One of the more popular destinations, Mount Lemmon, 1 hour north, is a winter wonderland with skiing several months of the year. The trip to its peak reveals the striking ecological contrasts of Arizona, starting with thick stands of giant saguaro and ascending progressively through small oak trees, heavy forests of pondersoa pine and Douglas fir, to arrive at the summit where spruce and aspen flourish. Public hiking trails, bridle trails, camping areas, lakes for fishing, pools for swimming and spots for picnicking abound.

• Arizona White Mountains

Sports hosted in Tucson:

• Colorado Rockies' spring training
• The Pacific Coast League's Tucson Toros baseball
• The Weiser Lock Copper Bowl college football game
• PAC-10 intercollegiate sports
• Golf tournaments
• Bowling tournaments
• La Fiesta de los Vaqueros (world famous rodeo)

Tucson Golf Courses - Click here for a complete list of Tucson area golf courses

Baseball
Tucson Electric Park is headquarters for the AAA Pacific Coast League Tucson Sidewinders who play a home schedule from April through August. The Chicago White Sox and the Arizona Diamondbacks train at the park from February to March. Hi-Corbett Field holds spring training for the Colorado Rockies from February to March.

Boating
Reid Park Lake (paddle boats for rent), Silverbell Lake (sailboards), Kennedy Park (sailboards).

Cycling
The Greater Arizona Bicycling Association sponsors a variety of rides, from beginners to advanced.

Dog Racing
Tucson Greyhound Park, located at 36^th Street and South 4^th Avenue, offers greyhound racing, pari-mutuel wagering and clubhouse dining in a fully enclosed, climate-controlled facility. Off-track vetting. Open year round, seven days a week. (520) 884-7576.

Fishing
Tucson has several nearby lakes – Patagonia, Parker Canyon, Pena Blanca and Arivaca – as well as Rose Canyon Lake on Mt. Lemmon and small lakes stocked for fishing at several local parks. Tucson is also close enough to the Gulf of Baja California for weekend fishing trips.

Skiing
Mt. Lemmon is just 35 miles away. The majority of its slopes are for intermediate-to-expert skiers, but there is a beginners’ area. Altitude is 8,250 feet. Skiers will find lifts, a cable tow and ski rentals. (520) 576-1400.

Tennis
With more than 150 tennis courts in Tucson (many with lights for night play), tennis enthusiasts can usually find an available court. There are more than 35 public courts, plus many high school courts. Tucson also has a number of private tennis clubs. Check the Yellow Pages for addresses and phone numbers of public and private clubs.

University of Arizona Sports
 UA sports teams compete in the tough PAC-10 Conference. Football, baseball, basketball (M&W), track and field (M&W), cross-country (M&W), golf (M&W), gymnastics (W), softball (W), swimming/diving (M&W), tennis (M&W), soccer (W), volleyball (W). Sports club teams in American Taekwondo, archery, badminton, boxing, cricket, cycling, fencing, field hockey, ice hockey, Kenpo Karate, lacrosse, rugby, Shorin Ryu, Shotokan, soccer, table tennis, tricats, ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, Wado Karate, water polo, wheelchair athletics – there is something for every sports enthusiast. Call (520) 621-CATS (621-2287) for ticket information. The number for sports clubs is (520) 621-4709.