Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with tucson

How to evaluate the job market when deciding where to move...

dahliachewswell — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 22:56:26 -0800

Partner and I are deciding which of his grad school offers to accept/which new town to move to next year: Austin, TX, Athens, GA or Tucson, AZ currently. What resources/methods can I use to help me figure out if I will be able to find a job in these places? Are there other ways to evaluate a job market without simply performing a job search, or is that just the answer? I'm a bit unsure about career paths but my general interests and experience include art and museums, education, youth development, "the environment", farming, speaking Spanish, non-profits... (I'm also looking at grad school options but that's a separate endeavor, I think.)

How do I get mental health services while uninsured in Tucson, AZ?

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 10:45:11 -0800

I have mental health issues and I need to see a therapist, a psychiatrist, and have my medications prescribed/refilled regularly. I'm moving next month to be with my significant other (not married), but I'll lose my health insurance which is through my current state. Where do I get these mental health services at a reduced cost as an uninsured person in Tucson, AZ? S/O will have full coverage through employment. I have no job, and am on break from schooling due to these health issues.

I have just been turned down for a basic health insurance plan that had a $10k deductible through Blue Cross Blue Shield of AZ due to my preexisting mental health conditions (the letter states it's due to ADHD, anxiety, major depression). I assume that applying to more private insurance companies would be futile.

I can't get coverage through the health care reform's PCIP until 6+ months have passed since having health coverage. What am I supposed to do until then? I am not eligible for any of the state health programs in Arizona (such as AHCCCS). I checked out PCAP but they don't cover mental health services.

I know of options for different health reasons (Planned Parenthood, for example), but I can't find anything similar for mental health stuff.

All my medications are generics, so I can use a $4 generics program.

I just need to do regular therapy sessions, and have someone write refills for my meds. Where can I get that done?

What cities can I visit that are similar to Tucson?

Conductor71 — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 11:31:53 -0800

My girlfriend and I went to Tucson last year for a wedding. We fell in love with the place. What other towns in America could we visit that have a similar vibe? Specifically, we are looking for:

Natural beauty
Interesting history
A bit quirky
Lively arts scene
Somewhat hip/hipster bar/hotel scene

We have already visited the northwest (Portland, Seattle), so are looking for somewhere other than that. Can be anywhere in the US.

Where to hike to see the sunset near Tucson, AZ

rzperllian — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:09:03 -0800

Where's a good place to hike to see the sunset near Tucson, AZ? Must involved at least 2 miles of hiking, could be more.

Road trip! Advice?

skewed — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:54:09 -0800

I’m leaving Tucson, AZ tonight for a last minute solo road trip to San Francisco. I have 7-8 days to drive, so obviously I’ll be taking the scenic route. Where should I stop? What route should I take? What should I do? What should I eat? I’m headed up to San Francisco to visit family and since I’ve got the time and I’ve always wanted to do a long distance road trip, I’ve decided to drive instead of fly. I’m quite familiar with the Bay Area, but I’ve hardly been anywhere between Phoenix and San Jose.

I’m thinking about staying a day or so in Flagstaff, a couple days in the Grand Canyon, then . . . ? I like hiking (day hikes, 5-7 miles tops, no special gear), wide open countryside, mountains, desert, and cheap food. I’ll have a reliable car, will be staying in hotels/motels, no camping. I’ve lived in Las Vegas, don’t need to do anything around there; been through Death Valley very briefly but wouldn’t mind going again. I’ve never been to Yosemite, is it possible to drive through this time of year? (I notice that google maps tends to route me completely around it rather than through).

I think I can just futz around and make it through fine, but I don’t want to miss anything spectacular, or end up driving through Bakersfield to Fresno as my GPS will suggest. Any tips? Suggestions? What stretches will be the most boring and can be done after dark?

occupy comfort

aniola — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:32:46 -0800

Where are there current, thriving Occupy encampments? I'm particularly interested in ones that look like they'll keep going strong throughout the winter. Bonus points if you can tell me more about what that Occupy is doing and what the atmosphere is there.

also feel free to answer this question even if you only notice it months later

Where can I get my cowboy on in OC?

eddydamascene — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:23:38 -0800

Where can I get my cowboy on in Southern California? After one vacation horseback trail ride in the Sonoran desert, I have decided that I am a cowboy.

