FAMILY ATTRACTIONS / EXPLORATION
Discovery Museums
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
2021 N. Kinney Road
Tucson 520-883-1380
www.desertmuseum.org
Discover a zoo, natural history museum, aquarium, and botanical garden all in one place. Stroll along desert paths and explore naturally landscaped live animal exhibits of 1,300 varieties of plants and 300 animal species native to the Sonoran Desert. Underground limestone cave galleries display subterranean life and geology.
Biosphere 2
Highway 77
Oracle 520-838-6200
http://b2science.org/
The Biosphere 2 Center blends science exhibits, a college campus, research center, and amenities for an unforgettable experience. Visit a microcosm of planet earth in this three-acre, airtight, steel and glass structure with ecosystems from a tropical rain forest to savanna, ocean, and desert.
Flandrau Science Center
University of Arizona
1610 University Boulevard
Tucson 520-621-STAR
www.flandrau.org
Enjoy hands-on science exhibits, laser light shows, multimedia planetarium, the 16-inch telescope for nighttime public observation, field trips, science demonstrations, and overnight science camps.
International Wildlife Museum
4800 W. Gates Pass Road
Tucson 520-629-0100
www.thewildlifemuseum.org
Dioramas depicting over 400 type of mammals, insects, birds, and prehistoric animals from around the globe are displayed in a 38,000-square-foot replica of a French Foreign Legion Fort in Africa’s Sahara Desert. The museum offers interactive displays, hourly wildlife films, family nights, and classes.
Kitt Peak National Observatory
State Route 86
Tohono O’odham 520-318-8726
www.noao.edu/outreach
Unlock the mysteries of the universe with the world’s largest collection of optical telescopes in the Quinlan Mountains on the Tohono O’odham Reservation. Home to 22 optical and 2 radio telescopes, this world famous observatory never fails to fascinate and inform.
Pima Air & Space Museum
6000 E. Valencia Road
Tucson 520-618-4800
www.pimaair.org
Aviation history is the focus of displays that feature over 200 vintage aircraft. Five hangars on 85 acres exhibit military, civilian, and commercial aircraft from a replica of Wright Flyer to SR-71 Blackbird. Experience flight in a full-motion simulator at the Challenger Learning Center.
Titan Missile Museum
1580 W. Duval Mine Road
Green Valley 520-625-7736
www.pimaair.org
The world’s only ICBM site features a Titan II missile in the launch silo. The complex offers exhibits above and below the ground depicting the Cold War era. Experience a simulated launch sequence and visually view the “fail safe” two-key system of protection.
Tucson Children’s Museum
200 S. 6th Avenue
Tucson 520-792-9985
http://www.childrensmuseumtucson.org
See a Tyrannosaurus Rex or ride in a submarine. Hands-on activities and programs in science, health, technology, and the arts feature everything from Newton’s Cradle to a doctor’s office. Explore the natural history gallery and play area, children’s theater, and special programming.
Natural Wonders
Colossal Cave
16711 E. Colossal Cave Road
Vail 520-647-PARK
www.colossalcave.com
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the park showcases crystal-filled Colossal Cave and historic La Posta Quemada Ranch. Cave tours, historical and caving museums, picnicking, hiking trails, and Western trail rides are all part of the fun. Located just 22 miles east of Tucson.
Kartchner Caverns
2980 S. Highway 90
Benson 520-586-CAVE
http://azstateparks.com/Parks/KACA/index.html
This geological jewel is a world-class, stunning limestone cave that has already been compared to the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. Discovered in 1974, the caverns were placed under the protection of the state and required over a decade of painstaking preparation for the grand opening in 1999.
The Nature Conservancy’s Ramsey Canyon Preserve
Ramsey Canyon Road
Sierra Vista 520-378-2785
www.nature.org
Renowned for scenic beauty and the diversity of animal and plant life, the preserve is home to 14 species of hummingbirds. High canyon walls, a spring-fed stream, and mile-high elevation create an idyllic backdrop for year-round interpretive programs, hiking trails, a pollinator garden, and the bed-and-breakfast inn.
Santa Catalina Mountains & Mount Lemmon
Catalina Highway
Tucson Area 1-800-638-8350
https://www.visittucson.org/things-to-do/outdoor-adventure/hiking/santa-catalina
One of Arizona’s most scenic drives begins on the desert floor and climbs into Mount Lemmon’s high pine forest, peaking at 9,157 feet. During the warmer months, the area is ideal for picnics and hikes along 170 miles of trails with spectacular fall foliage and spring wildflowers. The 25-mile uphill climb passes through five of North America’s seven distinct life zones, leading to breathtaking vistas, a trout lake, and a downhill ski resort.
Sabino Canyon
5900 Sabino Canyon Road
Tucson Area 520-547-7510
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coronado/recarea/?recid=80532
Just 12 miles from downtown Tucson in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains, this picturesque canyon features a 3.8-mile paved road with stone bridges over Sabino Creek and shuttles beyond that point. Hiking trails, swimming holes, abundant wildlife, towering rock formations, magnificent saguaro cacti, stunning canyon walls, and riparian vegetation make this one of the most popular recreational destinations in the metro area.
