{ prima facie } the Temple Law newspaper

By Marla Neufeld, Esq.
West Palm Beach, Florida

Tucson offers a warm retreat to thaw out from the rigid demands of law school. A visit to Tucson, in southern Arizona, takes visitors back to the times of the Old West, with images of legendary cowboys and Indians. The city is replete with scenic preserves, history, adventure, and magnificent ways to relax.

The Sonoran Desert, which surrounds Tucson, is one of only three spots in the world where the majestic saguaro cactus grows. These tall and ancient cacti stand in the shadows of five mountain ranges, which cradle the Tucson valley, and are showered with sunshine over 300 days a year.

Tucson has something for every law student looking for a complete getaway experience. Students can enjoy hands-on museums and lush desert gardens, exciting recreational activities, fine dining, enriching culture and heritage themed events -- all among ample natural beauty. Lovers of the outdoors flock to bird watching, stargazing, rock climbing and mountain biking. Golfers can putt year-round among the saguaro cacti at scenic desert courses.

Tucson is known for its delectable Mexican and southwestern cuisine. Strolling in downtown Tucson, you will encounter the aroma of mesquite-fired grills, the crackle of sizzling fajitas, and brightly decorated restaurants with heaps of tortillas and colorful salsas.

Located in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, on 34 acres of natural desert landscape, is The Grill restaurant at Hacienda del Sol. The Grill is a favorite among locals and provides an alternative to the chile-laden dishes of most southwestern nouvelle cuisine. Exquisite wild-mushroom bisque, pecan-grilled buffalo, and pan-seared sea bass can be enjoyed while sitting mountain-side while being serenaded by live flamenco guitar. The lavish Sunday brunch buffet is also a decadent experience (www.haciendadelsol.com).

For an all-inclusive rejuvenation experience, where you can partake in yoga, hiking, biking, horseback riding, luxurious massages and world renowned spa treatments without leaving the resort premises, visit the famed retreat, Miraval, just outside of Tucson. Miraval's mantra is reflected in all the retreat's activities: "If living a life in balance is the ultimate destination, living life in the moment is a key means to getting there." Miraval is considered the "Club Med of the desert." You can detoxify from the stresses of law school with all inclusive recreational, culinary, and relaxation activities, all while surrounded by the breathtaking Santa Catalina Mountains situated on Miraval's 400 acres of blissful paradise. All meals and the resort's "all day juice bar" are prepared with the freshest ingredients, incorporating seasonal and local ingredients. This fabulous fare is complimented by Miraval's daily programs, in areas such as fitness, meditation, nutrition, and relationships to help law students learn new ways to discover a life in balance (www.miravalresort.com).

While visiting the heart of Tucson, check in at the western-themed Omni Tucson National Resort, within miles of the Catalina Foothills and the Saguaro National Park. The 650-acre Omni Tucson National Resort destination boasts two on-site, 18-hole, championship golf courses. The resort features guest rooms with private balconies or patios with picturesque views of the silhouetted mountaintops. Omni Tucson is home to Tucson's only Forbes four-star rated spa, which offers hot-stone massage, body treatments, herbal wraps, facials, and complimentary fruits and juices. The Omni is offering "100 Reasons to Resort" which is a $100 resort credit good for all areas of the resorts, including championship level golf courses, world class spa experiences and exceptional culinary venues (www.tucsonnational.com).

Imagine Jurassic Park, yet instead of being chased by a killer t-rex, you are leisurely strolling through an interactive zoo with desert animals -- walking freely around the premises with mountain lions, prairie dogs, and Gila monsters. The legendary Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, is a non-traditional zoo devoted to indigenous animals and plants of the Sonoran Desert. It pioneered the use of naturalistic environments, instead of simple cages for zoo animals, where you can find yourself eye-to-eye with these exotic desert creatures (www.desertmuseum.org). Just 15 minutes from Tucson, at the base of the Tucson Mountains, lies a preserved slice of Americana -- Old Tucson Studios. Passing through the gates of an old frontier town, guests are transported back to a time when men with six-shooters ruled the Old West. Here, you can saunter down the streets of Hollywood's most famous movies and walk in the footsteps of movie legends like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood (www.oldtucson.com).

If you are looking for an escape to experience the Old West, yet with a modern flair for world-class spas, challenging desert golf courses, incredible recreational opportunities, and culinary creations, mosey on out of the library and saddle up for an exciting visit to Tucson, Arizona.