ATTRACTIONS

what to do..

where to go

(click on name of attraction to view its web site)

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum - a beautifully done botanical garden focusing on the surrounding desert environment (arboretum?) plus an entourage of animals in very natural settings (zoo?) plus a large display of aquatic creatures (aquarium?). But, yes, there is also a natural history museum. Quite a place but come prepared to spend a while. It is very hard to leave! Regular season: Mar-Sep 7:30a-6p; Off season: Oct-Feb 8:30a-5p. For admission fees and other information, phone 520-883-1380 or e-mail info@desertmuseum.org, or see their web site.
2021 N. Kinney Rd, Tucson

ASARCO Mineral Discovery Center - a modern, working, open-pit copper mine. Here's your chance to take a comfortably hosted tour (on air-conditioned busses, no less!). Then picnic by a beautifully landscaped cactus garden. These folks really make visitors feel welcome. Open for guests Tues-Sat 9a-5p (last tour: 3:30p); closed major holidays.
Exhibit Center admission is FREE. Mine and mill tour: Adults $6, Seniors (62+) $5; ages 5-12 $4, 4 and under, FREE! For more information, phone 520-625-7513 or e-mail amdcinfo@asarco.com, or see their web site.
1421W Pima Mine Rd, Sahuarita
(20 mi s. of Tucson off I-19)

Center for Creative Photography - on display are prints for over sixty major American photographers including Ansel Adams, Richard Avedon, Louise Dahl-Wolfe, W. Eugene Smith, Edward Weston and Garry Winogrand. Open year-round except legal holidays. Hours: Weekdays 9a to 5p; Weekends 12noon to 5p. Admission is FREE! (But they would sure appreciate a donation to help keep the place open!). The gallery is at the University of Arizona Fine Arts Complex, 1030 N Olive Rd, Tucson (parking permitted in the Park Ave Garage). For more information, phone 520-621-7968 or e-mail oncenter@ccp.arizona.edu, or see their web site.

Colossal Cave Mountain Park - enjoy a guided tour of this attractive, crystal-filled cave. Then tour their special caving museum. Also on site are picnic facilities, hiking trails and even western-style horseback rides on specail equestrian trails.Open daily year-round but operating hours are seasonal. See web site for details and entry fees or phone
520-647-PARK, or e-mail info@colossalcave.com

Columbia University Biosphere-2 Center - Nestled at the base of Tucson's Catalina Mountains is a strange looking ultra-modern structure called Biosphere-2. As the largest, totally enclosed controlled environmental growth and measurement facility in the world, the research here has punched big holes in our theories of survival and required environments for living creatures. Have fun getting introduced to the space-age of tomorrow (or today?). From Tucson, head north on AZ-77 toward Oracle. Turn right at mile marker 96.5. Really, you can't miss this structure. Open daily (except Christmas) 8:30a-5p. Adults $12.95; ages 13-17 years $8.95; 6-12 years $5; under 6 years, Free! For more information phone 520-896-6200 or e-mail sales@bio2.edu or visit their web site.

Flandrau Science Center - Now here is a great place to look at rocks, - the kinds with which you a somewhat familiar and those rocks up there in our and other galaxies. A 16 inch telescope is available for visitors to peek through and a multimedia planetarium in which you can see and hear explanations of what you might see. Open daily, 9a-5p; Wed-Sat they reopen in the evening from 7p-9p (so you can peek through the telescope). Also at the University of Arizona (1610 University Blvd at Cherry Ave). For more information (and fee schedule) phone 520-621-4515 or e-mail flandrau@flandrau.org. Or, visit their website.

Kartchner Caverns State Park - Out east on off I-10, just south of Benson (that's about 43 miles east of Tucson) is a different kind of cave. This newly discovered (1974) cave was reamed out of limestone over many years by an underground river (yes, there was water here, once, and still is if you know where to look). This is a state park and the facilities (well maintained) include some 62 campsites complete with hookups, some neat picnic areas and trails for the hikers. For more information, phone 520-586-4100. To make reservations (required for the campsites as well as cave tours) phone 520-586-CAVE. Click on the name of the park (above) to view their website.

