TravelMuse - Tucson Travel Guide & Vacation Information

Mission San Jose de Tumacacori in Tucson, Arizona.
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Tucson is the second-largest city in the state of Arizona. At an elevation of 2,400 feet, it has slightly cooler temperatures than its desert cousin, Phoenix. It is situated in the biologically diverse Sonoran Desert, and has population of approximately 500,000.

Tucson has always been a crossroads, where European, Native American, Mexican and Asian cultures collide. Until recently, water was relatively plentiful in Tucson, making it an important travel route, an agricultural center and a communications nexus. Tucson's history is ancient, with evidence of human occupation dating back 10,000 years.

The city is a hub for Southwestern and Mexican cuisine. It also boasts a number of excellent parks including Saguaro National Park and Sabino Canyon.

Hollywood's Old West, the backdrop for the gun-slinging of Western icons like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, was often represented by Tucson. The Old Tucson Studios, originally built in 1939, is still an active film, TV and commercial set. There’s even a nostalgia-themed park, with shootouts and corseted can-can dancers.