Arizona-Sonora
Desert Museum
Located just west of Tucson, the Arizona-Sonora Desert
Museum is one of the
glories of southern Arizona. The non-profit museum
was founded in 1944 by
William Carr who, with the help of conservationist,
magazine editor and
philanthropist Arthur Pack, began in modest circumstances
what was to become the 21 acre complex of animal and
plant exhibits, walking trails and educational
facilities we know today. The Desert Museum is mostly
a walking experience (the
entire park is wheel-chair-friendly) with lots of
stops along the way to listen
to nature talks, or see the Raptor Flight exhibit
(don’t miss this!), visit the
extensive zoo or watch the Javelinas. There are two
excellent restaurants in the
park, as well as a snack bar, and lots of places to
sit and take in the
atmosphere of the Sonoran desert. For more information
call 520-883-1380 .http://www.desertmuseum.org/
Old
Tucson Studios
In 1939 Columbia Pictures filmed the classic western
movie “Arizona”, starring
William Holden and Jean Arthur, on the site of what
is now known as Old Tucson
Studios. Since then more than 350 movies and TV shows
have been filmed there,
including Rio Bravo, Mclintock!, El Dorado and Rio
Lobo starring John Wayne. The
park is just west of Tucson (close to the Arizona-Sonora
Desert Museum, see
above) and is open daily from 10 am to 3 pm. For more
information call 520-883-0100. http://www.oldtucson.com/
Saguaro
National Monument
Saguaro National Monument consists of two districts,
Saguaro West and Saguaro
East. The two areas, separated by the city of Tucson,
are about 25 miles apart.
Taken together, Saguaro West—and the much larger
Saguaro East—preserve 83,576
acres of the life and landscape of the Sonoran Desert,
including the park’s
namesake, the saguaro cactus. Both districts have
a number of picnic areas and
wonderful visitor centers with books, brochures, maps,
trail and drive guides as
well as slide show presentations. http://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm
Tucson
Mountain District (Saguaro National Park
West)
The West District (close to the Arizona-Sonora Desert
Museum, see above)
features a 6 mile trek, known as the Bajada Loop Drive,
which wends its way
through dense saguaro forests set against the backdrop
of the rugged Tucson
Mountains. Half-day guided hikes, nature walks and
talks are offered, mostly
from December through April. For more information
call 602-883-6366.
Rincon
Mountain District (Saguaro National Park
East)
The East District features a unique 8 miles long,
paved one-way road. Cactus
Forest Drive winds through the heart of an extensive
saguaro forest, and offers
a close and leisurely look at a variety of Sonoran
desert life. Ranger-guided
walks and other park activities are offered during
the winter months. For more
information call 602-296-8576.
Mount
Lemon
High above Tucson, in the Santa Catalina Mountains
(at 9,157 feet above sea
level), stands Mount Lemon, the southernmost ski area
in the United States. If
you’re in the mood for aspens, pines and fir
trees (and much cooler temperatures
in the summer), take the Catalina Highway to Summerhaven
or the Mt. Lemon Ski
Valley. http://azentertain.com/tucson/mtlemmon/
Sabino
Canyon
Enjoy a tram ride through spectacular Sabino Canyon
in the Catalina foothills.
Passengers are allowed to debark at one of the many
stops along the way, and
board again after a hike or swim or picture-taking
expedition. Be sure to take
in the visitor center. A delightful and easy excursion
from Green Valley. There
are fees for the tram and parking. For more information
call 520-749-2861
http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/forest/recreation/camping/sites/sabino.shtml
Biosphere
II
About 30 minutes north of Tucson stands the 31-acre
glass and steel prototype
for space colonization, Biosphere II. Enjoy the coral
reef, rain forest,
savannah, marsh and million-gallon ocean, all under
one roof. Tours are offered
daily from 9 am to 4 pm. Fees apply. For more information
call 520-838-6200.
