Stunning views of the surrounding mountains and foothills can be found everywhere around Oro Valley.  The town offers some of the most scenic views imaginable.  Of course, the area is ripe for outdoor enjoyment year round, thanks to the mild climate in the area.  Thankfully, you have access to quite a few excellent parks during a stay in town.

You will find Canada Del Oro Riverfront Park on offer.  This park covers 30 acres and provides a playground, tennis courts, a basketball court, a performance stage for events, volleyball pits, covered areas for gatherings, an equestrian staging area and more.  In fact, you will find a wide range of local events put on here throughout the year.

James D Kriegh Park is another popular option in the area.  This park covers 20 acres and features racquetball courts, lighted baseball fields, an Olympic size swimming pool, covered areas, tons of picnicking area, volleyball facilities, a birding trail, batting cages and a playground.  You will also find that there is an off-leash section for Fido to enjoy.

West Lambert Lane Park covers 40 acres and is dedicated to natural trails.  These are ideal places for bird watchers, hikers and mountain bikers.  The trails snake through the entire 40 acres of parkland, offering you the chance to indulge your senses in unspoiled nature.  This is one of the most pristine areas in the town.

Metal detecting is another popular pastime here and there are several parks that allow it (with a permit).  You can use your metal detector at West Lambert Lane, Naranja Town Site, CDO Riverfront Park and at James D. Kriegh Park, as well.

With the vast number of amazing parks, you can find the perfect place for any type of outdoor activity, or just to relax.

The town of Oro Valley is known for stunning scenic vistas, for a wide range of museums and historical sites, as well as for a blossoming economy.  However, the town is also home to a wide range of great events that happen every year.  With that said, there are two events that you simply have to hit if you will be in the area.  What are these?

El Tour de Tucson

Bicycle touring events are enormously popular the world over.  However, did you know that one of the most popular bike tours in the US is held every year in the Tucson/Oro Valley area?  This event brings in almost 10,000 cyclists from all over the world to compete in a 35-mile tour that takes them past some of the most scenic areas in the nation.  If you will be in town, you cannot miss this event.  Sign up to ride or just pick a spot and enjoy the spectacle as the riders go past.

Oro Valley Festival of the Arts

As the holiday season draws near, Oro Valley gears up for one of its most spectacular and most anticipated events of the year.  The annual Festival of Arts takes place every year during the month of November.  It covers more than 100 acres and is home to artists, events, classes, kiddie entertainment options and some of the best food in the state.  If you will be visiting Oro Valley or Tucson during the end of the year, you owe it to yourself to visit this event.  The kids can visit with Santa Claus, while you peruse the amazing displays of art on hand.

These are just two of the many annual events held in Oro Valley every year.  You will find a wide range of other attractions, as well.

If you are coming to visit Oro Valley, then you are in for a wealth of exciting possibilities.  The area surrounding the town is chock full of attractions that can pique your interest and give you hours of enjoyment.  What might you find around this beautiful city?

If you head east of town, you will find the stunning Catalina State Park.  Within the park is Mount Lemmon, which stands 9,000 feet high.  While the mountain is impressive in itself, it is also home to the southernmost ski run in the US.  You can take a run down the slopes of the mountain and lay claim to something that few can.

If you head to Picacho Peak State Park, you can explore the only Civil War battlefield in the state of Arizona.  Of course, you will also find that the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is within easy reach of the city.  However, perhaps the most interesting attraction in the surrounding area is the Kitt Peak National Observatory.  This amazing observatory is home to the world’s largest solar telescope.  You can easily spend an entire day at this site with your family and friends.

Finally, you can make a trip to the famed Biosphere 2.  This biosphere is an exact model of earth’s ecosystem and covers a full three acres of land.  You can get an idea of what influences the ecosystem, as well as what it takes to sustain this system.

You will find any number of other attractions around the city, as well.  If you love golf, then you’ll be able to spend days on end here.  If you enjoy hiking, biking, eating, dancing – it all awaits you, intrepid visitor!  You might just find that there are so many attractions here that one trip is simply not enough.

There is certainly no shortage of things to do around the town of Oro Valley.  Between the number of natural attractions, historic sites, parklands and entertainment venues, your days can be very full, indeed.  However, if you love golf, then you will find that this is one area in which Oro Valley certainly excels.  What golf courses might you find here?

Perhaps the most famous course in the city is the Pusch Ridge Golf Course.  Located at the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Resort, this course is an amazing place to spend your day (or several days for that matter).  Another excellent option is the Vistoso Golf Club.  This world-class course offers 18 holes of enjoyment, set against the backdrop of the incredible mountains and desert that surrounds the city.

Another popular course in the city is the Stone Canyon Golf Course.  This is a Jay Morrish signature course, and offers an incredible experience for players of all skill levels.  This course manages to combine traditional course topography with the local flora and fauna, making it seem incredibly natural, rather than a manmade attraction.  This course offers 18 holes, a tiebreaker hole and a practice area, as well as the ability to set different tee placements based on skills.

The Sun City Vistoso Golf Course offers passes for nonresidents and is one of the best courses in the city for those love golf.  The course was designed by Greg Nash, and offers a full 18 holes of enjoyment.  There are also several golf clubs open for new members, including clubs for men and women.  The restaurant and pro shop on the course are also popular additions.

As you can see, there are numerous golf courses for your enjoyment.  You will find even more courses located nearer to Tucson.