Tucson on Business
 

Hello. I will be in Tucson on business next week. I would like to book a couple of day spa appointments. Miraval has no availability. Can any one recommend a good alternative?
Also, since I will have some free time in the evenings, may I have your suggestions for shopping trips and restaurants? Thank you.

I have just received notice I will be staying at the Westin La Paloma which includes a spa. Any comments on particular services there?
Will I need a rental car to shop or dine out? I plan on renting one at least for a day to get out to the desert areas.

Hi cmcfong !

Yes, you will need a car if you want to do any dining/shopping/exploring
as the Westin is up in a beautiful foothill location along Skyline Drive.
I cannot speak to it's spa experience.
Have you looked in to Canyon Ranch ?

May I recommend 2 of my favorite places
in Tucson for desert exploring ?
One is Sabino Canyon, good for an early morning hike this time of year. The other is the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
www.desertmuseum.org
which is not to be missed ! I am a native Tucsonian and quite biased about this place, LOL ! Again, go early, (my Dad says it's to be 107 today) or if your stay includes a Saturday eve-
they are open then as well in the summer.

You might also seek out MikePinTucson
over at TTG as he is a very knowledgeable current resident and I only get there 2-3 times a year.

R5

Thank you so much, RazzleDazzle. I read with no small horror your posts on flights on USAIR to Tucson....so I booked Delta!
I appreciate your suggestions so much and will get a rental car.
I have checked out Mike's blog and his posts. He is a good travel resource.

Thanks for your help!

I believe the Westin La Paloma has the Red Door i.e. Elizabeth Arden as their spa.

I can't comment on La Paloma's spa, but the rooms, restaurants, pool, and golf course are superb. If the spa is in keeping with their standard in general, you should have a good experience.

Second the vote on Sabino Canyon, very enjoyable.

Hi cmcfong!

I attended a conference at the Westin LaPaloma mid-90s, then stayed there with DH and kids in July '99. At the time i thought it was nicer than some of the other similar resorts in scottsdale.
At the conference many of our group were thrilled with the spa; i being a roadtripper at heart did the site-seeing option:) (we have great spas at home)

Not sure if you're into it but their pools are great, with fountains and slide.

I also highly reccomend the Arizona Desert Museum that we finally saw last july ('06). Best seen in the am due to the heat but i remember they offered evening hours on selected days in the summer.
A drive through one section of Saguaro National Park would be fun; we prefer the western side of the park.

Thanks for the kind words about my blog. Sorry I can't help you with spa information.

For steaks, El Corral and Pinnacle Peak are two good, western-style steakhouses. For upscale, Mc Mahon's, on North Swan Road, is excellent. Bob Mc Mahon also has several other restaurants, and they are all very good quality.

http://www.metrorestaurants.com/

Another local chain, Fox Restaurant Concepts, also has very good restaurants, although I was not that taken with Montana Avenue.

http://www.foxrestaurantconcepts.com/

For Mexican restaurants, definitely try El Charro or Cafe Poca Cosa (I am more partial to El Charro).

For Italian, my favorite one opened in a new location in April. Mona Lisa/corleone is now located on East Tanque Verde Road, just west of Kolb Rd. It is hard to find, located in the back of a small mall, but definitely worthwhile

http://www.monalisasicilianrestaurant.com/

For shopping, the upscale La Encantada Mall is on Skyline Drive at Campbell. Old Town Artisans, in downtown tucson, has lot of artsy-craftsy things. there is also a restaurant there that used to be good for lunch, but I haven't eaten there in a while.

http://www.oldtownartisans.com/

Wow, you guys are great. I went out for my evening yoga session and came home to find all this great information. Ellen, I will take your suggestion and hit the museum. Red Door is running a summer special, so I will check it out for everyone, thanks, historytraveler. Two votes for Sabino Canyon, thanks stumpworks. A special thank you to Mike. You are such a great resource. I lurk on TTG and have seen many helpful posts from you. Delighted to have the personal attention.
Thanks, y'all!

Hope you have a good time cmcfong, even tho its for work, and please report back.

A little note to MikePinTucson, since i haven't yet finished last years out west road (#10) trip report :-<

Mike, thx for all your reccos last summer; we stayed at Westward Look Resort for two nights and it was perfect. It was just the right size; at many of my company conferences in the mega resorts, i'm stuck in a casida 100 miles away from the action! And i didn't see one suit, my major issue on vaca as i don't wanna even <i>think</i> of work! Loved the cactus and herb gardens and the running path was perfect each morning. Also close enough to the attractions we visited.

Regarding Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse ~ i read about it on Trip Advisor and we attempted to go for lunch. Maybe it was the time of day but there wasn't a soul there other than the hostess/waitress and cook. Our kids were a bit uncomfy (so were we) so we left and found Molina's Midway for mexican.
Again, it was likely the time of day and the East side of Saquaro NP closed for highway refurbs. We took a peak out the 'full length' (?) window inside and didn't see any wildlife that had been promised on Trip Advisor. Must have been catching some zzzzz's due to the heat.

However, if you give it a thumbs up, it must be good for dinner b/c everything else you suggested was right on. Thanks again, mike.

Here are a few of my favorite restaurnats. They're all within a 10/15 min. drive of La Paloma.

Bistro Zin
Wildflower
Flemings (your best steak option)
North in La Encanta
La Travalino ( I may not have the name right but ths is a great Italian resturant run by a young couple. It has been very popular wih locals. It's in a shopping mall ( yes, I know, but it's still worth a visit) at Oracle and Sunrise?

There are two noteworthy restaurants in St. Phillip's Plaza.

Vivace

Sorry can't recall the other, but it begins with an A. Only ate there once but it was good.

Okay, it's La Encantada. Good shopping and North. There are several other restaurants there, but only have personal experience with North.

Oh yes, El Charro for Mexican food !
((Y))
I have to part ways with Mike on his reco for El Corral-sooooo busy and I thought the meat was not very good quality-so I would have to vote for
Pinnacle Peak in Trail Dust town out on Tanque Verde-
but be sure everyone in your group wears
a cheap, very cheap, tie
right , Mike ?
:S-

R5

Absolutely, ya gotta wear a cheap tie to Pinnacle Peak. they make a bid to-do about cutting it off, with all of the servers ringing cowbells. Great fun.

Sorry to hear about the not-so-good steak at El Corral. We have always been big fans of OK corral, but last weekend the steaks were not good there either. Hopefully, just a bad night.

Ellen, last Summer, from May to September, the loop road in Saguanro National Park East was closed for refurbishing. It is now better than ever, with more scenic overlooks and more displays about our Sonoran desert.

Regarding Pinnacle Peak, I didn't know it was even open for lunch. We have only gone for dinner. In Trail Dust Town, where Pinnacle Peak is located, a great place for lunch is Dakota Cafe.

HistoryTraveler,

Are you thinking about Tavolino, the Italian restaurant at Oracle and Ina? that is a very good one. we just don't get to that side of town too often.

I am taking all your recommendations with me. The drive sounds great, Mike. I definitely plan to rent a car and check out the area.

Mike,

You're right it is Tavalino.Have only been away less than 2 years and still have a problem remembering streets.Of course, Ina turns into Sunrise as you head east.

We use to live about a mile west and a wee bit north of La Paloma so that's why all my restaurants rec's are in that area.