Arizona’s Pima County is where Tucson is situated. Tucson, the second-largest city in Arizona after Phoenix, is home to the University of Arizona and has a population of over 500,000. You must be wondering why I’m telling you this. I want to tell you that if you have any plans to visit Arizona, you must not skip this amazing city. Do you know it’s a year-round vacation favorite destination of visitors? I’ll tell you the reason behind it. The city offers art galleries, Japanese gardens, stunning resorts (many with infinity pools), and a setting that never seems crowded (unless during the rodeo festival).
Start your journey off with walks through the well-known cactus landscapes, then end out with a picnic at dusk atop Sentinel Peak Park. Visit a waterpark with the family, go on a culinary tour of the greatest Mexican cuisine this side of the border, and then wash it all down with a pub crawl while tailgating at a University of Arizona football game!
The city is located in a desert environment and is strongly impacted by it. It is located north of the US-Mexico border. You may anticipate stunning architecture, lush gardens, desert flora and animals, customary pursuits like panning for gold, and a variety of cuisine and drinks with Mexican influences. Actually there is so much to do. So, I decided to prepare a list of top things to explore there. Have a look:
1. Visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum to Experience the Desert
Have you ever heard of a desert museum? Doesn’t this sound strange? Well, I would say exploring strange and unusual things on a trip is always a great experience.
The Arizona–Sonora Desert Museum is a complex located to the west of Tucson that spans 98 acres. It has an art gallery, aquarium, zoo, and botanical garden in addition to a natural history museum. The museum is mainly dedicated to educating tourists about the varied flora and fauna that can be found in the Sonoran Desert region. In fact, it has more than a thousand distinct plant species as well as over two hundred distinct types of desert animals.
Over 400,000 people visit this interesting museum every year, making it one of the most popular tourist sites in Arizona. It is comprised of many exhibits that explain animal and plant life in both historical and present settings. Several of them are titled “Rivers to the Sea,” “Cat Canyon,” and “Life on the Rocks,” respectively. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it a lot.
2. Go Hiking in Sabino Canyon
The Sabino Canyon is tucked away in the Coronado National Forest and Santa Catalina Mountains, just north of Tucson. The canyon provides options for climbing and trekking along with spectacular routes and breathtaking vistas. So, if you love adventure, this one is for you.
Unexpectedly, given that the canyon is situated in a desert, Sabino Creek is also close by. This creek has waterfalls that may be seen and crossed by a bridge. There is a tram through the canyon with nine stops for those who would rather not climb.
3. Wander the Saguaro National Park Trails
The Saguaro park, which is a part of the US National Park System, is spread out across two different areas to the east and west of Tucson. The park encompasses a portion of the Sonoran Desert, the Tucson Mountains, and the Rincon Mountains. On one of the several treks offered around the park, tourists may see these cacti up close.
Lengthy and short hiking trails are designated and accessible to people of all fitness levels and levels of stamina. However, park officials advise against doing long excursions in the more isolated areas of the park during the summer when temperatures soar.
4. Join the Tucson Botanical Garden as a Botanist
Tucson Botanical Gardens, a sizable complex made up of 16 different gardens, is the perfect destination for tourists looking to take a walk in the middle of nature. The 5-acre garden complex is renowned for offering a brief oasis of peace in the sometimes hectic metropolis.
Visitors are encouraged to explore the downtown Tucson botanical gardens’ themed areas, which include a children’s garden, a Zen garden, and a butterfly garden. The complex also has a gallery with several changing exhibits and installations on different topics related to botanical interest in the Arizona region, including desert plants. What else one needs to enjoy?
5. Visit Reid Park Zoo and Take a Wild Side Stroll
Established in the 1960s, the 20-acre Reid Park Zoo is home to more than 500 different animal species. There are bears, elephants, giant tortoises, and other creatures in the zoo’s four distinct zones.
The university also employs veterinarians, and the city’s residents have collected money throughout the years to take care of the animals and provide them with the finest treatment possible. As a result, the zoo is a well-liked attraction in the area. In addition to native species, the zoo has creatures from all over the globe.
6. Wander About Tohono Chul Park
Tohono Chul, which translates as “Desert Corner,” got its name from the Tohono O’odham, an indigenous group in Arizona. The Sonoran Desert Region and environmental stewardship are the main goals of the park, which is made up of an on-site museum.
You may take advantage of the floral gardens, a riparian environment, a geology wall, and exploration pathways in addition to the Santa Catalina Mountains rising majestically in the backdrop.
7. Learn About Aerospace at the Pima Air & Space Museum
The complex, which is more than 80 acres in size and is widely acknowledged as one of the largest air and space museums in the world, is home to more than 300 aircraft and spacecraft that may be seen by anybody who have an interest in the aerospace industry.
If you are interested in the history of the United States Air Force, there is a historical tour that takes you through the years. And there is even a replica control tower located on the premises.
8. Find Your Inner Peace in San Xavier del Bac
The Tohono O’odham San Xavier Indian Reservation is home to the Spanish Catholic Mission San Xavier del Bac, which is located in the heart of Tucson. The mission is named after Francis Xavier, a revered co-founder of the Jesuit Order and a Christian missionary. The area, which was constructed in the 18th century, is often regarded as having some of the best Spanish colonial architecture in the country.
It is accessible to the public every day and receives over 200,000 visitors annually, many of whom see the location as a pilgrimage.
9. Aim Higher with Sentinel Peak
Sentinel Peak is located in the Tucson Mountain District, southwest of Tucson. Because of the surrounding volcanic ground, which is thought to be 20 million years old, the peak is sometimes mistakenly thought to be the consequence of a dormant volcano.
