Campus Farm - Tucson, AZ

Tucson’s rich history begins with the Paleo-Indians sometime around 2100 BC. Much of the Santa Cruz River Valley was settled by cowboys and stagecoach drivers in the 1800s. Upon the construction of the University of Arizona in 1885, the population saw a surge of growth. In 1900, Tucson had just over 7,000 recorded residents. By 1910, there were 13,000. Today, hundreds of thousands of people occupy the Southwestern Arizona region.

Campus Farm prides itself on being family oriented, as evidenced by the many karate and dance centers and the well-maintained Rio Vista Elementary School. The neighborhood houses the Franklin Auto Museum and the Otis H. Chidester Scout Museum which displays the largest collection of Scouting memorabilia in the world. Residents benefit from proximity to Tucson Place Shopping Center, Weston Plaza, and Tucson’s most expansive indoor mall. The Tucson Book Festival attracts crowds of tourists every spring.

Locals in Campus Farm head just beyond the neighborhood boundaries for a good selection of restaurants, including Mexican, upscale burger joints and pub food along North Campbell Avenue and East Prince Road.

Ghini's French Caffe is very French, right down to the adorably cluttered seat-yourself dining area, airy pet-friendly outdoor patio and dangling chandeliers. The owner and chef was born in Marseilles and studied in France. Now she replicates authentic French recipes with locally sourced products in her Prince Road cafe. Stop in on weekdays before 3 p.m. to try Ghini's award winning breakfast dishes such as stuffed crepes and eggs Provençal. On Fridays, the cafe becomes a bistro with happy hour deals on wines and cocktails and a full dinner menu. If you like coffee made the old-school way, Caffe Luce on Campbell Avenue serves up small batch roasted coffee and espresso that can't be beat.

Guadalajara Original Grill serves some of the city's Mexican favorites, winning over hearts with their home-made tortias and fresh salsa. Warmly decorated with bold colors and murals on the wall, the spot makes a good choice when entertaining out-of-towners or taking out a first date. Mariachi musicians play nightly, and molcajete dishes are delivered in the traditional stone mortars. Regulars love the salsa that is made table-side by the welcoming staff and recommend the chimichangas or the stuffed salmon with lobster and queso sauce.

Earn cool points from your friends by suggesting Zinburger for lunch, which strikes just the right balance between hipster style and substance. A line of green bar stools stands out against the patinaed wood floors where customers come for kobe beef burgers topped with specialties such as manchego cheese or wild mushrooms. Try the sweet potato fries, which customers rave about, or sample the Shake of the Month, which arrives looking more like a sundae with drizzled toppings and whipped cream.

There's plenty to do after the sun goes down on Campus Farm. Union Public House, open until 2 a.m., sports classic American fare and crafted cocktails. Pueblo styling and outdoor seating that faces the courtyard in St. Philip's Plaza makes the upscale restaurant and pub the perfect place for a date, party or lunch meeting. Brush and Bottle on Prince Road provides patrons with a hands-on experience by allowing them to sip from wine and beer they brought from home while they show off their painting skills. When you've got a big group to entertain, Golden Pin Lanes stays open until midnight on weekdays and 1 a.m. on weekends. With 48 bowling lanes, food, drink deals and an arcade, you're sure to find activities to please everyone.

Campus Farm’s wide streets and winding alleyways are highly walkable. Though all of the neighborhood’s major roads have dedicated bike lanes (and so do most of the minor streets like Prince, Limberlost and Roger Road), serious cyclists typically designate themselves to the trails on the Loop where there are no traffic lights.

Sun Tran buses have stops up and down 1st, Mountain and Campbell Avenue. A bevy of shopping centers provide free shared parking. The Sun Link, also known as the Tucson Streetcar, zips across the Santa Cruz River from downtown Tucson to University of Arizona, offering a quick, cheap way to get to and from classes. Uber and Lyft service the Campus Farm area. Cabs are easiest hailed near the university bars and downtown Tucson.

Don Hummel Park (also called Limberlost Family Park) was named in honor of Tucson’s mayor from 1955 to 1960. A true neighborhood park, Don Hummel Park serves the dense community that surrounds 4th Avenue with covered playground, basketball courts and green fields trees and benches.

Rillito River Park most popular spot is the Loop, a paved and unpaved trail with bridges across the water and gorgeous mountain views where locals jog, bike, and walk their pups. When the river bed dries, equestrians often make use of the land around the wash. The area near the Loop has a small playground, water fountains, and picnic tables.

Fitness enthusiasts love Jacob’s Park, a nine minute drive outside of Campus Farm open from dawn to dusk. The huge park has an outdoor aquatics center with a swimming and diving pool, basketball, baseball and tennis courts, multipurpose fields, and picnic areas with grills. Pet owners love that Jacob’s Dog Park has a fenced off-the-leash area for dogs.

Despite being such a scenic region of Tucson, cost of living in Farm Campus falls under the city average. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $558 per month. Gas prices typically range between $1.80 and $2. Expect to pay $3 for a beer, $4 for a coffee and $1.50 for Sun Tran bus fare (unless you qualify for a student discount).

In Campus Farm, locals have a variety of options for weekly groceries. Sprout's, Fry's Food and Drug, and Safeway all lie within the neighborhood borders, while Sam's Club and Trader Joe's are just a few miles away from Campus Farm. Residents can also choose from gourmet and specialty food items at India Dukaan, a small grocery store on Campbell Avenue that sells spices, teas and hard-to-find produce, including opo squash and turai.

Heirloom Farmer's Market opens Saturdays and Sundays from around 9 a.m. to noon in the Rillito Park food pavilion. Well-behaved pets on leashes are welcome to join you in navigating the booths, food trucks and live cooking demonstrations. If you forget to bring a bag, you can buy one at the market. While all of the vendors take cash, shoppers can purchase tokens with their credit cards at the information booth.

Tucson Mall, the city's largest shopping mall, boasts over 200 stores. Less than a mile from the middle of Campus Farm, the sprawling indoor retail center has a kid's play area and free events for preschoolers twice a month. Busy parents and adults with young children or strollers can take advantage of the family-first parking spaces in the lots around the food court, Dillard's and Forever 21. After walking Tucson Mall's whopping 1,300,000 square feet, treat yourself to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.

For a break from the norm, locals head to Limited Additions Studio Boutique. The cleverly named Campbell Avenue store carries a huge selection of woman's accessories, apparel and home goods from tons of unique designers and brands. Another unique store, Bahti Indian Arts, showcases one-of-a-kind Native America treasures and collections from around the southwest.