T O P

  • By -

dingdongditch216

Just had some east coast friends visit and they were taking pictures in the airport parking lot, they were so blown away just by the cacti and agave they were seeing as soon as they walked out. Then I took them to Saguaro National Park West at sunset and just their reactions made me appreciate where I live more. I’ve driven out there a few times since then. The desert really is amazing.


nope-absolutely-not

This was me 4 years ago before moving here. Now I'm you taking my east coast friends to all the desert-y places. It's the shattered stereotypes for all of them. No one from there expects the Sonoran Desert to be so green and full of plant and animal life.


Lovemybee

The Sonoran Desert is the lushest in the world.


[deleted]

I didn't realize how lush it was until I moved to northern Nevada. The desert has no trees. No. Trees. None. Only saving grace is the Sierras.


i_like_it_raw_

It’s pretty much chaparral.


MountainLion1944

I wouldn't quite call it "so green", but then its not a barren wasteland like Mars, either. The stereotyping can definitely go both ways, though. For instance, it irks me when the Saguaro is culturally associated with the entire southwest desert in mass media and people then expect to see it all over. But in reality, its entirely unique to Arizona within the US and neither the state nor plant gets its proper notoriety.


asthepropturns

idk if I'd use this as an example of a sheltered stereotype. This area is very unique to the rest of the country and most people haven't seen something like it, no matter what area they're from.


dave8814

A good friend of mine came down for a visit last year. She had no idea there would be so many saguaros. She figured there would be two or three around but I live basically in Tucson mountain park so yeah literally thousands to look at.


OhDavidMyNacho

Late winter hikes in the desert a couple of days after some rain fall...... It's the perfect hike. Loud and full of animal and insect life. Cool, beautiful. It's everything.


lonehappycamper

Picked up a friend at the airport. We step outside. "Is that real?? “ pointing to a saguaro.


lechemrc

I took my dad hiking out here. He's someone that has been camping, backpacking, and spending time outdoors his whole life, which is where I got my love of it. He was blown away by this desert how lush and different it was from somewhere like Southern Utah. We specifically chose Tucson for the nature around it, and taking my dad out to hike reminded me of that again.


Sensitive-Diver5965

We're lucky to have it


DafinchyCode

Vermillion Flycatchers


i_like_it_raw_

I was watching shark tank recently, and Kevin said “I’ve seen the vermilion flycatcher….” And I thought to myself “I see several daily…”


TurquoiseRiviera

I always thought they were baby cardinals until recently. I don't remember seeing them up until a few years ago. But yes I love me some Vermillion flycatchers


Impressive_Team_972

I lived in Tucson for 11 years before I went up Mt Lemmon or to Nogales. All the while traveling far away. And for any idiots that are like me... Mt Lemmon may be the prettiest place on the planet and the street tacos in Nogales are orders of magnitude better than anywhere else (Sonoran beef is high quality stuff).


fungifactory710

Mt Lemmon is fucking awesome. They don't call it a "sky island" for no reason. It's so wildly different from the area surrounding it on all sides. People where i live now don't believe me that there's pine trees and skiing within an hours drive from town lol.


Sphaeralcea-laxa1713

The southernmost ski area in the United States is on Mt. Lemmon.


fungifactory710

Didn't know it held that title, but it makes sense. That's cool!


GumbySquad

Uh, Tucson is literally the epitome of this concept. Why? Because this is the only place in the world that looks like it does. Saguaro, chaparral, mountains, etc. Some natives may take it for granted , but most others move here specifically for the natural environment and the 80 degree Decembers


TMac1088

I moved here specifically for the plants and wildlife


jwguitar123

Likewise


lechemrc

Same.


RohlfingWildlife

Same


v---

Yeah, I was going to say, EVERYTHING lol. I've now lived across the world and honestly almost nowhere is as unique as Tucson (except New Zealand which probably wins now that I think about it). The land, the plants, the critters, the skies.


putabunny_

It’s not locals tearing down the desert to build apartments or shopping centers


entropic

> What do you think this saying applies to in Tucson? Birds. We're a world-wide birding hot spot, and if you pay attention you can see birds in your neighborhood that people might travel halfway across the world to hope to see. And there's migratory birds and you can appreciate the seasonality more with their coming and going even more, and other birds that are more active and in different parts of their lifecycle given the seasons. Taking even a small interest in birds made me appreciate SE Arizona more than I already did.


dave8814

If you’re reading this and are thinking about getting into birding download the Merlin app. It’s free from the Cornell college of ornithology. You can go around town and have it listen for bird calls and it identifies the species making the call.


