About Tucson
Tucson is a city with roots in the Old West; for generations, Tucson was a place rife with ranches and livestock. Today, Tucson is home to spas, resort hotels, and beautiful golf courses. Tucson is a city where many cultures are celebrated, including a large Hispanic community.
Tucson lies in the midst of the Sonoran Desert. The cacti are often synonymous with Tucson and its Southwestern heritage. There are also many beautiful mountain ranges across Tucson that invite tourists to take a scenic drive or even enjoy a day of skiing on the slopes of Mt. Lemmon. Imagine making a film or influencer video here. It’s the ideal locale!
Tucson is a laid-back city that is highly diverse in its terrain as well as in the people. The people of Tucson are friendly and welcoming, and the city itself offers a wide array of event venues that are sure to meet your unique needs. Not only that, but the city is close to Tucson International Airport, allowing meeting or event attendees to easily access the site.
Attractions in Tucson
Tucson is nicknamed the City of Sunshine. The warm and dry climate is quite enjoyable to visitors, and winter brings people to the area who enjoy hanging out in the mountains and skiing as often as possible. The weather of Tucson is so pleasant that golf during the mild winter months is a favorite tourist pastime. Any type of production here should be easy to set up.
- Tucson Mountain Park
The Sonoran Desert is a beautiful natural landscape around Tucson, and visiting the Mountain Park offers tourists the opportunity to take in the gorgeous scenery as well as hiking – there are at least sixty miles worth of hiking trails. Be sure to bring your camera to capture the breathtaking views of the park. One can also enjoy horseback riding here as well as mountain biking.
- DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Museum
On the outskirts of the city is the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Museum. This one of a kind art museum was established by a native Arizonian, Ettore DeGrazia. The museum is a series of beige buildings that house a number of paintings. The paintings are a mix of the American Southwest as well as DeGrazia’s own paintings.
- Tucson Botanical Gardens
The Tucson Botanical Gardens offer a great excursion while inside the center of the city. The Gardens are a mixture of beautiful blooming flowers as well as a variety of cacti and palm trees. Be sure to check out the herb gardens and the fabulous butterfly greenhouse.
- Old Tucson
If you want to catch a glimpse of the Old West, check out Old Tucson. This tourist spot offers saloons, stunt shows, and the occasional shoot-out. This was once a film set where more than 400 televisions shows and films were taped. There are amusement rides as well as a county jail, a ranch house, and a railroad, all inspired by the Old West.
Production Locations in Tucson
The beautiful and varied landscape around Tucson provides a rich number of production locations for filmmakers. Tucson is home to a number of film studios, but some may prefer to capitalize on the natural beauty of the city. Whether you want to film in a studio space in Tucson or capture the great outdoors around the city, you won’t be disappointed.
- Local Attractions
Tucson has been a favorite filming location since artists have been making motion pictures. One of the favorite locations of filmmakers is the Tucson Rodeo. The event and the arena where it is held annually have been featured in a number of films from 1926’s Ridin’ Wild to many current films. Some filmmakers will choose to film at the Arizona Inn at Elm and Campbell, while others utilize the mountains around Tucson.
- Restaurants
Many restaurants in Tucson have been featured on a variety of television shows. Andrew Zimmern featured multiple restaurants in Tucson when he filmed an episode of Bizarre Foods, and Adam Richman did the same when he filmed Man vs. Food in the city. When Martin Scorsese filmed Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, he filmed a scene or two at a diner on Main Avenue. He also filmed at the Longhorn Bar in nearby Amado. The 2014 film 600 Miles features a shot of Robert’s Restaurant as well as several local gun shops.
- Vintage and Luxury Vehicles
Many films are known for the vehicles featured in the show. Consider The Fast and the Furious franchise of movies. Those vehicles inspired gear heads to customize their smaller cars – and probably inspired more than a few incidents that ended with drivers receiving a speeding ticket! Eleanor, the Mustang of the film Gone in 60 Seconds, was an extension of Nic Cage’s character in the film. Other vehicles, such as the cars featured in the Austin Powers series are depictions of the time period in which the films were set.
Event and Meeting Venues in Tucson
Tucson has a wealth of event and meeting venues for your particular needs. You’ll be able to find a venue that has just the right amount of space, and these venues often offer great amenities too! Let’s look at the various types of event and meeting spaces available in Tucson.
- Resorts
Tucson is home to multiple resorts to fit your event and meeting space needs and desires. Some resorts utilize the beautiful natural landmarks of the area, while others offer indoor spaces to beat the heat of the desert. Many Tucson resorts offer meeting spaces of all sizes, and usually, these are customizable for the event. A resort is the perfect place for a wedding or for a party of any size. Business meetings can also be hosted in these flexible spaces.
- Gardens
What better place to host an outdoor event in Tucson than in one of the beautiful garden spaces found here? A garden is a space that needs little in the way of decoration as Mother Nature has taken care of all your floral and natural décor. Along with weddings, a garden space is perfect for parties of all sizes, and one may choose a garden for an office party due to the beauty of the green space of the locale.
- Rooftops
The weather of Tucson is usually conducive to great outdoor event spaces. Whether you’re hosting a wedding, a reception, or a business dinner, a restaurant rooftop is a perfect setting for any type of event. With the backdrop of the mountains, any rooftop venue in Tucson is a picture-perfect setting for your outdoor event. Imagine a courtyard and patio with a spectacular view of the Catalina Mountains.
- Ranches and Barns
While there are still a few working ranches near Tucson, many of the landowners in the area are happy to rent out beautiful barn spaces on their ranches. These spaces make the perfect backdrop for a rustic Tucson wedding and reception. They are great places for parties and work meetings as well.
- Conference Rooms
Many of the hotels near Tucson offer conference rooms for a wide variety of events. These can include weddings, receptions, family reunions, and event work-related events. Conference rooms often have amenities such as access to a kitchen area plus they may be specifically outfitted with audio/visual equipment necessary for all types of gatherings.
