kitchen

Heather:There are a few locations around Tucson. My favorite is at the Mercado. Their tacos are some of my favorites.

Place

Blue Willow Restaurant & Gift Shop

Heather:Amazing gift shop and the food is really good too. Perfect brunch spot.

Place

Cafe Desta

Heather:Really good Ethiopian food.

Place

Tuk Tuk Thai - Thai street Food On Campbell Ave

Heather:Decent Thai food.

Place

Penca

Heather:Good Sonoran Mexican food and creative cocktails.

Place

Baja Cafe on Campbell

Heather:They have quite a few locations. Get there early to get at able. First timers can get a free pancake too! The breakfasts are so good here.

Place

Five Points Market & Restaurant

Heather:Great for breakfast.

Place

El Güero Canelo Restaurant

Heather:There are a few locations around town. This is THE PLACE to get a Sonoran Hotdog. There is one very close to my house on 22nd Street.

Place

Toss-Fried Chicken and Ramen

Heather:The fried chicken here is amazing. It's Japanese-style with delicious sauces.

Place

Tran’s Fats Truck

Heather:Words cannot describe the deliciousness of the brisket dumplings served at this food truck. It's located at the parking lot of Hotel McCoy and you can sit on the patio or inside (and grab a local beer or wine at the bar!) to eat your meal. Highly recommend trying this food truck.

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Gift from Heather. Get a discount off all experiences!

Coffee Shops

Favorite coffee shops in Tucson.

Place

Presta Coffee Roasters

Heather:There are a few locations in Tucson, my favorite is at the Mercado.

Place

Cartel Roasting Co.

Heather:There are several locations throughout Tucson. These are great for coworking. I like the Campbell location, though parking can be tight.

Place

Decibel Coffee Works

Heather:One of my top three coffee shops in Tucson. Try the coffee soda.

Place

Transit Tea

Heather:I know, it's not coffee. But they have some delicious tea here. Definitely give it a try.

Place

Raging Sage Coffee Roasters

Heather:Local coffee shop. Outdoor seating in the courtyard. Good for coworking.

Breweries and Bars

Favorite breweries and bars in Tucson

Place

Motosonora Brewing Co

Heather:Good beer, great outside seating in the back and a vegan food truck out front. They also have an inside dog run for your furry friends.

Place

Borderlands Brewing Sam Hughes

Heather:Parking can be a bit tight around here, but the beer and the food are pretty good.

Art & Culture

Spots to experience Tucson's amazing and diverse art and culture scene.

Place

Old Tucson

Heather:They're trying to resurrect this old movie set town. It is open Thursday through Sundays from 10:30a to 5p and there are quite a few things to see and do here. Admission is $34 for adults. I don't know how much they charge for kids. If you like kitschy, campy, wild west stuff, this is the place!!!

Place

Heirloom Farmers Markets | Rillito Park

Heather:Grab some local produce, arts & crafts and other wares at the farmers market.

Place

San Xavier del Bac Mission

Heather:This is a bit outside of town, but well worth a visit. It's a Spanish Mission Church. Be sure to buy some fry bread in the parking lot.

Place

Pima Air & Space Museum

Heather:If you are an aviation geek, then you should check this out!

Place

The Historic Aviation Bone Yard

Heather:Another spot to visit for the aviation geeks.

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Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Heather:Great spot to learn more about the Sonoran Desert

Nature, Parks, and Outdoor Activities

Some of my favorite spots to see the glory of the Sonoran Desert.

Place

Saguaro National Park

Heather:There are two sides to the park. East and West. East is about 30 minutes from my house. West is about 45 minutes. You should absolutely spend a day at each place. Both sites have so much to offer. The drives in the park can also be done on bike or ebike.

Place

Tucson Botanical Gardens

Heather:Great spot to learn more about the plants of the Sonoran Desert.

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Mount Lemmon

Heather:Definitely take a drive up here to see views of the Sky Islands to the south, all across Tucson and more. There are a lot of mountain biking and hiking trails as well as rock climbing.