This desert course was built atop the natural landscape. The fairways afford generous landing areas, and the traditional greens are fast and well bunkered. Hole #8, a 389-yard par-4, features a lake, which is the only water hazard on the course. The most difficult hole is #5, a 431-yard par-4 requiring a tee shot over a desert waste area while simultaneously avoiding the desert island on the right. The approach shot has a backdrop featuring the scenic Catalina Mountains. Golf Digest nominated this as the 14th "Best in State" course for 1997-98. If you wish to use the driving range, you must play a round of golf.

Enjoy cool air and mountain scenery at this ragged mountain range north of the city. Crowned by 9,157-foot Mount Lemmon, the range dominates the Tucson basin and offers 150 miles of hiking trails of varying difficulty. The drive up passes cliffs and canyons, lined with saguaro cactus, through pinions and junipers, to cool pine forests and lakes near the top. Some campgrounds charge a fee for overnight stays. Take Tanque Verde Road east to Catalina Highway (Mount Lemmon Highway).

The ski lifts on Mount Lemmon in the Catalina's north of Tucson are open all year; serious business in the winter, fun in the summer. In recent winters, snowfall has been erratic leading to permanent complaints from business owners on the mountain, but the Ski Valley and the adjacent little town of Summerhaven is always a nice getaway from the hot and harsh desert climate.

Located about 12 miles north of the city on Arizona Highway 77 (Oracle Road), this park affords the best views of the canyons and domes of the Catalina Mountains. A multitude of birds, snakes and lizards inhabit the lower regions, while deer and bighorn sheep roam the high country. The park offers an interpretive trail of an ancient Hohokam village. Picnicking and camping facilities are available.

Old Town Artisans is a place not to be missed when sightseeing in downtown Tucson. The old adobe structure in the historic Presidio district invites visitors to explore its shops, galleries and restaurants, or to just sit and relax in the wonderful courtyard shaded by palm trees. It's a kind of art shopping center catering to tourists eagerly looking for souvenirs from the Southwest. In fact, it offers everything from Navajo rugs to dried prickly pear jam.

Looking for images of the Southwest to decorate your home? Craig Fine Arts has a large collection of traditional Western and wildlife art, featuring local and nationally known artists, bronzes and terra cotta sculptures as well as watercolors, oil, acrylics, pastels and fine etchings. The owner also offers custom framing at very reasonable prices. This is a great place to find a souvenir from the West that will last you a lifetime.

Designed by William F. Bell, ASGCA, the Rolling Hills golf course opened in 1971. The 18-hole "Rolling Hills" course at the Rolling Hills Golf Course facility in Tucson, Arizona features 4,146 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 63. The course rating is 58.4, and it features a slope rating of 84.

Forty Niner Country Club is an upscale, semi-private facility designed by William Francis Bell, a prominent golf course architect during the 1950s and 60s. Forty Niner golf course is known for its lush, mature landscaping and excellent course conditioning. It is lined with mesquite, giant cottonwood, eucalyptus and weeping willow trees. The course opened in 1961 and, though not as demanding as modern golf course architecture, the tree-lined fairways and tightly guarded doglegs pose the same challenges they did more than 35 years ago when the club hosted the PGA Tour's Tucson Open.

Ambassador Travel tour operator specializes in the American West and Mexico, offering city tours of Tucson as well as trips to the mining areas of Southern Arizona and the spectacular Copper Canyon in Northern Mexico. Of special interest to Tucson visitors would be the day trip to the missions established by Father Kino in Sonora, just south of the Arizona-Mexican border.

Located off Interstate 10 about an hour east of Tucson between Benson and Willcox in the beautiful Dragoon Mountains, The Amerind Foundation is one of the best places in the West to learn about American Indian archeology, arts and culture. It also serves as a research institute for the study of indigenous culture, with a large library and archive section. Interpretive Exhibits of archaeological finds display the entire range of Native art from Anasazi pottery to Navajo rugs. Credits cards are accepted at the museum store only. Picnic grounds are on site.