Tucson is a city that takes dessert seriously — and by “seriously,” I mean you can find everything from plate-sized Mexican pastries to fruity raspados, creamy paletas, artisan gelato, and donuts the size of your face. Whether you’re here to beat the heat, satisfy a sugar craving, or eat your way through Tucson like it’s your part-time job (mine), this Tucson dessert guide covers the best spots to grab something sweet around the city.
And if you’re mapping out a whole Tucson itinerary, make sure you check out my Best Places to Stay in Tucson guide so you can plan your dessert stops with geographic strategy — highly important, in my opinion.
I started my day at La Estrella Bakery, which is basically Tucson’s go-to spot for classic Mexican pastries. I grabbed a pink concha (a traditional Mexican sweet bread with a soft, fluffy inside and a crunchy seashell-patterned topping), a mango doughnut, an apple empanada, a chocolate Bavarian cream, and a glazed doughnut.
The verdict: Mexican pastries aren’t as sweet as the pastries I’m used to, so the concha wasn’t my favorite and most items were “good, not amazing.” But the glazed doughnut? Moist, fresh, and absolutely worth the trip. Pro tip: the pan dulce case is huge and fun to browse, and locals love them for holiday breads.
If you thought Eegee’s was Tucson’s frozen-treat must-try… things have changed. They’re under new ownership, and I wouldn’t recommend it anymore. Instead, head to La Michoacana Tucson for creamy and fruity paletas, gansito paletas, fresas con crema, and other Mexican-style sweets that actually hit the spot.
The moment you walk into The Scented Leaf, it just feels inviting — cozy, bright, and full of really good tea. They have a massive selection of loose-leaf teas, fun seasonal flavors, and options whether you’re into fruity, floral, creamy, or “I need caffeine and I need it now.”
You can order your drink hot or cold, but since I visited in summer (aka hot-as-hell season), I stuck with the iced teas. My favorites were the honey vanilla chai and the Young Grasshopper (but no coffee), and my friend loved a fruity tea and their fruity Thai tea. They’ll help you customize anything, and the staff is incredibly friendly.
Best part: if you’re exploring downtown, buy your first tea, keep your cup, get your second tea half off, then swing back for your third tea FREE. Tucson’s best beverage hack.
A Tucson classic — especially if you want vegan donuts that don’t taste “vegan.” The raspberry jelly is iconic, they’ve been around since the 1930s, and it’s a great contrast to La Estrella if you want a different style of bakery treat.
If you want a standout shaved ice, skip the basics and go straight here. I got a raspado with ice cream and lechera (sweetened condensed milk) and mixed mango, pineapple, and peach because… why do one flavor when you can do three?
A raspado is basically Mexico’s version of a shaved-ice-meets-fruit dessert, but better than anything you had as a kid. They pile super-fine shaved ice into a cup and drench it in fresh fruit syrups, chunks of fruit, crema, chamoy, or spicy toppings depending on what you order. They also have mangonadas (frozen mango layered with chamoy and Tajín), biónicos (fresh fruit with sweet cream and granola), and a huge variety of toppings if you like tangy, spicy, fruity, or creamy desserts. It’s refreshing, sweet, and exactly what you want on a hot Tucson afternoon. El Sahuaro is a local favorite with tons of flavors, snacks, and treats — casual, fun, and very “this is what locals actually eat.”
If you love desert views as much as desert desserts, my Gates Pass at Sunset guide will help you plan the perfect golden-hour stop after your sweet treat.
If you like over-the-top donuts, this is your spot. We’re talking crème brûlée, strawberry split, birthday cake, and giant donuts that feel like they were made for Instagram. Go early — they sell out.
Frost is Tucson’s gelato standby. Super smooth, authentic, and packed with flavor. It’s a great stop if you’re out at La Encantada or just craving something cold that isn’t fruit-based.
This downtown favorite makes everything in-house and has some really unique flavors. The whiskey pistachio is popular, and if you’re indecisive (hi), get the mini-scoop flight to try multiple flavors at once.
This one is a curveball, but trust me — the Taiwanese shaved snow here is light, fluffy, and just sweet enough. You can top it with boba, fruit, condensed milk, or all of the above.
If you want something simple but dangerously good, get a warm flour tortilla with butter and sugar. It’s not fancy, but it’s delicious and very Tucson.
Not a dessert shop, but they make churro-style doughnuts at brunch that are worth mentioning — warm, cinnamon-sugary, and perfect with a side of coffee.
