{"id":3219,"date":"2017-04-30T20:46:21","date_gmt":"2017-04-30T20:46:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/?p=3219"},"modified":"2017-11-11T21:08:01","modified_gmt":"2017-11-11T21:08:01","slug":"exploring-desert-life-tucson-arizona","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/index.php\/2017\/04\/30\/exploring-desert-life-tucson-arizona\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring Desert Life in Tucson, Arizona"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure of traveling to Tucson, Arizona for the first time! I&#8217;ve been to Arizona for a visit to the Grand Canyon in November 2014, and Phoenix in February 2014 for a Ragnar race. Like Ragnar, I was sent down there for a work trip.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3246 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973845_10158561785200072_418880974167355337_o-1024x673.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"673\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973845_10158561785200072_418880974167355337_o-1024x673.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973845_10158561785200072_418880974167355337_o-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973845_10158561785200072_418880974167355337_o-768x504.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973845_10158561785200072_418880974167355337_o-200x131.jpg 200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973845_10158561785200072_418880974167355337_o-400x263.jpg 400w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973845_10158561785200072_418880974167355337_o-600x394.jpg 600w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973845_10158561785200072_418880974167355337_o-800x525.jpg 800w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973845_10158561785200072_418880974167355337_o-1200x788.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973845_10158561785200072_418880974167355337_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The trip was for a software company based in Tucson. It was all hosted at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.marriott.com\/hotels\/travel\/tussp-jw-marriott-tucson-starr-pass-resort-and-spa\/\">JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort<\/a>. I&#8217;d never been to a resort like this one, so the experience was quite the treat!<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3247 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972419_10158561704775072_7690768503181001701_o-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972419_10158561704775072_7690768503181001701_o-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972419_10158561704775072_7690768503181001701_o-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972419_10158561704775072_7690768503181001701_o-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972419_10158561704775072_7690768503181001701_o-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972419_10158561704775072_7690768503181001701_o-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972419_10158561704775072_7690768503181001701_o-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972419_10158561704775072_7690768503181001701_o-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972419_10158561704775072_7690768503181001701_o-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972419_10158561704775072_7690768503181001701_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3243 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17632299_10158510409765072_7671081156847874435_o-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17632299_10158510409765072_7671081156847874435_o-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17632299_10158510409765072_7671081156847874435_o-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17632299_10158510409765072_7671081156847874435_o-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17632299_10158510409765072_7671081156847874435_o-200x150.jpg 200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17632299_10158510409765072_7671081156847874435_o-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17632299_10158510409765072_7671081156847874435_o-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17632299_10158510409765072_7671081156847874435_o-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17632299_10158510409765072_7671081156847874435_o-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17632299_10158510409765072_7671081156847874435_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The weather was perfect, and we were right next to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/sagu\/index.htm\">Saguaro National Park<\/a>. Unfortunately, I wasn&#8217;t able to mark that one off my bucket list&#8230; BUT, I did get a hike in that had plenty of saguaro cacti. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\">About<strong> Saguaro Cacti<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Giant saguaro cacti are the universal symbol of the American west. They are pretty interesting.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3249 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972363_10158561678750072_2549671166201598999_o-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972363_10158561678750072_2549671166201598999_o-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972363_10158561678750072_2549671166201598999_o-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972363_10158561678750072_2549671166201598999_o-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972363_10158561678750072_2549671166201598999_o-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972363_10158561678750072_2549671166201598999_o-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972363_10158561678750072_2549671166201598999_o-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972363_10158561678750072_2549671166201598999_o-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972363_10158561678750072_2549671166201598999_o-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972363_10158561678750072_2549671166201598999_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul class=\"ul1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">It only grows in the Sonoran Desert.<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">They are the largest cacti species in North America.<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Saguaros take\u00a0<i>a very long time\u00a0<\/i>to grow. In the first 8 years of a Saguaro\u2019s life, it\u2019ll only grow between 1-1.5 inches.