Tucson

Tucson
Tucson is a full-of-go college town where old West meets south of border. It is one of the most culturally revitalizing places on the planet. Residents find the city attractive to live in and outsiders regard it as fun to explore.

It is nestling in flat valley settings with an array of craggy, old shaped mountains around. Tucson is Arizonas second largest city, but has a distinct small-town vibe at the same time. Rich in Hispanic heritage, Spanish slides off most tongues and top-notch Mexican restaurants abound.

Tucson has a well-earned reputation for Mexicans food, and youll be pleasantly surprised by the quality of cooking. The diverse range of shops toting vintage garb, scores of dive bars, pubs and exquisite restaurants dont let you forget Tucson easily.

Tucson is positioned 98 km north of the US-Mexico Border and 188km southeast of Phoenix. As of US Census 2006, the estimate puts the areas population at 518,956. It is the second largest city in US and the largest city in southern Arizona. Tucson is also an important site of the University of Arizona.

There are several communities in the vicinity of Tucson which include Casas Adobes, Catalina, Catalina Foothills, Flowing Wells, Green Valley, Tanque Verde, New Pascua, and Vail. As of climatic conditions, Tucson has two major seasons of summer and winter and three minor seasons of spring, fall and the monsoon.

Summer is characterized by low humidity, clear skies, and daytime high temperatures whereas winters are mild. However, snowfall is quite rare in the region.

The city of Tucson is characterized for possessing a large number of scenic parks including Reid Park Zoo. There are five public golf courses set throughout the region. Numerous points of interest are also stationed nearby, including the Tucson Botanical Gardens, Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon, and Biosphere 2.

The Coronado national forest is an important tourist attraction located 6,700 feet above the city. Summerhaven is also a must-seeing destination. The summer season brings outdoor activities & fun extravaganza for residents as well as tourists alike.

Amongst the well-liked activities are swimming, hiking, birding, rock climbing, picnicking, camping, sky rides at Ski Valley, fishing and touring. The University of Arizona is the home to an internationally recognized swim team which includes summers coming from countries like Africa and Japan.

However, winter season also adds fun to the lives of people. The Tucson Gem & Mineral Show is the largest of its kind in the world. This event is held every year in February for two weeks and features many of the finest mineral specimens. People make the most out of their holidays with skiing or sledding.

The area is a distinct winter haven for cyclists, and was given a gold rating for cycling friendliness from the League of American Bicyclists. The city is the home to the Tour de Tucson which is a popular world known cycling event held each year in November. Tucson also hosts both mountain and road biking in and around the city with popular trail areas including Fantasy Island and Starr Pass.

Tucson has a very strong and eclectic music scene in the area. Some of the famous musical groups include the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, the Arizona Opera Company, the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus, Tucson Girls Chorus, Catalina Chamber Orchestra, Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra and Civic Orchestra of Tucson.

The city also promotes folk and traditional music and Mariachi music is the most influential and popular in the region. The city is home to a notable number of Mariachi singers and musicians. Among other popular genres, are the underground metal, hardcore, punk rock, and hip-hop.

Also, its downtown area is characterized for small but dedicated music scene, concentrating in its heart. The Bled, Golden Boots, The Deludes, The Supersuckers, Calexico, The American Black Lung, Blues and Giant Sand are city-wide popular bands.

Various community radio stations are playing a significant role in providing a platform to the local performers. The Tucson Area Music Awards are held annually.

Today, theater groups in Tucson are known to produce melodramas mostly presenting the contemporary culture and traditions. Some of the groups include the Arizona Theatre Company, the Invisible Theatre, Live Theatre Workshop, Beowulf Alley and the Gaslight Theatre. Moreover, many bands perform at the numerous regional clubs.