Some locations offer waffle tacos filled with ice cream and topped with chocolate. Fun, different, and a great twist on a classic dessert.
Many people online rave about Eegee’s frozen drinks, so I tried the mango piña colada. I wouldn’t recommend it. Tucson has so many better options — especially raspados and paletas — so save your sugar budget for something that’s actually good.
Tucson has tons of little stands serving fresh-cut fruit, chamoy, Tajín, mangonadas, and all the fun spicy-sweet combinations. A great option if you want something fruity without committing to a full dessert stop.
Tucson has no shortage of amazing desserts, from old-school bakeries and over-the-top donut shops to icy raspados that will save you in the heat. Whether you want something fruity, creamy, cold, or carb-loaded, you’ll find it here — and probably try more than you planned. It’s just part of the Tucson experience.
Since you’re already downtown, you can pair this with my Tucson for First-Timers guide if you want an easy list of what to see, do, and eat nearby.
The tulip fields in the Netherlands look exactly like the photos, except the photos don’t capture how massive the color blocks actually are stretching across the countryside. Or the windmills. Or the sheep randomly standing in the middle of everything like they don’t know they’re in the most photogenic country on earth.
The honest caveat: tulip season moves fast, the fields rotate every year, and peak bloom is not a guarantee, it depends on the weather, the harvest schedule, and a little bit of luck. But that’s also part of what makes it feel less like a tourist attraction and more like something you actually found.
Full driving route with towns, parking tips, and what to expect | linked in bio. 🌷
#netherlands #travelling #tulipfields #exploreeurope
Amsterdam has a way of making you feel like you need to see everything, and then rewarding you most when you slow down anyway. The museums and canal cruises are worth it, but so is just wandering neighborhoods, eating whatever looks good, and sitting along the canals with a grilled cheese and nowhere to be.
First-time visitor guide is on the blog. Link in bio. 🌷
#travelling #travel #amsterdam #visitamsterdam #traveleurope
10 stops. One very full day. Zero regrets. Amsterdam has one of the best food scenes I’ve experienced anywhere in Europe, but the honest caveat is that some of the viral spots come with lines that will genuinely test your character. I skipped a few. I regret nothing.
Here’s what actually made the cut on my self-guided Amsterdam food tour:
Fresh stroopwafels at Hans Egstorf: made right in front of you, warm caramel, no line. This one won.
Lourens cookie croissant: flaky outside, gooey chocolate inside. Did not share.
Café Winkel 43 apple pie: one of the rare viral places that fully lives up to the hype.
Davie’s Amsterdam for the Lelie sandwich: pastrami, pickles, marbled bread. Deceptively simple. Absolutely excellent.
De Kaaskamer to end the day: 400+ cheeses, grilled cheese with what they call ketchup (it’s not ketchup, and it’s better), and bunker cheese aged in underground military bunkers.
The full route covers 10 stops through Jordaan, the 9 Streets, the canal district, and the flower market area with a Google Map included so you can just follow along.
Full guide with every stop, tips for beating the lines, and what I’d skip vs. do again | link in bio.
#amsterdam #visitamsterdam #netherlands #travel #visitnetherlands #traveleurope
There’s a version of Gatlinburg that’s all fudge shops and tourist crowds, and then there’s the version that actually makes you want to come back.
Here’s everything worth doing downtown, in the order I’d do it: 🏔️
✨ Start at @gatlinburgskypark before the crowds hit
✨ Walk the strip mid-morning when it’s still manageable
✨ @googooclusters stop (see my post from Tuesday: don’t skip it)
✨ Dinner at one of the local spots off the main drag
✨ Wander back out at night when the lights are on and it gets actually pretty
This isn’t your overscheduled Smoky Mountain itinerary. It’s more of a “here’s what I’d actually do if I had one solid day” kind of list.
Full downtown Gatlinburg guide linked in bio. 🔗
If someone told me I’d spend five hours at SkyPark, I would not have believed them. And yet. 😅
Gatlinburg SkyPark sits above the strip and it’s one of those places that looks like a quick stop on paper and turns into most of your afternoon. The SkyBridge alone is worth it — longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America, and yes, you will look down.
✨ SkyBridge (longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America)
✨ SkyLift ride up with views of the Smokies
✨ Walking trails with mountain views in every direction
✨ Way less crowded than downtown
Fair warning: if heights genuinely freak you out, the bridge might not be your thing. The rest of the park is still 100% worth it. Full guide with tickets, tips, and what to skip linked in bio. 🔗
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
