What To Do With 24 Hours in Tucson

tacos, squash, and a drink — To do in Tucson: Eat at Seis

I wrote a guide for Tucson Foodie about how to get the most out of Tucson if you’re only here for 24 hours. Of course, where to eat is a big part of it. But I also recommend where to stay and fun things to do while you’re here.

The post is split up for 4 different types of travelers. (Kind of like a very short Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book.) So there’s a different 24 hour itinerary depending on whether you’re a Super Foodie, Outdoor Adventurer (looking to hike, mountain bike, etc.), Wellness Seeker (looking for a DIY spa-like experience) or Family with Kids.

hills covered with desert landscape — Gates Pass

Check it out and let me know which itinerary you would choose!

February 13, 2025April 9, 2026

Picacho Peak + Wildflowers

Picacho Peak rising from the fog in the distance

“Picacho Peak is arguably one of the best spots to see blooming wildflowers and cactus in Arizona…”

Picacho Peak in the background of a field of wildflowers — Picacho Peak during wildflower season. Via Picacho Peak State Park.

If you’ve ever driven I-10 from Phoenix to Tucson (or vice versa), it would be hard not to notice the distinctive shape of Picacho Peak rising from the desert floor.

It’s the center of an Arizona state park and a great spot to see spring wildflowers!

Peak Wildflower Season

“…Experience the trails as they wind through a colorful sea of yellow, orange, purple, and red wildflowers.”

–Arizona State Parks

Superbloom

We visited during the 2023 superbloom year, when Picacho Peak was absolutely carpeted in golden poppies and purple lupine!

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June 14, 2024April 9, 2026

A Short Walk in Flagstaff, Arizona

Flagstaff is a great place to take a walk. For one thing, the summer weather is gorgeous! Plus, there’s the Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS), a network of over 56 miles of walking and biking paths throughout town.

Wheeler Park

When we were in Flagstaff recently, I wanted to take Quijote on a short walk before we went to meet up with family. I found a nice little quarter-mile route downtown from Wheeler Park to Heritage Square.

Wheeler Park has a central location with free parking nearby. I recognized the park name from Happenings List events that take place there, like Flagstaff Art in the Park.

I had done a quick search, and it didn’t seem like anything like that was scheduled for that day.

chaotic mural — “Sound of Flight” mural on the side of the Orpheum Theater by Sky Black and Mural Mice.

Unexpected Hullabaloo

But there was. The sidewalks got more crowded the closer we got. The street we planned to turn on to get to the park was completely closed. As we circled around the block, we realized the entire park was fenced off. And so was the parking lot.
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April 4, 2024April 9, 2026

Watch This: Still Standing in Small Town Canada

3 people laughing in a barn loft with dried plants hanging above them — Rogersville, New Brunswick.

“When you grow up in a small town in Newfoundland, you see that people have a sense of humor about hard times. I turned that into a career and hit the road.”

That bit of narration begins, and perfectly encapsulates, the premise of the CBC TV series Still Standing. It’s kind of a mix of travel show, stand-up comedy special, and small town documentary.

Think Corner Gas meets Rick Steves, and you’ll be on the right track.

Brick storefronts in a small town. — Maple Creek, Saskatchewan.

“Now I’m on a mission to find the funny in the places you least expect it – Canada’s struggling small towns. Towns that are against the ropes, but still hanging in there, still laughing in the face of adversity.”

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November 24, 2023April 28, 2026

“Frybread Face:” a Film about Family, Flocks + Defining Yourself

Imagine that you’re 12.

It’s the beginning of summer 1990, and you’re growing up in San Diego. You’ve got a Walkman, a neon green fanny pack, and annual passes to SeaWorld.

Then your mom effectively cancels all your summer plans when she tells you she’ll be sending you to stay at your grandma’s house on a sheep ranch in rural Arizona instead. [Record scratch.]

That’s the beginning of Benny’s story in the film Frybread Face and Me.

Welcome to the Rez

Benny, portrayed by Keir Tallman, is a sweet, Fleetwood-Mac-loving preteen, who marches to the beat of his own drum.

His Aunt Lucy drops him off at the home of his grandmother (played by Sarah Natani, who is a Navajo master weaver in real life, as well as in the movie).
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