You will have sold yourself short if you leave Tucson, Arizona, all beautifully merged, without experiencing its wealth of color, culture, nature, and art. This desert city sitting strategically between mountains offers more than one may expect. An excellent way to remind yourself of Tucson’s beauty is to take breathtaking photos while you visit. We have rounded up the most photo-worthy places in this city so that you can easily decide where to capture the best shots for your socials.
Saguaro National Park
Ask anyone, and they will tell you Tucson is one of the best places in the USA to experience some desert life. A picture at Saguaro National Park will perfectly capture your memories of the desert. The desert landscape is the most important is the Saguaro cacti, the largest cacti species in North America. You will love taking photos with these super-tall cacti in the background. Consider taking the desert discovery nature trail, which is easy and will give you countless photo-friendly views. If you need a quick landscape photo, you can take one outside the park. This way, you won’t need to pay the entry fee.
4th Avenue
It is safe to say that you haven’t seen Tucson if you haven’t been to 4th Avenue. It is a popular area in the city that houses bars, restaurants, boutiques, and other business premises. Here, you will experience the best of Tucson’s life, buzzing with color and activity. You can shop, eat, and drink as you capture some memories. There’s always beauty, whether you go during the day or at sundown. Be sure to catch the countless street fairs and events throughout the year.
Barrio Viejo
This neighborhood between downtown Tucson and Mercado does an excellent job of preserving 19th Century Mexican homes. Cacti are scattered among brightly colored houses and business buildings, making the perfect photo. Barrio Viejo (Old Neighborhood) stands as the ideal representative of Tucson’s bursting color, culture, and creativity. Come by at sunrise or during the midmorning to get the best lighting for your pictures.
Mission San Xavier Del Bac
This mission center is an excellent show of old Spanish architecture from the 1700s, and people sometimes refer to it as the white dove of the desert. The breathtaking designs will create the perfect backdrop for your pictures. Entry to this place is free, and tours run from nine-thirty am to one pm every Monday to Saturday. You may want to come before the tour starts to get the best photos without people in the background.
Tucson Botanical Gardens
If you love color, make a point to take some pictures at the Tucson Botanical Gardens. It is not so big (it covers 5 acres) but has a breathtaking plant species collection that makes everything look lively. There is also a showcase of some art around the place. They charge an entry fee, but it will be worth your while. Be sure to look out for the cactus and succulent garden to take excellent photos.
The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
This place allows you to glimpse what the Sonoran Desert has to offer. More than enough to photograph with a museum, botanical gardens, and a zoo. Apart from cacti, you can look forward to taking pictures of the beautiful hummingbirds and butterflies and a collection of minerals and gems.
Sentinel Peak
You may hear the locals referring to this place as the ‘A Mountain.’ That is because the students of the University of Arizona painted a giant ‘A’ here in 1915. It has become a tourist attraction over time. This peak is an excellent place to take photos in nature. The best pictures here would be of the sunset, as you will be able to capture a beautiful mix of colors in the sky as the sun goes down. Note that the place closes just thirty minutes after sunset. You may want to come in early, so you don’t miss out.
Murals around the City
Tucson is an art-rich city- It is impossible to walk through without spotting one or two beautiful murals. At the moment, there are over thirty murals all over Tucson. These murals make for perfect photos to remind you of this beautiful place.
One of the most outstanding murals is the ‘Greetings from Tucson’ on North Arizona Avenue. It was painted by Victor Ving and Lisa Beggsis and is a lovely showcase of what makes Tucson stand out. Think good food, Mexican culture, Saguaros, and the University of Arizona.
‘The Goddess of Agave’ on 6th Street by Rock Martinez is also worth capturing. You will find it in the Tucson Warehouse & Transfer Co. building.
At Rosendo S Perez Park, you will find ‘La Pilita,’ a work of art by Martin Moreno giving some insight into the Mexican culture.
Other murals include ‘Gilded Sunset’ at West Simpson by Isaac Caruso and ‘Generation Cool’ on 4th Avenue.
These murals tell the beautiful stories of Tucson, so consider capturing as many as you can while you’re around.
Hotel Congress
If you love history, consider taking a picture at this iconic hotel for the culture. It has been in operation since 1919 is enough reason to capture it. However, other beautiful things about it make it photo-worthy. These include the neon lights best experienced at night, the phone booths, the patio, and the lovely murals on the building’s walls.
Wrapping Up
With this guide, you will find more places to take beautiful pictures in Tucson apart from the famous University of Arizona. Be sure to explore the city and capture as much beauty as possible. If you’re up for it, challenge yourself to take a picture of the more than thirty murals. That would make for a fun adventure.