Are there any places in Orange County, CA or nearby where I can have a similar experience of guided horseback riding in a wilderness area? Bonus points for a place that also offers lessons, and is family owned and operated by awesome people. Basically, I want the OC equivalent of Tucson's Houston's Horseback Riding.

Where should I livein Tucson, AZ?

skewed — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:48:21 -0800

Where should I live for two months in Tucson, AZ? I'm headed to Tucson, AZ for work for October and November. I've never been to the area and I need to know where I should look for an apartment/casita/condo/house whatever. There seems to be a huge amount of temporary stuff available, that's good, but I'm not even sure what part of town I should be looking at. Here is my situation:

I'll be commuting to Tempe twice a week, leaving at around 3pm, coming back late at night. Two other times per week I'll be working at U of A starting around 5pm till late evening. I'll have a car.

My budget is around $1200, maybe $1400/month, but that doesn't mean I can afford a typical $1400 apartment, in my experience you pay a pretty big premium for a short term lease. With my free time I want to be able to hike and bike, so access to parks is good. Bikeable neighborhoods would be great, but not absolutely necessary. Access to nightlife isn't so important, I don't go to bars or fancy restaurants very often.

So what neighborhoods should I be looking at? Is the NW part of town nice? I could minimize my Tempe commute that way. I've seen a couple of nice places in the NE part of town, but it seems like they're pretty out of the way.

How to sew my own clothes in Tucson?

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 21:30:26 -0800

Where can I learn to sew in Tucson? I want to learn how to sew, with the end goal of being able to make myself clothes. Where in Tucson can I take a beginner's sewing class? Ideally the class would give me the skills to do some very basic tailoring and projects like this.

I'm a student at UA so I'm looking for something that won't be terribly expensive, and is in the same part of town as campus (I do have a car, so it doesn't have to be walking distance). I also don't have a sewing machine, so suggestions for a class that would provide a sewing machine or recommendations of where I should get a "starter" machine would be great.

If nothing like this exists in Tucson, other suggestions as to how to start sewing would be much appreciated.

*Anonymous because I'd like to keep my location & other details separate from my account

Destinations near LA and Tucson...

pilibeen — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 15:09:20 -0800

Help me plan this last minute trip! West coast and the south west... I'm planning a last minute trip leaving early November for LA and leaving from Tucson around Thanksgiving. I have friends to stay with in each city, and will probably spend about a week in LA and 2 weeks in Tucson.

Can you recommend anything to do along the way. I'm particularly interested in camping suggestions nearby, and other outdoor adventure activities. Also in bad need of tips for food, movies, music, and general hangouts along the way. I'll be taking trains/buses whenever possible, and renting a car when that's not an option. I'm wide open to suggestions and willing to travel from my base camps for worthwhile adventures.

Thanks in advance...

Hyundai Tucson 2WD vs 4WD

sharkhunt — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 11:54:27 -0800

When driving in all sorts of terrain which is really better in a SUV 2WD or 4WD? I am thinking of getting a 2007 Hyundai Tucson but it is only 2WD. Right now I live in Florida but pretty soon I will be moving up north and I need to know if 4WD and AWD is really something that is important, having never driven in snow before. I love to camp and will be living in a more rural area so I need to know if the 2WD will be okay for all sorts of terrain, sand, mud, you name it. Also any pros and cons advice about the Tucson would be greatly appreciated.

ISO Couples Therapist in Tucson

ericc — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 23:18:49 -0800

Looking for a couples therapist in Tucson, Az. We're young, not married, but need some professional help. If you have specific recommendations, MeMail me. Otherwise, if you have a suggestion where to look for a recommendation, that would be great too. Thanks!

Must see between Tucson and Denver?

unmake — Mon, 24 May 2010 15:50:31 -0800

What are some interesting places roughly midway/equidistant between Tucson and Denver? Such as parks or towns where a few old friends could hang-out or camp-out for two-three days? I'd been thinking of Marfa, TX, but that's as far from Denver (14hrs) as Tucson..

