Jewelry Designer Kathleen Whitaker’s Tucson Travel Guide

“Previous annual excursions to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, held late January every year, have typically involved explorations in and around Scottsdale and Sedona en route to the show.  With recommendations from my LA friend, Ruth—originally a native of Tucson—I finally cracked the code and uncovered the real gems Tucson has to offer."

“Start the day with an excellent latte from Presta housed in a discrete, austere building it shares with an architectural firm. The space was laptop and male-dominated, and the latte was served up with friendly small talk. Double down later for a second dose of caffeine at EXO, which serves delicious espresso by day and turns into a mezcal bar on weekend nights.”

“Also on 6th Street—next to EXO Coffee—is Desert Vintage, which offers a small, curated selection of vintage fashions in a really beautiful, serene space. Interspersed around the store were a few design and art books.  I left with a Barbara Hepworth hardcover.

To continue my art-book-hunt, the lovely shopgirl suggested I walk two blocks to The Book Stop. A browser’s paradise, it specializes in used, rare and out-of-print books including a robust design & architecture selection.”

“Poca Cosa is a well-known and well-loved restaurant, always packed for lunch and dinner. The younger sister of its proprietor covers the earlier part of the day, serving breakfast and lunch only over at The Little One. I had the chicken soup and will dream about it for 364 days until my return. No customer leaves without a warm and genuine embrace and the tip jar is actually a fund-raising tool for the local homeless population.”

“North America’s largest collection of fine art photographs is housed in Tucson at the Center for Creative Photography. It was opened in 1975 with the archives of five living master photographers: Ansel Adams, Wynn Bullock, Harry Callahan, Aaron Siskind, and Frederick Sommer. It has since grown to include over five million archival objects—negatives, work prints, contact sheets, albums—representing the work of over 2,200 photographers."

“Over the course of nearly a month, gemstone and mineral showcases populate Tucson with multiple locations all over the city. Industry-oriented precious gemstones are the focus at AGTA, GJX, whereas more rough and organic forms (petrified wood, mineral specimens, fossils) abound at the Holidome, Riverpark Inn, and Tucson City Center.”

“One of the most fun stops is the African Art Village where handicrafts, textiles, baskets, and, yes, beads are on offer from all over the continent.  The new location for the African Art Village is just across the street from Mercado San Agustin, an open courtyard building with restaurants, bakeries, and cafes.”

“Cushing Street—conveniently situated across from AGTA’s location at the Tucson Convention Center in the Barrio Viejo neighborhood—is the perfect spot for when gemstone fatigue kicks in. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the oldest most charming parts of the building dating back to the 1860s.  The food, service and cocktails are equally delightful. This is a favorite for locals and out-of-towners alike.

The Coronet in the Iron Horse neighborhood is a brasserie-style bistro. A departure from the regional Mexican fare that abounds, it is a solid stop for a quick aperitif.

“Like many tourists, I have found morose fascination walking the grounds of Père Lachaise. Similar to Paris, Tucson has its own famous cemetery: the Boneyard, the largest airplane graveyard in the world. A huge airfield houses the nation’s retired militarized aircraft: planes, jets, helicopters, and space shuttles—currently more than 4,400 in total. A security clearance is now required for admittance, so reservations to tour it must be made at least ten days in advance—fair warning for the spontaneous types.”

“As a rule of thumb, I don’t think you can go wrong with a pink hotel (case in point: Hotel Bel-Air, the Mount Nelson, the Royal Hawaiian, etc.), and such is the case with The Arizona Inn. Also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the property has a main building and a cluster of casitas and villas, connected through beautifully landscaped gardens and courtyards. Arguably, the inn has preserved every ounce of its original, authentic charm and style, perhaps most demonstrative in the very elegant library room.”