I'm packing up my Calexico and Giant Sand and heading to Tucson....aside from stalking Howe Gelb, what should I do there?

start here and they will tell you everything you need to know.

I am however cremating my couch.

Museums: The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. UA Center for Creative Photography. Just wander around and look at all the great murals. Go drive way out at night (I recommend Sells, east of town, because they turn their lights off at night) and see the best stars you've ever seen in your life. Start your trip in the afternoon and see San Xavier Del Bac on the way. Oh yeah, Old Tucson for hokey fun.

I know you're not hurting for Mexican food but Sonoran food is a little different that what you have on the coast, so eat up. El Charro is a favorite, and Bill Clinton ate at Mi Nidito in South Tucson.

Hotel Congress: great place to stay, and a fine bar/club too. There's some interesting little shops and bars nearby along Congress.

don't forget the rattlesnakes and tarantulas and gila monsters!

Get yourself a crappy old guitar at the Chicago Store and then go to an outdoor movie

Also, Eegee's

GEAR!: Excuse me, I'm staying in Tucson and I was wondering which exit...

OLD FELLA: You gonna see those dead planes?!

GEAR!: Zuh???

OLD FELLA: Lots of them planes down there, just sittin'.

GEAR!: Abandoned planes?? I'm there! Thanks, kid! (flips him a nickel)

OLD FELLA: Hey thanks, mister!

I didn't get any pics of them, alas, but it was a sight.

I might be able to make Chakifest, though I have plans all weekend. My friends are flaky motherfuckers so who knows?

i think someone mentioned this musical instrument store before but i was told a good story about the place... apparently the second floor is closed to the public and is filled to the brim with vintage, never been used instruments. long time ago paul mccartney stopped in and offered them tons of money to purchase some of the equipment but they declined.

also, be sure to check out EL MINUTO. they've got tasty food.

other than that, all i did was nap on the comfy couch of wavelab studios, hang out in saguaro national park and spend lots of money at PDQ.

the best thai restaurant in town (so they say; i'm heading there for dinner in a bit) is in the same shopping center as feig's kosher market and deli. awww yeah.

hey jody drop me a line, we should hang out sometime.

How did Jody like living there?

i liked it! the summer heat is no joke though.

Did you ever get bored? You're a big city fool like me. Was there enough to keep your mind stimulated or did you just chill?

i wasn't bored. when there was nothing to do i'd just read a book or watch a dvd or hang out online. which i do in los angeles too; it's not like i go out every night here.

eating some Lucky Wishbone y'LL

any other/recent quickie food suggestions? tacqueria/food truck/etc?

Nico's (several locations)

I've never been (cause of vegetarian) but ppl swear by the Sonoran Dog at El Guero Canelo. Been on the food channel more than once.

yeah i was thinking El Guero Canelo. never had a sonoran dog.
have you (or anyone else) been to Saguaro Nat'l Park? trail recs?

ha fwiw "saguaro national park" is like 4 diff places. super cool, but if you're looking for something to do in a day, I'd recommend the desert museum

google maps app is way confused by the multiple sections of the park. been wanting to check out the desert museum for a long time but I have a nat'l parks pass already so was leaning towards that hmmm. hotels are not cheap there this time of year! scottsdale 2 months ago was much cheaper, I'm surprised by that.

yeah it's high season right now. Go in August and hotels are giving away rooms.

also if yr jonesing for a day hike my #1 advice would be skip saguaro Natnl park and do the Romero Pools trail in Coronado Natnl Forest-- 365 days a year it's certified fresh and this time of year there might be enough snow melt to swim in!!

#pr0tip do it on a full moon w/o flashlights

you MIGHT even encounter a bighorn sheep (via endangered species protection)

that trail sounds cool, even though I uh can't swim. thanks for the info!

well at least you can dip your toes in a cool refreshing pool next to a majestic waterfall after a grueling desert mountain hike

damn az is so rad, fuck the haters

tucson sounds great.

also curious about flagstaff but that might be a little too.. disconnected for me.

flagstaff is dope too, way more like a forgotten Colorado mountain mining town with an olde-timey downtown college vibe.

fun fact: Cecil B DeMile almost started making movies there but ditched it in favor of Hollywood

also: speaking of forgotten mining towns: do not sleep on Bidbee!

and whatever you do, do not waste one second in Tombstone, regardless of how much you love the movie.