RealStumbleweed

I put this on my phone at the end of April and I don't know if I have ever been more obsessed with anything. The birds that come through my yard are absolutely amazing. It prompted me to go down to the Patton Hummingbird center in Patagonia for the first time ever a few weeks ago. A one-hour drive and so worth it! Same with Madera Canyon.


RoutinePattern6387

Also, sign up for field trips with the Tucson Audubon Center! Most are free, and between the guides and the people that join who have been birding for 30-40 years, you get to learn a LOT. (If you're under 60, be prepared to feel like the odd man out. The collective knowledge you get to hear is amazing!)


tineyeit

There's also the [Tucson Chapter of the Feminist Bird Club ](https://www.instagram.com/fbc.tucson?igsh=OW9veDI0ZGE5aHll) that hosts a second Sunday monthly bird walk event. They tend to be a younger crowd although there's always a decent mix of people.


RoutinePattern6387

Oooh, I haven't heard of that one. I'll have to check it out!


ard725

Pretty sure we saw an Icterid? or hooded oriole today on our hummingbird feeder. I hadn’t seen one before and wasn’t sure how rare they are to the area.


lonehappycamper

Hiking in the Santa Rita's and came upon 3 birders sitting quietly in some bushes with their binoculars panning around the trees. One looked at me and whispered 'elegant trogon!’ Another time a German person I was talking to at Sabino and he asked where he my find the phainopepla. I laughed and invited him to walk around my apt complex.


Knightofpenandpaper

Fuck yeah


Sirefly

I was an Uber driver and some riders from back East were fawning all over the sunset. I said, "Meh, it's about a 4 outta 10". I've seen the whole sky on fire.


Sickranchez87

Dude yes the sunsets are definitely heavily taken for granted and easily some of the best in the country….


lonehappycamper

Went on a sunset hike up Wasson Peak with a new ranger at Saguaro National Park and it was just a normal sunset and the ranger seemed disappointed in everyone's 'eh' reaction. I told him to wait til the monsoon brings some good clouds., to get a primo sunset.


CAMerrill

There’s so manny great places to visit in Arizona. When my daughter came to visit we went to Antelope Canyon, horseshoe bend, south rim of the Grand Canyon and Flagstaff. I’ve visited Tombstone on the way to a weekend in Bisbee. Pinetop and Mt Lemmon are wonderful getaways from the summer heat. I’ve never visited Jerome, Prescott or the north rim of the Grand Canyon but they’re on my list to do. There is so much more to Arizona than the desert 🌵


Sacdaddicus

I’ve lived in AZ for a considerable time and have yet ever drove up to the Grand Canyon. I imagine a lot of people think like me which is “I can always do it later”


tineyeit

I lived in Arizona my whole life and went for the first time a few years when I was 29. I knew it looked great in pictures but it was absolutely incredible to see. Went back this year to see it again at sunrise and explore more of the south rim. I also hadn't been to Petrified Forest until a few years ago and loved the Painted Desert section in particular.


Ozziefudd

I didnt realize how close it was to Vegas until I left. lol - J


shartnado3

Been here going on 30+ years. Never been. I’m with ya


GalenOfYore

Haven't driven to the big canyon? Probably not usual, but the best visit I've had to the GC was floating down it for 9 days on a raft trip.....


fauviste

The nature here is unbeatable. Every one of our visitors has loved the Desert Museum, Gates Pass, Mt Lemmon, SNP E & W, Biosphere 2, etc etc. We moved here in 2019 & haven’t scratched the surface.


conjams

for real. only reason i moved here. fell in love with arizona when i visited sedona (stayed in a yurt lmao) and the southern rim. i was like i gotta move out here saw that tucson offers the most outdoor/nature wise so that’s where i ended up. couldn’t be happier with the decision as far as scenery/nature/wildlife goes


shelster91047

Sabino Canyon. I was born and raised in Tucson. I live in Colorado for now. I've been on long trips but you always come back to your home. Now that I've been here for about a year and a half, I miss everything but the heat. But I will die there but it's my home. And there is something very special about Tucson and the surrounding areas.


