![\"long-haired](\"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Tucson-Girl-Glasses-1.jpg\")
Whether or not a perfect coif is of concern to you, your locks will benefit from the warm, dry air of the desert. Though a stray summer monsoon may force an occasional hat day, the much-lauded smell of desert rain will have you forgiving resulting frizz and flyaways. On most days, the un-storminess of Tucson weather will keep your signature cut from Gadabout<\/a> salon intact. Consistently voted the No. 1 salon in the city in Tucson Weekly polls, this palace of beauty is the place to begin your Tucson transition like a native in the know.<\/p>\n Tucson, when it sizzles, can make for long, hot days. But by night, when it glitters, you\u2019ve never seen more stars. Whether viewed from park spaces, restaurant patios, or pools, the night sky here is virtually unspoiled. The Coronet<\/a> has the perfect al fresco space for stargazing, where restaurant-goers get the bonus view of the romantically retro neon sign. If you\u2019re serious about your stars, drive about an hour southwest to Kitt Peak, where the Nightly Observing Program features the largest array of telescopes in the world. Here, you\u2019ll experience why Tucson\u2019s Milky Way-laden skies bring all the boys to the yard.<\/p>\n The sun is definitely rising on Downtown Tucson<\/a>. From events like Second Saturdays Downtown<\/a> to permanent and touring collections at Museum of Contemporary Art, Tucson Museum of Art, and LoveSmack Studios, art and culture are alive and thriving. By day or by night, visit Downtown for brunch eats or dance beats. Your new go-to morning meal may be the breakfast tamale pie at Nook<\/a>, and more than 80 other restaurants fill Downtown from all corners. Speaking of nooks, Scott & Co. at 47 Scott is a lovely little speakeasy; dip in for craft cocktails and comfort food. Class up your evenings at The Owl Club<\/a>, or get sweaty with strangers on the Funky Monk<\/a> dance floor. Homebodies can stock their own bar at Independent Distillery<\/a>, or stick around for their drink specials if you\u2019re feeling social.<\/p>\n Ponder the meaning of the universe and seek new ideas\u2014Tucson is primed to expand your horizons. Landing in the top ten of Amazon\u2019s most well-read cities, Tucson\u2019s residents obviously love to learn. They flaunt their literature thrills at the Tucson Festival of Books, where author events, vendors, and live performances give you the opportunity to rub elbows with your fellow knowledge-seekers. No place embodies the forefront of ideas more than a college campus, and U of A delivers\u2014from the bookstore to the museums to the Center for Creative Photography<\/a>. The Pima County Public Library is an active part of the community, and offers events like story time for kids and citizenship classes.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve unpacked and settled in, your first order of business is to plan your Tucson calendar, because your year is about to get busy. Through every season, festivals and events invite visitors and locals to celebrate all things Tucson. The Tucson Fringe Festival<\/a> starts out the year and provides spaces for performing artists to showcase their works. The famous Tucson Gem and Mineral Show<\/a> brings glitz to February, the Agave Heritage Festival<\/a> ushers in spring along with the Tucson Folk Festival in April. Revelers of all ages join the All Souls Procession<\/a> in early November, and Winterhaven Festival of Lights<\/a> brings the magic at year\u2019s end.<\/p>\n Tucson has so many places and ways to keep fit, you have to try to be unhealthy here. It\u2019s often voted a top cycling city, and with the most bicycle infrastructure in the U.S., it earns the accolades. The Loop is 131 car-free miles for runners and cyclists, and during Cyclovia, the streets are closed to vehicles, and biking, walking, and hula-hooping are the main ways to move. El Tour de Tucson is the longest-running and largest bike race in Arizona, and even has an indoor stationary bike event. It\u2019s not all bikes, however. The city and its surrounds have lots of places to climb and hike. The Tucson Marathon<\/a> stretches along the Santa Catalina mountain range, Saguaro National Park is a beautiful backdrop for any workout, and climbers benefit from the proximity of Baboquivari Peak, Elephant Head, and Mount Lemmon. In the city, Rocks & Ropes<\/a> and the BLOC<\/a> keep your scaling skills on point.