🌵 Beautiful Arizona – Tucson in the Desert

Tucson was our final stop in AZ. Its name comes from a Native American word meaning “spring at the foot of the black mountain.” 🏔️💧 Located 174 km southeast of Phoenix, and just 97 km from the U.S.-Mexico border, Tucson welcomed us with warmth after the snow in Flagstaff! ☀️❄️ Here lies the last of the three national parks we visited: Saguaro National Park 🌵 (pronounced “sah-WAH-ro”—the “g” is silent!). Often called the “giant cactus,” the saguaro is iconic in Arizona and Mexico. These cacti can grow up to 12 meters tall, bloom at 35 years old, and live for 150 years. They usually grow their “arms” between 75–100 years old 💪. They store massive amounts of water to survive desert droughts. The park is split into East and West districts—both worth exploring! Drive the loop, hike a trail, and catch a sunset among these gentle giants. It’s an unforgettable experience. 🌅🧡 ✈️ Attention aviation lovers: The Pima Air & Space Museum (open since 1976) is one of the largest privately funded aerospace museums in the world. Next door is the “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan AFB 🛩️—where retired aircraft are stored in Tucson’s dry climate (though it’s currently closed to the public due to COVID). Still, the sight from outside is impressive! The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is also a must-visit—it’s essentially a desert zoo and botanical garden 🌸🐾. The cactus garden is especially stunning, with countless varieties of cacti on display. Our trip ended too soon, but it left us with wonderful memories. On New Year’s Day, we returned home to the American South 🏡✈️. Can’t wait for the next adventure! Maybe I’ll share a food guide next time—the Mexican cuisine here is unreal! 🌮❤️ #Arizona #Tucson #TravelUSA #SaguaroNationalPark #DesertBeauty #AviationHistory