Tucson, Ariz., is steeped in history and human culture that dates back 10,000 years. Although it is the second-largest city in Arizona, it maintains a small-town vibe while offering all the amenities of a larger destination. The weather in southern Arizona is a major draw, especially for groups with attendees from colder climates. Tucson has more than 300 days of sunshine annually. Combine all that sunshine with a multitude of outdoor activities and adventures, and you’ve got the ideal location to meet and recreate.
As the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the United States, Tucson has a food scene that dates back hundreds of years. To this day, chefs are creating culinary masterpieces using the same ingredients indigenous to the Sonoran Desert that were used back then. An excellent way to discover these historical flavors is a trip to the Mission Gardens, where native foods are preserved and cultivated for use. Meeting attendees can enjoy a private cooking class utilizing these heritage foods within the Mission Garden.
Dark Sky City: The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Tucson is a special astronomy city, thanks to its very dry, dark sky, surrounding mountains, and more than 300 cloudless days annually. Light pollution restrictions throughout the city ensure the night sky is very visible. Groups can take advantage of this with stargazing events as their opening receptions.
Tucson is a year-round outdoor mecca. The city of Tucson is situated among Saguaro National Park, home to millions of giant cacti. The National Park (West or East) is a great introduction to the Sonoran Desert and has a wide variety of native plants and animals. Groups can take advantage of the park and hire a naturalist to lead a guided hike. Another fun way to experience the desert is with open-air Jeep tours that take your group on a fun and informative ride. For the more adventurous groups, rock climbing lessons will get the adrenaline flowing, and the sense of accomplishment felt will stay with each attendee long after the experience is over.
Tucson boasts a lively walkable downtown with more than 600 new hotel rooms in its downtown and university districts. These two areas connect via a modern streetcar, making downtown Tucson a favorite for those groups who prefer dining options right outside their door. These new hotel options are a perfect complement to the Tucson Convention Center, which has more than 233,000 square feet of meeting space and three performance venues.
While downtown, make a stop in Barrio Viejo, one of Tucson’s oldest neighborhoods, and stroll streets filled with colorful historic adobe homes, steeped in history. This amazing “destination within a destination” is scheduled to receive a National Historic Landmark designation. Groups can enjoy world-class meal in a cozy enclosed courtyard of a 150-year-old adobe home, or try their hand at the art of glassblowing at the Sonoran glass school.
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Mary Meade is a passionate Tucson advocate for meetings, who has dedicated her career to sharing what makes Tucson so special with meeting planners. She fell in love with Tucson more than 30 years ago and never left. 520-271-4096 | mmeade@visittucson.org
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