This city in the Sonoran Desert attracts visitors hoping to enjoy its impressive 350 days of sun each year. Tucson's picturesque surroundings include the basalt hill known as Sentinel Peak, from which the name Tucson was derived, as well as many of the iconic saguaro cacti — both in and out of the nearby national park named for them. Outdoor lovers flock to the park to hike, bike, and admire the scenery, as well as to Sabino Canyon and Mount Lemmon. Northern Tucson suburbs like Oro Valley and Catalina Foothills boast world-class golf courses and tend to make great bases for visitors.

Tucson International Airport (TUS) offers 50 flights each day to destinations around the country and a few outside of it, making it a pretty easy place to get to. Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), 90 minutes north of Tucson, has even more international arrivals, and both offer plenty of car rental options. Amtrak trains run through the city as well, connecting it to places like Los Angeles and New Orleans. Flying directly into Tucson makes forgoing a car a possibility, using public transportation like the streetcar, cabs, rideshares, and bike shares instead. However, for visitors staying outside the downtown core or hoping to see the desert scenery, a private vehicle remains the best option.

Tucson stakes its reputation on the year-round sunshine, which rarely lets visitors down. The hot summers — with temperatures consistently topping out at over 100 degrees Fahrenheit — does come with the occasional late-summer storm. But when even the nights stay fairly warm (low temperatures average above 70 degrees in summer), a little rain is a relief. Fall and spring tend to be sunny with warm days and nights, while winters stay fairly mild, with temperatures that only occasionally dip below freezing and daytime highs that still average around 70 degrees. More than anything, the important thing to remember about Tucson’s climate is the intense sun — which means packing plenty of sunscreen and sunglasses.

Saguaro National Park

More than 100 miles of hiking trails snake around the two sections of Saguaro National Park, which straddles the city of Tucson. The Rincon Mountain District, to the east, sits in the high, wet landscape called “sky islands” and features tons of wildlife. To the west of town, the Tucson Mountain District includes the Signal Hill Petroglyphs and shows off large stands of the iconic cactus from which the park takes its name.

Catalina Foothills

Edging up against the Santa Catalina Mountains, this northern suburb gives visitors easy access to the Coronado National Forest and Catalina State Park, both quite popular for hiking, biking, birding, and horseback riding. The neighborhood also plays host to many of the area’s luxury tourist amenities like spas and golf courses.

Sabino Canyon Recreation Area

This canyon has been closed to private vehicles for decades. However, if you want to check out Sabino Canyon’s steep cliffs, desert vegetation, and (from afar) desert creatures such as Gila Monsters and bobcats, you can ride in a free, open-air Sabino Canyon or Bear Canyon shuttles (or bike after 5pm).