Best Regional Shopping

Through the years I’ve spent much time and plenty of money at the bookstores in National Parks. Most of the stores in parks, National Monuments and Historic Sites in the Western United States are served by the Western National Park Association. After purchasing a piece of jewelry at Tumacacori National Historical Park this week I learned that the association has a flagship store in Oro Valley, Arizona, just north of Tucson.

It should be no surprise that a visit to the WNPA store went on the “To Do” list. Open seven days a weeks 10am – 5pm we made an early Sunday morning stop. In a new business park we found a delightful shopping experience with great, well-disiplayed inventory and helpful, knowledgeable staff. Anyone looking for regional or nature books will appreciated the well chosen stock. Native American arts and crafts are of high quality and authenticity – pottery, jewelry, baskets, carvings, weavings, original paintings. Regional food specialties, t-shirts, walking sticks, water bottles, souvenirs for young and old can also be found.

We spent more than an hour selecting several items for ourselves and gifts. The WMPA store will always be a stop during a Tucson visit.