(A quick quide to some Tucson highlights)

o you're in town for the first time, and you want to soak up the atmosphere. Great! We're here to help you make your off-hours all the more enjoyable while you're in town. We've assembled a quick guide to local food, entertainment, outdoor attractions and other diversions...

Downtown Tucson comes to life every first and third Saturday of the month - Starting around 8 p.m., downtown Tucson is filled with vendors, people, and yes -- foods. It's a great place to people watch - and a fun (read: cheap) way to spend night.(Tip: Have dinner early at one of the cafes on East Congress Street so you can sit outside...)
Directions: Simply go into Downtown Tucson this Saturday night. You can't miss it.

Hey, you don't have to listen to what we think is fun. The Tucson Weekly just compiled its Best of Tucson issue, and it's packed with the best of everything Tucson has to offer, from dining to entertainment. Get the lowdown from the people who know Tucson best.

San Xavier del Bac

Visit the "White Dove of the Desert," the Mission San Xavier del Bac. Pronounced as "hauv-e-air", the mission has been though quite a bit since its construction, but it's a beautiful artifact of the Southwest. It's also a heck of a way to spend a few hours immersed in the past.
Directions: Take I-10 south to I-19, and follow the signs.

Zip over to the Tucson Golf Guide and get the lowdown on area links, most of which are within a 20 minute drive from downtown Tucson.

Trust us, the desert heat makes you hungry. You're going to want some extra help finding places to indulge your hunger (and thirst). We're here to help. >From the gourmet to the cafe, there's no shortage of good places to eat when you're in Tucson.

If you feel like getting up close to a few of those huge Saguaro cacti, or if you just want to go wander in the desert for a while, you'll want to check out Saguaro National Park. Actually, it's two parks, Saguaro East and Saguaro West, but either one will put you smack dab in the middle of the desert landscape.

Directions:
East: Take Speedway Boulevard east until you hit Freeman Road - it's a pretty long drive. Turn right on Freeman (so you're going south) and drive. When you pass Golf Links Road, start looking for the signs, and the entrance will be on your left.

West: Take Speedway Boulevard west. Don't get on I-10, instead, go under I-10 and continue on past Silverbell. You'll think you're heading for the mountains, and you are. Follow the signs to Gates Pass. After stopping to check out the view at Gates Pass, continue driving through the pass and look for the signs...

We think Mount Lemmon is the best darn place on the planet, but hey, we're biased. We can't help it - anywhere you can escape Tucson for a few hours and go hiking, biking, camping, or just walk through the forest is OK with us. And while Summerhaven's ski lift is closed, that doesn't mean you shouldn't stop in town for a six-pound piece of homemade pie. (Want to read about one hiker's journey on Mount Lemmon?)
Directions: Take Speedway Boulevard East to Tanque Verde. Go north on Tanque Verde and take Mount Lemmon highway. The signs will guide you up the mountain...

We can't mention Saguaro National Park and Mount Lemmon without throwing in Sabino Canyon, too. Located on the city's northeast side, (yes, near Mount Lemmon) Sabino Canyon offers paved and dirt trail hiking, swimming, and a great opportunity to soak up the desert atmosphere. (Hint: Go early, i.e. before 9 a.m., and bring water.)
Directions: Take Speedway Boulevard east to Craycroft. Turn left onto Craycroft (now you're going north) and go to Sunrise. Take a right on Sunrise (now you're going east), and follow the signs.

Visit the Town Too Tough to Die. Sure, that whole OK Corral shootout thing has blown over by now, but Tombstone is still a rough-and-tumble kind of place. It may be the last place you can glimpse the Old West, and it's an interesting way to soak up some local color.
Directions: Go East on I-10 to State Route 80 (about 50 miles), and then go Southeast on State Route 80 for about 25 miles. You'll know when you're there...