Tucson, the "City of Sunshine," offers a pleasant mix of cultural and natural attractions to keep visitors busy, but it's primarily the warm, dry climate that attracts tourists and snowbirds to the area. Basking in the sun holds its own appeal, as does golfing during the winter months, or lounging by a pool at one of Tucson's luxury resorts. The city is home to interesting museums, historical sites, and great shopping and dining. The surrounding mountains and desert provide a playground for people looking for things to do outdoors, with beautiful parks, wonderful hiking trails, biking areas, campgrounds, and some incredible scenic drives.
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum offers an intimate look at the desert landscape around Tucson. This museum is a wonderful family outing with a zoo, natural history museum, and botanical garden all in one. Displays showcase living animals and plants native to the Sonoran Desert, including some endangered species such as the Mexican wolf, thick-billed parrot, ocelot, margay, jaguarundi, desert pupfish, Sonora chub, bonytail chub, razorback sucker, and Gila topminnow.
As you wander the footpaths, keep an eye for the busy and colorful hummingbirds whizzing about from flower to flower. Approximately 40,000 plants representing 1,200 species can be seen here. Rock hounds will be in their element exploring the gem, mineral, and fossil collections.
Known as the "White Dove of the Desert," San Xavier del Bac mission station in the southwest of Tucson was established by Spanish Jesuits in 1770. The mission buildings, particularly the ornately decorated church, are fine examples of the Baroque architecture of the colonial period. It is still used by the Tohono O'odham Indians as a spiritual center.
This is a free attraction, but donations are appreciated to fund the ongoing restoration. Visitors can walk through the old church and the grounds at their leisure. The museum contains artifacts highlighting the history of the Mission, and a 20-minute video provides an excellent overview.
Saguaro National Park offers an easy opportunity to see and experience the Sonoran Desert, east and west of Tucson. Here, you can see the signature saguaro cactus, which are the tallest species in North America. Hiking trails run through the park and offer good opportunities to spot wildlife. Some of the animals and reptiles that call the desert home include Gila woodpeckers, cactus wrens, desert tortoises, jackrabbits, and Gila monsters (lizards).
The park is divided into two sections: the more popular Saguaro East - Rincon Mountain District and Saguaro West - Tucson Mountain District. Each area is different in its own way. Saguaro East is easily accessible and has a beautiful, paved, rolling, scenic drive with short hikes. Saguaro West is a bit farther out but retains more of the rugged beauty and has longer and more spectacular hikes, but the scenic drives are on gravel roads. If you are camping, the nearby Gilbert Ray Campground is a great spot.
Tucson Mountain Park is home to Old Tucson Movie Studios and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. The park covers about 20,000 acres of Sonoran Desert landscape, just west of Tucson. There is an extensive trail system for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, although many people come here simply to see the movie studios, museum, and enjoy the sunsets.
Tucson Mountain Park abuts the west section of Saguaro National Park, and you can easily combine a visit to both parks. Mountain lions and bobcats, along with a host of other wildlife, live in the park, although some of these tend to frequent the most remote areas.
One of the best family day trips from Tucson is to the recreated Western town of Old Tucson. Built in the style of the late 19th century, it was reconstructed in 1940 as the setting for numerous Western films. It's set out on its own in the desert and surrounded by rolling hills.
These sets have been used for decades, with more than 400 movies, like Young Guns, and many films starring John Wayne, being shot here. Today, wild shoot-ups are re-enacted by actors. A concert series and dance hall revue, along with other forms of live entertainment, are offered.
History upon history resides in the El Presidio Historic District, one of the oldest inhabited sites in the USA. The area was once inhabited by the Hohokam Indians, and in 1775 became the site of a Spanish military fort that would become the City of Tucson. What visitors see today is a mix of Spanish-Mexican and Anglo-American architecture, along with beautifully restored adobe houses.
One of the main tourist attractions is the Old Town Artisans, a restored 1850s marketplace. It includes an entire city block of galleries and stores all set in unique buildings. The stores offer selections of art, jewelry, crafts, home decor, and other items by artists from Tucson and around the state. Other items you can find here include pottery, paintings, metalwork, photography, Native American wool rugs, and carvings.
If you are looking for a break from the city and interested in a beautiful drive, take the time to drive the Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway. Starting approximately 15 miles outside of Tucson, this route is one of the must-do attractions in the Tucson area.
This 27-mile one-way road winds its way up the Santa Catalina Range on the Catalina Highway, and allows you to experience several completely different ecosystems in a short period of time. It also provides some of the most spectacular views out over the surrounding mountains and valleys. A cool escape from Tucson's heat, the drive will take you from a dry desert floor with cacti right up to towering pine trees, small streams, and beautiful lakes. At the top is the small community of Summerhaven.
The Pima Air and Space Museum is the largest privately funded air museum in the world, with more than 350 aircraft and spacecraft. The collection includes historical aircraft, as well as some of the most advanced models. Featured attractions include John F Kennedy's presidential plane and a replica of a 1903 Wright Brothers Flyer.
The planes are spread out over 80 acres, and tram tours (not included in admission fee) are led by knowledgeable guides. For an additional fee, visitors can also take a bus tour to the adjacent "Boneyard," the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center. To visit this area, requests have to be made 10 days in advance via the website.
The mountains and beautiful landscape of the Sonoran Desert make Tucson a great place for lacing up your hiking boots and heading out on the trails. Whether you are looking for an aggressive hike to the top of a mountain or a simple wander through the cacti to see birds and other wildlife, you can find trails for all abilities, and hikes to suit your mood. Spring is a particularly wonderful time for hiking in Tucson, when the wildflowers come into bloom, and the desert turns a vibrant green.
One of the most popular hikes is Seven Falls Trail in Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, where you can hike up to a set of natural pools and even go for a dip. Also worth checking out is the Sutherland Trail, where you can opt for a long or short hike. If you just want a short stroll to experience nature, head to the Valley View Overlook Trail in the west section of Saguaro National Park. For more details on these and other hikes, see our article on the best hiking trails in Tucson.
Catalina State Park, just north of Tucson, is a desert region with picnic areas, as well as good hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails. One of the best hikes in the park is the 10.8-mile Sutherland Trail, which can be done in part or in full. You have a good chance of spotting wildlife. Camping is also popular at this location.
Visitors also come to the park to see the Romero Ruin archeological site. A walking trail, less than one mile in total, takes you through the desert, past the remains of a Hohokam Indian village, which was occupied between AD 500 and AD 1450. In the 1800s, Francisco Romero used portions of the abandoned village to create a homestead. The remains of several structures, which were built over the old site, still stand.