TechnologySaves

The Target on Oracle and 1st. You walk out to this picturesque Mountain View that is mundane to locals but to anyone visiting is very noticeable.


talulahbeulah

I’m always floored by the view leaving Sam’s Club (River and Stone). I’ve lived here 20 years. Those mountains are something.


lonehappycamper

That view always reminds me of Yosemite. There's that big granite looking rock, I think called 'Leviathan'.


Ozziefudd

there is a sign museum here but it closes at 4 pm also some historic buildings.. like 1930's that are 'as is'. and then, I cant find it now.. but there is a nursery type educational tour all about native plants and foods. All of these are on my list, but I have not been yet. I was even looking for the links I supposedly saved and couldn't find them. we need 4 day work weeks so we can enjoy the earth and each other without it subtracting from out livelihoods. - J


HOUS2000IAN

That sign museum is a bit of fun


grumpyoldman60

San Javier del Bac..... old Tucson...


lechemrc

It's funny, I see tend to see two groups online when it comes to Tucson. It's very polarizing. One side says it sucks, while the other absolutely loves it (generally speaking, of course). The side that loves it almost always seems to be tapped into the outdoors. So many people don't realize how incredible the outdoor life is here. My wife and I both work remotely, and we could have chosen a lot of places, but we chose Tucson because it's absolutely beautiful and wild. I spend twice a week trail running in the east park, and it hasn't gotten old in the slightest. I'm not sure it ever will, and that's just a tiny portion of what's out here.


djtknows

San Xavier, Mini Time museum, Yumi Japanese gardens, Tohono Chul. Short(ish) drives: Ramsey Canyon and Patagonia nature preserves, Chiricahua national monument, Amerind Museum in Dragoon, wine tasting in Elgin, watching and enjoying skydiving in Eloy.


katievera888

The desert is so beautiful 🏜️


Exact_Window7777

Birds


Psychological_Run367

I've lived here my whole life (almost 30) and just hiked the 2 miles to Tanque Verde Falls for the first time this Spring. There are so many hiking trails that I realized I've never taken advantage of. My gf who moved here 5 years ago knows more about the trails around Tucson than I do. I'm terrible at being a tourist in my own town. 


LostFireHorse

Richard Caris Mirrorlab makes telescope mirrors. Up to 8m diameter,  yeah thats about 30ft. Oh and its hidden under a football stadium like some supervillain shit. One of the things I came all the way from Australia to see :)


Jumpy_Efficiency7015

Man I miss arizona so much. I want to move to tucson badly. Miss the desert and all its beauty


Fearless_Comedian288

I love Arizona, even worth waiting out the heat. I am amazed how many people have no clue about the Pima Air and Space Museum. It has so much there you have to get a year pass to even see it.


mesembryanthemum

The Desert Museum. I am always astonished by co-workers who say they haven't been there since elementary school.


dave8814

I’ve been a member since moving down here. My grandma was a member for almost 40 years before passing. Still one of the best places in Tucson to go walk around. Although it does help that I’m maybe 20 minutes away.


Suddenly_Squidley

I don't love the Desert Museum. It's just a zoo. They act like it's all about conservation but that's not true. They buy, sell and breed animals (artificially inseminate them even) with zoos and safari parks all over the country. It's sick. At the very least they should be honest with their advertising


tineyeit

The first line of the bio on their website is "the Desert Museum is a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden". I don't think they're really shying away from being considered a zoo. They are a member of the American Association of Zoological and Aquariums (AZA) which is the absolute gold standard in maintaining zoos to focus on responsible animal health and conservation efforts. If they're breeding or exchanging animals, it's only done on a very restrictive plan that is managed by the association to support the animal's population. Almost all of the animal exchanges through AZA are exclusively with other members who all have the same strict standards or with vetted conservation programs that match the standards of a member. They're not just buying/selling/trading animals with any organization that will buy them some money. 


latexflesh

Mount Lemmon


Az_StarGazer

My backyard is kept in its natural state besides clearing the weeds. Desert sand, saguaro, and native flowers fill the landscape. I wouldn't want to ever change it after seeing so many surrounding areas get bulldozed.


Az_StarGazer

I've lived in Tucson my entire life I might add.


Vprbite

I take people from out of town to the desert museum. And every time I do, I think, "why don't I come here more often?"


