Jerry Peek's Tucson Page

I live in Tucson, Arizona -- a wonderful city in the desert in the southwestern USA, with mountains all around, an hour away from Mexico.

This page has links that I use every day (for weather info, entertainment, etc) and other info that visitors might want. I update it as I think of pages I want to keep track of; please feel free to send me suggestions.

When you click on a link, a new window should open; when you close that window, this one should still be here.

You can scroll down or skip to one of the sections:
News
Weather, etc.
Transportation
Things I Like to Do
Visitor Info, Other Pages of Local Links
Photos
You Know You're from Southern Arizona When... ;-)

[Tucson Mountain Park]
Tucson Mountain Park (click to enlarge; use "back" button to come back)
Here are more Tucson photos.

News

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Weather, etc.

  • Forecast and recent conditions Though the temperature readings lag behind, the site has links to frequently-updated info if needed -- with predictions of exactly when a storm will reach what part of the area, etc. There's also a Tucson-area page with maps and other area forecasts. (National Weather Service, Tucson office)
  • Current conditions Temperature, humidity, wind, etc. updated every minute or so. (University of Arizona)
  • Fire Forecast has humidity forecast: will my swamp cooler work?
  • Forecast (The Weather Channel)
  • Climate charts (Ersys)
  • Sunrise/sunset times, current time, and more. When can you catch a beautiful Tucson sunset, or get out for an early-morning hike before it's too hot? We don't observe daylight saving (summer) time here. (time and date.com)
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Transportation

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Things I Like to Do

There's more general info in the Local Links pages below.

Outdoors Outside Tucson
  • The Tohono O'odham Nation Cultural Center and Museum is 10 miles south of Sells, Arizona (75 miles sourhwest of Tucson on Ajo Way, AZ highway 86). It's hard to find, in a remote area with almost no signs to guide you there... but it's worth the trip! A handsome new building that opened in 2007, it has exhibits on the Tohono O'odham people and art, a gift shop, temporary exhibitions and presentations, and more. There are photos on the Kelly, Wright & Associates web page. The Tucson Citizen article about its opening has a map (click on the map to enlarge).
  • The Arizona Wine Growers Association website lists vineyards being developed as well as ones already there. Arizona has some great wineries, like Callaghan Vineyards and Dos Cabezas -- both in the Sonoita area.
  • An exposé on The Thing (warning: has spoiler!), the tourist attraction on I-10 southeast of Tucson
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Visitor Info, Other Pages of Local Links

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Photos

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You Know You're from Southern Arizona When... ;-)

(This is from one of those email messages that circulates around the 'Net. I wish I knew who wrote it.)

You Know You're from Southern Arizona When...

  1. You buy salsa by the gallon.
  2. You think a red light is merely a suggestion.
  3. All of your out-of-state friends start to visit after October but clear out come the end of April.
  4. Most of the restaurants in town have the first name "El" or "Los."
  5. You think 60 tons of crushed rock makes a beautiful yard.
  6. You notice your car overheating before you drive it.
  7. You can say "Hohokam" and people don't think you're laughing funny.
  8. You no longer associate bridges (or rivers) with water.
  9. You know a swamp cooler is not a happy hour drink.
  10. Vehicles with open windows have the right-of-way in the summer.
  11. People break out coats when the temperature drops below 70 degrees.
  12. You discover, in July, it only takes two fingers to drive your car.
  13. The pool can be warmer than you are.
  14. You can make sun tea instantly.
  15. You run your air conditioner in the middle of winter so you can use your fireplace.
  16. The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.
  17. The AC is on your list of best friends.
  18. You realize that Valley Fever isn't a disco dance.
  19. You can finish a Big Gulp in 10 minutes and go back for seconds.
  20. The water from the cold water tap is the same temperature as the hot one.
  21. You can correctly pronounce the words: Saguaro, Ocotillo, Tempe, Gila Bend, San Xavier, Canyon de Chelly, Mogollon Rim, Cholla, and Ajo.
  22. You experience third degree burns if you touch any metal part of your car.
  23. You know better than to get into a car with leather seats if you're wearing shorts.
  24. Announcements for Fourth of July events never end with "in case of rain..."
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CatScratch Graphics Thanks to long-time Tucson resident Lannie Hartman for many helpful suggestions. CatScratch Graphics (which is offline now) made the cactus background and icons on this page. The CSG icon was reduced by GifOptimizer (also not online anymore).
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Last change: 5 May 2009

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