spirobulldog

Thanks everyone

MikePinTucson

I am not sure how long Whitewalker has been in Tucson, but temperatures most definitely do NOT usually heat up fast in late March (as you can see from the link I provided above.

spirobulldog

I think I'd be happier Late March or Early April than Early March

spirobulldog

I've looked at your blog several times!! Thnx.

spirobulldog

Mike,
I know that you really like Kartchner Caverns. I have done a lot of caving/spelunking. For example, I've done every tour at Carlsbad multiple times. I've done the wild cave tour(they offer 2) 7 times. They only allow 8 people per week on each of these. I'm debating on whether to see them or not. The pics I've looked at do look somewhat similar to Carlsbad. Looks great, so I'm still trying to decide if I have time for that or not.

I'm planning on arriving late on a Thursday and will leave late Monday. So that gives us 3 full days(Fri, Sat, Sun)and then 3/4 day on Monday.

I want to see Saguaro-both sides or just one side?
Sabino Canyon
ASDM-Raptor Flight, Running Wild, Live and on the Loose, maybe hummingbirds,
Mission San X

Considering Catalina St. Park
Considering Phillips Farmers Market
Considering Kitt's Peak and Kartchners
I was considering Hot Air Ballooning(we've never done it)-not for sure if I want to allow for that as there looks to be plenty of options

Here are the places we might eat
Baggin's Gourmet
Beyond Bread
Scordato's Pizza
Vivace Restaurant
Octillo Cafe in ADSM (usually closes 2nd week of April)
Frost Gelato for a snack at some point
Breakfast @ Cup Cafe in Hotel Congress
Breakfast @ Blue Willow
Eegrees--I've read this is some kind of slushie drink
Swensens-(I use to love this as a kid and haven't had one in year-I know it's probably nothing, just something I feel the need to do)

I might eat at Tucson Tamale Company. My wife is allergic to Capsaicin, so anything spicy she can't eat. She can handle like mild roitel, but anything very hot(especially something that hasn't been processed)like jalapenos, she will develop joint swelling/pain/rash. Even Hatch Chiles got her one time. They were fresh and seemed hot not mild. Luckily, she has never experienced anything life-threatening, but we try to really watch it. I called the TTC, and they said they did have some things she could most likely have. She even avoids the cheese at somewhere like Taco Bell. I don't know why she eats the mild roitel(when I taste it straight from the can it taste slightly hot/warm to me), but she does.

spirobulldog

I meant the cheese on nachos--as most of it is slightly spicy.

spirobulldog

Oops, 1 more
AJ's Purveyor of Fine Foods

spirobulldog

It seem's that Swensen's has closed in Tucson

MikePinTucson

Swensen's on Broiadway closed several years ago. There may be one still open on the northwest side.

AJ's is more an upscale food market.

Let me add Vero Amore for you. Excellent.

You can do ASDM, Saguaro National Park west, and the mission easily in one day. Kartchner, SNP east, and Sabino Canyon easily in a day.

Kitt peak is a drive of AT LEAST 1 1/2 hours each way from Tucson. Were you planning on a night program there? If so, you might consider the Mt. Lemmon Sky Nights program.

Kartchner would be very different from Carlsbad. Kartchner is a living, wet cave. And Kubla Khan, in the Throne Room, is awe-inspiring the way it is presented with soft native music and changing lights.

EeGee's started as a frozen lemonade (Italian Ice) shop by two guys from Rhode Island. It has since grown to be also a sandwich shop and many more flavors than just lemon.

You might want to eat at El Charro (the original one downtown). Their specialty is the carne seca and it isn't spicy at all. They also have dishes that would not have any chiles in them. Also, people have told me their fish tacos are very good.

Shanti

I also like Rocky's Pizza on Speedway.

MikePinTucson

Are you sure that isn't Rocco's, on Broadway, Shanti? I don't know of any Rocky's Pizza in Tucson.

HappyTrvlr

Re: Phoenix temperatures. It is always warmer in Phoenix than Tucson since Tucson is at a higher altitude. Look at the temp differences during the summer.
Add Tavolino's for excellent Italian dining, Campbell and Skyline. Union Public House has good food, opposite Vivace in St. Philip's Plaza. Jax Kitchen on N. Oracle is very popular.
Feast on E. Speedway is wonderful, chef owned, creative menu.
St. Philip's farmers market is Saturday and Sunday mornings, River and Campbell, across from church with same name. AJs is an upscale food market at La Encantada, Campbell and Skyline, owned by Basha's, a local AZ grocer.
Good Vietnamese places on Campbell, Pho 88, Miss Saigon and I Love Pho to name a few..
There are three Beyond Bread locations and many Baggins.

spirobulldog

Yes, I had thought I might get a picnic item or two from AJ's or just eat there. Looks like a kicked up Whole Foods or something like that(probably smaller). Reminds me of Eatzi's in Dallas.

