Gridlock and Heat Matter
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3/18/2024
I was reading the reviews for Tucson, and after living there for 6 years, I feel the need to weigh in.
There are many pros in Tucson: access to recreational areas, college town opportunities, free (or nearly free) activities, diverse shopping, outdoor activities (winter), and reasonable cost of living.
There are also cons in Tucson: the very hot summers (that keep you locked up after 9:30 a.m.), the very poor road conditions in many areas of town, the overabundance of roads with lights (that make any commuting unpleasantly slow unless you are on the 1 interstate, the dust, no neighborhood cohesiveness.
I would highly recommend outdoor places like Sabino Canyon, Saguaro NP (East and West), various hikes in and around town, and The Loop recreational trail (it's paved, and great for walking and biking). But I would only recommend these places on winter days, or on summer days only before 9:30 a.m.; otherwise, it's just too hot, and maybe downright dangerous. There are many great places to have breakfast like Bisbee Breakfast Club and LeBuzz coffee shop, but once again, if you want to eat on an outdoor patio, you won't want to do so in the summer after 9:30 a.m. We tried various spots around town for evenings out, but we never found a special go-to place. We just weren't that impressed with what was offered. We were disappointed (but should have expected) that there were no great patios for eating out in the evenings (sunset viewing, etc.). I am sure this is because evenings from June through October are not a great time to be dining outside. Most patios (if they exist at all) are on the east side of the restaurants.
We did love events such as the Festival of Books, the Fall and Spring Markets on 4th Street, and the Gem/Mineral Show. There were free lectures and other activities at the U of A that were educational and insightful.
The Huckleberry Bike Path (aka The Loop) is real treat if you want a place to bike or walk away from traffic. It is well maintained, and it's a great way to get from one area to another by bike. Keep in mind though, that it's open to everyone, so if you are into biking, you must beware that clueless children, pedestrians, skateboarders, novice cyclists, pets, and homeless folks (who sometimes have camps along The Loop) may be wandering around without regard to your safety. Bike defensively.
We found the folks in Tucson to be pleasant and friendly superficially, but we did not find it an easy place to cultivate true friends. (But that was just my experience.)
Anyway, after living in Tucson 6 years, there is much good I can say, but I felt like the reviews failed to mention two significant deficits. 1. The constant gridlock caused by the preponderance of lights on EVERY major road, and 2. The inability to enjoy outdoor activities for 5 1/2 months each year because it is just too hot to be outside after 9:30 a.m. Hope this information helps!
Pamela | Nogales, AZ