Thinking of taking a vacation filled with a mix of outdoor adventure and relaxation? Then consider Tucson, Arizona, the ultimate destination for health and wellness travel. Whether you are taking a staycation and exploring your home territory or coming from overseas, there are plenty of active and rejuvenating things for you to do that will benefit you physically and mentally.
Natural Excursions
Tohono Chul Park offers something for every interest. Be physically active by walking one of the discovery trails or exploring one of the seven botanical gardens. Tohono also offers a sit-down brunch at the tea house, art exhibits, concerts and gardening or photography workshops. You will fall in love with nature and get your blood pumping when you visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. This attraction epitomizes biodiversity. You have the chance to see 300 types of animals and 1,200 types of plants along its two miles worth of walking trails. The Outdoor Museum is also a popular site for birdwatchers.
Hiking Trails
Get a good workout and go hiking amidst intriguing surroundings. Arizona offers diverse hiking options from mountainous landscapes and canyons to urban and relaxing trails. One of the inner-city hiking options is the Santa Cruz River Park Trail where can you enjoy a leisurely stroll along the Santa Cruz River. You may walk the same path as Juan Bautista as the trail encompasses a portion of the Anza National Historic trek. The Catalina Mountains, just north of Tucson, offers a range of skill-level hikes from the comfortable Mt. Lemmon Meadow Loop to the demanding Ventana Canyon six-mile Trail. You will see stunning views from the top of Mount Lemmon, 9,000 feet above sea level. Avid hikers can spend their whole holiday hiking, as there are four other mountain ranges to conquer surrounding Tucson.
Adventure
Return to Mt. Lemmon for a chance to go rock climbing with over 1,200 course choices. Go bouldering just outside the city at the Beehive, Tortolitas, Silver or Red Boulders. If you don't want to defy gravity alone, the Southwest Trekking Company will expertly guide you on these climbing courses. Bicycling Magazine considers Tucson as one of the best cities for cyclers in the country as it offers a wealth of street and mountain biking possibilities. For the most adventurous and skilled is Tucson area's most challenging ride, La Milagrosa. It is a trail where bikers test their technique and endurance, ride up and down steep inclines, plunge down drops and maneuver rock obstacles while enjoying mountain and canyon landscapes.
Voluntourism
Experience Tucson culture while being active and helping others through volunteering. Pack food boxes and harvest organic vegetables for those in need with Tucson's Community Food Bank. Plant flowers and clean up the grounds at the Tucson Botanical Gardens. Build a home for a special family with Habitat for Humanity Tucson. The possibilities for showing compassion on your travels are endless.
Relaxation
If your travel objective is to experience complete rejuvenation, then Tucson's Canyon Ranch and Miravel spas are the places to retreat. You can meditate, receive healing massages, eat healthy food, drum, perform yoga, practice mindfulness and awaken your spirit at these world-class sanctuaries.
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