So you may be new to Tucson and wondering where to go during the weekend while trying to take a break from your studies.

Tucson is a town with its own flair, and I recommend you try to find it during your stay here.

The Old Pueblo, as Tucson is also known, is home to a few attractions that people around the country know about. These attractions are Old Tucson, Biosphere 2, Kitt Peak National Observatory and the Desert Botanical Gardens. But here are a few other recommendations so that you can go home knowing a bit more about Tucson.

First is the San Xavier del Bac Mission, 1950 W. San Xavier Road. This "White Dove" of the desert is currently being restored, which will only make it more beautiful. The mission, still a Catholic Church, gives the sense of what it would have been like to live during Spain's conquest of Central America and the Southwest corner of North America. It is a must-see if you really want to say you have lived in Tucson. The mission is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Donations are requested.

Next is the Pima Air and Space Museum, 6000 E. Valencia Road, and Titan Missile Museum, on West Duval Mine Road in Green Valley. Pima Air and Space Museum is home to over 200 aircraft and about 60,000 aerospace artifacts. It is an amazing site. The museum viewer is able to walk around a 75-acre lot and view the aircraft, which range from a World War II make B-24 to Vietnam era B-52s to a former presidential aircraft. Pima Air Museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and military personnel, and $3 for children.

If you are still interested in old Cold War era memorabilia, check out the Titan Missile Museum. It is the only inactive missile silo that is open to the public. Located 25 miles south of Tucson in Green Valley, this tour will give you the Cold War feeling. Hard hats and all, you travel beneath the earth to a control room and gain the true experience. The Titan Missile Museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, but is closed Monday and Tuesday from May 1 through October 1. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and military personnel, and $3 for kids.

The next trek should be down the Catalina Highway to Mount Lemmon. Now, a lot of people say to go to Sabino Canyon, which is beautiful and a great place to hike and tan, but I recommend Mount Lemmon. The top of the mountain is only about an hour away. The scenery is an extreme from the Tucson desert flora, with pine trees garnishing the roadside. On top of the mountain is the town of Summerhaven - a lovely place to stop and eat pie. Also available during the winter is skiing - yes, skiing. It is a seasonal event, and you'll have to make sure there is snow at Ski Valley, but a few runs are available. Another feature of Mount Lemmon is Rose Canyon Lake. It is quiet and a nice place to hang out. Just watch the $3 cover charge per vehicle at the lake and the $4 charge on the road up to the top of Mount Lemmon. Also, don't feed the bears!

Now, if you want to stay in town, the Gaslight Theatre and Little Anthony's Diner, 7010 E. Broadway Blvd., is a great place to go. The Gaslight offers plays that are funny and creative - plus wholesome entertainment. This summer's offering was "Forever Gnatman," a clever play paralleling Batman. The theatre is small and keeps you close to the stage and the actors, which makes the experience so much fun. Also involved in this is Little Anthony's Diner, which is right next door. This '50s style diner is a hoppin' place and has great food. Admission to the Gaslight Theatre is $12.95 for adults, $10.95 for students, seniors and those with military ID, and $6 for children. Show times are 7 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, with an extra 9:30 p.m. show on Fridays and Saturdays.

Last to be described is Fourth Avenue. This street is only a few blocks from the university, but a must at least once in your college career. Featured up and down the street are unique food shops, a large selection of used clothing shops and a number of different bars. Fourth Avenue also holds numerous street fairs and is a nice place to go and walk during the evening. It isn't too far from campus, so it is definitely a college student getaway, even if it really isn't a getaway.

Hopefully this will give you a few selections to try out. The prices are low for most of these events, but they will give you a taste of Tucson. Enjoy!