Ever since I moved to Arizona almost seven years ago (!) as of January 2025, I have heard people in the valley refer to Tucson, Arizona as “The Dirty T”. I honestly had no clue why and as far as stereotypes go, you learn more along the way of life like the fact that the West Valley of Phoenix is “bad” which honestly reeks of racism but that’s a story for another time. But seriously, each time I would go down to visit Tucson and try to see it through rose-colored glasses, something really weird would happen that would eject me back to Phoenix. That’s the thing about these Native American lands, they are full of energy and spirits that can go either way.
I was driving down in a raining cats and dogs downpour, very unfamiliar to these here Wild West parts but I was smart enough along with hundreds of other Phoenicians to replace my rubber seal flopping around windshield wipers first. You should have seen the full trash bins at AutoZone on a late Saturday night, it was quite comical because I guess if it is broke but never raining don’t fix it until it breaks. Does that mean I’m a true Arizonan now?
So onto the highway I went on an early Sunday morning because everyone got me hype about all the traffic heading South. Other than the torrential downpour for the last hour of driving, it was smooth sailing. I would say on a good day not during rush hour, you may be able to make it in less than two hours from Phoenix proper. After white knuckling the last hour on the highway, you turn off and head toward and into the Catalina Mountains for about a half hour. Trying to gas up again before heading into the resort, I pulled into a nearby Speedway with low gas prices only to find the whole gas station dug up around the store. It was at this moment I questioned what would happen during this visit and if the ‘T” was gonna do me dirty this time… at least I was able to use the restroom.
Pulling into the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, I was glad to see an awning shielding everyone from the rain. And when I say early, I mean I rolled in at 10 a.m. surprising even myself! The plan was to eat light that morning and attend the legendary brunch experience called Blues, Brews & BBQ Brunch. It is definitely a local favorite featuring live, blues music and one of the best brunch spreads I’ve seen in a while. Fresh seafood and sashimi for brunch, yes please! Normally I’d be downing the unlimited mimosas with a drop of orange juice but knew that I would end up just falling asleep so went the other direction with very tasty coffee instead. Even if you’re not staying at the resort, this is a must to do in Tucson hands down.
Arriving at Loews Tucson and then immediately stretching my legs for a wet walkabout. Yes, I know it’s not called Loews Tucson by the locals but for the rest of us (including Google searches), it’s Loews Tucson just like Loews Philadelphia, etc. I think in search SEO.Checking in my luggage while my room got ready was a breeze at Loews Tucson. They also have valet parking available as well.I was drooling looking at the spread they were perfecting after a walkabout upon arrival at Loews Tucson.Some of the best sticky buns I’ve ever had at Loews Tucson. Get the ones in the middle if you like it extra gooey!Pecan tarts were a bite size dream at Loews Tucson.Monkey bread for all the tastes so good but bad for you carbs at Loews Tucson.Let’s not forget the meat station at Loews Tucson.Melt in your mouth meat at Loews Tucson with au jus sauce on the side.Cut me a slab of both please, perfectly seasoned at Loews Tucson.Freshly grilled veggies waiting to be devoured at Loews Tucson.Bacon wrapped hot dogs no doubt 100% beef which is the only way I’ll eat them at Loews Tucson.So tempting to eat a whole pile of fresh made mashed potatoes at Loews Tucson.Beer soaked corn on the cob kept it juicy at Loews Tucson.A whole pot of pulled pork cooked to perfection at Loews Tucson.Let’s not forget the music at Loews Tucson! Singer Tom Walbank and his drummer became fast friends at Loews Tucson. I was grooving to their songs many times before, during and after the buffet.My first plate for the buffet brunch at Loews Tucson. The key is to save the breads and filler foods til the end!For the next morning, I was already making plans for an omelet at Loews Tucson. This station is part of their daily offerings. If you do a veggie omelet, it allows you to eat many more strips of bacon. Just saying!For the beer lovers, unlimited beer from local to Tucson Dragoon Brewery on tap at Loews Tucson.And for the folks that like their bubbles, Wycliff is their go to brunch brand with plenty of juice options including pineapple or orange juice like in my champagne glass.As soon as I felt faded and full, I got a text my room was ready at Loews Tucson so headed toward the front desk but stopped for this picture. Many beautiful stones adorned the lobby areas like this amethyst.