Tucson too soon?

mnemonic — Tue, 11 May 2010 21:32:45 -0800

Moving from the Los Angeles area to Tucson, Arizona. Will I die of boredom? I'm a nerd who doesn't get out much any way, though. I'm considering a position in Tucson, AZ. The job would be a good step toward my engineering interests, and overall would benefit my professional career. I’m not sold on Tucson though. There seem to be two main issues: not as many good restaurants (Yelp seems to indicate mostly mexican places), and not as many sights as LA (world-class museums, beach-related things). I'm a serious foodie, restaurants are a big deal. I’m also reading that Tucson’s summers are so hot that doing anything outside is unpleasant; I like to ride my bike and play ultimate (frisbee). Additionally, I’m a bit of a shut-in and am trying to meet more people. Tucson is much less populated than the LA area, so I feel I'd be hindered in that. I'm recovering from depression so this could be significant. I don't want to be horribly lonely out there, while I've just started putting down roots here in LA.

On the other hand, I wouldn't have to deal with trafficky LA, and I could live near a major university in Tucson (driving to UCLA is pretty inconvenient for me). I hear the hiking's good, but I've done that quite a bit and it gets old weekend after weekend. Mostly I'm worried about the diversity of things to do in Tucson, and whether the city will be as discoverable as LA has been for me. I hated LA at first because I thought it was just Hollywood and ritzy drinking venues, but now, every week I find something interesting in LA to my nerdy self (just recently I took a sailing lesson). I'm worried about wasting at least a year of my youth in the Arizona desert, even if my job is very fulfilling

Tuscon Vacation

marlys27 — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:39:26 -0800

We are going for a vacation in Tucson from March 28th to April 5th. We are staying in a condo near Sabino Canyon. I have looked at previous metafilter posts about Tucson, but all of them are pretty old. We are looking for nature activities, fun stuff to do, excellent places to eat, fun places to shop, and anything original not to be missed. I think I am going to sign up for a week membership at the gym next to the condo, Sierra Fitness - any info on that place would be great.

Help Me Pick: Tucson or Portland, Oregon For Under $1000/Month

justcorbly — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:05:27 -0800

I'm thinking about relocating to two cities that are wildly different. One city is Portland, OR and the other is Tucson, AZ. Yes, I have visited Portand, and I've visited Tucson and spent considerable time living in Phoenix. I do not intend to buy. So here are questions: What can I rent for no more than $1000 per month? What neighborhoods should I consider? Avoid? Is it realistically possible to live in Portland without a car? By that I mean within a 5-minute walk of groceries and other needed shops, like a pharmacy. Yes, I know it rains a lot in Portland, and that Tucson gets hot and almost never sees rain. Getting rid of the car has been a long-term goal, so that's why Portland is on the list. Otherwise, Arizona holds much more appeal.

Extended Stay In Tucson, AZ

chrisalbon — Thu, 07 May 2009 21:10:49 -0800

Good Extended Stay Hotels / Suites in Tucson, AZ this summer? My wife and I are spending 23 days in Tucson, AZ. She will be taking a class at U of A and I will be working on my dissertation from "home".

Since I am going to be working out of wherever we stay, I wanted a furnished and quiet extended stay hotel room or suite. Sublets are a little cheaper, but kinda a crap-shoot in my opinion (plus, it is hard to find a sublet for less than a month).

Does anyone have recommendations for good and cheapish ($30-$40 per night) extended stay hotels or suites in Tucson, AZ for July?

Thanks in advance!

Scenic drive from Phoenix to Tucson?

Perplexity — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:20:58 -0800

Scenic drive from Phoenix to Tucson? Tomorrow we're flying into PHX and driving to Northeast Tucson (specifically, 7000 N. Resort Rd., Tucson, AZ 85750).

I see that it would be very easy/direct to take just take I-10 South to W Ina Road.

But it looks like some other options are available -- 60 to 79 to 77; 87 to 79 to 77; even 60 to 177 to 77.

How's the I-10 drive? Are any of the other routes particularly pleasant? How much time would we be adding to the trip? Any recommendations en route?

Thanks!

Where to collect plant & animal specimens?

unmake — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:23:13 -0800

Where can I - legally - collect plant and insect specimens, in the southwest? One of my classes in Tucson this semester involves creating a plant-press notebook and a pinned-insect collection; every park website, be it state or national, says removal of anything other than garbage and buffelgrass is illegal.

Is there a category of terrain that's not privately owned where I could look for specimens? Or is this the sort of activity where participants generally just ignore the rules and regulations? (This isn't killing hundred year old cacti).

