This is one of my favorite local markets. I always go here to get unique gifts for the holidays…read more They also have amazing food trucks during the market. If you happen to be in the area please don't miss it!

So happy that I got to attend this food and craft festival on this gorgeous 80 degree December day…read morehere in Tucson. I love going to these types of events. All the food trucks and stalls are in a different area. Communal tables are set up as well. The lines are long but worth the wait. We got to try a Mexican hot dog with Frito chips on top, killer coffee and a Taiwanese fried chicken cutlet. This was the perfect place for me to buy some souvenirs to bring back. And of course I got some goodies for myself. My son got a small tub of homemade salsa. Tons of booths to explore. I highly recommend. Make sure to wear tons of sunscreen.

Scratched, time-worn religious sculptures stand within the shade of the Congress Street Bridge,…read moreforming a lovely, peaceful sculpture garden. Quite miraculously, they've survived decades of floods, droughts, and vandalism. They exist because during World War I, a man named Felix Lucero lay seriously injured on a battlefield in France. Wounded and in agony, he proposed a deal with God: If he survived, he'd use his natural skills as a sculptor to create religious statues. After returning home from the war, Lucero set about making good on his word. In the late 1930s, he lived in Tucson, Arizona, in a shack beneath a bridge. From there, he began creating beautiful works of art. While in Tucson, Lucero spent years crafting detailed statues of religious figures out of sand and debris from the Santa Cruz River, which he then slathered in a protective coat of plaster. He created iconic Biblical scenes, including the Last Supper, Joseph and Mary, and Jesus on the crucifix. Though Lucero died in 1951, his work is still standing--which is amazing, considering the statues weren't built from lasting materials and have faced frequent vandalism over the years. Many are damaged, but they still stand tall. Dedicated locals have worked to salvage and repair the sculptures after each vandalism incident, and in the 1980s moved them to form this sculpture garden near the very bridge Lucero once lived beneath.

Really cool place! I've never seen anything like it. Lovely to reflect on the life of Jesus here…read moreand see amazing sculpture art.

If you've read my Spruce Street Suspension Bridge review, you'd already know my partner is an urban…read moreplanner/transit advocate. Whenever we go somewhere new, we always check out that city's metro system or unique infrastructures. He wasn't with me on this trip so I decided to surprise him with a tale of my adventures to the Rattlesnake Bridge (this bridge has a rattlesnake tail...yes I sent him the picture to accompany the tale). I found this spot on Yelp and it was an adventure finding it in person. There is no parking next to it, so I had to park at Iron Horse park and walk around until I found an entrance to it. Note: If you're coming from that side, the ramp to the bridge is closer to the main street. I think my favorite part of the bridge was the rattlesnake tail at the end. It's fun to be able to say I've been inside a snake.

This is what happens when true creativity, art and community improvement come together! The…read moreRattlesnake Bridge is a unique, functional piece of art that is as pleasing to look at as it is to use! There's a lot of road construction at his silver fanged head so we started at the back end and walked through, it's pretty cool to be in the belly of a snake!! It's not the best neighborhood area and there are folks that have decided to call the area home so be aware of your surroundings just like anywhere else nowadays! Perhaps the Tucson Art Academy could take an interest and clean it up, after all, it is an artists creation!

It is what it is, we're in the desert folks. Just thought it was funny that there's a category for…read morebeaches :oP

It might have been a little early in the season because there weren't many bats that came out, but…read morethis is a great spot to see them later in the season. I love that the community put a sign with information on Mexican Free-tailed Bats. I also love the quirky bat structure where they're riding a bike! You can get right under the colony by walking the bike path. Gentle reminder- not disturb their home or touch them. View respectfully

Every time I go shopping at the TJ's store on Campbell, I get to see the bats during summer if I'm…read morethere at the right time. It's a sight to see and I usually stand by my car and you should probably be standing in the parking lot too to get a full view of the thousands and thousands of bats that fly out from under the bridge where they nest. The bats are gone now until April or May when the weather is nice and warm at night for them to survive here. I was amazed the first time I saw so many little bats fly in such a short time. It's something special and more people should see this amazing displays of acrobatics the bats put on trying to catch flying insects during summer.

While we were staying in Tucson, we discovered that we were so close to Saguaro National Park…read more(particular the East side), so we decided to come by early in the morning when gates open at 8 am and did the Cactus Forest Drive for 8 hours. Worth it! Saw lots of cacti and got out of the car to take photos close up with the cacti too. While the cacti were more spread out in this location, it was definitely a sight to see! So random how we discovered this place on our roadtrip (as it wasn't even planned)! After completing the drive, the visitor center opened up and we were able to go inside for the gift shop and other learnings. So fun!

