Things To Do
Sabino Canyon Hiking & Trolly "Crawler" Tours
Located in the Coronado National Forest and just a 12 minute drive from Hacienda del Sol, Sabino Canyon is a favorite for both locals and tourists. Their shuttle ("Crawler") tour with a narrated audio guide about the desert wildlife and the canyon's history will have you walking away feeling like a local. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children and the ride (without stops) is about an hour long. Sabino Canyon is also a lovely place to walk, hike, or picnic at your own pace. If there's water flowing, consider bringing your bathing suite and taking a dip!
Tucson Botanical Gardens
Great for kids & adults! Just an 11 minute drive from Hacienda del Sol, we highly recommend Tucson Botanical Gardens. We love the unique design, outdoor model train, butterfly room, cafe, gift shop and shaded areas. There are tours, but you don’t need one. The signage is well done. Tickets -Adults $20, children $10.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
If you have children and time to spare, the Desert Museum is a 100% must. Located in the Saguaro National Forest, the Desert Museum is a fusion experience: zoo, botanical garden, art gallery & classes, natural history museum, and aquarium. We highly recommend you go early morning and plan for at least a half day, if not a full (Think walking a zoo). It's also about 45 minutes from Hacienda del Sol. That being said, Aaron still remembers his first visit when he just 5 years old! The Sonoran Desert hosts some of the most unique wildlife in the world, and this is the place to meet these incredible creatures up close. Tickets are 25 for children, 30 for adults.
El Charro Café Downtown
El Charro Café in Tucson, Arizona, is the nation's oldest continuously operating, family-owned Mexican restaurant, founded in 1922 by Monica Flin. Famous as the "home of the original chimichanga," this iconic spot serves authentic Northern Mexican and Tucson-style cuisine in a historic 1896 building. There are now multiple El Charro locations, including one in the Catalina Foothills, close to our venue. However, if you have the extra time, we recommend checking out the original location in downtown Tucson.
DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun
Only a 5 minute drive from Hacienda del Sol, Tucson’s legendary landmark of art and architecture was designed and built by the late Arizona artist Ted DeGrazia. On the National Register of Historic Places, the 10-acre Foothills retreat includes the adobe gallery, gift shop, cactus courtyard, Mission in the Sun, the artist's former home, and his grave. Six permanent collections of DeGrazia paintings portray colorful cultures of the Sonoran desert, and rotating exhibits feature a wide range of some 15,000 DeGrazia originals, from oil paintings and watercolors to ceramics and sculptures. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. Admission Fees - $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for ages 12-18, under 12 are free.
Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens, Galleries, and Bistro
A 12 minute drive from Hacienda del Sol drive with just a few turns. Tour the gardens, with bistro, unique gift shop, and children’s exhibit. Be aware that the the children’s portion closes at noon. General: $20 Senior (62+): $15 Military: $15 Youth (4-17): $10 Children (under 4): Free Museums for All: $3
