What’s New in Tucson – November 2009

Free Flight Launched Again at Desert Museum. Experience the thrill of observing free-flying birds of prey as they coast, with feathers rustling, over your head, almost within reach. This wonderful chance to watch birds in the wild is a feature of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum’s popular Raptor Free Flight program. Native Sonoran Desert birds-Harris’ Hawks, Ferruginous Hawks, Gray Hawks, Barn Owls, Great Horned Owls, and Prairie Falcons-glide and soar, and interact with one another while perched atop saguaro cacti in the open desert.

Unlike other bird-flight shows, the Raptor Free Flight focuses the attention on the birds and how they behave in nature; the trainers are hardly noticeable. Demonstrations occur, as bird and weather conditions allow, daily at 10:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. through April 11, 2010. For details, call 520-883-2702 or visit www.desertmuseum.org/visit/events_freeflights.php

Tucson is Putting on the Ritz. The first name in luxury has arrived in Tucson. A new 250-room Ritz-Carlton golf resort and spa will open its doors December 18, 2009. The 850-acre project includes two Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses and clubhouse, a 17,000-square-foot spa, three signature restaurants, several swimming pools, a four-story waterslide, a “casita village” and the service and style expected of a Ritz-Carlton experience. The clubhouse complex and the initial 27 holes of golf will host the 2010 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, Feb. 15-21. www.ritzcarlton.com/dovemountai.

Wellness Spas Offer a Healthful Start on the New Year. This new year, get a fresh start on a healthier lifestyle with a destination spa visit. Two celebrated wellness spas located in Tucson allow guests to take charge of their well-being in a safe, fine-tuned environment. Both Canyon Ranch Tucson and Miraval are pioneers of holistic spa treatments, and both help people bring balance to mind, body, and soul. The array of physical and emotional health experiences available ranges from yoga and meditation to tennis, hiking, biking, and horseback riding programs as well as stress management and nutrition classes, guilt-free cuisine, and myriad spa services. Come January, kick the bad habits and start life anew at a luxury destination spa in Tucson. Learn more about Canyon Ranch Tucson at www.CanyonRanchTucson.com and about Miraval at www.miravalresorts.com.

Tucson Ready for Winter Gem Show. The Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase is a major show for collectors and enthusiasts from around the world. Exhibited here are fine gems, minerals, fossils, beads, jewelry, and lapidary supplies from around the world. Also displayed are items from private collections and renowned museums. The Showcase is made up of nearly 50 shows that attract an estimated 55,000 people over a two-week period. The upcoming Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Showcase runs January 30-February 14, 2010. A full listing of all shows, both open-to-the-public and wholesale, is on www.visitTucson.org/gemshow. To check hotel availability and book rooms online, go to www.visittucson.org/visitor/accommodations/reservations.

Cooking the Tucson Way with Chef Janos. Janos Cooking School starts in November, with a lesson devoted to preparing a Thanksgiving dinner, Southern Arizona style, with Tucson’s renowned James Beard award winning Chef Janos Wilder. The subsequent six cooking classes run through May 8 and include: “Janos Cooks Julia” featuring favorites from the classic Mastering the Art of French Cooking, December 12; “J Bar Favorites” with a menu of casual, Janos signature specialties as Yucatan chicken, chili cilantro slaw, and chorizo black beans, January 16; and “The Southwest Pantry, Parts 1 and 2″ and lessons on creating the big, distinctive flavors of the region, February 20 and March 27, respectively. Each class takes place at Janos Restaurant, and lasts about two and one-half hours and consists of discussion, cooking demonstration, beverage pairing, and a tasting of the demonstrated items. Cost per class is $50. For more information, or to reserve a space in class, call 520-615-6100 or visit www.janos.com/janos/cookingschool.php.

New Tour Explores Historic Missions and Churches. Explore Tucson’s architectural heritage on a new motor-coach tour led by Arizona Tour Company. The Historic Missions and Churches Tour includes stops at seven places of worship built between 1866 and 1940 by noted Tucson architects, including Josias Joesler, Roy Place, and Henry Trost. Tour guide Dale Sloan will compare similarities and differences in architectural styles, and share surprising stories about each building. Tour highlights include the magnificent St. Augustine Cathedral with its elaborately carved cast-stone façade; the rose-colored, Spanish Renaissance-style Benedictine Monastery; the impressive Scottish Rite Cathedral, with its 1916 pipe organ still in operating condition; the enduring Jewish History Museum, formerly known as the Stone Avenue Temple-the first synagogue in Arizona; and the humble, mud-adobe San Pedro Chapel in the Fort Lowell Historic District. The six-hour tour costs $43 per person, including lunch. For more information or to reserve a tour, contact Dale Sloan at info@arizonatourcompany.com or visit www.arizonatourcompany.com.

Old Western Trail Brings History to Life. Follow the steps of early American settlers on a tour of Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. Pass scenic deserts, rugged mountains, ocean vistas, and incredible cities on this 1,200-mile journey from Southern Arizona to Northern California. Relive the experiences of the Anza party, which blazed the trail on their 1776 expedition to colonize San Francisco Bay. Visit missions, museums, and historical structures that bring history to life. Explore the trailhead, a 4 ½-mile hiking and equestrian path along the shady Santa Cruz River, south of Tucson between Tumacácori National Historic Park and Tubac Presidio State Historic Park. Travel the entire trail on a 14-day journey, or choose from various shorter tours featuring any of the eight National Park Service sites along the route. Request free tour itineraries from the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau (1-800-638-8350), or view the online Trail Guide at www.solideas.com/DeAnza/TrailGuide.

Off-the-beaten-path Lodging in Tucson. On your next trip to Tucson, why not relax off-the-beaten-path at a secluded casita or guest ranch. The charming Casita en las Rocas is a furnished, one bedroom casita with a fully equipped kitchen, located on the border of the Coronado National Forest. From a private patio, watch the sunrise and sunset, and enjoy porch access to birding, hiking, and mountain biking in Catalina State Park, October through May (www.PatConnor.com). The Wild Purple Ranch & Retreat is an updated 1930s ranch, secluded on 10 private, gated acres on Tucson’s west side. The ranch offers a rustic, spiritual getaway with a formal dining room with fireplace, two kitchens, many patios and outdoor living places to enjoy; food is not available so guests bring their own refreshments or order from the adjacent Mira Vista Resort (www.awildpurpleranch.com). The 3C Ranch is a peaceful and private ranch with three guest houses for overnight lodging, located on the eastern side of the Santa Catalina Mountains, with 500+ acres, tranquil surroundings, breathtaking views, and spectacular sunset skies (www.3cranchaz.com).

November 12, 2009   Posted in: United States West