Very Long Mom/Daughter 3 Day Trip Report

Question

My thirtysomething daughter and I were in Tucson from 5/4/25-5/7/25. We had a wonderful time during our short trip. I learned a lot from reading this forum, so I wanted to share our experiences in case they might help others plan their trips.

I apologize for the length, but I couldn’t help myself.

The weather was absolutely perfect, with highs in the low 70’s during our entire trip. I know this is not normal for May in Tucson, and I’m so glad we got lucky.

Because our trip was so short, we stayed on Indiana time instead of trying to adjust to Tucson time. We ate dinner early, but that didn’t bother us since it also made it easy to get up an out before the crowds.

Day 1 - Sunday, May 4th

We took a direct flight from Indy to Phoenix and picked up our rental car. I’ve read different opinions about flying directly to Tucson. For us, I preferred flying to Phoenix. I don’t like layovers, and the drive gave us more of a chance to see the countryside. This was my second trip to the southwest, and my daughter’s first, so for us, the drive was interesting.

Along the way, we stopped at Casa Grande Ruins. (Note, if you ask your navigator to enter Casa Grande into her phone, make sure to specify Casa Grande Ruins. If you don’t, you may make a brief detour to the city of Casa Grande.)

It was a very enjoyable stop for us. Seeing the ancient ruins and learning a bit about the people who built them gave us an interesting perspective on the area’s history. Because the site is small, we didn’t stay long.

Our next stop was Tag’s Cafe for lunch, a friendly diner with reasonably priced breakfast and lunch options. Once we were fed, we stopped at Rooster Cogburn’s Ostrich Ranch to feed some critters.

We wanted to take the Monster Truck tour, but we missed their last tour. Instead, we did the petting zoo. It was hokey, but it was fun, even for two adult women. Who doesn’t love hand feeding cute donkeys, sheep, goats, tortoises and bunnies? The lorikeets were the best. But my daughter and I were both slightly intimidated by the ostriches. After seeing all the “Ostriches Bite” signs, we tossed their food into their trays from a safe distance.

Next we drove to our hotel, Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch. We arrived about an hour before check in, but luckily our room was ready, and they gave us the key.

We were in Hacienda room 97. To the east, it overlooked a valley which sparkled with lights at night. To the northeast we saw beautiful sunrises over the mountains every morning. The room had a balcony, 2 queen beds, a small closet area near the door, and 2 separate vanities, so there was plenty of room for us to stretch out.

After getting settled in our room, we took a quick dip in one of the hotel pools. It was relaxing to soak in the water an enjoy the view of the mountains.

We were tired after our day of traveling, so we ate dinner at the hotel’s Terrazzo Garden Patio and Lounge. We were there during happy hour, so we got a couple of drink specials with our meals. The food was good, and the setting was beautiful.

The grounds at Hacienda Del Sol are truly lovely. The flowers, fountains, landscaping, and views are charming. We enjoyed being able to take a short stroll from our room to find a peaceful seating area to relax or play a lawn game.

Back in our room, we watched a portion of a Harry Potter movie while we chatted.

Day 2 - Monday, May 5th

We both woke up very early. We had breakfast at Bisbee Breakfast Cafe, where I enjoyed the blueberry granola pancakes. At the Safeway across the street we bought picnic supplies, beverages, and other snacks.

After dropping the extra supplies off at our hotel room, we drove to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. This was my favorite activity on this trip.

When we arrived, the parking lot was nearly empty and the weather was cool. The grounds were beautifully landscaped and the animal exhibits were interesting. Anytime we stopped to check the map, a helpful guide was there to give us advice. We stayed mostly on the paved trails and did not do the desert loop trail. I have a bad knee so I am a little limited on how far I can walk.

When we left, the museum was getting crowded and the parking lot was filling up. I’m glad I followed the advice from this forum to arrive at the museum at opening time.

Our next stop was Saguaro National Park West. After buying our pass and a couple of souvenirs at the visitor center, we drove the Bajada Loop. We stopped for lunch at a picnic table at Signal Hill. After lunch, we climbed the short Signal Hill Trail to see the petroglyphs at the top, which were in easy view of the trail. We also enjoyed close up views of the white saguaro blossoms that were just beginning to open on the tips of the cacti.

Then we were off to San Xavier Mission. This was a quick stop for us, but worth it, because it is gorgeous. It was nice to see a little more of the local history.

We went back to our hotel for a brief rest before out 5:30 pm reservations at El Charro downtown. This was my favorite meal of the trip. Our server was friendly and helpful. We ordered a couple of happy hour drinks, and I had the Carne Seca Relleno, which I enjoyed very much.

After dinner, it was back to the hotel for a some conversation and HGTV before an early bedtime.

Day 3 - Tuesday May 6th

We had breakfast at Baja Cafe. I ordered the Shaggy Snack, with a side of mixed berries. Both were very tasty.

We had 9 am reservations for the Sabino Canyon Crawler. There were only two other people on the crawler, so it was a peaceful ride to the top of the trail. We enjoyed the narration.

We got off at the top, and walked all the way back down. With my bad knee it was a bit challenging, but I’m glad we did it. However, the last stretch between Stop 1 and the parking lot is the least interesting part and includes the only uphill section. It’s also longer than I thought it would be. If I did this walk again with a bad knee, I would probably wait at Stop 1 to catch the crawler back to the parking lot.

Even though it is a wide, paved trail, we really enjoyed the desert scenery we saw during our walk. We even spotted a group of coatis along the trail. One adult and a couple of babies ran into the shrubbery quickly, while the other adult lingered long enough for us to get several pictures.