Friday nights in Tucson

woolylambkin — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:59:23 -0800

So I'm going out tomorrow night and I need some help with suggestions for what to do on a late Friday night in Tucson. So my date for tomorrow just called and said that she has to work tomorrow and won't be ready to go out until 8pm which means that our current plan to see an indie film are out. I've lived in Tucson for a year but haven't had much of a social life so I don't know what's cool to do in Tucson, though I know there has to be a ton of stuff. I'm looking for some where nice to eat and then something to do/see/watch/listen to afterwards. General date ideas for Tucson wouldn't be bad either for future use.

Related info: Both of us are early twenties, I have a car, we're close to downtown, she's vegetarian.

Unique hotels in small to medium cities?

eileen — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:56:39 -0800

Does anyone know any hotels, in any city in the US, comparable to the Hotel Congress in Tucson, AZ? Basically, a hotel that "makes" the experience of visiting a city which you might not otherwise consider a vacation destination. The hotel is downtown within walking distance to a lot of stuff, driving distance to national parks, has a unique history and decor, and it has its own restaurant and bar and even nightclub. It's not fancy at all, in fact it is pretty cheap and feels like one step up from a hostel, but it is clean and has a great vibe. For my bf and I, staying in this hotel totally made our recent trip to Tucson. I was thinking that the trip would have felt very different and not nearly as special if we had stayed at some sort of chain hotel.

I would love to visit other small to medium cities off the beaten path if I knew where I could find a similar place to stay. And by similar I don't mean that it has to be exactly like the Hotel Congress, just similar in the fact that the hotel is itself a reason you might select the destination. I know it's hard to pinpont what exactly makes a hotel special in this way, so recommendations don't necessarily have to have all or even any of the amenities listed above. Day-trip closeness to national parks or other cool hiking is definitely a plus, though. Oh, and I am not a fan of shared bathroom situations, so a lot of B+Bs are probably not going to be my thing.

Thanks!! :)

Places to stay in Bisbee and Tucson?

intoxicate — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:52:50 -0800

Affordable places to stay in Bisbee and Tucson, AZ? I know everybody loves The Shady Dell in Bisbee, but we'd like to be downtown in walking distance of restaurants and shops. Also, bonus points for somewhere to stay in Tucson that has character and is locally owned. No kids or pets to worry about, but the budget is an issue.

How to get to San Carlos?

cior — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:31:33 -0800

What's the best way to get from Tucson, Arizona to San Carlos, Sonora (Mexico)? We're investigating flights, car rentals and such. Any hints and pointers would be much appreciated.

1) Are there flights from Tucson to San Carlos or the surrounding areas?

2) Is it possible to rent a car in the US (Tucson) and take it to San Carlos, or is this just a silly idea?

3) Are there public transit options (Mexi-Greyhound?) between these two points?

4) Anything interesting to see on the way, supposing we do take a car?

Thank you!

Are Comcast broadband resellers legit?

ldenneau — Mon, 21 May 2007 14:42:01 -0800

I'm trying to get my parents set up with high-speed cable Internet on top of their cable TV service. They're in the Tucson, AZ burbs and their cable provider is Comcast. Google searches return "broadband resellers" who offer special deals (e.g. free cable modem+free router+$19.95/mo for six months) that don't appear on Comcast's official site. Are these resellers legit? Has anybody used them? Anything I should be wary of? [Comcast offers a combined cable/phone/internet package, but that's not available to my parents since digital phone is not yet supported where they live.]

Last Minute Travel Advice

youngergirl44 — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 21:17:48 -0800

LastMinuteVacationFilter: Denver/Phoenix/Scottsdale/Tucson We leave tomorrow night for Denver (staying downtown) and then from Denver on Tuesday for Arizona (staying in Scottsdale). I need recommendations on: pool halls or bars with pool tables, bars with steel tip dart boards, karaoke, public transportation, availability of taxis in downtown areas, good steak houses, good restaurants that are not mexican or tex-mex, and other things worth mentioning.

I have read other threads on Denver and, even though the food may not be good, we're going to Casa Bonita. That's where my 9th birthday party (last one while living in Denver) was. That, and my SO saw it in South Park. We also may be visiting Elway's in Denver.