🌵Arizona | Phoenix & Tucson Travel Guide 🌆🌵

🌆 Phoenix Phoenix boasts tropical-style architecture and stylish streetlights. The city is vibrant, and people drive fiercely—it feels like a city full of passionate young energy! ❤️ 1️⃣ Hot Air Balloon Ride 🎈 🎫: ~$200 per person (weather-dependent—ours got canceled due to strong winds 😢) ✨: Book via hot balloon company’s official website 2️⃣ ASU Insta-Famous Murals 🎨 🎫: Free 🚗: Parking varies (~$4/h for underground, ~$3 all day for open lot) 3️⃣ Phoenix Zoo 🐾 🎫: $40 general | $35 with student ID 🚗: Free parking ✨: Spacious zoo with diverse animals—allow 2.5+ hours 4️⃣ Desert Botanical Garden 🌵 🎫: $25 | Free on 2nd Tuesday each month 🚗: Free parking ✨: Similar vibe to Tucson’s Saguaro NP—skipped it this time 5️⃣ Hole in the Rock 🪨 🎫: Free 🚗: Free parking ✨: Nature’s photo frame! Perfect for a view after the zoo or garden 6️⃣ Dobbins Lookout 🌃 🎫: Free 🚗: Free parking (park facing the city skyline for best views) ✨: 30-min mountain drive | No entry after 7 PM | Arrive 30 mins before sunset 🍽️ Lunch: Little Miss BBQ (~$25 pp) Four meats tried—brisket was the standout! Strong smoky flavor 🔥 🍽️ Dinner: Mariscos Playa Hermosa (~$50 pp) Seafood combo was tasty but small portion—beef and chicken mixed in. Free rice included! 🌵 Tucson Cloudy and dusty during our visit. Felt like a slow-paced, old-fashioned town 🏜️ 1️⃣ Saguaro National Park 🌵 🎫: $25/vehicle | Free with Nat’l Park Annual Pass ($80) 🚗: Free parking ✨: Explored West District only—cacti are dense and majestic! Grab a map at visitor center. Drive the scenic loop or hike short/long trails. 2️⃣ University of Arizona (UA) 🎓 🎫: Free ✨: Compact campus—nice for a quick stroll 3️⃣ San Xavier del Bac ⛪ 🎫: Free 🚗: Free parking ✨: Closes at 4 PM | Small museum nearby | Climb the hill for a panoramic view | Located on tribal land 🍽️ Lunch: Taquería El Rápido 🌮 Authentic tacos ~$4 each — simple and delicious! #Arizona #Tucson #Phoenix #TravelGuide #DesertVibes #USATravel #FoodieAdventure