What's New in Tucson – Spring 2014

Tasting Tucson's History. A group of volunteers is reviving Tucson's ancient agricultural heritage by recreating the Spanish colonial walled-garden that was part of the mission known as Tucson's birthplace. The Mission Garden is developing as an authentic, historically accurate living agricultural museum. Heirloom plants and living Timeline Gardens interpret 4,000 years of Tucson agriculture-the longest-known history of cultivation in the United States. The garden is stocked with rain-fed, Native American summer crops. The orchard of heritage trees was propagated with cultivars introduced by missionaries, and ancient varieties of corn and beans are growing in the Early Agricultural Area. The garden is open to visitors on Saturday mornings. tucsonsbirthplace.org

Downtown Dining Evolution. With some 50 established restaurants and more on the way, Downtown Tucson is serving up culinary adventure. Restaurants that opened within the last year include: Thunder Canyon Brewery, craft beer and food; Penca, Mexico City cuisine and international bar; Diablo Burger, beef and other ingredients sourced close to home; Proper, fresh food with quality ingredients from local and regional sources; Tap & Bottle, tasting room and bottle shop with craft beers, wines, and spirits; Good Oak Bar, with a focus on local farmers and ranchers and only-Arizona beers and wines; Saint House Rum Bar, featuring food from the Caribbean and anywhere else rum is produced; and due in the next few months, Pizzeria Bianco, from James Beard Award-winning pizza chef, Chris Bianco. See the complete list of restaurants on the Downtown Tucson Partnership website.

A Culinary Marathon. Some say the greatest contribution Tucson has made to America's culinary scene is the chimichanga, which was introduced at one of the city's restaurants in the 1950s. The classic chimichanga is a tortilla wrapped around chicken or refried beans or dried beef and shaped into a cylinder, then deep fried and topped with cheese, sour cream and salsa. Diners can sample a "chimi" at any of dozens of family-owned, Mexican-style restaurants throughout the city. A new website, The Best 23 Miles of Mexican Food, makes it easy to embark on a Tucson-style culinary marathon. best23milesofmexicanfood.com

Cozy Wine Bar Opens. A cozy wine bar has opened on hip Congress Street in Tucson's resurging downtown area. Unplugged Wine Bar is Tucson's newest, and its mission is to offer a comprehensive selection of high-quality handcrafted and certified-organic wines from around the world at prices that are right for all occasions. Wine tasting is a priority here and patrons who so desire will receive guidance in finding wines that fit their tastes, whether they enjoy an occasional glass of Chardonnay or want to learn more about new and different wines. The bar's motto is "There is no better way to learn about wine and what you like than to pull some corks and sip." unpluggedtucson.com

Not Your Typical Taco. Tucson's newest taco joint is wedged between the historical Rialto Theatre concert venue and a multi-story student housing complex at downtown Tucson's bustling east end. The not-to-be-missed local eatery advertises its name, Gio Taco, in hot-pink neon. On the menu are 12 kinds of tacos crafted with homemade corn tortillas and atypical fillings; the house taco is stuffed with coffee-chipotle rubbed and smoked pork belly, seared butternut squash and pumpkin-seed salsa. Other menu options include build-your-own burritos or burrito bowls, an array of zesty sides, homemade empanadas (fruit-filled pastries), and beer, wine and cocktails. Gio Taco is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A take-away window is open weekends until 2:30 a.m. Most meals are priced under $10. giotaco.com

Shop & Dine at Historic Landmark. Located adjacent to the Tucson Museum of Art complex in downtown Tucson, Old Town Artisans has been renovated. The 150-year-old adobe treasure of the El Presidio Historic District is home to unique shops featuring local and regional arts and crafts, a restaurant, a cantina, and a lovely courtyard with mature shade trees where live music is staged. Recently, this historic landmark has been transformed with a complete exterior remodel of the original adobe, including new stucco and paint, new exterior doors and new roofs on all the buildings. The main restaurant has been remodeled and is now a pub, and three new galleries have been added. Old Town Artisans is located on the former stables area of El Presidio San Agustín del Tucson, the fort begun by the Spanish in 1775; construction of the stable buildings was begun in the 1850s. oldtownartisans.com

Tucson Modern Streetcar. The City of Tucson has completed construction on its first electric railway streetcar route. The Sun Link Tucson Modern Streetcar will connect major activity centers in central Tucson -- the University of Arizona, Fourth Avenue, Main Gate Square, Downtown Tucson and Mercado District -- along a 3.9-mile route featuring 18 stops adorned with public art and LED poetry panels. Tucson's eight streetcar vehicles are part of the first order of vehicles made in the United States in nearly 60 years, meeting 'Buy America' requirements. This project is part of Tucson's regional plan for a multi-modal transportation system that offers bike lanes and paths, new sidewalks and greenways, and added transit service. It is currently in its testing phase, will be ready for passengers in the summer of 2014. tucsonstreetcar.com

Rediscovered Heart of Tucson. Broadway Village, at Broadway Boulevard and Country Club Road, in midtown Tucson, was the first shopping center in Arizona, records show. Built in 1939, the Spanish-Mission-Revival-style plaza is a historical Tucson architectural landmark currently being revitalized through a new dynamic group of local merchants offering one-of-a-kind shopping, dining, salon, and workout experiences. Expected to join the nine current tenants this spring are two new merchants: Sidecar (a cozy new craft-beer and cocktail bar) and Cashew Cow (a frozen-dessert shop serving healthy and indulgent cashew-based treats). Browse the shops and learn about the Friday morning farmers' market at Broadway Village on broadwayvillagetucson.com.