April is the perfect time of year to make the jaunt over to Saguaro National Park East for the…read moreCactus Forest Drive. The weather is not yet scorching and the blooming flora is beautiful. My family and I took the 8 mile drive on a Saturday afternoon over a span of about three hours, we stopped at many of the pullouts for a bit of exploring and photography. The entrance cost is $20 for a regular vehicle and an annual pass is $80, pricing varies for large groups and tours. I highly recommend a stop and short climb at Javelina Rock, although we didn't encounter any javelinas, the view was one of our favorites from the drive. The visitor center also has a fun gift shop you shouldn't miss! Can't wait to visit again when I have more time for hiking and exploration.

El Tiradito is a shrine in the Old Barrio neighborhood. El Tiradito means "the castaway," and its…read morethe only Catholic shrine in the United States dedicated to a sinner buried in unconsecrated ground. It is said that the man buried there died fighting for the love of a woman. More like a steamy love affair with his mother in law. Apparently visitors go to this shrine to light a candle for Juan in hope his soul will be freed from purgatory. After all these years of walking over there to light I candle I didn't take the time to read the plaques until now! I always lit a candle in remembrance of a loved one. Either way, this shrine is here to stay! Pay it a visit then head over to El Minuto for lunch.

This was a really quick stop in Bario Viejo. There was a lot to see, but it's a tiny public park…read moreand historical landmark. It's kind of gritty and smelly.

We had a wonderful experience on our Downtown Food Tour with our guide Karen Brown. Karen was very…read moreknowledgeable able the murals and history of the area we were touring. She kept a comfortable pace and was always ready to answer questions. Karen accurately described the food we would be sampling and the vegetarian in our group was well accommodated. She was also knowledgeable about each restaurant's origins and history. Karen's warm and friendly personality definitely insures that I will recommend Tucson Food Tours to all my friends.

Outstanding tour with exceptionally knowledgeable guide. Karen pointed out numerous historical…read morebuildings and gave their unique history along with her personal recommendations and experience. the food selection was diverse and it was like eating around the world different cuisine. I would highly recommend this tour to all my friends and family coming to the are. we were so impressed that it would be fun to take it again.

I was impressed by the number of restaurants and vendors here. This is really a first-class event…read more I thought there would be a couple breweries and a little wine, but there were several distributors there pouring. There was plenty of wine, beer, and a couple cocktails. It's easy to overdo it when you're sampling drinks, so be careful to keep track! A couple of the restaurants had run out of samples before we could get to them, but we still had plenty. They had great live music. Red Door Spa was there as well. My friend got a massage, and I got a five-minute manicure from the girls there. It was really fun. We enjoyed walking through the galleries a little as well. Overall, fun event. The ticket price is pretty high at $50, I wouldn't say you necessarily get your money's worth in small plates and tastings, but it's a fundraiser for the museum and a very nice event.

What do you get when you combine a fabulous space, 150 wines and 24 local restaurants? CRUSH! Oh…read morewait, I missed the live DJ, Orbital Evolution Hoop Troupe and of course the silent auction. CRUSH is one of those events that you look forward to ever year. The Tucson Museum of Art is an incredible space and houses some great art collections in addition to fabulous events throughout the year. CRUSH is all about bringing foodies, wino's and art lovers together to celebrate and support the museum. Getting to taste food from many of our favorite local restaurants and chatting with the chefs is one of my favorite parts of the evening. Chef Janos, Hacienda del Sol, Tavolino, Lodge on the Desert, Primo, Jasper cafe, Abbey, Jax Kitchen, Flemings, Armitage, Paradise Bakery, Tubac Resort and so many more were this year. Looking forward to what next year will bring!

What's good ol' Paul Bunyan doing in Tucson? Is he a snowbird like the rest of the Midwest and East…read moreCoast folk that settle here over the winter months? And what's he doing right in front of a hot rod shop? Maybe he came down here to get some parts for his souped up 1932 Ford Roadster. In any case, I got a kick out of seeing this quirky little bit of Tucson. It's nothing too Earth shattering but if you're in the area it's worth a quick stop.

This is a great old 60's statue that everyone glares at when they pass it. It's been around a long…read moretime. Fun stuff for you dumb road buffs. He has a big axe so watch out commies!