Tucson is Value & Quality
Tucson is an upscale golf region in the desert with lovely mountain vistas in every direction and has some of Arizona’s finest golf resorts and courses. The region has been a sleeper for decades in the golf travel arena but that days have long past since the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour and Champions Tour has shown the world just what golf in Tucson is all about. There are dozens of great places to stay & play with plenty of golf travel packages to choose from. One of the finest properties is Omni Tucson National Resort.
The 4-pearl Omni Tucson National Resort has a beautiful, 650-acre desert setting west of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Golf is a major focus here, and one of the two 18-hole courses served as a PGA tournament course for over 40 years. The resort offers extensive amenities aside from golf, however, including a big pool, a 13,000-square-foot spa, three restaurants, and tennis. Mountain Vista Rooms have upscale southwestern decor, while the Haciendas are larger but farther from the lobby and in need of an update will be available in the future after renovation. The Omni Tucson National Resort is an upscale resort that caters to golfers. The 650-acre property has only 79 rooms, so the crowds that can accompany the larger golf resorts in Tucson will not be seen at the Omni. The relaxed atmosphere and excellent views of the Santa Catalina Mountains make this a peaceful desert retreat. The two 18-hole golf courses on the property are very different. The Catalina is a throwback to an earlier era, before target golf became popular, and features rolling hills and lakes. The Catalina hosted the PGA Tour’s Tucson Open from the 1960s until 2006. The Sonora course is more modern and features a challenging target-style course that winds through rugged desert.
There are plenty of other activities for non-golfers, including tennis, basketball, shuffleboard, sand volleyball, and more, plus a huge fitness center. A large pool area with cabana rentals and a bar is lined with date palm trees. The 13,000-square-foot spa offers a full range of services, and features a whirlpool, steam room, sauna, and cold plunge pool. There are three restaurants on-site: an upscale steak house, a sports bar with a billiard table and cigars, and a breakfast restaurant with outdoor patio.
The Omni Tucson National Resort is located in northwest Tucson and offers lovely view of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The resort is surrounded by residential neighborhoods, so a vehicle is essential for seeing anything beyond the property.
Tucson is the second-biggest city in Arizona and perhaps its most culturally rich. Though officially founded in 1776, Tucson was first settled in the late 1600s by Spanish missionaries (most notably at the beautiful Mission San Xavier del Bac, the region’s most iconic structure), and 4000 years earlier by Hohokam Indians. It is said to be one of the longest continuously-inhabited cities in the USA, known since its inception as the “Old Pueblo.” Sitting at 2,400 feet in a broad valley between five different mountain ranges, Tucson enjoys on average 350 sunny days per year and an arid climate that produces one of the most diverse desert environments in the world. The Sonoran Desert features the stately saguaro cactus, which is celebrated at Saguaro National Park on the city’s outskirts, and many other varieties of cacti and unique wildlife including a few notable desert dwellers, such as rattlesnakes, Gila Monsters, and Giant Desert Hairy Scorpions. There was even a 2009 sighting of a rare jaguar.
With all that sunshine, Tucson is an outdoor lover’s paradise. Scores of golf courses dot the city. Hiking possibilities are limitless and year-round in the Santa Catalina and Santa Rita Mountains nearby, with Sabino Canyon Recreation Area being a local favorite. Mountain bikers come to Tucson by the thousands for the miles of single-track trails in the desert. Bird-watchers can explore some of the richest avian populations in North America in nearby secluded canyons. And there’s even a ski area among fir and pine trees atop Mt. Lemmon, which has an elevation of more than 9,000 feet.
Sitting at 2,400 feet in a broad valley between five different mountain ranges, Tucson enjoys on average 350 sunny days per year and an arid climate that produces one of the most diverse desert environments in the world. The Sonoran Desert features the stately saguaro cactus, which is celebrated at Saguaro National Park on the city’s outskirts, and many other varieties of cacti and unique wildlife including a few notable desert dwellers, such as rattlesnakes, Gila Monsters, and Giant Desert Hairy Scorpions. There was even a 2009 sighting of a rare jaguar. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum has wildlife and flora on display and is the best place to learn more.
