Tucson Feature

This tour takes in the highlights of the university area: Start at the northwest corner of campus, at Euclid and 2nd streets, at the public parking garage, then walk a half block east on 2nd Street to the Arizona History Museum to see how far the Old Pueblo has come in 100 years. A block south on Park Avenue, just inside the main gate of the university, is the Arizona State Museum, the place to explore Native American culture. Heading east on University Boulevard and deeper into the campus, you'll pass Old Main and the crested saguaro. As the road curves to the left, University Boulevard turns into the campus mall. The Student Union, which houses a huge food court, and University Bookstore are on your left; the sculpture in front of the complex depicts Arizona-Mexico border struggles. Cross over to the south side of the mall (watch out for Frisbees) and take a peek inside the old gymnasium, then continue east, passing the steps leading down to the underground activity center, and you'll come to the Flandrau Science Center and Observatory. Check telescope-viewing schedules, see a light show, or stock up on science-oriented gifts here.

Walk north on Cherry, then turn left onto 2nd Street, passing several fraternity and sorority houses. Turn right on Olive Road to find the Center for Creative Photography, home to most of photographer Ansel Adams's negatives and a slew of other exhibits in this medium. Across from the center is the University of Arizona Museum of Art. From here it's a short walk west on Speedway Boulevard to Park Avenue, where you can go south to 2nd Street and return to the Arizona Historical Society's Museum and the parking lot.

For more college culture, continue down Park to University Boulevard and turn right. This area is the hub of off-campus activity, with restaurants, cafés, and trendy boutiques. You can walk—or on weekends ride the Old Pueblo Trolley —along University to 4th Avenue, Tucson's last bastion of bohemia, for shopping and people-watching.

If you drive, leave your car in a university garage; those on 2nd Street at Mountain Avenue, on Speedway Boulevard at Park Avenue, on Tyndall Avenue south of University Boulevard, and on 2nd Street at Euclid Avenue are the most convenient. Parking is free in these garages on weekends and holidays.