Best of Tucson 1996: Best Neighborhood Walk

Best Neighborhood Walk

Sam Hughes neighborhood

READERS' AND STAFF PICK: Sam Hughes neighborhood, just east of Campbell across from the UA mall, is a wide-streeted affair with perky lawns and beautiful historic homes. The thing that really sets it apart, however, is its eclecticism. It's one place in Tucson where the architecture is as varied as the plant life. From nouveau to Southwestern, adobe to corrugated steel, the houses line up like an unlikely assortment of suspects in a John Sayles flick: They're all over the place. But this is a very well-maintained neighborhood, the type of glitzy-cool place most of us will only be able to afford to walk our dogs through vicariously. For maximum appreciation, hit it up on foot in the early evening.

READERS' POLL RUNNER-UP: Winterhaven is one of Tucson's oldest subdivisions and the only one with its own, personal water company. The residents of Winterhaven solemnly uphold two time-honored traditions: In the summer, they really go crazy with the lawn watering, and in the winter, they really go to town with the Christmas decorations, both of which contribute to the feeling of a cool, lush slice of the Garden State in our own parched backyard. It's rumored Winterhaven is two or three degrees cooler than the rest of the city during the summer, making it a welcome retreat for power walkers; but the real fun of the neighborhood comes around Christmastime. That's when everybody, save a few crazy renegades, breaks out the decorations and decks the boughs, lawns and roofs. In the weeks before Christmas, pedestrians reign supreme, and the streets are closed to non-resident cars. You can meander the winding streets enjoying all the pretty lights while the homeowners wait 10 minutes to back out of their driveways to pick up some milk...if we'll let them.

A PERFECT TEN: Rabbits, lizards, squirrels and coyotes cross your path as you take a walk through central Tucson. Are you dreaming? No, you're in the little desert oasis of the Colonia Solana neighborhood. Just north of Reid Park and east of Country Club Road, this elegant neighborhood makes for a tranquil early morning walk or a quick deviation from the park. The lush desert landscape has reclaimed the area, with mature blue palo verde, mesquite, ocotillo and prickly pear offering safe haven for urban escapist and flighty jackrabbit alike. You may even find an occasional bench set in the round medians to rest and watch the quails run to and fro. No tidy green lawns or thirsty flowers here--this is the best of the pueblo's rustic beauty.