I loved touring this adorable Southwestern city! The adobe houses were so cute, I loved the vibes of the local spots, and the desert scenery was stunning. We also stopped by the Saguaro National Park on our way into Tucson from Phoenix. It’s only a 25 min drive outside the city and a must see! I’ve divided this post into four sections, where to eat, where to shop, things to do, and where to stay! I hope you guys enjoy this post and that it’s helpful for your trip to this charming desert town.

Things To Do

Saguaro National Park

We stopped by to explore the beautiful desert scenery in Saguaro National Park on our way to Tucson from Phoenix! It’s only about a 25 minute drive outside of the city and it’s so beautiful so I definitely recommend trying to fit it in to your Tucson itinerary. I love desert scenery and I wanted to capture some great shots here so my sister shot a few different outfits for me!

Greetings From Tucson Mural

I’ve been capturing shots with “Greetings From” murals all over the U.S. these past couple of years and I think this is my fifth one! I love this fun, colorful mural and it was so easy to shoot here because it was kind of in an alley near historic 4th Ave. The letters depict desert scenery and other iconic Tucson spots. It’s also near the Warehouse District, another area worth exploring in Tucson!

Address: E 7th St & N Arizona Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705

Barrio Viejo

Barrio Viejo is the oldest residential neighborhood in Tucson with the most adorable and colorful, little adobe houses! We all loved exploring this area, but I really loved the southwestern feel so we tried to shoot as many images as we could here, a little hard with the bright sun at the time we were visiting lol. I would definitely recommend shooting here in the morning or towards the evening.

“A Mountain”

One of my Instagram followers recommended this spot to me for it’s amazing views and I’m glad we were able to check it out while we were in the area! It was closed off by a gate the day we visited so we weren’t able to drive up to the top but we did get to admire the view from a lower level. The Tucson downtown area looks so small from here! It’s not far from the Mercado District which is where we drove from. I believe it’s also called Sentinel Park!

Address: 1001 S. Sentinel Peak Rd

Tucson Botanical Gardens

We loved visiting the Tucson Botanical Gardens, especially the butterfly room! There were so many amazing cacti varieties here, flowers, animals, and more. I loved the photos we were able to capture here with the desert scenery! Tickets were $15 and definitely worth it.

Where To Shop

I loved visiting these amazing boutiques during my trip to Tucson! I had a few more on my research list that unfortunately ended up being closed on the days we were visiting but I’m so glad I was able to visit these 3 beautiful and very unique local shops. I love the curated collections, aesthetic interiors, and overall vibes of these boutique shops and I hope you guys do too!

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Desert Vintage

Desert Vintage has got to be the most beautifully curated vintage shop I’ve ever seen from the perfectly curated collection to the aesthetic interiors of the space. It’s located in Tucson’s Warehouse District, very close to more shopping and right next door to Exo Roast Co! This is the perfect shop to pop into for some vintage shopping while getting a good caffeine fix too 😉

Address: 403 N 6th Ave #119, Tucson, AZ 85705

Mast

Another beautiful boutique Mast, located in Mercado San Agustin, a marketplace with a courtyard, shops, and restaurants. This unique shop offers a curated collection of everything from home goods and furnishings to clothing and accessories. Everything in their shop is made by independent designers so you are sure to find something really special here. I really loved visiting this funky shop!

Address: 100 South Avenida del Convento Suite 120, Tucson, AZ 85745

Eastland Alley

This adorable shop is located in Tucson’s historic 4th Ave, a street filled with shops, restaurants, and more. Eastland Alley’s curated lifestyle collection is filled with conscious and ethically made goods which I love! There is definitely something for everyone in this shop from dried florals to candles to local t-shirts and goods. They also offer floral and event design services!

Address: 440 N 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705

Where To Eat

I was able to visit so many cute Tucson spots during my visit to this adorable desert city with my family! I loved the cafes, restaurants, and coffee shops we were able to eat at, they had beautiful interiors and of course amazing bites. These locations were all recommended by locals and definitely very Instagrammable!

Restaurants

Prep & Pastry

We visited the Phoenix location of this restaurant and loved it so I knew I wanted to check out the Tucson Prep & Pastry location too! There are a few locations but I loved the light, airy feel of this one. The open shelves with plants, those blue Parisian chairs, and that beautiful tile accent wall sold me already but there desserts were truly incredible! My whole family loved their meal and raved about the pastries which they are know for. It would be the perfect spot for an Instagrammable brunch!

Address: 2660 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ, 85719

Flora’s Market Run

This adorable spot is very popular according to locals I spoke with and for good reason! Flora’s Market Run owned by the same people that own Prep & Pastry but has a totally different feel with a fresh market and restaurant area in one space. We had the most incredible charcuterie spread and loved the other dishes we ordered as well! It’s located in an industrial building with very cool vibes and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Another fun brunch spot for sure!

Address: 2513 E 6th St, Tucson, AZ 85716

Coffee Shops

Exo Roast Co.

This popular Tucson coffee shop, Exo Roast Co., just opened a second location in Barrio Viejo! We loved the modern, southwestern feel of this space. The other location located in the Warehouse District has a more industrial feel to it and also super cute! The lattes were amazing and I believe they offer pastries as well. The patio area had a very Instagrammable vibe to it so we had to snap a few shots out there!

Address: 403 N 6th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705

Presta Coffee Roasters

Another Tucson coffee chain with several locations, all equally adorable, is Presta Coffee Roasters! Hopefully I can check out the other spots in person next time, but I loved the one we were able to visit located in the Mercado San Agustin. The Mercado has several other restaurants and shops to check out after grabbing a latte! I loved the greenery and the open, airy vibes in this location, definitely Instagrammable.

Address: 100 South Avenida del Convento #180 · In Mercado San Agustin