Situated on 100 acres in the Sonoran Desert, the 398-guestroom Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson is a sprawling desert oasis. Fully renovated rooms and suites are set to be completed November 2024, just ahead of the resort’s 40th anniversary in December. The refreshed rooms include brand new furniture, carpets, curtains, wall coverings and bathrooms, as well as the carpets, wall coverings, and signage inside the guest room corridors. For those accent lights glowing behind the bed, the tiny black button is connected to and right next to the plugs.
Celebrating the resort’s anniversary with fireworks on Dec. 12 at the year’s annual Tree Lighting Event, the resort is offering a special 40 & Fabulous package, including $40 resort credit, $40 food & beverage credit and waived resort fee (savings of $34 per day). This package is available through April 30, 2025 and Loews Tucson is pet friendly so bring Fido too!
Finally it was time to explore the newly renovated rooms at Loews Tucson. This was on the fourth floor, steps from the elevator.The renovated room from the other direction at Loews Tucson. Still the classic sleek black accent style but with modern touches.The entertainment center also included a fridge on the bottom right, coffee and teas at Loews Tucson.The desk area at Loews Tucson was open air, by the sliding glass doors and uncluttered at Loews Tucson.As a lady who has to put on a face frequently for work purposes, I liked this vanity touch in the room’s hallway at Loews Tucson. I have one at home and now thinking a marble slab may be nice!One sink which is more than enough for me at Loews Tucson.The shower was as big as a walk in closet at Loews Tucson. It could easily fit two people but then someone is always cold!I don’t know what kind of witchcraft is in this Julien Farel brand, but my curly hair just loves it as does my skin at Loews Tucson. I remember the same vibes at Loews Philly and even without the humidity of the East Coast, my hair was all curls.Soon it was out onto the balcony for the most dramatic views at Loews Tucson.To the left, the main pool and hot tub on the left side of the building looking toward the mountains at Loews Tucson.To the right, the rooms that are literally in the cliffside at Loews Tucson and some houses too. If you look very closely you can see the natural waterfall which I visited later.I could barely keep my eyes open at this point between the rain, driving and brunch so settled in for a nice nap before heading to dinner at Flying V Bar & Grill restaurant. Located steps away from the front desk, they had complimentary umbrellas for guests.Some interior photos of the bar at Flying V Bar & Grill. As a blogger, people either run away from the camera of toward you it’s pretty amusing but I always ask if I’m filming or if they mind. Remember manners kids.The interior where I was seating next to the fire looking out the window at Flying V Bar & Grill.But first I had to pop outside and capture this image with my Canon Rebel T7 I was testing out which the team jokingly referred to as the “Eye of Mordor” at Flying V Bar & Grill. It’s a Lord of the Rings thing if you don’t know.For reference, this is why you need a professional camera. Notice the quality difference in what my Samsung Galaxy S24 captures here? That said, I did rely more on my cell phone for dinner with a very mindful, demure small light. Don’t blind people.Cheers to a lovely beginning of dinner at Flying V Bar & Grill with Nicolas Feuillate bubbles from Champagne, France. Any bubbles that are from Champage, France is true champagne. Everything else is just prosecco!Table side fresh made guacamole was a total treat at Flying V Bar & Grill. I included the mango and the jalapeno!The homemade corn bread with that honey was next level at Flying V Bar & Grill. Also some spicy green sauce for all you heat seekers!Not only was this absolutely fabulous tasting, the way they packaged it to go with cellophane in a ball to seal out the air is pure genius and I will be doing that for the rest of my life at Flying V Bar & Grill.The biggest Mexican Sweet Potato I’ve ever seen at Flying V Bar & Grill which can come with a vegan cream topping if requested as well. So creamy and delicious!And next up on the Uniquely Local menu, the Lobster Peppers at Flying V Bar & Grill filled with lobster crumble, wrapped in bacon and just a little kick of spice. Amazing!I was also enjoying jumping around the wine by the glass menu at Flying V Bar & Grill. My waiter, Cole, recommended this Sonoma Curter chardonnay which I found very well balanced not too buttery. Listen to him, he was right every time!After settling in the first few courses, we switched over to this Lafite Rothschild “Legende” from Bordeaux, France which I loved at Flying V Bar & Grill. Let’s be honest, if there’s a French wine I usually always gravitate towards it – it’s in my blood. But I am always open to trying new things, twice if I like it!The Lamb Shank Birria was utter