The Desert Museum is ranked on TripAdvisor.com as one of the Top 10 Museums in the country and the #1 Tucson attraction. Unlike most museums, about 85% of the experience is outdoors! The 98 acre Desert Museum is a fusion experience: zoo, botanical garden, art gallery, natural history museum, and aquarium. 21 interpreted acres with two miles of walking paths through various desert habitats 242 animal species Plants from 1,200 taxa — 56,000 individual specimens One of the world's most comprehensive regional mineral collections Beyond merely an attraction, the Museum's conservation and research programs are providing important information to help conserve the Sonoran Desert region. The Desert Museum's Art Institute inspires conservation through art education and gallery exhibits. The Museum's publishing division, ASDM Press, has produced over 40 books and guides on the natural and cultural history of the Sonoran Desert region.
Proudly known as one of the largest air and space museums in the world, aerospace buffs can see over 300 aircraft and spacecraft at the facility that has a span of over 80 acres. The museum is non government funded and raises revenue through ticket sales and admissions and started from humble beginnings in the 1970s with 48 aircraft to the powerhouse that it is today. For visitors interested in the history of the United States Air Force there is a historical tour through the ages, and there is even a replica of a control tower on site.
The canyon offers magnificent trails, majestic views, and hiking and trekking opportunities. Surprisingly, considering that the canyon is located in the desert, there is also Sabino Creek nearby which features waterfalls that can be admired and crossed by bridge. For visitors who prefer not to hike, there is a tram through the canyon that has nine stops along the way.
Situated in downtown Tucson, San Xavier del Bac is a Spanish Catholic Mission that sits on the Tohono O’odham San Xavier Indian Reservation. The mission takes its name from a Christian missionary who is also hailed as the co-founder of the Jesuit Order, Francis Xavier. Built in the 18th Century, the site is often considered some of the finest Spanish colonial architecture in the United States. It is open to the public daily and attracts over 200,000 visitors a year many of whom consider the site a pilgrimage. Still run by Franciscan members of the Christian community, tourist can savor the serene atmosphere in one of the oldest European buildings in Arizona.
For visitors wanting to go for a stroll surrounded by nature then look no further than Tucson Botanical Gardens, a large compound made up of 16 individual gardens. The garden complex is spread over 5 acres and is known for providing a moment of quiet respite in the sometimes frantic city. The gardens are themed to promote the best of the Arizona flora to visitors, including a children’s garden, a Zen garden, and a butterfly garden. There is also a gallery located within the complex that has a series of rotating exhibitions and instillations on various themes regarding botanical interest in the Arizona area including desert plants.
Established in the 1960s, Reid Park Zoo spans over 20 acres and is home to over 500 species of animals. The zoo is split into four different zones and features animals from bears, to elephants, to giant tortoises. Veterinarians also work at the faculty and the zoo is a firm favorite in the city as the local population has raised money over the years to take care of the animals and provide them with the best level of care available. Visitors can see animals from all over the world in the zoo as well as indigenous species.
For those visitors who want to get closer to the stars, Kitt Peak National Observatory offers the perfect views of the night sky. An astronomical observatory sits atop Kitt Peak in the Quinlan Mountains and boasts the largest and most diverse astronomical equipment in the world that includes 24 telescopes. Depending on visitors interest levels in all things astronomical there is a choice of day or night tours, one featuring the history of the observatory and the invention of the telescope, and the other that commences at sunset and allows visitors to observe the cosmos through telescopes above the Arizona Desert.
At over 9,000 feet, Mount Lemmon is the pinnacle of the Santa Catalina Mountains and is topped with an observatory that is used for research purposes. The mount is bisected by a highway that offers visitors unparalleled views for a scenic drive. For travelers wanting a more rugged approach, there is also a section of road named the ‘Back Side’ of the mount as it is positioned on the north side, and offers the chance to drive off road vehicles or motorcycles.
Discovered in the 19th Century, Colossal Cave Mountain Park is made up of not just one cave but a entire cave complex that includes over 5 kilometers of passageways inside the caves. For visitors who want to brave the caves trails, temperatures of which are at a stable 70 degrees Fahrenheit(21 degrees Celcius) year round, they can roam the dwellings previously used by Apache Indians in days gone by, but for visitors who prefer to stay above ground there are many other choices on offer at Colossal Cave Mountain Park. These include two museums, iconic statues, picnic areas, horseback riding, and a campsite.
DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Museum is best described an outdoor museum which features a range of exhibits and historic buildings dotted throughout the desert and founded by the architect Ettore DeGrazia. The buildings are of note due to their construction using traditional techniques and materials such as cactus flooring and visitors can explore the area and the various buildings such as a ceramics studio, a ghost house, a nun’s house, and many more. It is best to think of the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Museum as both a gallery and a museum, or simply as a large and unique art installation in the middle of the desert.
Just outside of Tucson lies the town of Tombstone. While once a booming area as a result of an abundance of silver found at the site, Tombstone no longer enjoys such a run of luck but visitors can head over to see a real former ‘wild west’ location that used to be feared Apache territory. The town attached gunslingers and prospectors, and some of the old flavor still remains for those wanting to see a slice of the past.
Art lovers need look no further than the University of Arizona Art Museum to satisfy their art cravings in Tucson. Operated by the University of Arizona, the site also includes a museum and has permanent exhibitions that include over 6,000 exhibits from all corners of the art world such as sculptures, textiles, prints, and hand drawings. The art on show here is diverse and focuses on both European art as well as American art.