Arizona is known for its sunsets, so on the second night of our weekend in Tucson, we headed over to the historic Hacienda Del Sol Guest Ranch for cocktails and spectacular views of the Catalina mountains. Hacienda del Sol dates back to 1929, when it was built as a retreat for daughters of society’s elite families. It was converted to a resort in 1944, when it became popular with stars like Katherine Hepburn, Clark Gable, and John Wayne.
Numerous locals recommended the Grill at Hacienda del Sol for its food, and the Terraza Garden Patio for its amazing views and margaritas. Neither disappointed. We didn’t plan to eat, however, the Terraza Garden Patio was especially enchanting, and the smell of smoke from the restaurant’s wood-burning oven kept wafting by. We ordered two margaritas — one regular and one chipotle, with a plate of shrimp tacos, and admired the gorgeous gardens and grounds. The property has organic gardens for fresh produce, and the restaurants have frequent live music.
We were especially intrigued by the sign with pictures of wildlife you might encounter at Hacienda del Sol. The Catalina foothills are home to mountain lions, bobcats, rattlesnakes (did not want to see!), roadrunners, and javelinas. The sunset from the resort’s infinity pool was spectacular, with the sky changing from shades of blue, pink, orange, and purple before our eyes, and silhouettes of giant saguaro cacti dotting the horizon.
We did not stay at Hacienda del Sol on this trip, but it would definitely be at the top of our list for places to stay on our next visit.
Thank you to Alaska Airlines for sponsoring this post.