A Day in
Baja Arizona 2
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Tubac Art and history are intertwined in this colorful and rich village along the banks of the Santa Cruz River. Text and Photgraphy By Eric Swedlund
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N AN IDYLLIC natural setting just 45 minutes south of Tucson by car, this bustling, if small, artists’ colony was the state’s original colonial garrison, the Spanish crown’s sole outpost in the region for more than 20 years before the Tucson presidio was built. Today, there are more than 100 galleries and every February, the village hosts its Festival of the Arts, the oldest annual art gathering in the country. But for twists of fate and the whims of the Spanish crown,
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Tubac might’ve become the city Tucson is today. Instead, Tubac is a calm and restorative getaway for Tucsonans and outside visitors alike. Start a trip to Tubac at The Goods (26A Tubac Road), a juice and smoothie bar that focuses on fresh, local produce. Light yet filling, house specialties like the Green & Blue (spinach, kale, blueberries and banana, blended with almond milk) give an energetic boost to prime an explorer’s day.
The cradle of Arizona’s colonial past, Tubac celebrates its history. Three miles south of the village is Mission San José de Tumacácori, founded by Father Eusebio Kino in 1691. The preserved church—dating to the early 1800s—is now at the center of the Tumacácori National Historical Park (1891 I-19 Frontage Road), easily explored on foot. Back in Tubac, the site of the presidio became the first Arizona State Park in 1958. On display at
the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park (1 Burruel St.) are portions of the presidio’s original foundation and a museum that houses, among many artifacts, Arizona’s first printing press. A short walk away on Tubac Road is Shelby’s Bistro (19 Tubac Road), named one of the state’s 25 best restaurants by Arizona Highways. The family-run bistro features Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, with salads, sandwiches, and burgers joining Shelby’s