US Airways - December 2012 - (Page 65)

C Experience The Real Southwest BY EDIE JAROLIM lose your eyes and daydream about the Southwest. Sweeping deserts, glowing sunsets, real cowboys. Tucson Ten miles south of downtown Tucson, Mission San Xavier del Bac, the 200-year-old “White Dove of the Desert,” glows in the moonlight. Phrases like “Native American and Spanish heritage” and “authentic Mexican food” also come to mind. Depending on how you like to relax, “golf,” “spas,” “resorts,” and “shopping” might have ﬂoated to your consciousness, too. Good news — it’s not just the stuff of daydreams. There’s a destination that embodies the distinctive beauty, rich history, and leisurefriendly lifestyle of the real Southwest: Tucson and Southern Arizona. Tucson rests in a valley sandwiched between two sections of Saguaro National Park, ringed by ﬁve mountain ranges and punctuated with swathes of pristine desert. And the city’s consistently warm, sunny weather lets you enjoy its outdoor attractions year-round. In addition to the national park, where you can hike and bike among the iconic cacti or view petroglyphs on Signal Hill, these attractions include Sabino Canyon, with narrated tram rides through the desert-meets-forest landscape, and the ArizonaSonora Desert Museum, a world-renowned zoo and desert botanical garden on 21 acres. You’d be hard-pressed to ﬁnd world-class accommodations that take better advantage of their natural setting, and not just with sweeping patio and poolside vistas. For example, spotting wildlife is part of the fun and challenge of teeing off at the city’s top resorts, including the Hilton El Conquistador, Westin La Paloma, Omni Tucson National, Tubac Golf Resort, Loews Ventana Canyon, JW Marriott Starr Pass, the Lodge at Ventana Canyon, and the RitzCarlton, Dove Mountain. Note: If a bunny or a bevy of quails moves your golf ball, you can take a mulligan. And it’s no coincidence that Miraval and Canyon Ranch, internationally famed destination spas, chose Tucson as their home. The desert has long been known as a healing place, usairwaysmag.com DECEMBER 2012 65 http://www.usairwaysmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - December 2012

Table of Contents
CEO Letter
From the Editor
Did You Know?
Making It Happen
Hot Spots: New Year's Eve
Hub Crawl: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Wine & Dine: Holiday Spirits
Wine & Dine: Beaudevin Wine Bar, Charlotte, NC
Adventure: Creek Ranch, Florida
Adventure: Palm Springs Golf
Great Escapes: Universal Orlando® Resort
Gear Up: Gifts for Good
Travel Feature: Into the Yucatán
Mapping It Out: US Airways' Route Planning Department
University Spotlight: University of California, Berkeley
Great Tastes: College Eats
Celebrate Tucson, AZ
Must Read: The Socialstructed World
Special Section: Kentucky
Great Dates
Puzzles
Readers Resource Index
Your US Airways Guide
Video Entertainment
Audio Entertainment
U.S. and Caribbean Service Map
International Service Map
Airport Terminal Maps
US Airways Fleet/Customs & Immigration
Passenger Info/Contact US Airways
US Airways MarketPlace®
Window or Aisle?

US Airways - December 2012