How to Spend 3 Days in Tucson the Whole Family will Enjoy
- Deborah Guthrie
- Mar 17
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 19
Whenever we can plan a three-day weekend in Arizona and visit our grandkids simultaneously, we seize the opportunity. We aim to book several months ahead to secure the best rates. This is one of the numerous trips we've made to Tucson, offering a 3-Day Itinerary for multigenerational families that ensures everyone enjoys and enriches their time together, learns a bit about Arizona, and tastes some genuine local cuisine.
Day One: Flying out of Detroit (DTW):
We chose to fly into Phoenix since it's more affordable than Tucson, and my husband has complimentary car rental days so there is no added cost there. Flying into Tucson necessitates a connecting flight, which we try to avoid if possible.
Departing on the first flight from Detroit during winter means the plane will need to be de-iced. This usually just means a slightly longer wait before take-off. You'll still reach your destination on time unless severe weather causes a delay. In my 25 years of traveling, I've only experienced one canceled flight and two weather-related delays.
Flying into Phoenix (PHX):
Sky Harbor International Airport is a beautiful airport and easy to navigate. They celebrate the arts with multiple large mixed medium pieces scattered throughout the terminals and at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Rental Garage. We love the elimination of having to take a bus to the rental car center with the addition of the new tram. It takes about 20 minutes or so to get from the airport to the rental car center on the tram. If you have a membership and/or rental reservation in advance, you can skip the lines and go directly to your car.
PRO TIP: If you’re flying for the first time to Phoenix or Tucson, you will need a car. You need a car to get almost anywhere and everywhere. Many major cities you can get away with public transport or ride service to the hotel and walking around the rest of the time. Not here. Phoenix is spread out. Unless you’re flying in for a specific event in downtown Phoenix or specific areas on the free bus system in Tucson, and all you will be doing is flying back out, you’ll need a car.
Lunch:
We arrived at 11:30 am Phoenix time and decided to check out an iconic Glendale eating institution… A Touch of European Cafe. This local restaurant offers home cooked meals with a homey atmosphere that welcomes you in like family in historic Glendale. This is a place where locals go and is rated 5 stars on Trip Advisor, 4.8 on Yelp, 4.9 on Google, highly rated on other sites and featured in many magazines. The chef even hosts culinary tours in Poland every year.
Epicurean Cafe - Glendale, Arizona
My husband got the bacon cheese on rye sandwich and I got the polish sampler platter. While the restaurant itself is unassuming, the dishes and service are outstanding! We found the food to be exceptional… best bread we’ve had anywhere! The service and wit of the owner is great. We picked up cookies and brownies to go from the take home section for later. The brownies are out of this world. I also had carrot cake on the trip down to Tucson which was eaten before we even got to the I-10 East Intersection to Tucson.
Day 2 and Day 3: Where We Stayed and What We Did
Residence Inn Tucson Williams Center:
My husband likes to stay at Residence Inns for the spacious rooms, full kitchen so he can make meals on the road, laundry facilities. I like it for families, the ease of getting upgraded, breakfast buffet, and free parking. This particular Residence Inn is our favorite of all Residence Inns we've stayed at because it has consistently been one of the cleanest hotels for families, has a great basketball court and outdoor fire pit area, our grandkids love the free breakfast which they keep stocked and clean, and it is near many attractions such as the Saguaro National Forest, Pima Air and Space Museum, and Historic Sentinel Peak where the famous letter A landmark overlooks the city. There are also nearby activities like putt putt golfing, roller blading, parks, and movie theater.
Colossal Cave:
There are two caves near Tucson; Kartchner Caverns in Bensen and Colossal Cave in Vail. Our multigenerational family took a guided tour of Colossal Cave and walked part of the connected trail behind the shop. There are three trails at Colossal Cave which can easily be accessed behind the museum and provides for an easy short looped hike or an easy, short, out and back. Parking, entry, and hiking is free. There is a cost per person for the cave tour and horseback riding. We enjoyed our time at the cave. The grandkids did too and totally suckered grandpa into buying them gifts at the gift shop with their cute little faces. He couldn't say no.
Sentinel Peak:
I would argue this peak is most popular for bikers to challenge an uphill bike and for lovers wanting to watch the sunset. But it is also very popular for families. We were some of the only ones to hike the trail around to the letter and we took a small risk to climb onto the letter A for a photo opp to remember the moment. This trail gets a bit slippery at points due to improper shoes sliding along the dirt and rocks but we obviously made it. The grandkids thought this was great fun!
Where We Ate on this Trip:
In Phoenix on our way to and from Tucson:
A Touch of Epicurean Cafe: Local Authentic Polish restaurant in Glendale, Arizona when we landed.
The Capital Grill: We ate here as a couple before our flight home in Phoenix, Arizona. It was around Valentine's so we treated ourselves. Every Capital Grill I've been to has been perfect.
While in Tucson we ate the following places on this trip:
Ruiz Hotdogs Los Chipilones: Local Authentic Sonoran Hot Dog in Tucson, Arizona
Olive Garden: What can I say? The grandkids love it and we know they'll eat the food. There is no guesswork.
Moonstone: Strictly for the amazing views and shareable plates. Overpriced and not that kid friendly but we enjoyed our time.
Residence Inn Free Breakfast during our stay. Saved a bundle!
We have been visiting the Tucson, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Glendale area for almost 30 years. This is only one of a dozen trips we have made spending 3 days in Tucson. As a Travel Advisor, I can create a weekend trip or weeklong trip to Arizona. I've traveled here many times solo, as a couple with my husband, and with our children who are now grown adults. As your advisor, I know what it takes to navigate the airports, the areas, where to stay, top attractions, and how to visit like a local. Email an inquiry to deborah@debstravelvibe.com and get your vacation to beautiful Arizona started today.
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