I enjoyed seeing all other people using the trail. We encountered families with strollers, fit joggers running uphill, and many others in groups or alone taking their morning walks. One friendly fellow even stopped and told us a Dad joke as he jogged by. Of course, I had to tell him a Dad joke back.

Next, we drove up Mount Lemmon. I am afraid of heights, so my daughter kindly offered to drive. To placate my anxiety, she drove slowly. The road wasn’t busy, but whenever another car got stuck behind us, there was always a place where she could pull off and let them pass.

The scenic outlooks were spectacular. It was fun to watch the desert turn to pine forests as we climbed the mountain. Near the top, we drove into the clouds. The fog cleared before we reached Mount Lemmon Lodge, where we stopped for lunch at Beyond Bread.

The lodge had a few other diners seated around a cozy fireplace. Our sandwiches were good, but we couldn’t finish them so we each took half our our sandwich to go.

The drive down the mountain was just as beautiful. That afternoon, we took the historical tour offered by Hacienda Del Sol. We both enjoyed learning about the years it was used as an exclusive girls’ boarding school.

For dinner, we sat on our patio and finished the rest of our sandwiches, making up stories about the girls who attended the boarding school. Then we had another quiet evening as we watched Chopped.

Day 4 - Wednesday, May 7th

Before checking out, we had breakfast at the Grill restaurant onsite. We were seated with a lovely view of the mountains. After breakfast, we took one last walk around the grounds to enjoy the beautiful gardens.

We had an afternoon flight, so we stopped at the Heard Museum in Phoenix before driving to the airport. We enjoyed the displays of artwork, weaving, and pottery on the first level. But we felt the best part of the museum was the 2nd level exhibit about boarding schools, even though it utterly depressing. I’m glad we had time to visit this museum before we left Arizona.

If you’ve made it this far, you have a lot of reading stamina.

Thanks again to all the regular contributors on this forum who made our trip such a success.

Answer

It sounds like you and your daughter had an amazing trip to Tucson, and I'm glad to hear the weather was perfect for your visit! Your detailed trip report will definitely be helpful to others planning a similar trip. Here are a few thoughts and suggestions based on your experience:

Day 1 - Sunday, May 4th:
It’s great that you started your trip with a scenic drive from Phoenix to Tucson. Casa Grande Ruins was a perfect stop to learn about the region’s history, and I’m glad you found it enjoyable despite its small size. The mention of the wrong "Casa Grande" is helpful—sometimes GPS can take you to the city instead of the ruins! Rooster Cogburn’s Ostrich Ranch sounds like a fun, quirky stop, even if the Monster Truck tour didn’t work out. It’s always nice to interact with animals, and I can see why the lorikeets were a highlight. And, of course, a bit of distance from the ostriches is a good call! Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch is such a beautiful property. It’s great that you had a relaxing evening and could enjoy the lovely views and hotel amenities.

Day 2 - Monday, May 5th:
You packed in a lot of wonderful experiences on Day 2! I completely agree with your recommendation to arrive early at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. It really is a top attraction in Tucson, and early arrival helps avoid the crowds. The museum is well-known for its excellent exhibits and well-maintained grounds. I love how you followed up with Saguaro National Park West, which offers amazing desert views and an up-close look at the iconic saguaro cacti. The petroglyphs on the Signal Hill Trail are also a great bonus stop, and it’s nice that you got to experience those. I’m sure your meal at El Charro downtown was a highlight as well; it’s a Tucson institution!

Day 3 - Tuesday, May 6th:
Your adventure continued with another scenic experience at Sabino Canyon. The Sabino Canyon Crawler is a fun way to explore the area, and I’m glad you had a peaceful ride before the crowds arrived. Walking down the trail after the ride sounds like a rewarding experience, despite the challenge it presented with your knee. The sighting of coatis is always a treat! Then the drive up Mount Lemmon sounds spectacular. As you mentioned, it’s a great place to watch the desert turn into pine forests as you gain elevation. Stopping for lunch at Beyond Bread in Mount Lemmon Lodge was a nice touch—perfect for a break in such a beautiful setting. The historical tour of Hacienda Del Sol sounds fascinating as well, and I can imagine how enjoyable it must have been to learn about its history as a girls’ boarding school.

Day 4 - Wednesday, May 7th:
It seems like you wrapped up your trip in a lovely, relaxed way with a final breakfast overlooking the mountains. Visiting the Heard Museum in Phoenix was a nice way to end the trip and learn more about Native American culture. While it can be tough to process the boarding school exhibit, it’s an important part of history, and I’m glad you found it meaningful. You did a fantastic job of balancing outdoor activities with cultural experiences, making for a very well-rounded trip.

Overall Thoughts:
It seems like your trip was both active and insightful, with a good mix of hiking, wildlife sightings, and historical stops. You made smart choices by arriving early to popular attractions like the Desert Museum to beat the crowds, and you also found time for unique experiences like the Sabino Canyon Crawler and the Mount Lemmon drive. Your choice of Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch also seems ideal for relaxation after your busy days. I’m sure the peaceful gardens and beautiful scenery added a lot to your experience. Thanks for sharing your detailed itinerary! It will be a great resource for future travelers.

And don’t worry about the length of your report—it’s always helpful to get a detailed and personal account of a trip, especially when it comes to sharing logistics and recommendations for accommodations and attractions. Hopefully, it helps others plan their own Tucson adventures!

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