The University of Arizona is located in Tucson, a city of 750,000 inhabitants, 45 miles from the U.S. border with Mexico, a growing economic and recreational center with a multicultural population that reflects the richness of the Southwest. The city shares common borders with the Tohono O'odam and the Pasqua Yaqui Indian Nations, and is surrounded by majestic desert and rugged mountains rising to more than 9,000 feet. Southern Arizona has more than three hundred days of sunshine per year, more than any other region in the US.

Tucson offers a variety of urban activities. The city hosts theater, opera, symphony and ballet companies, as well as mariachi music, Indian pow-wows, rodeos and many street and ethnic festivals. UA Presents brings in Broadway theater and internationally renowned companies such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the Buena Vista Social Club.

The climate and scenic beauty of Southern Arizona has made tourism a major industry in Tucson, making nightlife, restaurants and shopping opportunities plentiful and varied. The University of Arizona also provides exciting inter-collegiate sports events--our Wildcat basketball, softball, swimming and volleyball teams are famous nationwide--as well as intramural sports and sports clubs. Phoenix, an hour and a half away, is the home of the World Series Champion Arizona Diamondbacks as well as the Arizona Cardinals and the Phoenix Suns.

Outdoor enthusiasts will also find many recreational opportunities. The Saguaro National Park east and west locations, Catalina State Park, Sabino and Madera Canyons, as well as the Santa Catalina, Rincon, Santa Rita and Tucson mountains offer hiking, mountain biking, river rafting, horseback riding and spectacular bird-watching. Skiing is available on nearby Mt. Lemon, as well as in the Arizona Snowball near Flagstaff and the White Mountains, each less than 4 hours away. Beautiful beaches and pristine desert areas in the Gulf of California are also less than 4 hours away.

Resources
http://www.arizona.edu/home/visiting.php
http://www.ci.tucson.az.us/
http://www.visittucson.org/
http://www.tucsonattractions.com/