I was thinking of doing the night program at Kitt. I will think about Mt. Lemmon too

spirobulldog

Interesting, The Mount Lemmon Night Sky does look good. I wonder how I overlooked that during my searching for things to do.

WhereAreWe

"You can do ASDM, Saguaro National Park west, and the mission easily in one day. Kartchner, SNP east, and Sabino Canyon easily in a day."

That depends on what you mean by "do". Saguaro east is pretty big, if you go on a long hike there's no way you can expect to do any of the other things in the same day.

MikePinTucson

Naturally, if you plan on doing a 4 or 5 hour hike, there are less other things to see and do.

Kartchner -- 1 hour drive +/-, 2-3 hours there.

SNP east, 45 minutes from Kartchner, a leisurely drive around the loop road, with lots of stops, maybe 1 1/2 hours, probably less.

Sabino Canyon -- hike to 7 falls, 3 hours max, with plenty of time at the falls.

A full day, yes, but easily doable.

Shanti

Oops! You're right. It is Rocco's. And it is good. Thanks for catching that


I enjoyed the Mount Lemmon Night Sky program. Just bring warm clothes. It will get gokd at night in March

spirobulldog

I was debating about what to do in Saguaro East and Saguaro West. I know I want to do Cactus Drive Loop (how long to allow for this?) Any "Must Do" hikes at either?
I think 1 to 1.5 hours at Farmers Market will be enough???

Here is my Itin.

There is no Daylight Savings Time in Arizona-
Time change for 2013 is on Sun March 10th
Sunrise is around 6:30AM and Sunset is around 6:30PM

Thurs April 3
6:25PM Arrive TUS
Overnight @ Hacienda Del Sol??? or ???

Fri April 4
7:00 Breakfast @ AJ’S Purveyor of Fine Foods (opens @ 6:00) (buy snacks for hike here too) Deli/Grocery
8:00 Sabino Canyon Hike up to Seven Falls
This is a 7 mile hike but is rated easy Allow 3-5 hours
Shoes could get wet Sabino honors National Park Passes
12:30 Lunch @ Scordato’s Pizzeria
2:00 Drive to Mount Lemmon Observatory—This is a very scenic drive
4:00-9:00 Mount Lemmon Night Sky—includes a box lunch of some sort

Sat April 5
8:00 Breakfast @ Blue Willow??
9:00Arizona Sonora Desert Museum open 7:30-5:00(this is like a different zoo experience -not really a museum)
10:00 Raptor Flight --11:00 Running Wild--12:15 Live and on the Loose—Snakes
1:00 Lunch @ Ocotillo Café in the Museum Open 11:30-3:00
2:00 Raptor Flight
Saguaro West-Drive Bajada Loop—Signal Hill and Cactus Garden
Gates Pass @ Sunset Probably be there at 5:45 or so??
7:30 Dinner @ Vivace Restaurant

Sun April 6
9:00- 10:00 St. Phillips Farmers Market will snack our way thru here about 2 miles from Hotel
Dr. Hummus and Planet of the Crepes both look good --Coffee Barista here too
10:15 Drive to Kartchner
11:30-1:00 Kartchners Caverns Tour Time @ 11:40
2:00 Beyond Bread for Lunch
Eegee’s - one of a kind unique slushie drink found only in Tucson
3:00 Saguaro National Park (eastern area AKA Rincon Mnts)—
Cactus Forest Drive—Stop at Visitor Center—not really that much to do here
6:30 Dinner @ Tucson Tamale CO.
7:30 Frost Gelato—

Mon April 7
8:30 Breakfast @ Cup Café in Hotel Congress
10:30 Tour @ Mission San Xavier del Bac -- Tour Lasts about 45 Minutes
Get Gas for car near airport
Noon-- Lunch @ Baggin’s Gourmet (very close to airport)
1:00 Turn car in/ Airport
2:30 Depart TUS

spirobulldog

I know that Vivace and Scordato's is operated by the same company. Neither is open on Sunday or I would do things differently. They both look good to me, so I'm hell bent on eating there for some reason.

Not sure if I want to stay at Hacienda or somewhere like Hampton Inn or where.

spirobulldog

I'm going to go ahead and get my air as soon as it becomes available in a couple of weeks. I have AA points and SW points I could use. I can about guarantee AA will not have any low mileage awards. I hate my AA rewards and when I've used them all I'm done with them.