AARP’s Great Places to Live: Tucson, Arizona

Culture

Traditional performing arts — symphony, opera, ballet — are concentrated downtown and around the University of Arizona, as are visual-art venues like the Center for Creative Photography on the U of A campus, cofounded by Ansel Adams. A thriving outdoor cultural scene includes vibrant murals celebrating the city’s Native American, Hispanic and Old West roots. Tucson is also the country’s first UNESCO City of Gastronomy, with many culinary events. And don’t miss the annual Agave Heritage Festival (think tequila and mezcal).

Bicyclists, amblers and horseback riders share the 138-mile-long, car-free Chuck Huckelberry Loop, while hikers and rock climbers enjoy the cinematic desert-meets-mountain backdrops of Saguaro National Park and Sabino Canyon Recreation Area. Agua Caliente Park is especially popular with birdwatchers. Many local resorts open their luxe recreation facilities to the public, but those on a limited budget can enjoy municipal golf courses and swimming pools.

Getting around

Sprawling Tucson is not easily navigable without a car. Interstates 10 and 19 are its only major highways, so surface streets can be congested, especially when seasonal winter residents and visitors arrive. That said, several bus routes traverse the city, an electric streetcar runs regularly between the University of Arizona and downtown areas, and public transportation is free.

Climate

Its 300-plus days of sunshine, and the fact that it really is a dry heat, make Tucson appealing for much of the year. But summers are uncomfortably hot, with temperatures reaching triple digits at times. Early rising is key. Seasoned hikers and bicyclists hit the trails at sunrise, and many golfers tee off between 5:30 and 6 a.m. The Tucson Botanical Gardens runs an annual Dog Days of Summer special, welcoming people and their pups in at 7:30 a.m. Summer storms often offer a break from the heat and provide dramatic sound-and-light shows.

Job market

Getting around

Sprawling Tucson is not easily navigable without a car. Interstates 10 and 19 are its only major highways, so surface streets can be congested, especially when seasonal winter residents and visitors arrive. That said, several bus routes traverse the city, an electric streetcar runs regularly between the University of Arizona and downtown areas, and public transportation is free.

Climate

Its 300-plus days of sunshine, and the fact that it really is a dry heat, make Tucson appealing for much of the year. But summers are uncomfortably hot, with temperatures reaching triple digits at times. Early rising is key. Seasoned hikers and bicyclists hit the trails at sunrise, and many golfers tee off between 5:30 and 6 a.m. The Tucson Botanical Gardens runs an annual Dog Days of Summer special, welcoming people and their pups in at 7:30 a.m. Summer storms often offer a break from the heat and provide dramatic sound-and-light shows.

Job market

Skilled jobs in the city tend to be in the aerospace, defense, health care and education sectors. Employment assistance is available through Pima County One-Stop Career Centers and Arizona’s Senior Community Service Employment Program. Pima Community College has several skills-training programs for adults.

Going out guide

Sunny-day location: The patio of Tohono Chul’s Garden Bistro. Enjoy a brunch featuring Southwestern cuisine, including blue corn tamales, eggs Benedict with poblano peppers or a chorizo frittata.

Weekday evening hangout: The Century Room jazz lounge in the historic Hotel Congress. Although it opened in 2022, its elegant decor and classic jazz music harkens back to an earlier era.

Where to take visitors first: The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Get to know the distinctive fauna and flora of the cross-border region.

AARP initiatives

In 2019, the city adopted a comprehensive Age-Friendly Tucson action plan developed with AARP Arizona and other partners. Recent initiatives include the Complete Streets Plan, working to improve safety on multiuse thoroughfares; and the Affordable Housing Initiative for Older Adults, designed to facilitate better access to housing for lower-income older adults.