Things to Do in Tucson in December

Pedal through centuries on the Historic Bike Tour in Tucson. Adobe walls the color of burnt sienna tell stories under clear December sky. You'll feel smooth pavement of University of Arizona district give way to older, textured streets of neighborhoods like Armory Park. The whir of your tires mixes with rustle of palm fronds in cool breeze. This tour connects architectural dots from territorial-era buildings to mid-century modern gems. Winter sun warms your back throughout.

The Tucson Half Day Rock Climbing or Canyoneering in Arizona activity puts your hands on warm, rough quartzite of Santa Catalina foothills. Expansive views of city basin spread below. You'll hear crunch of gravel underfoot. You'll hear instructor's steady guidance echo off canyon walls. You'll feel rewarding strain in muscles as you ascend. December's cool, dry air makes physical exertion more comfortable than any other season.

The Oasis Tour of Tucson reveals secret, water-fed pockets of desert. You'll see shocking green of cottonwood trees against rust-colored cliffs. You'll hear distinct chatter of vermilion flycatchers. Air feels noticeably cooler and damper near these springs. It carries earthy smell of damp soil and riparian plants. This guided experience highlights life persisting around Tucson's scarce water sources. That is stark and beautiful contrast to surrounding aridity.

On the Tucson Barrio Viejo Tucson Walking Tour & Scott Avenue with Guide, you walk worn brick sidewalks past buildings painted turquoise, mustard yellow, and terracotta. Their wood lintels carry generations-old patterns. You might catch woodsmoke aroma from fireplace. You might catch flour tortilla scent from nearby kitchen. You'll feel texture of exposed adobe walls under fingertips. Guide's stories fill quiet, narrow streets. They bring 19th-century neighborhood origins to life.

A Tucson Morning Hot Air Balloon Ride with Bubbly + Breakfast begins in pre-dawn chill. You'll feel burner heat blast as balloon inflates before silent ascent into peach-colored sky. You'll see jagged silhouette of Rincon Mountains sharpen with rising sun. You'll hear only occasional burner roar above vast quiet of desert floor. Experience culminates with toast in crisp morning air, looking down on saguaro-dotted hillsides.

The Mural Bike Tour in Tucson winds through downtown alleys and broad avenues. You'll see massive portraits of community elders. You'll see abstract explosions of color covering entire building sides. Fresh coffee scent from passing shop mixes with faint, dry smell of concrete and paint. Navigating city streets on bike keeps you engaged. This tour frames Tucson's contemporary creative pulse, painted large on walls of urban core.