I am so glad we were able to squeeze in a few days in the Arizona sunshine before our annual trip to California this year. It’s hard to believe, but we haven’t been back to Tucson since we left over three years ago…we always intended to visit sooner, but I’m happy we finally made it work and hope we can visit more often moving forward.

Going back to Tucson after three years away was a lot like moving back to Omaha after our time in Arizona. So many new things. There are cocktail bars! Coffee shops! Farm-to-table restaurants! A streetcar! Downtown Tucson is actually a destination now, and the food and drink scene has completely taken off, so we were obviously in heaven. I know places always seem a million times cooler when you’re traveling and/or do not live there, but Tucson has really got it goin’ on.

Aside from spending time with old friends from grad school and our various jobs there, we stuck mostly to what we do best: eating and drinking, with a little bit of hiking mixed in. Below, a giant photo dump of our trip with tons of delicious food, visits to new breweries, mountain views and of course, a couple of selfies.

Tucson, we love you a lot and miss you and your people like crazy. Hope to be back soon for more sunshine and the best sunsets in the whole wide world.

Tucson, much like Omaha, is probably not high on your list of places to visit, but I’d recommend it, and not just because of my nostalgia for it. It’s a blue-collar town, a college town, but also becoming a great food town, developing an awesome brewery scene, and always has been an amazing place for hiking and cycling. A few of our old favorites plus some new spots we hit on this visit, all worth checking out, whether Tucson is a stop on your journey or is your final destination:

old favorites: tucson tamale (the best in the country) | eegee’s | buffet bar & crock pot (don’t ask, just go, and make sure you’re there for happy minute) | hub restaurant & ice creamery | seis kitchen | cartel coffee lab | la estrella bakery (get some tortillas to take home)

new(er) to drink: borderlands brewing co. | r bar (you’ll never see anywhere more red) | tough luck club (basement of reilly pizza) (ask for the bartender’s choice!) | good oak bar | proper | stella coffee | iron john’s brewing (well-balanced IPAs)

new(er) to eat: prep & pastry (a doughssaint is a must) | pizzeria bianco | ermanos (ceviche!) | blu (great cheese plate!)