Desert Museum Accolades. Recently, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum made Conde Nast Traveler's list of top museums with activities for "kids who love dinosaurs." TripAdvisor rounded up the 10 best public gardens in the U.S., according to traveler reviews and opinions and named Desert Museum No. 5, noting,  "...dedicated to the conservation of the Sonoran Desert, you'll find more than 1,200 species of plants in this botanical garden." The list features gardens from coast to coast, so flower lovers across the U.S. can enjoy an amazing botanical experience. desertmuseum.org

World's Best Aviation Museum. You can walk among giants of aviation history at Pima Air & Space Museum, the largest non-government-funded aviation museum in the United States and one of the largest in the world. The museum, located on 200 acres in dry southeastern Tucson, maintains a collection of more than 300 aircraft and spacecraft from around the globe and more than 125,000 artifacts. Visitors can explore the museum's five massive hangars, sprawling airfield, memorial museum, and nearby aircraft restoration center ("the boneyard") on walking, tram and bus tours. The museum was chosen by a panel of aviation experts to be included "World's 14 best aviation museums," a list published on CNN.com earlier this year. pimaair.org

See and Share Tucson. The award-winning University of Arizona Science Geotourism Initiative has launched a new community-sourced website that celebrates Tucson's biodiversity with an ever-changing exhibition of photos.SeeTucson.org provides a feast for the eyes, resources for inquisitive minds and an opportunity for photography enthusiasts who use Instagram to share their nature photographs of Tucson and the southern Arizona region. Images are categorized by subject, with pages for mammals, birds, butterflies, cactus, flowers, insects and spiders, landscape, moon, plants, reptiles, rocks and minerals, stars, sun, water and weather. The public is invited to share photos on Instagram using hashtag #seeTucson. For more information, visit SeeTucson.org and click on "See and Share Tucson" in the top right corner of the page.

Urban Hiking & Biking Trail. Recent progress has increased to 100 miles the length of The Loop, a multi-use trail being developed around Tucson/Pima County. A key link in the trail was completed last summer, connecting the Santa Cruz River Park with the Julian Wash Greenway. At the new junction, there are mesquite tree-shaded parks and sites once occupied by a prehistoric community. Work is ongoing to add more miles of trails that follow the banks of dry riverbeds throughout the city/county. Eventually, The Loop will encompass 131 miles, and provide a continuous car-free trail for the enjoyment of cyclists, runners, walkers, skaters, horseback riders and bird watchers. pima.gov/theloop

El Tour de Tucson. Organized annually by Perimeter Bicycling Association of America on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. "El Tour" is Tucson & Southern Arizona's largest perimeter cycling event, attracting roughly 9,000 cyclists of all ages and abilities from throughout the United States and worldwide; and consisting of novice, intermediate, advanced, and professional riders. Participants cycle main event distances of 111, 85, 60 or 42 miles, or choose the Fun Ride 6, 3 or 1/4-miles. Main event routes show off Sonoran Desert scenery. Course profiles range from flat to rolling or moderately hilly, though the 40-mile route is basically flat and a great family affair or a perfect first event for beginners. perimeterbicycling.com

Desert Palms Adorn Tohono Chul. Palm species that are native to the Sonoran Desert are the focus of the new Desert Palm Oasis garden at Tohono Chul Park, recognized as one of the world's great botanical gardens. The new garden incorporates brahea, sabal and Washingtonia palms - usually found isolated in narrow canyons along the coast of the Sea of Cortez near Guaymas, Mexico - with other native plants of these canyons, such as rock fig and Nacapule jasmine, along with a spring-fed stream that will support a population of endangered native fish. Visitors have an opportunity to discover the beauty and rich biodiversity of this rare Sonoran Desert habitat. For details, click here or visit tohonochulpark.org.

Wellness Retreats Recognized. Tucson's two celebrated destination spas, secluded in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, once again have been recognized for their unique and rejuvenating experiences. Both Canyon Ranch and Miraval were listed among the 12 best wellness resorts in "The World's Best Wellness Retreats," on TheActiveTimes.com, in October. According to the listing: Canyon Ranch, a pioneer in healthy lifestyle education since 1979, "goes above and beyond the typical vacation by promising a path to achieving true health and vitality; while Miraval, at which "mindfulness" has always been the core philosophy, "leaves no area of health, wellness or fitness uncovered." theactivetimes.com/worlds-best-wellness-retreats

Canyon Ranch Celebrates 35 Years. A world-class destination health spa resort founded in Tucson will celebrate its 35th anniversary year in business in 2014. The original Canyon Ranch, surrounded by scenic wilderness in the Santa Catalina Mountain foothills in northeast Tucson, will participate in a yearlong program of special activities, services and promotions that honor its role as a pioneer in the spa and wellness industry. Among the innovative wellness activities soon to be added to Canyon Ranch's menu of services are Desert Ritual (using aloe, jojoba, prickly pear, and other native Sonoran Desert ingredients to relax, nourish, exfoliate, and moisturize skin) and Aerial Hammock Yoga (a fabric hammock prop helps students obtain correct form safely but faster than usual). canyonranch.com

Notah Begay Golf Course Opens. More than 30,000 Sonoran Desert flowers, cacti and other native plants have been incorporated into landscaping at Sewailo Golf Club, Tucson's newest golf course at Casino Del Sol Resort, an enterprise of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. Sewailo, meaning "flower world" in the Pascua Yaqui language, was designed by Notah Begay III, a Native American PGA Tour player and Golf Channel commentator. The 200-acre golf course measures 7,400 yards from the championship tees and features five different tee boxes at each hole. Rolling fairways and greens complement nearly 14 acres of lakes, streams and water features. Sewailo Golf Club is open to casino resort guests and the public. sewailogolfclub.com