As I have said  on my website, Tucson is a city with a small town feel.  It is impacted by the University of Arizona and Pima Community College.   The city has a collegiate atmosphere and because of both schools, Tucson is a big sports town.   Basketball and football are huge sport for both the men’s and women’s teams, but  baseball is also good  winter-spring sport, both spring training for major leagues as well as college baseball. 

Biking is not just a sport, but a means of transportation for many individuals.  Tucson is one  of the premier cities which emphasizes biking as a mode of transportation as well as sport.  Home to El Tour de Tucson, an internationally famous bike race held every November, Tucson welcomes guests for biking holidays.  Bikers can be seen most any time of year, road riding, or mountain biking.  Just recently Lance Armstrong and his team were in Tucson for several weeks practicing for another international event.  Some hotels have bikes for casual riding, and the myriad of bike shops offer bike rentals by the day, week, or month.

Flanked by mountain ranges; the Catalinas to the north-northeast;, the Rincons to the east; and the Tucson Mountains to the south, hiking trails abound at all levels of difficulty and lengths.  From casual walking on not very steep grades, to rigorous day long hikes, Tucson is your town!  And there are trails at all elevations, 2400 feet about sea level which Tucson is, to more than 8,000 feet above sea level which is the top of the Catalina Mountains at Mount Lemmon.  This provides for hiking in all types of vegetation and geological formations, from stately saguaros to lofty pines.

And Golf…golf is a huge sport and Tucson is home to Accenture Match Play held in February.  Top golfers congregate at the Dove Mountain Ritz Carlton golf course for the last man standing championship.  Spectator tickets are available and Match Play draws capacity crowds.  But for those who want to play golf and not be a spectator, Tucson offers both excellent city courses at reasonable pricing, as well as an plethora of private courses, many designed by noted golfers. 

These are a few reasons which entice people to Tucson, and why Tucsonons love their city.  I’ll continue with this love affair I have with my city tomorrow.  But for readers wanting information immediately, or wanting a relocation package, contact me at terry@terrybishop,com and let me know and I’ll get one in the mail to you pronto.  Leave your name and address and it will arrive in your post box priority mail.

Resources:

Tucson Convention and Visitor’s Bureau:   http://www.visittucson.org

Accenture Match Play:     http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r470/

Biking in Tucson:   http://tucsonbiking.com/

Hiking in Tucson:  http://www.localhikes.com/MSA/MSA_8520.asp

Tucson Golf Courses:  http://www.tucsongolfcourses.net/

The Ritz Carlton Dove Mountain has opened its doors and vies as another world class establishment.  Situated against the Tortolita Mountains in Dove Mountain, the hotel picks its colors from the Sonora Desert and the Southwest.

The Ritz Carlton is located north of  the Gallery, for which Accenture Match Play is famous.  The Accenture Golf Classic pits the best golfers in the world against each other and is an international draw for golfing afficianados.  Now golfers will have a world class place in which to hob nob about the tournament and the course designed by Jack Nicklaus, and the course played by Ritz Carlton guests.

Only a little more than seven miles east of I-10 off of Tangerine and north on Dove Mountain Boulevard, the ride to the Ritz Carlton meanders up Dove Mountain, past new master planned communities, and rises into a land of saguaros, a signature of the Sonora Desert.  Nearly to the end of Dove Mountain Boulevard is the turnoff to the Ritz Carlton, and one climbs further into the moutain, past the guard gate.  The land is pristine, craggy with rock formations and typical Sonora Desert vegetation providing green contrasts of sage, cacti, deset marigold,  brittle bush, and creosote.

The hotel has several patios which face the mountains, and the main lobby glass window fronts to the mountains, providing  a spectacular view of mountainous desert scenery.  It is not a contradiction that the mountains are in the desert.   The Sonora Desert is not like the Gobi or Sahara; a living green desert is often its moniker.

Situated so one can go out at night and overlook the city lights of Tucson, or stand at the entrance to the hotel and watch a spectacular sunset, the Ritz Carlton has left as much of the desert natural as possible; therefore the resort can offer adventures in hiking and bking many resorts, not attuned to the environment, cannot.   The normal resort ammenties are also available; pools, exercise rooms,  golfing, and of course a full service spa for ultimate pampering.

Unlike a city property, there are acres and acres to explore.  Not only are there rooms and suites, but there are also casitas available for those guests who would like to stay for longer periods of time.  Locals can enjoy breakfast and the scenery, or a leisurely lunch with friends on the patio, or for those who want a night on the town, dinner is scrumptious.

We welcome another world class establishment!   Salude to the Dove Mountain Ritz Carlton!  May you live long and prosper!