Hi,
My husband and I will be arriving in Tucson this Fri am, and will be leaving on Monday pm. Are there any dinner restaurants that have great views? the food should be tasty but does not have to be the best of the best. Also, what are the top attractions in Tucson? We are hiking type of people...I know this is last minute, but maybe someone has a good idea.
Thanks!
Kirsten

Sabino Canyon & either of the Saguaro National Monuments for hiking. Either on-line or in person visit the Summit Hut for more maps-
www.summithut.com
Be sure to put the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum in your schedule, it's
a must see ! It's much more of a animal habitat than Museum.
www.desertmuseum.org
Dining with a view-Terra Cotta up on Sunrise!
R5

Another restaurant possibility is Anthony's.

There are trails all along the Catalina's. As suggested visit the Summit Hut for maps or ask at your hotel.

I agree with both. If you just do one hike, I would recommend Sabino Canyon, and I think Anthony's would have the best views. But you can, I think, eat on the patio at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, which also gives great views.

Other things around Tucson are Kartchner Caverns, less than an hour's drive. By the way, you didn't mention where you are staying.

Also, the Biosphere 2 is interesting, even if it has gotten some bad raps.

If you do visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum ( which I also consider a "must see"), for some hokey "old west", you could stop at Old Tucson, which is on the way to the museum.

For hiking, second (or is third) Sabino Canyon and Saguaro Nat'l Monumnet (there are some petroglyphs here, and the film at the visitor center is very good, about the Native American's relationship to the saguaro). The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a total must. The Tohono Chul botanical gardens and tearoom are nice, although not as much of a must-see. Maybe you need to be a cave fanatic to enjoy Kartchner Caverns--I wasn't thrilled with it. I preferred San Xavier del Bac, an old cathedral also known as the White Dove of the Desert; this is about 30 min outside Tucson.
Have fun!

We just came back from a nice weekend in Tombstone and Tucson. Loved Tombstone, we have young boys that loved the stage coach ride, and all of the cowboys walking around. We just had a half day in Tucson so we went to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and i have to say that I was a little apprehensive even visiting because we are from Vegas and I'm not a big "desert" fan as it is...but it was wonderful. First, the drive over the mountain was terrific, the sagauro (spell?) cactus are beautiful!! The desert museum was a delight, almost every turn they had "live interpretations" with animals, minerals,plants. It was great, so I highly suggest visiting if you can.

How could I have forgotten the White Dove? Lovely.

I have done both tours in Kartchner Caverns

http://www.pr.state.az.us/Parks/parkhtml/kartchner.html

but I liked the Rotunda/Throne Room best. They do also have hiking trainls right at the caverns, although there are not may trees for shade. If you do go to Kartchner, a good day trip would be to Kartchner, then to Tombstone. Coming back to Tucson in the afternoon, you could take the Vail exit off I-10 and come back to town on Old Spanish Trail. If you are early enough, you could enter Saguaro National Park East and take the loop road. About 3/4 of the way around (it is 9 miles) there is a big rock formation. Climbing up to the top gives you a wonderful sunset view. Just outside the park is Saguaro Corners restaurant. Food is not great, but they have big windows where you can look out at the wildlife they encourage to visit.

Too bad you have only a couple of days here. There is a lot to see, very close, and you can't go wrong with any of the suggestions that were posted here.

Hi,
Thanks for everybody's help on Tucson trip. I know it's a short trip, but we will come back in spring for a longer stay. By the way, we will be at the Omni Tucson. Thanks again!
Kirsten