Things to Do in Tucson in March

pedals past adobe homes with rust-colored walls. You ride under the dappled shade of mature mesquite trees. Your guide points out architectural details. See the pressed tin ceilings of a former mercantile. Spot the distinctive silhouette of a Mission Revival railway depot. Stories link ranchers, railroaders, and innovators. You will feel smooth modern pavement give way to gritty historic brick lanes in the city's core.

puts your hands on warm, textured granite. Or it places your feet in cool, shadowy canyon streams. These are in the rugged mountains framing the city. You will hear a red-tailed hawk's call echo off the cliffs. Feel the satisfying strain of muscles as you navigate a natural route. The scent of desert sage brushes past at a new vantage point. You overlook a sea of saguaro cacti.

examines hidden pockets of water. These sustain life in the arid Sonoran Desert. Visit a spring-fed pond buzzing with dragonflies. See a historic mission orchard where you can taste a sun-warmed orange. You will see the startling green flash of a vermilion flycatcher against still water. Hear the rustle of palm fronds in a secluded canyon grove. The air feels noticeably cooler here. It carries the damp smell of wet earth in these rare, verdant spaces.

delivers loud blanks and staged saloon brawls. Expect melodramatic villainy. The outdoor theater has a backdrop of dusty corrals and weathered wood. You will smell the faint, acrid scent of gunsmoke hanging in the air. Feel the wooden bench shake as a performer stumbles past during a choreographed fight. The dialogue has sharp cracks of a whip. Hear the creak of leather chaps.

winds through narrow callejones. They are lined with pastel-colored adobe houses. Their wooden doors are painted bright blues and yellows. Your guide points out intricate patterns of fired brick known as quemadores. See the lingering ghost signs of old neighborhood businesses fading on alley walls. You can hear your own footsteps on uneven, historic pavement. Feel the sun-warmed plaster of a centuries-old wall.

starts in the cool, quiet darkness of the desert floor. You lift off as the first golden light strikes the peaks of the Santa Catalina Mountains. You will hear only the occasional roar of the burner. Listen for the distant bark of a coyote. Feel a gentle breeze as you drift silently over forests of saguaro cacti. After landing, taste crisp champagne and a warm breakfast. The scent of sagebrush and desert dust rises from the ground.