Tucson, Arizona

Tucson, Arizona 🌵 — A Pleasant Surprise!

After driving in from Chicago, we spent five days relaxing in Tucson. This last-minute stop turned out to be one of the best surprises of our trip!

🏨 Where We Stayed

Varsity Clubs of America was perfect for our group of two adults and three kids. Our spacious two-bedroom king suite had a full kitchen, living room with a sofa bed we didn’t even need, and a patio overlooking the pool. The bedrooms were nicely separated, with one down a hall and around a corner. I especially appreciated being able to keep the kids farther from the entrance.

My sister cooked a full dinner and relaxed on the patio while the kids and I swam every day. It truly felt like a place where everyone could unwind.

💻 Remote Work

The Wi-Fi handled my bandwidth-heavy job without issues, and I even used the bedroom TV as a second monitor. Remote workers, take note!

🎳 Family Fun

Round1 Bowling & Arcade was affordable and fun for all five of us. We bowled, played games, and had a great time.

🦞 Food

The food we tried around Tucson didn’t particularly impress me, but Off The Hook Seafood food truck was a standout! Definitely worth mentioning.

🏜️ Scenery

Tucson’s mountains and desert views are beautiful! I have a serious fear of falling, though, so I enjoyed the scenery without standing on top of anybody’s mountain. 😂 You don’t have to love heights to appreciate the views.

✊🏾 Traveling While Black

This is the most important part for me: I felt comfortable in Tucson as a Black woman traveling with family. I saw a few Trump supporters, but they kept to themselves, and so did I. We experienced no racial confrontations or uncomfortable interactions during our visit.

One noticeable thing was how many people openly carried firearms. 🔫 I’d been to Arizona before, so it wasn’t a surprise, and I carried too. Still, if you’re not accustomed to seeing guns on people’s hips, it’s something to be aware of.

⭐ Final Thoughts

Tucson gave us space to relax, family-friendly entertainment, beautiful scenery, and a peaceful experience. While the food wasn’t my favorite overall, the stay more than made up for it.

Would I return? Absolutely. For Black travelers, especially women and families, I can say that my personal experience was positive, comfortable, and welcoming. 🌵