Discover Tucson Arizona, the Sonoran Desert town where active people thrive!

Learning about Tucson Arizona is simple.  It’s a Sonoran Desert town filled with museums.  Mostly located outdoors, these museums have trails winding through desert habitats.  There, you’ll find more than 230 species of animals and over 1,200 types of plants.  And by the time you traverse them all, your newly-acquired knowledge will enhance your overall experience in Tucson Arizona and throughout the expansive Sonoran Desert.

The famous sites and activities in and around Tucson Arizona abound.  From trails and parks to fancy resorts and restaurants, you’ll find many amazing places to stay active, dine well, and sleep in luxury.  In fact, Tucson Arizona was the first city in the United States to be named an UNESCO World City of Gastronomy.   Now that your appetite has been activated, read on to learn more about this fantastic town where active people thrive.

The cultural heritage of Tucson Arizona

Having such a strong identity stems from its cultural heritage.  Tucson Arizona has roots in Spain, Mexico, and the Western Native Americans. In fact, there’s a large collection of artifacts from America’s Native people to see at the Arizona State Museum.  Then, take a tour of Mission San Xavier del Bac, which is a historic Spanish mission that has an active parish.

No visit to Tucson would ever be complete without visiting Tombstone, the site of the infamous OK Corral.  Made even more famous by the movie Tombstone, this small historic town is an exciting family destination.  There, you’ll find shows, shops, historic sites, and natural beauty all around.

Tucson Arizona is filled with natural beauty

From the understated beauty of the Sonoran Desert to the sheer wonder of the five mountain ranges that surround it, this city allows visitors to fully enjoy everything it has to offer.  As such, the hiking trails there will keep you active indefinitely.  Just be sure you visit the outdoor museums first, so you understand what to expect on the trails.  There are a few small dangers like rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, and prickly cactus to be aware of.

Seven of the many museums in Tucson

Too numerous to go into detail, here is a list of museums to visit in Tucson Arizona:

1. Tucson Museum of Art
   • Connects art to life through meaningful and engaging experiences
2. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
   • Zoo, botanical garden, art gallery & classes, natural history museum, and aquarium
3. Arizona State Museum
   • Ancient and enduring Native cultures of the region through content-rich exhibits
4. Children’s Museum Tucson
   • Southern Arizona’s interactive museum for children
5. Tucson Desert Art Museum
   • Display art and artifacts of the Desert Southwest and surrounding regions
6. Arizona History Museum
   • Connecting people through the power of Arizona’s history
7. Southern Arizona Transportation Museum
   • Exploring the impact of the railroad on Tucson

Hiking trails throughout Tucson Arizona

Before embarking on your trail exploration, take in the scenery from the Kitt Peak National Observatory.  This place is an astronomical observatory site that is over 2000 meters high in the Quinlan Mountains. Then, take a trolley tour of the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area.  Next, wander through the peaceful gardens and trails of Tohono Chul or Tucson Botanical Gardens.  After that, cool off in the underground caverns of Colossal Cave Mountain Park or Kartchner Caverns State Park.  Finally, go camping, explore the hiking trails, and see the giant saguaro cactus in Saguaro National Park.  Just don’t try to see all of it in one weekend!