Tucson, AZ

We recently spent some time in Tempe and got to see firsthand their new light rail system. It got me to thinking about how neat something like that would be in Tucson. I guess the closest thing we have by comparison is the Old Pueblo Trolley and truly that is not really a fair comparison. However, this past weekend my husband and I decided to take the kids downtown for a ride. Amazingly, in all the years I have lived in Tucson, it is something I have never done.

After spending the last ten winters in the frozen tundra of upstate New York, I kind of miss the snow. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a big fan of sub-zero climates, but it’s kind of fun bundling up and heading out for a winter stroll when the weather isn’t so bad. Winter has its charm, so over the holidays my husband, son and I headed up to Summerhaven, Mt. Lemmon to enjoy snow and cooler weather.

Since having kids, I have spent many a days at a variety of parks. I am always trying to rotate where we go so that the kids don’t lose interest. One of the parks on our regular rotation is Riverfront Park. This park is located at 551 W. Lambert Road. It is just east of La Canada on the south side of the street. The park is neatly tucked back off the road, which is nice and different from a lot of parks here in Tucson.

I’m probably the worst golfer in the history of the sport. But, because things were a little hectic this week with various holiday events, I decided to get out and hit a few balls at Trini Alvarez El Rio Municipal Public Golf Course, located at 1400 West Speedway. As soon as I stepped out onto the green, I immediately felt rejuvenated. The well-kept course felt open and wide and the trees there smelled fragrant and alive, which was just the thing to lift my spirits.

When my husband and I heard that JFK Park, located at 3700 S. Mission Road, had a lake, swimming pool, sports fields, multiple playgrounds, and a library, we were there the next day. After all, we had spent the last 10 winters huddled inside next to a heater back in Upstate New York, so it’s still kind of novel for us to be outside longer than 5 minutes in December.

Officially “A” mountain is called Sentinel Peak. It was only in 1915 that enthusiastic fans of the University of Arizona’s football team made there way to the peak of the mountain to party after a victory win. They celebrated by whitewashing a large “A” in red, white and blue at the top of the mountain, and the structure has been kept up ever since. And now, it’s considered almost a Tucson institution.

When we did make it to the end, the falls were beautiful and very much worth the trip. The seven falls trickled out into a sort of pool that several people seemed to be wading in and enjoying, as the water offered cool refreshment. But, since darkness was less than two hours away, we decided not to linger after taking several pictures, and turned back.

At least once a week, I try to take my son out to do something outdoors other than just walking. So, after a particularly restless morning last Thursday, I decided to take him to De Anza Park. This is a place I had passed plenty of times, but never actually stopped to see. The park itself is a small recreational area located at 1000 North Stone Ave. right off Speedway. It offers volleyball nets, a playground, and picnic areas, but what attracted me most was the swing set.

The Oro Valley Farmer’s Market is a great excuse to check out local businesses and experience the cozy feel of a neighborhood market. It is held every Saturday from 8 am until 12 noon during the summer and 9 am until 1 pm during the winter at the Oro Valley Town Hall located at 11000 N. La Canada Drive. There are a variety of stands that sell items from handmade soap to fresh fruits, and vegetables to beef jerky.

Dog shows have a culture unto themselves; normally the only glimpse most people get of them is in seeing the final competition of the day at the biggest shows on television, like Westminster or Eukanuba. But those shows are in New York and California, and traveling can be expensive these days…but luckily, we have a pretty big show right in our own back yard, the Coyote Classic!