<\/p>\n Once you claim Tucson as your home, be ready to get real proprietary over the Sonoran hot dog. From your first bite at El G\u00fcero Canelo<\/a> (we recommend a visit before you\u2019ve even unpacked your boxes), to the first time you bring a visitor, this treat will make you proud to be a Tucsonan. Mom-and-pop institutions, brand new swanky spaces, and everything in between\u2014this city\u2019s food carries unique southwest flair. Fresh, exciting Teaspoon<\/a> will please your morning palate, Maynards Market & Kitchen<\/a> is an all-day staple, and you\u2019ll be dialing Tucson Tamale Company<\/a> for regular delivery. The city\u2019s rich flavors and fresh produce thrive at places like Sand Reckoner Vineyards<\/a>, Barrio Bread<\/a>, and Heirloom Farmers Market<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tucsonans love to meet their neighbors, and with a population that is 53 percent single, they create plenty of opportunities to get acquainted. The city is so sociable, it hosts Tucson Meet Yourself<\/a>, a \u201cfolklife festival\u201d that celebrates the diverse cultures and shared human experience it embodies. Groups and meetups are an active part of Tucson society, and the perfect way to meet your peers. Meet Me at Maynards<\/a> blends exercise, socializing, and sightseeing, while various reading groups at Antigone Books<\/a> appeal to the indoor set. Get a new career or project off the ground with the help of Tucson Young Professionals<\/a> and Ask Women of Tucson<\/a>, and if your work-from-home life gets lonely, join a Connect<\/a> coworking space. If your Pinterest board isn\u2019t just for looks, you\u2019ll thrive in Creative Tribe<\/a> workshops. And if none of that suits you, there are tons of dog parks where you and your pup can make new friends together.<\/p>\n Desert flora is some of the most unique. When in bloom, it paints the craggy landscape with shocks of bright pinks and yellows. Only the blazing sunsets stretching over distant mountains can compete. Tall, green cacti stand stoically, and the whole seemingly still space calls out for you to explore. Now close your eyes and imagine this is your backyard. In Tucson, it will be. Mountains span every direction, and you can visit natural wonders like the Tucson Botanical Gardens<\/a>, Tohono Chul Park<\/a>, and Colossal Cave Mountain Park any time you choose. Immerse yourself in nature at Saguaro National Park<\/a> or Sabino Canyon, where you can sit back and relax on a tram tour<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sure, you could pay way more to live in smaller spaces, far away from nature, but why would you? Living in Tucson is cheaper than the national average by 6.4 percent, and at $135,500, median home prices are lower than the national average. Renters are also in luck, as median rent for a single-family home is nearly $300 cheaper than Phoenix counterparts. From groceries to gas, things are generally more affordable, so you can save more cash for a (rare) rainy day.<\/p>\n These are just a few of the many reasons to move to Tucson. Even better, you don\u2019t have to leave anything behind. Plenty of space means lots of Tucson storage<\/a>, because moving cities doesn\u2019t have to mean moving on from your things.<\/p>\n2. Stars in your eyes, on any given night<\/h2>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kitt-Peak-Stargazing-1.jpg\")
3. Nightlife (and day-life) in a revitalized urban downtown<\/h2>\n
![\"Colorful](\"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Downtown-Tucson.jpg\")
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n4. Expanding your mind, in multiple ways<\/h2>\n
![\"Entrance](\"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Center-for-Creative-Photography-Tucson-1.jpg\")
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n5. Year-round events, whatever your interests<\/h2>\n
![\"folk](\"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Tucson-Folk-Festival-1.jpg\")
6. Stay fit and active, in and out of doors<\/h2>\n
![\"Biker](\"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Saguaro-National-Park-Tucson.jpg\")
7. Food, from all corners of the world<\/h2>\n
![\"Tray](\"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/El-Guero-Canelo-Tucson-1.jpg\")
8. Friendly people to meet, whether you\u2019re single or ISO new BFFs<\/h2>\n
![\"Group](\"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Creative-Tribe-Tucson-wreathmaking-1.jpg\")
9. Nature to explore, with exceptional smells, colors, and sights<\/h2>\n
![\"Young](\"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Saguaro-National-Park-AZ-1.jpg\")
10. Affordable cost of living and home prices for all budgets<\/h2>\n
![\"Tucson,](\"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Tucson-house-sunset-1.jpg\")