Explore southern Arizona from Oro Valley
Just to the north of downtown Tucson, in the foothills of the rugged Santa Catalina Mountains, Oro Valley offers visitors high-end shopping and dining, great golfing and beautiful desert landscapes. Just a short drive from the University of Arizona campus, Oro Valley vacation rentals are a great choice if you're visiting this seat of learning. They also make great bases for exploring Tucson, the sprawling Sonoran Desert and the other cities and attractions of Southern Arizona. Oro Valley vacation rentals range from Santa Fe-style casitas with beautiful mountain views to stunning contemporary homes with their own private pools.
Oro Valley's family appeal
If you are staying at your Oro Valley vacation rental with kids, there's no better place to head on a hot, sunny day than James D. Kriegh Park. Oro Valley's oldest public park is home to a modern waterpark with Olympic-sized pool, called the Oro Valley Aquatic Center. It's open year-round, so you can take a refreshing dip against the scenic backdrop of the jagged red peaks of the Santa Catalina mountains. There's also the family-friendly Reid Park Zoo in downtown Tucson, just a short drive from Oro Valley vacation rentals. It has a packed program of seasonal and daily events and you can see animals including lions, elephants and bears.
Shopping and hiking around Oro Valley
If shopping is your thing, head to Tucson Premium Outlets, around a 15-minute drive west from Oro Valley vacation rentals, to bag some big-name bargains. That said, it's the outdoors that's the major draw around these parts. The Santa Catalina and Tortolita mountains offer diverse outdoor adventures, from hiking and biking to winter skiing. This part of Arizona lies within the Dark Skies initiative, so you'll find that the possibilities for stargazing under the twinkling desert skies are irresistible. Meanwhile, stars of a different kind can be seen at the historic Rialto Theatre in downtown Tucson, the city's atmospheric live music venue.
Get outdoors in Oro Valley
Oro Valley vacation rentals enjoy a plum location on the fringes of the Santa Catalina mountains to the east. In Saguaro National Park, 45 minutes from Oro Valley, you can find challenging mountain trails as well as the Old Tucson film studios and the wonderful, family-friendly Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. This natural history museum combines live animal exhibits with colorful, fragrant botanic gardens. Close by, Catalina State Park offers cave tours and a packed program of guided nature and birding walks, as well as beautiful mountain trails.
How to get to and around Oro Valley
The nearest airport is in Tucson International Airport (TUS), located 18.7 mi (30.1 km) from the city center. If you're unable to find a flight that fits your schedule, you could book a flight to Tucson, AZ (AVW-Marana Regional), which is 14.7 mi (23.7 km) away.