Location: Tubac
Top Things to do in Tubac
Top 10 Things to do in Tubac, United States
Tubac is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. The population was 1,191 at the 2010 census. The place name "Tubac" is an English borrowing from a Hispanicized form of the O'odham name, which translates into English as "rotten". The original O'odham name is written Cuwak. The first syllable is accented. When first taken into Spanish speech, it was spelled Tubaca. Finally over time the last "a" was dropped. Tubac is situated on the Santa Cruz River.
Restaurants in Tubac
1. Tubac Presidio State Historic Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 171 reviews
Come to Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and experience a full sweep of Southwest history! We showcase every culture (Native American, Spanish, Mexican, Pioneer American, and Arizonian) with award-winning artifacts and displays to bring 2,000 years of history to life. See Arizona's first printing press, our original 1885 school house, and much more. Tubac was recently named one of 14 must-see destinations in the world by Conde Nast Traveler. Come and see why!
Reviewed By 674 - New Jersey
Very nice little piece of history in the town of Tubac. You can spend maybe an hour here to get a history lesson then have lunch and do a little shopping in the town. All without moving your car.Thank you for visiting the Tubac State Park and Museum! We are dedicated to preserving the history of our town and are happy to have shared it with you. We hope to see you again! Shannon
2. Tumacacori National Historical Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 281 reviews
Reviewed By Ray H - Jackson, New Jersey
Treat yourself to a little bit of Southwest Spanish history. The church built around 1600, though a bit run down is still a site to absorb. Walk the grounds, visit the cemetery, watch them make beautiful flowers out of paper or tortila's from scratch, buy some. Flowers are beautiful and the tortilla's are as authentic as they'll ever be, made right before your eyes.The entire surrounding area is beautiful and easy to find.
3. Tubac Center of the Arts
Overall Ratings
4 based on 86 reviews
Tubac Center of the Arts is the Core of Art in Tubac. TCA is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to the celebration and promotion of the arts through education, exhibitions, and performing arts. There are rotating juried exhibitions of art from both local artists as well as artists from across the country. The center also includes a children's summer arts program, art workshops, a gift shop, and ongoing events throughout the year. Please visit our website, for our current calendar of events and for workshops, visit TubacArtWorkshops.com.
Reviewed By lisargold - Ohio
My husband and I recently visited the Tubac Center for the Arts- My 2nd visit, his first. As before, The gallery exhibits were well worth seeing, well curated and hung. There are three or four rooms of different sizes that make up the gallery. During this visit I noticed that they also have a wonderful library well worth looking through if you are an art lover. Some of the at books were even signed by the arts. This is not to be missed in a town with many gift/galleries- this is the true gem in the area. As noted during my last review, the gift shop is also lovely.
4. Santa Cruz Chili & Spice
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 50 reviews
Reviewed By MarshallGulch - Maui, Hawaii
I have been coming here for over 25 years. I always get Mexican vanilla for baking. The chipotle/ adobo sauce in a jar for tacos or chili beans. One or two spoonfuls really adds to the blend. Don t miss it.
And then, homemade hot pads for gifts. A trip to tubac always includes
This little family store. And the lady
Is always so nice.
A Superior tradition.
5. Agua Linda Farm
Overall Ratings
4 based on 10 reviews
Private 63 acre farm offering beautiful location for weddings, private parties and other events. Pristine mountain views, pastures, adobe buildings, huge trees and lovely gardens.
Reviewed By Jennifer V - New York City, New York
This quaint dessert farm presented a whimsical setting for a Halloween / fall event. We took our 4-year old, and it was absolutely perfect. The farm sits in a little valley in the dessert and is filled with mesquite trees and palo verdes. In the distance you can see the jagged ridges of the Santa Rita Mountains.
The $5 entrance fee included a haystack maze perfect for little ones, handful of John Deere branded trikes, photo op wooden cut-out with a John Deere tractor, choice of tree swings, an open-air bouncy house, a small array of goats, sheep and bull, and a hay ride through the field dotted with pumpkins that had been placed there earlier in the day. For an additional $5 you could either ride the miniature ponies in a circle or more fascinatingly get on a little buggie with a a driver and get pulled around by a prancing miniature horse. This is of course what our little one did.
