Saguaro/Tucson
Finally on to a warm weather park – Saguaro National Park!
After spending the first 6 months of our tiny home experience in cold weather, our family was particularly excited about warm weather and the typical desert landscape. Little did we know, Saguaro is anything but typical. This park protects GIANT saguaro cactus that are unique to the Sonoran Desert – some reach heights of 50 feet and can live longer than 200 years. There is no symbol more emblematic of the American southwest than the saguaro and seeing them up close and personal is almost surreal.
This park is divided into two sections, though to be honest, our family felt the sections were quite similar in both appearance and available hikes. Surrounded by spidery ocotillo, “fluffy” teddy bear cactus, green-bean-like cholla and literally dozens of other cactus species, this park took a bit of getting used to for this Rocky Mountain bred family. While the park was visually very interesting, it felt less accessible in many ways for our kids. Take one step off the path, and you are in for a nasty experience with cactus thorns – a lesson one of our kiddos seemed to need several encounters to learn. Not to mention the variety of fauna that can be deadly; the Gila monster is the largest and only venomous lizard native to the United States and has been regarded as the most painful venom produced by any vertebrate. Don’t even get me started on the overwhelming number of rattlesnakes.
Trying to keep two toddlers on a set path is near impossible and certainly dictated which hikes we chose to venture on. We enjoyed learning about the diversity of cactus and their importance to the desert environment in the Cactus Garden Trail. It is a paved .5-mile trail that made it quite easy to make sure the kids stayed on the path. Similarly, the Desert Discovery Trail and Desert Ecology Trail provided interesting information about desert flora and fauna while again following a paved .5-mile and .25-mile trail respectively. Signal Hill was another great choice for our family as we enjoyed hiking up and over the rocky hill and were rewarded with 800-year-old petroglyphs from the prehistoric Hohokam people. The Garwood Trail was the only relatively long and rustic trail we took the kids on. The hike itself was pretty easy, and the kids enjoyed taking a break in the small creek we found along the way. This trail intersects with a rather large trail system in the East section of the park and allows those wishing to hike longer distances plenty of options.
Scenic drives were another good way to (safely) enjoy the park with the kids, though the kids typically prefer to experience the outdoors in a more physical manner. Bajada Loop Drive and Cactus Loop Drive run thru the heart of each district of Saguaro and gave us good views of the surrounding mountain peaks, vistas, and of course, ubiquitous cactus. For those looking for an easy introduction to the desert environment, these loops are a great starting point. Several trails (including those mentioned above) are accessed via these loops making them popular for both hikers and cyclists.
As for adult hikes, we enjoyed some of the more difficult hikes of the park, but given the low elevation and relatively uniform landscape, did not find these hikes quite as enjoyable compared to some of the more dramatic national parks we have visited. Wasson Peak, standing at 4,687 feet, offered towering views of the Tuscon valley. The nearly 8-mile hike takes you thru some of the thickest saguaro forest in Arizona and travels along ridges with grand desert vistas. The Douglas Springs Trail to Bridal Wreath Falls was a lovely trail to take first thing in the morning before it got too hot, and while the forest was alive with sounds from the abundant bird population. The 5.6-mile trail is well defined and ended in a small but peaceful waterfall that was the perfect place for a few moments of solitude. Seven Falls is another great hike that boasts seven waterfalls (thus the name), incredible views, and is a moderately easy 8.6 miles. With six water crossings and very little signage, I was glad I had hiking sandals as I spent quite a bit of time in water.
We found some much appreciated sanctuary within the RV park we stayed at thanks to the multiple pools, hot tubs, workout facilities, and onsite bar. Most of the RV parks we choose to stay at are pretty basic, offering just the facilities we need to make the house functional. With a citrus or olive tree at every site, an onsite farmers market every Friday, and a variety of kids arts and crafts daily, we felt like we were at some kind of deluxe summer camp! Truthfully, I think the amenities of this stay made it our favorite part of our adventure to the Sonoran Desert – it was such a welcomed changed after months of cold weather.
Tucson itself is has been awarded as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy due to the culinary heritage of Mexican and Native American traditions. I can tell you the tacos and margaritas are out of this world. Not only is Boca Tacos on the official list of certified restaurants qualifying Tuscon as a city of Gastronomy, it is also a 2020 James Beard Award Semifinalist (I.e. you should eat here NOW). I think we tried 10 different tacos on top of the excellent elote, rice, and beans. You pretty much had to roll us out of there we were so full.
Reforma was another family favorite offering super fresh guacamole combinations, Mexican street corn bowls, a Mole de Pollo your Abuela would be proud of, and tacos and enchiladas that made us keep ordering well past being full. Not to mention offering Arizona’s largest selection of tequila and mezcal – so many in fact that there was an iPad full of options that you had to order separately.
If you eat one thing El Chinto Gordo, please make it the Chile en Nogada – it is hard to describe how outrageously good this dish was; I literally licked the plate. The spicy meat mixed with the sweet and somehow savory fruit and walnut-based cream sauce hit every note in my mouth. You can also get a flight of margaritas here, which sounds like an easy choice, but there were so many interesting margaritas to choose from (blackberry cinnamon, prickly pear guava, spicy pineapple to name a few), we had to get a few flights to try them all!
The city also boasts several famers markets throughout the week, including the Sunday Heirloom Farmers Mark at Rillito Park – a large horse track that has a permanent farmers market space for over 80 small businesses, chef demonstrations, seasonal food events, and market music. Our family enjoyed getting our produce from this market and the kids LOVED the music and entertainment. An excellent way to spend Sunday morning.
Our family was also lucky enough to experience the Tucson Rodeo Parade – just blocks away from our RV Park! Known as the largest non-motorized parade in the country, the kids and I enjoyed the colorful floats, old-fashioned buggies, and the many MANY cowboys strutting their stuff. The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce treats viewers to some wonderful displays of Mexican heritage and the local high school marching bands had us dancing in the street for over 2 hours. I’m not sure the kids have ever been to another parade but talk about setting a high bar!
Overall, Saguaro was fun, but the food, amenities, and entertainment of Tucson had us thankful for the full month we spent here. February was a wonderful time to visit with temperate weather and is something we will certainly consider next winter when we need a break from the cold weather.
