10 Best Healthful Activities in Tucson

On a sunny Sunday morning at a farmers' market in Tucson's St. Philip's Plaza, the aromas of red chiles and roasted corn blend with fresh oregano, ripe tomatoes, and sweet prickly pear jam. Vendors welcome customers with a warmth as comforting as the bubbling water from nearby fountains. The Catalina Mountains in the background, dotted with towering cacti, reach to a flawless blue sky. This is the soul of Tucson–a melting pot of Native American and Spanish culture, spiritual and health movements, and some of the country's most colorful landscapes.

1. Find it fresh: Fresh produce, while available year round in Tucson, is at its best for flavor and color during the spring months, making this a city where great farmers' markets become destinations. Local food lovers flock to the Community Food Bank Farmers' Market on Tuesday mornings. Although it contains just a dozen or so vendors, this is the only place in the city where desert-adapted red garlic and a native herb called verdolagas is available. For such efforts in preserving native foods and inspiring the local food community, representatives of the Food Bank were honored at the Slow Food's Terra Madre meeting in Turin, Italy in 2006.

2. Practice pedal power: Tucson is consistently ranked among the top five bicycling cities in the country with more than 325 miles of well-marked bike lanes and trails in the metropolitan area. The two-lane asphalt Rillito River Park Trail (520-877-6120) winds 11 miles alongside a mostly-dry riverbed on the north side of town. You'll find easy access to parks, shopping areas, and public services without crossing busy streets.

3. Watch the desert bloom: Throughout Tucson and the surrounding areas, you'll notice enormous cacti called saguaro, often considered the unofficial symbol of the American west. Found only in the Sonoran Desert around Tucson, these majestic plants live to be several hundred years old and blossom each spring. To best see them, explore Tucson Mountain Park, just west of town. Stop at its scenic overlooks and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, a 21-acre natural habitat for desert wildlife and plants. Or travel a few miles farther to Saguaro National Park West (520-733-5158), where flowers, such as the wild zinnia and desert verbena, bloom beneath the cacti each March. The King Canyon Trail offers one of the best places to enjoy them; the seven-mile round trip trail follows an old mining road and ends atop Wasson Peak, the highest point in the Tucson Mountains.

4. Try a light bite: The food at Zivaz Mexican Bistro (520-325-1234) is a result of Chef Don Felipe Valenzuela's quest to create light, healthful dishes for his vegetarian wife and diabetic son. In addition to traditional regional dishes at the popular lunchtime eatery, you'll find intriguing offerings, such as pescado ajillo, salmon marinated in achiote (the colorful seeds of a tropical plant commonly used in Mexican foods), or Mexican sushi: finely chopped vegetables rolled into colorful tortillas and served with a chile-soy dipping sauce.

5. Sink a hole in one: More than 40 public and private courses (888-465-3125) provide golfers of all levels numerous challenges and unsurpassed panoramic views of the desert valley. One course is noted for design efforts that use the desert's natural terrain to create challenging and enjoyable play: Golf Club at Vistoso (520-797-9900), where two saguaro cacti guard the 11th hole.

6. Pamper yourself: Located on 150 acres on the northeast side of the city, Canyon Ranch is a place where cell phones are discouraged and health and healing are enhanced through cooking classes, exercise and fitness programs, and numerous opportunities for quiet and reflection–all included in the price of your stay.

7. Bring your binoculars: Just 45 miles south of Tucson lies Tubac Presidio State Historic Park (520-398-2252), part of Arizona's impressive state park system, which is often compared to the national park system in its size and services. At Tubac, birders can enjoy an early morning hike along the eight-mile Anza Trailhead. Burrowing owls are among the unique creatures that make their homes here.

8. Allow for a local indulgence: The El Charro Café, in business since 1922, is credited with creating the chimichanga, a burrito stuffed with meat or vegetables, then deep-fried and topped with cheese and mild sauce. While it's not the most healthful dish (although the café does use heart-healthy canola oil), it has become a can't-miss bite. Order yours with carne seca, lean beef loin which has been marinated in garlic, lime juice, and spices, then sun dried and shredded.

9. Saddle up: Maybe it's the Old West image or the ranching heritage, but horseback riding has remained a mainstay in Tucson. It's not uncommon to see entire families out for an afternoon ride from any of the city's six public stables. Arizona Horseback Experience (520-455-5696), a short drive south of the city, makes learning the sport easy for beginners with daylong, guided trail rides. Start with their Horsemanship 101 class, then traverse the desert.

10. Wish upon a star: Tucson becomes even more spectacular at night. With cloudless skies an average of 350 days a year, it is considered one of the best stargazing settings in the country. Steward Observatory on the University of Arizona Campus (520-621-2288; www.as.arizona.edu) designs some of the most advanced telescope mirrors used by astronomers today. Tours must be scheduled in advance, but plan for the Monday evening lecture series, which is followed by stargazing through a 21-inch telescope. Kitt Peak National Observatory, about 60 miles southwest of Tucson, is well worth the drive to see the universe through 24 optical telescopes that provide information for dozens of research institutions.