And the main attraction was after the sun set, they showed a movie. They had hay bales set up for seats under the open sky or a few tables under a shelter. The night we were there they had 'Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin' and a bonus track of 'Snoopy and the Magic Show'.
For $1 we purchased a s'mores kit. The bag had 2 marshmallows, 2 decent squares of chocolate and 2 graham crackers. Behind all the bales they set up a large bonfire where you could roast your marshmallow on a mesquite tree branch they managed to whittle up just in time.
There was other food for purchase from the basic grill and of course, the farm stand was open with a few things and baked goods. Pumpkin pie!
We had such a wonderful time. I could barely tear my son away from the large tractor tire swing. And the walk back to the car under a big black sky filled with stars and a clear view of the Milky Way was the icing on the cake.
6. Anza Trail
Overall Ratings
4 based on 50 reviews
Reviewed By Brenna R - Minneapolis, Minnesota
We had a very nice walk here on our visit to Tubac. We brought our yellow lab and there were a few places for her to get a drink of water so even though it was hot she could stay hydrated. It was shady in a lot of places too. People were generally good about picking up after their pets and keeping them on leashes too.
7. K Newby Gallery & Sculpture Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
K Newby Gallery & Sculpture Garden is a destination gallery off the beaten path that exhibits an expansive collection of fine southwestern art brought to life within a beautiful historic setting in a large sculpture garden. Find the hidden treasure of Tubac... just over the footbridge in the Mercado de Baca.
Reviewed By Rebel500 - Sierra Vista, Arizona
A brand new gallery & grounds (established in 2016) is so artfully situated & the outdoor sculptures just stand out! They are even 'interactive' as you can sit, pose & play with the life size figures.
Inside the gallery, well...what can I say...the most amazing artwork & more sculptures are available......
I really did wish I was a bazillionaire so that I could have bought lots of things!!!
8. Cobalt Fine Arts Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 21 reviews
Established in the historic art village of Tubac Arizona, Cobalt Fine Arts has brought some of the finest Contemporary Southwestern art to the area for over a decade. A collaborative work between mother daughter team Diane Lisle, resident Tubac potter for over 18 years and owner of Clay Hands Gallery and Mesia Hachadorian, Cobalt’s Director and managing partner.
Reviewed By joy n - Tucson, Arizona
BE transported by beauty when you browse thru the artwork in this Gallery. You can expect variety and quality. Paintings, ceramics, Raku, unusual wood pieces, incredibly glass objects - and things I can't even describe.
Shopkeeper is friendly and eager to share information about media and artists.
9. Flying Leap Tasting Room and Art Galery
Overall Ratings
5 based on 11 reviews
Reviewed By AZViajera - Tucson, Arizona
I didn't know Flying Leap had a tasting room in Tubac. We were lucky enough to stumble upon it. Honestly, I have never been that impressed w/ AZ wines - until now!! Flying Leap is putting out some REALLY good wine. Secondly, we were so lucky and fortunate to have Annie as our amazing wine hostess. She was knowledgeable, charismatic, and made the whole experience so enjoyable and memorable. It was $9 to sample about 10 different wines. Well worth the money. Tubac is only a 30 minute drive from Tucson. What a great little place. Get out of town for a day, for an afternoon!!!
On a side note, Flying Leap currently has 5 tasting rooms - one in Elgin/Sonoita, Wilcox, Campbell Plaza in Tucson (Campbell and River), Tubac, and I can't remember the other one (Sedona?). Well worth a visit. If you go to the Tubac location hopefully you will be lucky enough to have Annie as the wine hostess.
10. Tubac Art and Gifts
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11 reviews
We are a fine art gallery and gift shop. We feature local and regional artists and crafts people. We have art for your walls, art for your homes, and art for your bodies...All bold, colorful, some cutting edge, some comfortably traditional.
Reviewed By Cliff M - Brookfield, Connecticut
Nice items for purchase and a few high-end art galleries. Found many of the same items in many stores with very few truly unique items that were in the affordable range. Don't spend an entire day here.
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