Bisbee*

Bisbee has been on my list for while too, will make it there some time soon.
I live near Flagstaff now, it's a nice lil town. Decent size (though if you crave big city life, could become claustrophobic), good mix of long-time locals and transplants, liberal-minded island in sea of conservatism, really friendly people.

oh shit just peeked out my window and it's a winter wonderland out there, the red rocks look so cool w/snow blanket. but after 2 hoursish driving I'll be in tshirt weather. AZ rad, fuck haters.

I'll be in Tucson this weekend!

I've talked to people in Los Angeles about going, and a lot of them tell me it's a shit hole.

I don't care. I want to see as much as the southwest before I leave this region for good.

Plus, it looks cool. I'm into nature stuff.

So far, these are the places I will go to:

1. Sabino Canyon
2. Mt Lemmon
3. Space Museum

I'll be driving (from Los Angeles) and will be staying at the university hotel.

Anything specific to this time of year I should see? Or other must-dos and don'ts? I was just told not to drink and drive because the police are evil about that stuff there. Other tips welcome!

Thank you!

The Desert museum is great: http://www.desertmuseum.org

Get a Mocha shake at Bentley's on Speedway: http://www.bentleyscoffeehouse.com

4th Ave. is somewhat of a trendy vintage shop area but worth checking out.

I am going to Tuscon soon! Tops on list is the desert museum (duh), the titan missile museum, and the airplane graveyard :)

I only have maybe two days, which is bummer but still, Tuscon! Maybe I can fine a crabbit!

I mean find a crabbit. So not gonna fine a crabbit, that would be madness.

Wow, that place is very inexpensive. Might hit it up for brekkie, as well
@Elvis Telecom

Can someone clue me in on 'crabbit'?

ILX's beloved poster Abbottt.

This place is a little far from the city center, but if you're looking for meat/BBQ this is the place to go: http://www.abnerssteakhouse.com

I'll put it in the list, just in case, but ya, I might stick to a smaller radius, except when we go up to Oro Valley.

what are you going to oro valley for?

Maybe I can fine a crabbit!

cannot be done; already finest

GO TO BIOSPHERE 2 TRUST ME ON THIS ONE

PLAY "THE SAFETY DANCE" AND MARCH AROUND WITH CURLY HAIR

Don't touch the popcorn machine.

what are you going to oro valley for?

― ᶓ͠סּᴥ͠סּᶔ ᶓͼ᷆ₓͼ᷇ᶔ (gr8080), Tuesday, October 22, 2013 Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Looking at a map, I guess I won't be in Oro Valley, just by it, as I will be going to Mt Lemmon. For some reason, I thought Mt Lemmon was in Oro Valley. I'll also be going to Sabino Canyon but that is more east.

But yes, it'd be nice to do some hiking in Oro Valley.

p sure i said this upthread but the romero pools hike in catalina state park is super underrated and depending on how much water is flowing probably even better than sabino canyon:

http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=212

you have to drive through oro valley to get there, and the view of mt lemmon and pusch ridge from oro valley is not only the best in tucson, its maybe the prettiest mountain view i've seen in my whole life (especially right before sunset):

http://i.imgur.com/wRzIhCm.jpg

be sure to get mexican food while you're there -- i recommend this place if you want a nice sit-down type place:

http://rigosrestaurant.com/

and if you want a funky casual kind of place with outstanding food, i recommend:

http://www.franksrestaurant.com/

if kitchky retro bars are your thing i highly recommend

http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-shelter-cocktail-lounge-tucson

Nice. I'll definitely go to Rigos, J.D.!

It'll be a good reason to drive out of the university/downtown area.

Do the police really stop people at random over there?

I'm not going to get pished but I also would like to enjoy a beer or two and have the peace of mind that I won't get a DUI.

gr8080, I'll look into Catalina State Park and see if I do one of the trails there or Sabino Canyon.

Thanks everyone!