Catalina State Park in the Oro Valley just north of Tucson is one of our favorite layovers. We booked the two weeks around Thanksgiving almost a year ago-and good we did as the park is filled with celebratory families. We are surrounded by beautiful Sonoran desert landscape.
The bike paths throughout the park make it easy to get to trail heads.
The Sonoran is our favorite desert in the Southwest. It is surprisingly green with a variety of flora. This is the only desert where you will find the iconic saguaro cactus.
Saguaro Cactus Skeleton
It can be really green; even without recent rain this grass thrives under the trees along the wash.
We missed peak wildflowers but a few were still hanging on.
Love this morning light on the grasses. This desert has such a variety of foliage- cactus, mesquite, palo verde and all kinds of grasses.
Waking every morning and knowing this landscape is just outside our door is our happy place.
Tincan Travels 
No wonder you enjoy everything there! Thank you, again, for sharing!
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Another stop we will put on our list. Very beautiful.
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Spectacular photos
Makes you want to have the same adventure
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my heart is with you as you know!!!! healing soothing exciting challenging desert
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