If you haven't been here yet, you've missed a lot. I won't encourage you to visit during the summer because the daytime temperatures can be pretty uncomfortable – 100 to 105. Of course, night time is much better 75 to 80. Sooo, during the summer you need to run air conditioning only from about sunrise to the next sunrise. But, enough about summer – you probably want to visit Yellowstone, Shenandoah, Alaska, or Minnesota during the summer anyway.

From October to April the daytime high temperature ranges from the mid 60s in December and January to the mid 80s in October and April. Even May with its average high of 90 is comfortable. After all, “It's a dry heat.” Rainfall averages less than an inch a month from November through June, so outdoor activites are usually scheduled without an “in case of rain” announcement.

March and April are my favorite months in Tucson because of the mild temperatures and low chance of rain. By March the trees (yes, we have trees) are nicely green and the flowers are in full bloom. Many public areas plant large plots of flowers that vibrate with vivid colors especially during these months.

Sooo, you can sit by the pool at the motel or the rv park, read, and work on your tan, or you can enjoy the abundant outdoor beauty found in and around this desert city. Most people visit the San Xavier del Bac Mission, the “White Dove of the Desert,” just south of town. The Mission is an active church, so don't be surprised to see worshippers there at any time. If you visit on a weekend, you will probably have the opportunity to purchase Indian Fry Bread topped with honey or sugar and cinnamon, or rolled around various southwestern favorites. (Booths are set up in the parking lot.) Another mission, Tumacacori, is just fifty miles south of Tucson on Interstate 19. It is not an active church, but is part of the Tumacacori National Historical Park (free entry with your Golden Age passport). The buildings have not been restored but have been maintained so the structure is easily visible. http://www.nps.gov/tuma/ is the National Park Service site for Tumacacori.

Less than two hours southeast of Tucson is Bisbee, a very interesting mining town. The Copper Queen Hotel was built over a hundred years ago to accommodate and entertain important visitors and investors in the local mines. It is quite a fascinating place to visit and perhaps stay over night. Within a mile of the Copper Queen Hotel is the Queen mine. Tours into the underground mine on a train designed to carry the miners to and from the facings they worked is available for $13 for adults and $5.50 for children. http://www.discoverbisbee.com/