MISSION SAN XAVIER DEL BAC

Mission San Xavier is one of the coolest places we’ve been in Arizona… well actually, every place we’ve been in Arizona is pretty equal in coolness, but this one was special.

You’ll definitely want to go in the early morning or evening, as it can get pretty hot with no shade. When we went on a Thursday morning, we were there with a very small number of other visitors.

They have tours available every hour (if I remember correctly), but we chose to explore the grounds on our own. This is a working church, so don’t forget to be respectful of the people in prayer or attending worship. It is extremely ornate and beautiful within the church.

After entering the worship area, we spent time walking around the grounds. It is so beautiful and magical. There are many tiny passageways that are very tempting to break the rules and go through… ugh. haha. When you walk through the museum office, you’ll have the opportunity to donate to the church and/or purchase a memorial candle to light.

I fell in love with this garden area. The Spanish archway is just beautiful.

The only part we didn't get to on the grounds is the area up the hill. It is a short hike with awesome views, but we had already spent more time here than we allotted. Of course I met three dogs that stole my heart. Anyways, Mission Xavier is totally worth the short drive down from Tucson. We will definitely be back to peaceful sanctuary!