Outdoor & Nature Adventures -
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (520) 883-1380 - 2021 N. Kinney Rd., Tucson, AZ 85743
- In the heart of the Sonoran Desert: living exhibits include more than 1,300 types of plants, 300 kinds of animals. Open daily, year-round.
- Colossal Cave Mountain Park (520) 647-7275 - 16721 E. Old Spanish Trail, Vail, AZ 85641
- The first formal tours of this cave were conducted in 1923 and involved ropes and lanterns. Today’s tours offer a much safer and more comfortable peek at this area’s underground geology. Colossal Cave is called “dry” or “dormant,” meaning that, due to a lack of water, it no longer is “growing” crystal formations. Yet the preserved stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone are beautiful to behold. And the temperature inside the cave is always a pleasant 70° Fahrenheit.
- Kartchner Caverns State Park (520) 586-CAVE (2283)
- One of the great natural wonders of the western United States. It’s believed that no human had ever seen this huge living cave prior to its discovery in the 1970s by two Tucson cave enthusiasts. Care has been taken to preserve the pristine conditions within. Remarkable because it is a “wet” or “living” cave, meaning the calcite formations are still growing. See a stunning variety of multicolored cave formations. Make sure to call ahead for a reservation!
- Kitt Peak National Observatory (520) 318-8726
- The world’s largest collection of optical telescopes is located high above the Sonoran Desert under some of the finest night skies in the world. Kitt Peak, on the Tohono O'odham Reservation, is home to twenty-four optical and two radio telescopes representing eight astronomical research institutions.
- Sabino Canyon Recreational Area (520) 749-2327 - 5900 N. Sabino Canyon Rd., Tucson, AZ 85750
- Sabino Canyon offers spectacular views, a variety of wildlife, and dozens of marked trails that range from easy to advanced. The easiest hike is the one that takes you 3.8 miles up the canyon. Other favorites include the Telephone Line Trail and Bear Canyon.
For more things to do in the Tucson area, visit http://www.visittucson.org/
