You've probably seen images of this architectural marvel, but it's important to know that it is, to this day, the parish church of the Tohono O'odham Nation. My yearly visits are both somber and joyful. The church signifies the bitter colonialism of 17th-century Spain whose Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries are forever a part of the landscape, and it also remains the center of a vibrant Native American community. On the other side of the parking lot from the church, you'll find a series of shops specializing in hand-crafted jewelry, and food stalls in which O'odham women are turning out delicious fry bread, the Indian equivalent of doughnuts fried in lard. If you have the time for a short road trip, consider Nogales, the border town just a forty-minute drive from the mission.
Several stores specialize in blown glass and ironwood carvings.
Most store clerks and vendors encourage bargaining, but don't assume this. I love to stop for drinks at La Roca, popular for its cool, cave-like atmosphere and live mariachi music. It's also fun to choose a restaurant at random, but be careful about ordering meat dishes from roadside stands. Poor sanitary conditions and lack of adequate refrigeration can potentially ruin your day. A good time to visit Tucson is during spring and fall when you can be outdoors all day without dropping from heat exhaustion.