I will be staying at Westward Look Resort and taking classes during the day at the International Wedding Institute located at the resort. I'd like to know if anyone has stayed there before. Also some suggestions on restaurants to eat at and things to do like taking a jeep tour, going to a dude ranch, and things to do at night. I am going August 2 - Aug. 22. I know it will be hot. If anyone could help me I'd appreciate it.
P.S. The institute if for Wedding photographers.

Patty

There is a very interesting desert museum outside Tuscon which you might enjoy if you can go very early in the AM before it gets miserably hot.We spent a few days at a ranch called Rancho
De La Osa-it has the oldest adobe bldgs in the US dating back to spanish land grants.It is a fun place with good food and charming owners(Rich and Victoria).It is located opposite
a hugh preserve for hiking and bird watching.Additionally a historic mission at Tumacocori is worth a visit.Had a good meal in a mex.restaurant in a marriott (?) behind the art museum.This is much better than it sounds!Have fun and try to stay cool-Phoenix isn't that far by car and the museum on Central Ave has great kachinas(donated by the Goldwater family)

Hello from Tucson! Yep, it will be hot. I have stayed at the Westward Look and it is lovely. They have a very nice restaurant, The Gold Room. They also have a nice lounge with music/dancing.
Things to do: Desert Museum is wonderful, but do go early. Don't miss the Hummingbird exhibit when there. If it were winter there are a lot of places I would suggest, like hiking in Catalina State Park, Saguaro National Monument, Sabino Canyon. You could still do these places early in the a.m., or in the evening. Also, Mt. Lemmon is only about an hour's drive from Tucson and all of a sudden you'll feel like you're in Colorado - cool, with lots of pine trees. There is a great cafe at the top (Summerhaven) with some of the best homemade pie I've ever had.
Restaurants: Vivace (Northern Italian) on Grant and Swan; Pastiche on Campbell and Fort Lowell; Wildflowers on N. Oracle; the Tea Room at Tohono Chul, which is out near your hotel; there are all kinds of great Mexican restaurants, especially in S. Tucson. Mi Nidito is very good. Other recommendations: Firecracker, Cottonwood Cafe, Fuego.
Day trips I would suggest would be to Bisbee, Tombstone, Nogales, Mexico, Tubac. I just don't care for Phoenix.
To stay cool, there is an interesting Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona, shopping at Old Town Aritsans down by the Art Museum, and for a mall, Foothills Mall is nice and it's near where you're staying.
Think I'm going on too long. E-mail me if you have more questions.

Me again...how could I forget? Enjoy the sunsets! They are very beautiful here.

About an hour and a half west of Tucson is Kitt Peak National Observatory. They have an evening star gazing program that's very interesting and educational. It's a bit expensive ($25 or $35, $100 for a family, including a box dinner), but definitely unique. Reservations are needed, and they do fill up fast.

For a very nice drive and absolutely gorgeous museum with Indian artifacts, go south of Tucson to the Dragoon area(close to Wilcox)and see The Amerind Foundation Museum...beautiful building in a picturesque area.