<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">A saguaro is usually 50-70 years old before it grows its first branch. And this is if the arm grows quickly. It may take 100 years before a saguaro can grow its first arm. They live between 100-200 years on average.<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">The saguaro is primarily made up of water.<\/li>\n<li class=\"li1\">An adult saguaro may weigh up to 6 tons.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Hidden Canyon Loop Trail<\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\">During some of our downtime, a couple coworkers and I went on a short hike that was conveniently located right outside the resort.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Length<\/strong>: 2 miles, roundtrip<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Elevation Gain<\/strong>: 350 feet<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Difficulty<\/strong>: Easy<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3240 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17917212_10158561742320072_4359174949468104621_o-1024x700.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17917212_10158561742320072_4359174949468104621_o-1024x700.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17917212_10158561742320072_4359174949468104621_o-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17917212_10158561742320072_4359174949468104621_o-768x525.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17917212_10158561742320072_4359174949468104621_o-200x137.jpg 200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17917212_10158561742320072_4359174949468104621_o-400x273.jpg 400w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17917212_10158561742320072_4359174949468104621_o-600x410.jpg 600w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17917212_10158561742320072_4359174949468104621_o-800x546.jpg 800w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17917212_10158561742320072_4359174949468104621_o-1200x820.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17917212_10158561742320072_4359174949468104621_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">This loop trail took us about an hour at a leisurely pace. The trail winds up a valley that eventually comes to an overlook of Tuscon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3255 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17855019_10158510409635072_7554810970493888942_o-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17855019_10158510409635072_7554810970493888942_o-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17855019_10158510409635072_7554810970493888942_o-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17855019_10158510409635072_7554810970493888942_o-200x267.jpg 200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17855019_10158510409635072_7554810970493888942_o-400x533.jpg 400w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17855019_10158510409635072_7554810970493888942_o-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17855019_10158510409635072_7554810970493888942_o-800x1067.jpg 800w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17855019_10158510409635072_7554810970493888942_o-1200x1600.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17855019_10158510409635072_7554810970493888942_o.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-3248 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973809_10158561713220072_9176344301510843891_o-1024x673.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"892\" height=\"586\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973809_10158561713220072_9176344301510843891_o-1024x673.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973809_10158561713220072_9176344301510843891_o-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973809_10158561713220072_9176344301510843891_o-768x504.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973809_10158561713220072_9176344301510843891_o-200x131.jpg 200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973809_10158561713220072_9176344301510843891_o-400x263.jpg 400w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973809_10158561713220072_9176344301510843891_o-600x394.jpg 600w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973809_10158561713220072_9176344301510843891_o-800x525.jpg 800w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973809_10158561713220072_9176344301510843891_o-1200x788.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973809_10158561713220072_9176344301510843891_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 892px) 100vw, 892px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">We didn&#8217;t see any rattlesnakes as warned prior to entering the trail, but we did see some deer near the road. We saw a variety of cacti, such as the saguaro and the prickly pear, which is a nice change of pace from our typical flora in Utah.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3244 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972088_10158561748160072_716466570389458367_o-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972088_10158561748160072_716466570389458367_o-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972088_10158561748160072_716466570389458367_o-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972088_10158561748160072_716466570389458367_o-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972088_10158561748160072_716466570389458367_o-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972088_10158561748160072_716466570389458367_o-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972088_10158561748160072_716466570389458367_o-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972088_10158561748160072_716466570389458367_o-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972088_10158561748160072_716466570389458367_o-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972088_10158561748160072_716466570389458367_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The trail was rocky at times, but overall a beginner and family friendly hike (with supervision for young children). The trail used to not be well marked according to my coworker, but they&#8217;ve added signs since her last visit. We started at the more northern trail head, and were told by the concierge to stay left to continue on the loop. We didn&#8217;t have any issues finding the trail during this hike.