Tucson

Tucson, one of the Best Places to Visit in Arizona, experiences more than 340 days of sunshine annually and is bordered by mountains on several sides. The second-largest city in Arizona is an excellent destination to escape the chilly winter weather because daytime highs rarely fall below the mid-60s. Tucson, though, is much more than a breeding ground for snowbirds.

With a strong Hispanic heritage, Tucson, often known as "Old Pueblo," is a hub of historical and cultural attractions as well as a hotspot for people seeking hot, spicy Mexican food north of the border. Tucson was really the first city in the United States to be designated as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy because of its strong food traditions, distinctive cuisine, and long agricultural heritage.

Tucson has a small-town feel despite its constant growth. Neighborhoods with colorful adobe structures and cute stores, like the El Presidio Historic District and the Barrio Histórico, give off the impression that you are in a genuine Mexican village. Meanwhile, Scottsdale and other upscale suburbs of Phoenix may soon be challenged by the high-end eateries and resorts in the Catalina Foothills sector.

And this city is alive with youth thanks to the hip stores and noisy clubs that surround the University of Arizona campus, which is surrounded by palm trees. Tucson hasn't yet engulfed its surrounds, unlike the vast state capital; adjacent mountains and wilderness regions, like Saguaro National Park, provide a genuine flavor of the Sonoran Desert.

Rankings:

• #3 in Best Day Trips from Phoenix
  
• #5 in Best Places to Visit in Arizona
  
• #11 in Best Cheap Honeymoons in the U.S.

Location: Arizona