Although this inn has only one suite and is 30 minutes west of Tucson, it’s a great choice for anyone coming to Arizona to experience the desert. It’s a very energy-efficient straw-bale house, its walls constructed of straw that is then covered with stucco. Owner/innkeeper Caroline Wilson also harvests rainwater to irrigate her garden, which is designed to minimize water usage. A nature trail on the property meanders through a dense cactus forest, and lots of other opportunities to explore the desert are within a 30-minute drive. The guest suite has a sitting room full of natural-history books and an outdoor living area, which gives guests loads of room to enjoy.