(click on name of attraction to view its web site)

Kitt Peak National Observatory - This is the place to go if you are really into gazing at rocks and stuff in space. Kitt Peak is about an hour and a half from Tucson (see their website for directions) but the place is absolutely fascinating. You just might be amazed to find out what these scientists can learn by gazing into the black beyond through a telescope. By the way, there are twenty-two optical and two radio telescopes representing dozens of astronomical research institutions at Kitt. Even without the aid of a telescope, the view of the night sky is absolutely awesome. For more information about the tours, etc., phone anytime 520-318-8200 for a recording (24 hours). If you want to communicate with a genuine terrestrial, phone 520-318-8726 during business hours or e-mail rfedele@noao.edu. For instant info, visit their website.

Pima Air & Space Museum - while we are thinking about outer space, but a little closer in, you might like to visit the Space Museum. Lined up for you to view are now over 250 aircraft and a museum and learning center featuring the Challenger Learning Center which incorporates simulated space flight into classroom learning. Here you can actually experience space flight in the Morphis, a full motion simulator. Touring the outside exhibits of the parked aircraft is made very comfortable by their trams (4 tours daily) but if you really want, you can walk. Open daily 9a-5p except closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. For more information you can phone 520-574-0462 or e-mail mvitale@pimaair.org, or, of course, visit their website.

Saguaro National Park - Saguaro is probably the best recognized cactus in the world. You've frequently seen it in the 'Peanuts' comic strip. The Saguaro National Park is a preserve set up to protect this plant and its environment. Some years ago it was feared that the plant would be completely wiped out by folks taking 'samples' home with them. Of course, there are many other desert plants in the National Park and you will really enjoy the visit. Please note that this park is open daily all year from dawn to dusk. The sight can be almost overwhelming at sunset with the right kind of weather. Admission is only $4 per car. For more information, phone 520-733-5153 or visit the official NPS website.

Titan Missile Museum - This is the only remaining ICBM site in the world with a Titan II missle in the launch silo. A launch silo is a giant-sized concrete cylinder sunk deep into the ground (to avoid damage from an atomic bomb attack they say) and the housing of a very complicated command and control system (although parts of it are housed above ground). Here you will be able to view both the below ground and the above ground instrumentation and controls and even experience a simulated launch sequence. The museum is open 9a-4p daily (see note below) except closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Days. NOTE: May through Oct the museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Adults $7.50; seniors and military $6.50; ages 7-13 $4; under 7 Free! For more information, phone 520-625-7736 or e-mail azaerof@mindspring.com or visit their website.
1580 W Duval Mine Rd, Sahuarita (25 miles south of Tucson off I-19 exit 69)

Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park - If you are old enough to remember those old western movies, you are very familiar with the town of Tombstone. Well, here is the real place - complete with all kinds of exhibits showcasing those times when the law was slowly taking hold and bring order to the wild, wild west. Open daily year-round (except Christmas Day) 8a-5p. Adults $2.50; Ages 7-13 $1; under age 6 Free! For more information, phone 520-457-3311 or e-mail aaustin@pr.state.az.us or visit their official website.
219 Toughnut St, Tombstone
To get there, drive east on I-10 to exit 303. Then follow AZ-80 south to Tombstone (about 72 miles).

Tohono Chul Park - Had enough space travel, missiles, western gun fights and all that other excitement? Here is the place to come, relax and appreciate the beauty of the Arizona desert. You'll quickly see why the locals so love their desert. Stroll along the nature trails, then sit and enjoy a snack in the Tea Room (yes, they serve coffee, too). Open year round 7a-sunset; other facilities within the park have more limited hours. For more information, phone 520-742-6455 or e-mail general@tohonochulpark.org or see their web site. Admission only $2.
7366 N. Paseo del Norte, Tucson

Tucson Botanical Gardens - Located in midtown Tucson, this is 5½ acres of gardens demonstrating low-water use plantings including local cacti and succulents, herbs and a variety of wildflowers. Open every day year-round except New Year's Day. July 4th, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Adults $4, Seniors (62+) $3; Ages 6-11 $1; under 5, Free! For more information, phone 520-326-9255 or e-mail tbg@azstarnet.com or visit their website.
2150 N Alvernon Way, Tucson.