My favorite restaurants:

Vivace – St Philips Plaza (corner of River and Campbell) 4310 N Campbell 520-795-7221 (recommend reservations); closed on Sunday

Montana Ave – 6390 N Grant– sleek and contemporary-my favorite place to go for lunch (no need for reservations).

Hacienda Del Sol – 5601 N Hacienda Del Sol Rd– also a Guest Ranch–gorgeous views of the multiple desert mountain ranges and the Sonoran Desert–the best brunch in all of Pima County–reservations 520-529-3500.

Tohono Chul Park Tea Room –  7366 N Paseo Del Norte – near the corner of Oracle and Ina– a fantastic breakfast or lunch place with museum, gift shop and award winning botanical garden.

Dos Silos Mexican Cantena – Tubac in the Tubac Golf Resort – 1 hour south of Tucson off Route 19.

Elvira’s – I’ve heard people rave about this new restaurant; owners moved their business from Sonora, Mexico since business has slowed there. Go there for fine, Mexican food and visit historical Tubac with its fast multiple artist galleries and slightly North of the Border fine shops.

Places to visit:

Arizona Desert Museum – 2021 N Kinney Rd – Open every day – this zoo and botanical garden has won many honors and a trip to Tucson is not complete without a walk through this splendid place. See the bobcats, mountain lions, big horn sheep, hummingbirds, reptiles and much more surrounded by multiple saguaro cacti in the vast Sonoran Desert.

Sabino Canyon – 5900 Sabino Canyon Rd. Closed Christmas. Has a 9 stop tram that goes up the mountain and offers a 45 minute narrated tour; see the splendor of the Catalina Mountains with vast vegetation and wildlife.

San Xavier Mission Church – 9 miles south of Tucson off of Route 19 (on the way to Tubac). The “White Dove in the Desert”; it is the oldest active Roman Catholic Church in the US and is located on the Tohono O’odham Native American Community. Indian Jewelry sold in the square. Visit the Museum Shop. Gorgeous 18th century church that has been recently restored.