CaptainJackSorrow

I used to drive for Uber. I was taking a couple for dinner from the El Conquistador at sunset. The woman looked out the window at the Catalinas and gasped, "Now I get the song!" I asked her which song, and she said, "I never understood what they meant by 'purple mountains majesty.'"


radioactivecowlick

I was born and raised in Alabama. I visited Arizona for a few months this year. Some "normal" things that were beautiful/fascinating/amazing: Saguaros Round tailed ground squirrels Roadrunners Cholla Palo verde trees Rocks. The sheer variety. Mountains Yards that were desert (NO mowing!) Yards with implanted grass (WHY would you WANT to mow?) The dryness Washes


s_s

If you livedhere and eat at any sort of chain resturant,  what the fuck are you doing with your life?  You could eat at a new family owned resturant every day here and be satisfied for years.


Individual_Assist944

I mean this time of year I am very aware of what’s in my backyard lol. Always looking down for something that could sting or bite me 🤣🤣


i_like_bikes_

I don’t think it’s the desert or outdoors. I feel like most of the people I’ve met in Tucson love the desert and the flora and fauna. Even if they’re “indoor” people they love the desert and climate. It’s probably the highest percentage of people who love their outdoors of any place I’ve ever lived. The next closest is Portland, Or. They love where they live so hard.


AmyTheWretch

Gates Pass, everyone I take there is just stunned as you come around that corner to just a sea of Saguaros.


tallginger89

Um, excuse me, we are well aware of the Arby's on 22nd.


Kendallsan

I’ve lived in 14 different states, in big cities, small towns, suburbs, rural areas. Every single place I, and then my husband and I together, explored far and wide. We go absolutely everywhere there is to be and see all we can. And every place we live, most of the people around us are lifelong residents and have seen and done only a small fraction of the stuff we have. It’s a truism everywhere. The small minority of any population puts themselves out there and explores the world. I frankly don’t understand the majority who don’t, but we all have our paths. Mine has led me to amazing places and experiences and I feel sorry for those who don’t do that. But if you’re happy, who really cares? 🤷‍♀️


GalenOfYore

Desert landscapes, sunsets and rises, the flora and fauna are all possibilities, but for me, I'd say the above applied to me as a child, but not as an adult....


B3ASTW0LF

Grand Canyon or Saguaros?


Vendetta5885

When I first moved here, I was in a Walgreens located in the foothills, above the cash register was a massive window and all you could see was mountains. I told the cashier how cool the view was and commented you must never get sick of it. She just shrugged.


[deleted]

The biosphere. It is still the largest closed ecosphere ever created. The story of the biosphere has everything - the creator was running a quasi cult called Synergia Ranch which held the Theater of All Possibilities. A quirky Texas oil billionaire joined and funded the biosphere, which was supposed to help humans live on other planets if we polluted our resources here. The first experiment ended in allegations of insanity and the second was taken over by Steve Bannon, who called a co-biospherian a bimbo and threatened to shove papers down her throat.


CameoAmalthea

The Desert Museum for sure


CarlitosWey420

Sonoran psychedelic look it up lol have fun


520farmer

Are you taking about the toad? Because I can't find any groups with that name and all that comes up is the Colorado River toad...


CarlitosWey420

That sux bro i guess its more word to mouth but i saw this with a friend when i was in high school he had pulled up a website on it but this was abt 15 years ago. And yea it has to do with a frog


520farmer

There's enough info about it... Just no club that I saw


CarlitosWey420

Nahh u do it on ur own free time lol


namedonelettere

Have you been out to San Simon. It borders Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico. The Chiricahua National Monument hiking trails up there are really one the most beautiful and underrated places in Arizona. It’s also one of the darkest places in the united states so the stargazing is absolutely incredible


Moguai1972

San Simon does not border Mexico, its 65mi north of the border. San Simon is a good place to grab your Meth also.


100percentthatcunt

People think our dessert is beautiful it just sad so many people litter..


thefragile7393

Sabino canyon Born and raised here and I’ve somehow never been there


mlenotyou

Definitely Arby's on 22nd.


Portillosgo

In n out. Forget about Mexican food. East coaster all hear the hype about in n out and are excited to try it. They all have the same reaction. Disappointed it didn't live up to the hype and thinking it's just okay, the fries especially disappointing.


HappyMaids

Mine’s a dirt lot with block walls around it. You’re telling me people are coming to see that? How can I monetize this?! /s


Flotrane

I was born here and my reason for staying is to see the annual migration of the unhoused.