la entrada de tubac

Drove down to Tubac from Tucson. The artwork was predictable; competent but mostly boring. The chocolate at Untamed Confections was great. The chocolates were devoured within minutes. Lunch at Elvira’s was killer good. There was a shop with wind-powered sculptures that was fantastic. Too bad we couldn’t take anything back on the plane. If you don’t have much time to spare, give Tubac a pass. It has an artificial air. Something that an urban planner would create to attract tourists. Mostly fake.

Tubac, about a 50-minute drive south of Tucson off I-19, offers lots of shopping -- mainly for Southwestern and Mexican items. It is a great one-stop place to pick up yard art, pottery, jewelry, nature photography, mesquite furniture, sculptures, paintings, kitchen gadgets and much more. Just about every shop offers free maps of the village, showing where stores and other buildings are located to get visitors started. This is especially useful for those who want to stop where there are working artists.Shops range from those selling touristy items to others with high-quality goods. In the latter category, I especially like Karin Newby Gallery and Sculpture Garden and Lone Mountain Turquoise. But all shoppers should be able to find places in their price range to purchase items for themselves or as gifts. History buffs may want to check out the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park or the nearby old Tumacacori mission further south and meet the shoppers later at one of the snack shops or restaurants in Tubac.Tubac's Festival of the Arts takes place in February (next one is Feb. 10-14, 2016). It features the work of artists and craftspeople from throughout the United States and Canada as well as a food court with many cuisines. The town becomes quite crowded then (too much so for me) and parking (normally free and plentiful) costs $8. Many shops close in summer, so this would not be the best time to visit. If there are specific shops that you want to see then, I suggest calling to ensure that they are open.If returning to Tucson, be prepared for a possible slowdown at the border patrol station just north of Tubac on I-19. Agents have only asked us if we are U.S. citizens.

We went to Tubac because it sounded like a cool artists colony. Turns out it just a bunch of shops selling crafts. You don't see anyone making anything, and the goods are crafty, not art. We went to the Historical State Park, which was OK, and the Art Center which was also OK, but generally I was pretty mad I had spent a chunk of my day going to Tubac at all (we drove down from Tucson). In fact, I'm not sure I'd even recommend it if you were driving by it on the highway. There certainly isn't any decent food. It felt like a big tourist trap.

The fort is a super place to pick up some history of the area. There is a minimal entrance fee, a brief video, a self-guided tour of the grounds, a very nice museum, and a desert garden. We spent several hours and came away with a deeper appreciation of the area.

This area is about an hour outside of Tuscon, we drove down for a day trip and had lunch at Wisdom café (3 soft tacos) and it was delish! The shops were fun and interesting, lots of history and interesting people to meet while there! Fun trip!

There is a series of art galleries and shops located in the old town of Tubac. I love Southwestern and Mexican arts and crafts and I found a lot a beautiful and interesting pottery here, especially of sunflowers. I found the shop owners to be very warm and helpful too. Some of the buildings are very old adobe construction so it gives you a sense of the old Southwest. I also had one of the best Southwestern salads I've ever had at the local deli. If you are in the Tucson area, I would definitely recommend a day-trip here. Its very different from Sedona - if you're looking for glitz, this isn't it. It's a little dusty and remote, but it's not nearly as overrun with tourists as Sedona.

Spent an afternoon here (3-4 hrs) upon returning from a morning in Nogales, Mexico. Our shopping consisted primarily of wandering approx. 5-6 galleries, 3-4 jewelry stores looking for a specific stone, a few specialty shops and Tumacookery, a gourmet kitchen gadgets store. This is a pleasant diversion if you're in the area but we didn't consider it to be a destination. Don't drive down here just to shop.There are no bargains and a lot of the merchandise seemed to be almost too eclectic. Its a cute complex but also pretty cheesy and touristy. If you do visit, we recommend stopping in at Elviras to enjoy a specialty margarita. The bar is attractive and cozy and a nice way to wrap up a day of local tourist attractions. If you like the kitchen, definitely visit Tumacookery. They have all sorts of unique gadgets - the kind of place that creates needs you didn't know you had. Great place.

This is a small town with some unique and wonderful shops and restaurants. Great fun. I could live there.

One of the most outstanding gallery's in Tubac featuring a wide range of media with a western flavor. The works range from established artists to up and coming newcomers. The owners are knowledgeable about all media and most helpful to the customers. Visit here to see a refreshing view of contemporary art in a very pleasant atmosphere.

Visited here recently from Scotland. What a fantastic place! Wanted a copper saguaro as a souvenir and couldn't find one the right size so Jackie in the copper shop made me a personalised one! Just wonderful!

This was s surprising disappointment. I do not particularly care for shopping, but my wife certainly does, and we try to devote the better part of one day each trip to shopping for arts, hand-made jewelry and things like that. We have loved Sedona, Old Scottsdale, Carmel, Cannon Beach Oregon, Nantucket .. you get the idea. There was something about Tubac that we found disappointing. Maybe it was just us, but what was offered and the overall experience just didn't make this a good use of your time. As those financial ads says: your results may differ, but we found no comparison to the setting, the shops and what was offered as the "real' Sedona.

There are some interesting crafts amongst the schlock, but in general this touristy "mall" is a poor alternative to walks in the beautiful surrounding countryside.

A must see and visit!! This was our second trip there and just south of Tucson, it makes for a great day trip. The shopping is wonderful. So many shops to choose from. The artisans are friendly and their work like no others. My favorite is La Paloma de Tubac pottery store. It carries so many pottery items for home decor. Love it!! Also visiting the St. Anns church and the school and the historical sites. Just a fabulous time to walk and enjoy!

I don't consider myself a shopper and yet I found myself going to this destination with my sisters. We had a great time perusing the stores; trying on hats, looking at art and having lunch. The shops were spread out nicely with time to walk outside. Each store had its own specialty and the owners were attentive but not pushy. Note: we did go on a weekday and not during the art festival, so that all helped my claustrophobia. I found some very nice pieces for my patio at very reasonable prices.

Located south of Tucson off Route 19, this destination is packed with shops filled with the work of talented artisans. The theme of course is mostly southwestern, with heavy Mexican art influence. High quality, and very interesting and helpful proprietors make this short trip well worth it. FYI, don't miss the chocolate shop. There are some truly incredible items which must be sampled and in our case...bought and consumed.