Travel Guide: Tucson – by Aemilia Madden

My first official travel guide is here by popular-ish demand. In this ongoing series I’ll be sharing recommendations focused around trips of mine — recent and not so much. Think a mix of cities, hikes, and relaxing escapes. For the first time in my newsletter, part of this series will be for paying subscribers only. If you have any questions or a request for a travel guide, let me know in the comments or via chat.

Thanks for this edition goes out to Nicole who asked for some Tucson recommendations ahead of an upcoming trip! Also, thanks to my jewelry designer friends and my former coworker Kristen Nichols who grew up in Tucson and was so kind to chime in on a few of her favorites too.

In late January I spent a week in the desert for the annual Gem, Mineral, and Fossil show with my mom and sister. We were on a buying trip for my mom’s business, The Petrified Forest, hunting down the best fossils and crystals for the gift shop. It’s work that’s waaaay outside of my usual wheelhouse, but that sense of escapism is part of why it’s so much fun. It was my second year visiting, so this time around I finally felt like I had a grip on the layout of town and the tents that take over every spare parking lot that Tucson has to offer (you can read about last year’s gem shopping with Wwake’s Wing Yau here — in a Freemason temple no less). The city itself is pretty strip-mall heavy, a sprawling flat grid dotted with drive-thrus — but lest you despair, there are plenty of hidden gems to be discovered, no pun intended.

Part of the fun of my visits to Tucson has of course been all the weird and wacky rock enthusiasts I’ve met along the way. If you ever have a reason to attend the gem show, I suggested taking a few days to peruse the tents, do some shopping, and chat with fossil and gem sellers from around the world. But, between my hours hunting for minty green fluorite and speckled ocean jasper, I also found plenty of time to eat, drink, and be merry. All of which we will explore below.

First, a few things to get out of the way:

The Logistics of Visiting Tucson

Being part of the Sonoran desert, Tucson’s climate is fairly dry (the cactuses are thriving). In January and February, the weather is unpredictable — ranging from frosty mornings to toasty afternoons. This time around, we were unlucky enough to experience an afternoon of sleet. That being said, it still gets into the 70s and 80s this time of year and is generally nice and sunny. I’d skip over visiting in the summer when it’s ripping hot, and aim to go some time in the shoulder or cooler months, just plan for the weather to be a bit unpredictable.

Sadly, there are also no direct flights, so the options are either to fly straight to Phoenix and drive into town (I suggest a car anyways), or fly a connecting route. I love small airports — there’s nothing like arriving curbside with no traffic, waltzing through an empty security line, and spending my extra minutes knick-knack shopping at themed airport kiosks — so I went through Atlanta this time around.

Packing For Tucson

I am here to report to you that probably unsurprisingly, Tucson is not a fashion town. For the Gem and Mineral show, my little Away carry on was stuffed with practical layering pieces. Since we started early, I opted for medium-weight outerwear worn together — most days in a sweatshirt (Alex Mill), light down jacket (The Arrivals, RIP), and field coat (also Alex Mill) all at once, to be peeled back as I started to heat up.

When you’re visiting, if like me you’re hoping to get in some nature (highly recommended) you’ll want to wake up at sunrise or before to get a hike in before it’s too sunny to be out, so skip shorts for leggings, thrown on the down jacket, and have a beanie on hand. Even in a carry-on I’ll always make room for a pair of hiking/running shoes so that I can get a little exercise in. It’s also sunny year round, so pack a hat and sunglasses in addition to the SPF, your face will thank you.

My last suggestion: if you’re one to lean into a theme, bring a pair of cowboy boots, you’ll fit right in with the line dancing crowd dressed in un-ironic cowboy hats.

Now onto the fun!

The Maverick is on most evenings a college bar — complete with live music and themed parties. But, on Wednesday and Sunday nights, you can pop by for a few hours of line dancing. It’s silly (though for the regulars, it’s quite serious), and a great way to unwind for the evening — ranch water in hand. This was a recommendation I first picked up from jewelry designer Jean Prounis when I tapped her for a story I was working on for L’Officiel. I’m so glad I added it to my list.

As a former LES resident, I’ve popped into Desert Vintage’s Orchard Street shop before. But visiting the Tucson location is like making a pilgrimage — the original shop was founded in town in 1974. The pieces are not budget-friendly, but you can find beautiful decades-old designer pieces and delicate antiques. I had my eye on this wispy, paper-thin 1930s dress that’s now on sale.

Luckily, jet lag coming from NYC works in my favor. It’s easy to get up early and hop in the car on my way to Sabino. It’s a popular spot for locals and visitors alike, with plenty of trails. The later you start, the more hikers and bikers you can expect to see along the way. Not only is the cactus-studded landscape especially beautiful, you also may have a chance to spot some local wildlife like javelinas, roadrunners, and bobcats. Kristen also suggests Gates Pass for even more hiking!

More recs ahead…