perfection as it just melted off the bone and into my mouth at Flying V Bar & Grill. My favorite dish hands down. Those who know me, know I love a pile of meat!For the vegans out there, I tried the Wild Mushroom Tamales which was hella salty at Flying V Bar & Grill. Apparently when you stop eating meat, you pile on the salt or so I’ve been told. So probably not the best judge for the veggie crowd but am trying to be more inclusive!For dessert, a mezcal chocolate martini called Smoke & Cacao which may be my new holiday favorite at Flying V Bar & Grill. I love smoky flavors and chocolate! There is a whole cocktail menu called “Free Spirited” that has low and no alcohol mocktails too.The Mexican Chocolate Coconut Torte was thick and creamy, an excellent pairing for chocolate lovers like me at Flying V Bar & Grill.At this point, I was pretty wine happy and drifted over to the bar to do a mezcal tasting with Daniel Pitzer, lead bartender at Flying V Bar & Grill. He was very entertaining and explained bartenders have to be good actors which is true!I was asking for worm salt which is delicious by the way but Daniel told me about burnt tortilla salt which is just as addicting and made in house at Flying V Bar & Grill.Down the hatch we went on a tasting tour at Flying V Bar & Grill.Let’s not forget the two on the end at Flying V Bar & Grill.Then Daniel blew my mind further by introducing me to smoky scotch Lagavulin 16 at Flying V Bar & Grill. Where have you been all my life? Adding it to my travel bucket list right now.The next morning after breakfast, the first thing I noticed was this cigar station at Loews Tucson near the lobby bar.I was up and at ’em way too early the next day at Loews Tucson but had a mission to grab the pics I couldn’t in the pouring rain at Loews Tucson. This is the main lobby with bar at the end with food options as well.The hallway next to the lobby that was covered in food the day before for brunch at Loews Tucson.The steaming 84 degree main pool with light coming onto the mountains again at Loews Tucson.The tennis and pickleball court at Loews Tucson all lush and green from the rain.The adults only pool near the fitness center at Loews Tucson.And a small hot tub which I didn’t have time to delve into at Loews Tucson.A completely different photo from the day before at Loews Tucson.I made sure to feed the fat coy at Loews Tucson. Just ask for fish food at the front desk!Then did a quick walkabout up the mountain looking for the turtle sanctuary at Loews Tucson. So many trails right on property to explore at your leisure!Stalked some more amethyst in the front desk lobby area before heading over to yoga in the morning at Loews Tucson.Meeting by the fitness center, Loews Tucson Spa and Fitness Manager Darcy McCue and I did a personalized session indoors and she was pretty impressed with my abilities even with a metal fusion in my spine. We made fast friends!Soon I was back on the hunt for these two Sonoran Tortoise that live on property but only found one’s home by the pool near the steps.Finally it was time for the waterfall at Loews Tucson! It is a natural waterfall with a little help from a pumping system, this is the desert after all.First glimpse of the waterfall at Loews Tucson.And the steam that flows directly behind it at Loews Tucson.A wide shot view of the space that has been built around it for all to enjoy at Loews Tucson. There are paved walking paths but steps to get here so like a mini hike.Walking back another path, a different view of the waterfall at Loews Tucson. I’m sure the rain helped it that day!Back toward the main pool area, a hot tub awaits sore guests at Loews Tucson. Behind it, a cool plunge.The outside lounge area behind the hotel drying off at Loews Tucson.And of course back to stalking huge stones at Loews Tucson. I would like a nice collection someday myself!My balcony looking totally different in the sunshine at Loews Tucson. I settled in for another exhaustion nap before lunch and photoshoot that afternoon!Bill’s Grill outside in the sun was very nice at Loews Tucson.Ravenous after a nap, I gobbled down this huge Al Pastor Chicken Sandwich at Loews Tucson. So juicy and good!And for some vitamins, the gazpacho which tasted like salsa soup at Loews Tucson.This is certainly the elevated poolside food on a hot day we bet it’s popping at Loews Tucson. Still beautiful!After lunch, I sat out front in the sun and waited for my photographer friend to arrive at Loews Tucson.In case you were wondering what that sign said at Loews Tucson.Completely different views with blue skies at Loews Tucson.The lone elevator left from construction was having issues keeping up with so many guests but led me to this photo on the stairs – my second workout for the day at Loews Tucson.A little teaser from the photoshoot at Loews Tucson, stay tuned for pro pics online soon!And one last sunset pic before I departed that night to beat traffic. On my drive out, the moon was a sliver with stars twinkling – truly stunning!
