If you are looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of life, Tucson, Arizona, is the perfect peaceful vacation spot. The city’s fall and winter weather are ideal for sightseeing. The town offers relaxing resorts, beautiful scenery, mountain views, national parks, and rich Native American History and culture. My October/November 2021 trip to Tucson, Arizona, was refreshing and relaxing. Tour with me as I travel to Tucson.

The stay at Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa was a relaxing and tranquil experience. The Mountain views are breathtaking. Each suite has a private balcony perfect for an intimate breakfast or a nightcap overlooking the mountains and stars. The resort has many amenities you can access. The elegant ballrooms are perfect for a destination wedding. In addition, the jacuzzi, swimming pools, waterfall, spa, golf course, and tennis court are available. A spa day was essential to complete my R&R, with my first night ending in front of the firepit.

I visited the San Xavier Indian Reservation on my first day in Tucson. This reservation is a National Historic Landmark located in the Sonoran Desert and is owned by the Tohono O’odham Indian Tribe. This tribe is known for its delicious red chili pepper recipes. They have several recipe books for sale in their gift shop. The beautiful San Xavier del Bac Mission church is located on the reservation. The church was built in 1797. The temple’s exterior is currently under renovation, and the mass services are still in progress.

San Xavier Plaza Arts, Crafts, and Snack Shop is adjacent to the church. Vendors inside the courtyard sell their hand-crafted earrings, bracelets, facemasks, rings, and other artifacts. A bronze brass coyote is located in front of Coyote Kitchen and Gift Shop. The café menu has three items: Sweet or Plain Popover $4, Indian Taco $8, and Popover $7. Another gift shop is located next door to the church. Grotto Hill is east of San Xavier del Bac church. A white cross is placed at the top peak of the mountain hill. The mountain is open for hiking and visiting the cross. A tomb is also displayed at the foot of the mountains.

My next stop was Saguaro National Park. The park is located in the southeastern part of Tucson in the Sonoran Desert. If you enjoy nature walks, hiking, driving, or biking up the Rincon mountains, this national park is perfect for you. A designated picnic area for visitors amid the mountains. Watch out for wildlife. The owls, red-tail hawks, white-winged doves, hummingbirds, wasp, bees, butterflies, Gila woodpeckers, rattlesnakes, and other animals.

If you don’t want to eat at the resort, you can enjoy a delectable dining experience in Tucson. My three favorite restaurants while in Tucson were Ken’s Hardwood BBQ restaurant. The ribs were meaty and tender. The meat fell off the bones. The collard greens were seasoned to taste, and the sliced cornbread made the meal complete. I had the opportunity to taste my son’s loaded fries.

My second favorite restaurant was Blanco Tacos and Tequila. This was my first dining experience at the chain restaurant. The ambiance is laidback and sporty with a casual atmosphere. I ordered Mahi-Mahi Fish tacos. The order came with three soft tacos loaded with veggies, a side of rice, and black beans. The taste was slightly fishy, but the taste was delicious and cooked to perfection.

The third Restaurant is El Corral Tucson Steakhouse. The outside of the restaurant looks like it could have been erected in the 1900s during the western movies. The restaurant is surrounded by cactuses, trees, and a cowboy and horse made of stone. The inside of the restaurant has a headless mannequin which is quite creepy. The menu is a la carte, making the prices a little expensive. My ribeye steak was cooked and seasoned well. The steak was a nice size for the price.

My overall visit was chilled and relaxing. I’m looking forward to revisiting the state of Arizona.