Arizona Inn $$

2200 E. Elm St., Tucson
520/325-1541
www.arizonainn.com [1]

COST: $150–250 per night

This historic boutique hotel on a residential street in central midtown, founded in the 1930s by Arizona’s first-ever congresswoman and still owned and operated by the same family, is the best place to stay in Tucson [2]—as long as you have fairly deep pockets ($329–579 d; $195–309 d during the summer).

They offer several different kinds of rooms, all of them decorated in the inimitable 1930s Southwestern-chic style. The standard room has wireless Internet, a king-size bed, and a television and DVD player, while the larger suites have patios, dry bars, and sitting areas.

But you probably won’t be spending a lot of time in the room, as the grounds and lobby have so much charm to offer—there’s a 60-foot pool, old-school tennis court, and all kinds of quiet little corners in the verdant retreat-like setting behind the high pink walls.