How would you describe Tucson to someone who has never been there? (Phoenix: how much, house)

[DAXhound]

I heard it called "Little Amsterdam.". And there used to be a saying at hideous TUSD, "If you ain't brown, you ain't down.". Lots of problems with TPD, too, relative to the much larger Phoenix PD.

[Saguarogirl507]

The good: Sunny all the time The Bad: Sunny all the time

Very scenic. Very hot in summer.

The worst part for us was how lonely we got in the summer when all our snowbird friends left. We made some good friends only to have them leave in April and not see them again until January. We felt very isolated there. So we have recently moved back to Massachusetts to snow and ice and friends and family.

[Sockeye66]

The last month I've been working downtown Tucson commuting from beautiful Rio Rico after moving from Seattle area.
Tucson is open, safe, easy traffic. The people are friendly and welcoming. There are lot's of tasty spots, good pubs, and independent, funky shops.

I don't love it, but I can live within just fine.

[eddie gein]

Originally Posted by Sockeye66

The last month I've been working downtown Tucson commuting from beautiful Rio Rico after moving from Seattle area.
Tucson is open, safe, easy traffic.

Yeah, getting from Rio Rico to downtown Tucson? Piece of cake.

Getting from 22nd and Kolb to Oro Valley?.... Not so much.

[Sockeye66]

Originally Posted by eddie gein

Yeah, getting from Rio Rico to downtown Tucson? Piece of cake.

Getting from 22nd and Kolb to Oro Valley?.... Not so much.

I know, right? Tucson needs an E/W highway.

[Howest2008]

Originally Posted by littletraveller

I may be visiting soon.

When i had family in Tucson , it was the cats meow & dogs bow wow ,Best
Dessert City in the U.S.A. Now that my family has transitioned into the
after life not so much. AU over ASU.

[tijlover]

Originally Posted by Sockeye66

I know, right? Tucson needs an E/W highway.

The Nimby's in the Catalina Foothills won't allow it!

[Greenvalleyfan]

Originally Posted by tijlover

The Nimby's in the Catalina Foothills won't allow it!

Can't blame them. Why would anyone that lived there want to bring Tucson closer. It's already to close for comfort.

[jertheber]

So much of Arizona's urban spaces look relatively new when compared to most of the older crumbling cities in our eastern states. Tucson, as I remember it is a great example of what happens when the suburban districts dominate the entirety of a city. The downtown is so discombobulated when compared to the more orderly appearing burbs up north of the city. And desert poverty seems to have it's own distinct appearance, as does the attempts to paint over it.

The Old Town Tucson was a bit more funky with some very good eateries, bars, and a fair amount of the town's history on display, I really liked that area more than the rest of Tucson. All in all it is a neat place to just wander around (Warehouse Arts District) during the winter's great weather, and a living hell in the summer when the populace is hiding from the sun. I go there (Green Valley) to escape the winters in the NW but would never consider a full time existence there..

[Bygeorge]

I would not recommend moving here.