We actually stayed at two different campgrounds in Tucson, which was definitely not planned. We booked our early stops well in advance, but none past Big Bend. However, Tuscon was quite booked by the time we were looking for a spot.
Campground 1, Desert Trails RV Park
First, we stayed at Desert Trails. I preferred it because of many great reviews. However, they did not have a spot for us anywhere except overflow, which did not have electric or water. We took it because it offered an opportunity if a spot opened up. It has a day room, TV room, laundry and a nice bathhouse. The big thing we were missing was electricity, but it was not supposed to be very cold that night. We decided to give it a try without our electric blanket for heat.
The campground was nice and the guests were the friendliest we have ever encountered. We would have loved to stay there—with electricity.
We have not yet invested in solar panels or a generator, so all we had was our battery and I began to worry that the cooler would drain it. I turned the cooler off at around midnight. It was also a bit cold overnight and we were not fully comfortable. We decided to find a campground with power for the next night or leave early. We really need solar panels!
Campground 2, Gilbert Ray County Park
We also stayed at Gilbert Ray County Park. One of our neighbors at Desert Trails told us about Gilbert Ray County Park Campground. It cannot reserved in advance; you just show up. So we got there early that morning and were fortunate to get a spot. It was good we arrived early because it was fully booked later in the day. It offers gorgeous views, electric, water, and restrooms, but no showers.
We dropped our camper early that morning and headed out to see the sights.
Old Tucson
We went to Old Tuscon Studios on our first day in Tuscon. There are live shows with stuntmen and a musical show in the saloon. Countless movies and television shows have used these sets.
It was a relaxing afternoon and pretty inexpensive entertainment.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Most noteworthy was the desert museum. It has desert wildlife in their natural habitat. It is also a botanical garden that features many desert plants. Visitors walk along a large loop to see wolves, cougars, jackrabbits, javalinas and porcupines. There is a large reptile area with snakes and lizards. Hence, the museum is a Tuscon “must see”. A link to the museum follows.
Saguaro National Park
First of all, this park is all about the saguaro cactus. My husband has been pretty much indifferent to plants in the many years we have been together. Somehow, this cactus spoke to him and he has become a fan of cacti. I never would have predicted it! So we drove the five mile scenic dirt road and saw many, many cacti. The one below was a little unusual.
Teresa’s Mosaic Cafe
I don’t often post about restaurants, but we had an outstanding meal in Tuscon at Teresa’s Mosaic Cafe. But, the meal was actually breakfast. I had the huevos rancheros, which was featured on one of the food network shows and it was wonderful! It is a cool place with interesting decor and great service.
Overall, Tuscon was an excellent stop for us. Next, we visit Yuma!