The picturesque views across Tucson Valley and Tucson City are one of the attractions of the mountain, which gives trekkers and hikers options. So, if you are an adventure lover, then you shouldn’t skip trekking and hiking there.
10. Enter a Set at the Old Tucson Studios
A visit to Old Tucson Studios is a must for movie lovers and followers of classic Westerns. The studios were constructed expressly to serve as the setting for the well-known films Little House on the Prairie, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and Arizona.
They stand near the Tucson Mountain Park. The studios have now been transformed into a theme park where guests can enjoy tours replete with historical explanations and live-action plays that include stuntmen and ladies and gunfights.
11. Spend Some Time in Contemplative Silence in the Saint Augustine Cathedral
The Cathedral of Saint Augustine is a Catholic church that shares a building with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson and is situated on Stone Avenue. The church is remarkable for its slanted flooring, which allows all of the attendees (it can accommodate over 1,000 people) to have a clear view of the altar and a crucifix from Pamplona, Spain. Along with sculptures of native flora found in the Arizona Desert area, other highlights include stonework with Pope Pius XI’s coat of arms.
12. Take in the Night Sky at Kitt Peak National Observatory
Kitt Peak National Observatory provides the ideal views of the night sky for guests who wish to come closer to the stars. The biggest and most varied collection of astronomy instruments in the world, including 24 telescopes, is housed at an observatory that is perched atop Kitt Peak in the Quinlan Mountains. Depending on the visitor’s level of interest in all things astronomical, there are two tour options available.
- A daytime tour that focuses on the observatory’s history and the development of the telescope, and
- A nighttime tour that starts at dusk and allows guests to view the cosmos through telescopes above the Arizona Desert.
13. Break a Sweat While Climbing Tumamoc Hill
Tumamoc Hill, sometimes known as a “butte,” is a remote hill to the west of Tucson that serves mainly as a transmission station for radio, television, and public safety transmitters. It also houses an astronomical observatory with telescopes for observing the night sky.
Although the terrain is difficult and is thus advised for more experienced hikers, a lot of people visit the hill in quest of trekking possibilities. If you do manage to ascend, there are informative excursions and talks about the butte’s ecological importance and local history atop the hill.
14. Depart the Highway at Mount Lemmon
The highest point of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Mount Lemmon, rises to a height of over 9,000 feet and is crowned with an observatory for scientific study. You may enjoy unmatched views during a picturesque drive on the route that cuts through the summit.
There is also a road segment on the north side of the peak that is known as the “Back Side” of the mount. It provides the opportunity to ride motorbikes or off-road vehicles for those seeking a rougher approach.
15. Take in Some Peace at Kennedy Lake
10 acres of parkland make up Kennedy Lake, which is situated in Tucson’s J.F. Kennedy Park. Rainbow trout, bass, catfish, and carp are just a few of the many fish species that call the lake’s waters home.
I recommend you take a leisurely walk around the lake and take in the scenery. There are also boating and fishing options available for those who want to try and capture some of the lake’s famed residents.
16. Spend Some Money at Foothills Mall
How can we skip the shopping, right? Foothills Mall is a large indoor retail center that is situated near Casa Adobes in northwest Tucson. If spending money is not on the plan, there is a 15-theater movie complex or tourists may eat at one of the 8 restaurants located there.
The mall has over 90 different retail establishments, so visitors can indulge. This indoor shopping paradise has over 700,000 square feet of retail space, so there is something for everyone to enjoy.
17. Visit Colossal Cave Mountain Park to go Caving
Colossal Cave Mountain Park, which was founded in the 19th century, is made up of not just one cave but an extensive series of caverns with more than 5 kilometers of interior corridors. You can explore the old Apache Indian homes in Colossal Underground Mountain Park if they dare to endure the year-round steady temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius) in the cave paths. However, if you’d rather stay above ground, there are plenty of alternative options available.
These consist of a campground, two museums, famous statues, picnic spots, equestrian riding, and picnic places.
18. Wander Around the DeGrazia Gallery at the Sun Museum
The Ettore DeGrazia-founded DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Museum is best defined as an outdoor museum with a variety of exhibitions and old structures scattered around the desert. I highly recommend you tour the region and the numerous structures, including a pottery workshop, a ghost home, a nun’s house, and many more.
The buildings are notable because they were built utilizing traditional methods and materials, such as cactus flooring. The DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Museum is best understood as both a gallery and a museum, or just as a large and distinctive art installation amid the desert.
19. Retreat to the Garden of Gethsemane to Unwind
If you want to find some shade beneath one of the park’s numerous trees and watch the world go by, this park on the west bank of the Santa Cruz River offers a green oasis of cool in the city and is open all day.
The many sculptures in the Garden of Gethsemane are noteworthy. They depict various biblical themes and give the space a mood of silent reflection. The park is renowned for being home to Tucson’s biggest eucalyptus tree. I must say that this one is going to give you a unique experience.
20. Visit the Fort Lowell Museum
The museum represents military life at the fort and is a property of the Arizona Historical Society. The bigger Fort Lowell Park complex, which also has a sizable pond, a swimming pool, play areas, and athletic courts, incorporates Fort Lowell Museum.
21. Visit the University of Arizona Art Museum to Explore Your Artistic Side
The University of Arizona Art Museum is the place to visit in Tucson if you are interested in seeing some works of art. It manages the campus, which includes a museum and permanent exhibits with more than 6,000 pieces of art from all over the world, including sculptures, textiles, prints, and hand drawings. These works of art are shown in a variety of different galleries. The diversity of artworks on show puts an emphasis not just on European art but also on art from the United States.
You know the list can go on. Still, I picked the best destinations for you to enjoy the most and have the best time in Tucson. So, quickly, prepare your holiday plan to Tucson, Arizona. And try to visit each one of these spots.
