Tucson’s hot summers and mild winters, when daytime temperatures range from 64 F to 75 F, plus higher elevation at 2,400 feet, make it slightly cooler and wetter than Phoenix. The best time to visit is probably the spring, unless you like it hot. Average rainfall is around 11.8 inches per year. The rain tends to evaporate, which is why it is considered a desert climate even though there is substantial rain.
Whichever season you choose, vacationers will find plenty of festivals and fairs to keep them entertained, such as the annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, held each winter for more than 50 years, the Tucson Festival of Books (March) and the Tucson Rodeo (February).
Region: Arizona
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Set on 14 acres of lushly landscaped grounds, this hotel features a heated outdoor pool and whirlpool, a 24-hour fitness center, three tennis courts and more.
Tucson was originally visited by Paleo-Indians more than 12,000 years ago. Recent archaeological excavations near the Santa Cruz River unearthed a village dating back to 2100 BC. Since water was unusually plentiful in this desert region, it became a major agricultural center, travel route and northernmost Spanish outpost.
The University of Arizona in Tucson allowed female students to study medicine, decades before this became common practice. I Dream of Tucson… Barbara Eden, the star of the popular television series, I Dream of Genie, was born here in 1931.
Prairie dogs are not dogs at all, but small mammals that look a lot like squirrels. Tucson possesses the third cleanest air in all the United States, according to the American Lung Association.
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