Tucson is a top birdwatching destination

Warblers, flycatchers, pewees, trogons – not exactly words you find in the typical glossy brochure. But to devoted birders, they’re irresistible.

The region’s many birding groups – including the Tucson Audubon Society and the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory – divide the year into five seasons, each with different species to scout. We’re now deep into spring, when songbirds stop in on their flights north; the hummingbirds are back; and owling is in full swing. The next big season for birding begins in August, as monsoon rains transform the Sonoran Desert almost overnight, making it irresistible to winged visitors (and to photographers).

But, really, anytime is a good time for birdwatching in Tucson. More than 400 species regularly visit throughout the year, making Southern Arizona one of the most rewarding North American birding destinations. This link shows you some of the bird species that call Tucson home.

Some feathered families have even taken up residence in Westward Look, nestled as we are on 80 quiet acres in the Catalina Mountain foothills. Come for a visit, and you’ll see that not only are we within a short drive of several birdwatching areas (as well as renowned parks including Tohono Chul), but our Sonoran Spa is the perfect place to put down the binoculars and recover. You may even meet some of our long-term residents!

What to pack, what to wear in Tucson

Tucson is many things, but the bastion of formalwear it is not. Like most western U.S. cities, Tucson is a laid-back town. The casual culture here has even spawned its own dress code: “Tucson casual.” What is Tucson casual? In the most general terms, it’s comfortable clothing that is neither ratty nor formal. It’s what you would consider “country club casual” in many places.

Tucson’s take on country club casual includes the guayabera (pronounced why-a-BEAR-uh), also called the “Mexican wedding shirt,” also known as Tucson’s unofficial men’s shirt. There are versions of the guayabera all over the world, but they’re very popular in Cuba, Mexico and the Philippines (where they are called “barong” shirts). Typically, the guayabera is made from linen or cotton with four pockets, two panels of embroidery or pleats and a hem, so it’s worn outside pants.

Tucson casual includes sandals (please, men, no socks with the sandals!). It can even extend to nice shorts for lunch (they’re frowned upon for nighttime dining; Paul Newman got away with it here, but you may not). Leather loafers are also popular. Polo shirts, short-sleeved button-down shirts and nice T-shirts paired with a jacket are considered Tucson casual.

Women don’t seem to struggle too much with the concept of Tucson casual. For women, a simple blouse and skirt will suffice as will a full-fledged ranch-style prairie skirt and peasant blouse. Well-kept jeans, slacks, capris, sneakers, designer heels, boots sandals – they all are Tucson casual, too.

For those who want to dress western, cowboy hats and boots with starched jeans are common here. While men might shun the formal business suit and tie – especially in the hotter months – don’t forget about Arizona’s official tie: The bola, which has its own range of casual to very expensively decorated versions and often comes decorated with the official state gemstone, turquoise.

If you’re going somewhere that requires “Tucson casual” and you have second thoughts about what you were going to wear because it’s either too formal or too casual, don’t wear it. Be comfortable, look nice and you will be Tucson casual.

Tucson knows … all Mexican food is not created equal!

Want to get some Mexican food in Tucson? Well, you can’t throw a taco farther than you can find a Mexican restaurant in Tucson. Most of the local restaurants serve Sonoran-style Mexican food, which isn’t always available outside of the Southwest. So what you think of as Mexican food may not be on menus here, which are based on the traditions of the large state just across the border: Sonora, Mexico.

What’s Sonoran Mexican food? Typically, it’s dishes with refried pinto beans, not black beans, which are more typical of Mexico City-style food. Given the Sonoran Desert’s vast stretches of land, northern Mexicans tended to keep more cattle than the rest of the country. So, traditional dishes used more beef, mostly grilled, reflecting the ranchero lifestyle. That’s what “carne” means. Carne asada is the Mexican barbecued beef – thinly sliced skirt steak, served in soft tortillas with your choice of condiments. Carne seca is dried, spiced beef often used for machaca when mixed with such ingredients as peppers, chiles and eggs.

Sonoran Mexican food uses more flour tortillas than the rest of Mexico, where corn is more plentiful. The popularity of flour tortillas gave rise in the northern part of the country to the ubiquitous burrito, which is often filled with machaca. Thank Sonora for the creation, also, of the breakfast burrito, which is featured on our GOLD breakfast menu with Pepper Jack cheese and choice of chorizo (spicy Mexican sausage) or bacon. Flour tortillas are also used for quesadillas, which are on the menus at GOLD and the Lookout Bar & Grille with chicken, peppers and cheese folded inside the grilled tortilla.

One favorite specialty in Tucson is the early summer green corn tamale, which takes the tender young cornmeal made into masa (dough) into which kernel corn, green chiles, cheese and an olive is usually stuffed, then wrapped in corn husks and steamed. 

Finally, there is the famous Sonoran hot dog. There’s some dispute as to the inventor, but many credit Tucsonan Daniel Contreras, whose red hair gave rise to his nickname and the name of his chain of restaurants, El Güero Canelo. For the uninitiated, a hot dog is wrapped in bacon and enveloped in a soft Mexican roll topped with pinto beans, tomatoes, onions, jalapeño sauce, cheese, mayo, ketchup and mustard. Numerous curbside stands serve them in Tucson, in addition to brick-and-mortar restaurants. 

And what’s a heaping plate of Sonoran Mexican food without an ice-cold cerveza or stiff margarita … well, that’s a blog in itself! ¡Salud!

Desert’s bounty – cactus fruit – makes tasty souvenirs

Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa gives you a great taste of the Southwest – literally! – whether you’re staying at Tucson’s first and finest resort or shopping online. One of our popular offerings at The Shop at Westward Look is made right here in Tucson: Cheri’s Desert Harvest cactus preserves, syrups, candies, quick mixes and gift items. If you’re looking for a unique souvenir that shouts “Tucson!,” the cactus products make great vacation mementos, presents for friends back home or hostess gifts (but don’t forget to get some for yourself).

Former elementary school teacher and native Tucsonan (yes, they do exist!) Cheri Romanoski created the cactus products using all-natural, healthy preserves. She put her knowledge of the flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert and how Native Americans survived on its bounty and turned it into a blossoming national and international business. Her cactus syrups are even used by the likes of celebrity chef Bobby Flay for his specialty margaritas!

“We take extra care from the harvesting to the preparation and canning of the fruit or vegetable to not only protect the flavor, color and nutrition,” Cheri says, “but in many instances, to enhance those qualities.”

 If you’re amazed at the stuff you can make out of cactus juice, get a load of this: Whatever is left over after the cactus juice is extracted doesn’t go to waste! It’s processed to extract the oil from seeds for cosmetic companies and the leftovers from that are made into zoo biscuits for hooved animals to give them much-needed vitamins and minerals! Who said the desert can’t be “green”?

Cheri’s Desert Harvest products can be ordered online through The Shop at Westward Look. Cheri has recipes and more at the Cheri’s Desert Harvest website.