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3251 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973856_10158561799180072_5029217951516844569_o-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973856_10158561799180072_5029217951516844569_o-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973856_10158561799180072_5029217951516844569_o-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973856_10158561799180072_5029217951516844569_o-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973856_10158561799180072_5029217951516844569_o-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973856_10158561799180072_5029217951516844569_o-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973856_10158561799180072_5029217951516844569_o-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973856_10158561799180072_5029217951516844569_o-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973856_10158561799180072_5029217951516844569_o-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17973856_10158561799180072_5029217951516844569_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-3252 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972320_10158561796320072_2355265320804839956_o-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972320_10158561796320072_2355265320804839956_o-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972320_10158561796320072_2355265320804839956_o-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972320_10158561796320072_2355265320804839956_o-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972320_10158561796320072_2355265320804839956_o-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972320_10158561796320072_2355265320804839956_o-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972320_10158561796320072_2355265320804839956_o-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972320_10158561796320072_2355265320804839956_o-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972320_10158561796320072_2355265320804839956_o-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/17972320_10158561796320072_2355265320804839956_o.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The trail also connects with the Bowen Loop trail, if you wanted to extend the length of your hike. I felt that this hike was fairly easy, but enough of an escape to get the blood moving after long days of training and gives the feeling of isolation in the desert without being far from the resort.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/downtownkitchen.com\/\"><strong>Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails<\/strong><br \/>\n<\/a>135 South 6th Avenue<br \/>\nTucson, AZ<\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3256 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/TF-Downtown-Kitchen-Spring-2015.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"960\" height=\"651\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/TF-Downtown-Kitchen-Spring-2015.jpg 960w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/TF-Downtown-Kitchen-Spring-2015-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/TF-Downtown-Kitchen-Spring-2015-768x521.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/TF-Downtown-Kitchen-Spring-2015-200x136.jpg 200w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/TF-Downtown-Kitchen-Spring-2015-400x271.jpg 400w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/TF-Downtown-Kitchen-Spring-2015-600x407.jpg 600w, https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/TF-Downtown-Kitchen-Spring-2015-800x543.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?sa=i&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=images&amp;cd=&amp;ved=0ahUKEwj3gPOyhc3TAhVPVWMKHc9YAsAQjRwIBw&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Ftucsonfoodie.com%2F2015%2F06%2F18%2F39-summer-in-the-city-spots-to-eat-drink-save-at%2F&amp;psig=AFQjCNFo8QS9YmSdysYKH3NZok6zA9KjDQ&amp;ust=1493671286913063\">Photo Source<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">On our free night, my team went out for dinner in downtown Tucson. We just walked around and picked somewhere that looked yummy and busy. We ended up at a place called Downtown Kitchen\u00a0+ Cocktails. When we arrived, there weren&#8217;t too many people but as we were eating, the place became very busy. I loved the decor and feel of the place. They had industrial\/hipster type place settings and lighting. I loved that they took an interesting twist on traditional Sonoran dishes of their area.\u00a0The dishes were inventive and tasty. I had Pan Shrimp Gordita Mojo de Ajo, Salpicon, and Chiltepin Salsa, which was shrimp in garlic butter on a griddled, hand-formed, fat corn tortilla, slathered with frijoles, Spanish salpicon of red peppers and\u00a0cabbage in sherry vinegar, chiltepin salsa, smoked poblano crema. The dish was thoroughly delicious, and I also enjoyed my Moscow mule.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, I enjoyed my visit to Tucson, and I&#8217;d like to return on my own to see the national park. I remember <a href=\"http:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/index.php\/2016\/08\/08\/books-adventure\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">reading about the park<\/a> in <a href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2aAoKZs\">Lassoing the Sun: A Year in America\u2019s National Parks<\/a> by Mark Woods, and thinking I&#8217;d love to visit. Now, I want to go back with my life adventure partner and explore more leisurely. There&#8217;s so much to see and so little time!<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Have you ever been to Tucson? Do you have recommendations on where I should explore next visit?<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure of traveling to Tucson, Arizona for the first time! I&#8217;ve been to Arizona for a visit to the Grand Canyon in November 2014, and Phoenix in February 2014 for a Ragnar race. Like Ragnar, I was sent down there for a work trip. The trip was for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3253,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[394,131,284,11],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Exploring Desert Life in Tucson, Arizona &#187; Next Stop: Adventure<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Hiking Adventure Travel Blog Wedding Planning Lifestyle Recreation Photography\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nextstopadventure.com\/index.php\/2017\/04\/30\/exploring-desert-life-tucson-arizona\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Exploring Desert Life in Tucson, Arizona &#187; 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