What To See in Tucson
Tucson is in the state of Arizona’s Pima County. Tucson, Arizona’s second-biggest city after Phoenix, has over 500,000 people and is home to the University of Arizona. The town is located north of the United States-Mexico border. It is significantly impacted by the desert terrain in which it is located. Expect stunning architecture, green gardens, desert flora and animals, traditional pastimes like gold panning, and a variety of Mexican-inspired cuisine and beverages when visiting Tucson. What is the must-see in Tucson, Arizona?
Tucson, Arizona, is an excellent choice for those searching for a destination with a distinct culture and environment and fantastic tourist attractions.
What To See in Tucson
Tucson, a wonderful city with a lot to offer, is a fascinating location to visit. It’s a stone’s throw away from breathtaking surroundings, set in the blistering Sonoran Desert with gorgeous mountain ranges. Tucson has many outdoor activities and other exciting things for locals and tourists.
Furthermore, the state’s second-largest city, home to the University of Arizona, boasts a busy yet laid-back vibe and a flourishing art and entertainment scene for you to explore. It also features lovely botanical gardens, historic neighborhoods, and various sites and tourist attractions related to the Wild West.
Sabino Canyon
Sabino Canyon, located in the Coronado National Forest, is near to town but quickly transports you to a world where the city has been left behind, with the Catalina Mountains rising directly in front of you and rugged gorges and canyons waiting to be explored. A tram transports tourists into the canyon, and passengers can disembark at any stop to reach trailheads, pools, and picnic sites.
Hotel Congress
Hotel Congress, built-in 1919, was formerly an overnight stop for people traveling the trains but has become one of Tucson’s cultural hubs. There’s always something going on here, from delicious meals at Cup Café to Club Congress’s wide range of entertainment. The 40 rooms upstairs are a throwback to Tucson’s past, with rotary phones and radios, and are a terrific spot to nap after a night out in Tucson’s colorful downtown.
Mount Lemmon
Mount Lemmon stands over Tucson at 9,159 feet above sea level. It is the southernmost point in the United States to ski. In summer, the mountain is a perfect place to get away from the heat and enjoy a change of view. Play in the snow in the winter, then head back down, frequently in shorts weather. On enjoying your trip up, look for an audio tour of the flora and ecology of the Santa Catalina Mountains in your phone’s app store.
Furthermore, if you want to get away from the city and enjoy a scenic journey, take the opportunity to travel Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway. This path, which begins about 15 miles outside of Tucson, is one of the area’s must-see sights.
This 27-mile one-way road weaves its way up the Santa Catalina Range on the Catalina Highway, allowing you to quickly see many radically diverse ecosystems. It also offers some of the most breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
The trip is a pleasant getaway from Tucson’s heat, taking you from a desert bottom with cacti up to towering pine trees, little streams, and magnificent lakes. Summerhaven, a tiny village, is at the summit. A trip to the Mount Lemmon Cookie Cabin for one of their iconic large cookies, ice cream, or a slice of pizza is a ritual for many families and one you might want to attempt while in town.
Several lovely campgrounds along the road and some challenging walk into the bush. The road is well-engineered and not a frightening drive. There are many lookouts with spacious parking places strategically placed at critical halting locations. Road cyclists like the challenge of climbing inclines and racing back down; look for their brightly colored jerseys.
DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun
Ettore (“Ted”) DeGrazia is the world’s most reprinted artist because of his famous and vivid drawings of Native American children and other Western themes. The Gallery in the Sun was another embodiment of his vision of the American Southwest. A collection of adobe buildings formerly DeGrazia’s residence is now a museum honoring his work and a stunning celebration of the area’s natural splendor.
Kitt Peak National Observatory
Tucson has rules and restrictions to ensure that its night skies are as black as possible, and sites like Kitt Peak are the reason for this (although we all get to benefit from an atmosphere full of stars most nights). Kitt Peak’s 26 telescopes, located 55 miles from Tucson and 6,880 feet above sea level, are employed to explore the mysteries of space yet may be toured by ordinary individuals regularly. There’s also a nighttime program where guests may watch the sunset from a great vantage point and gaze at the sky with the assistance of the site’s experts. It is a must-see in Tucson.
Pima Air and Space Museum
Pima Air and Space Museum, one of the world’s largest aerospace museums, began with a few planes in 1976 and has expanded to a collection of over 300 aircraft from throughout the history of flight. Many of the docents worked on or flew the aircraft they were describing.
Mission San Xavier del Bac
This Catholic mission, approximately 10 miles south of downtown Tucson, was erected in 1783 and is often regarded as the most outstanding example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States, yet that description touches the surface of this place’s beauty and history. The inside and exterior are equally magnificent, and the church’s tale provides an intriguing insight into the region’s past.
The San Xavier del Bac mission post, located southwest of Tucson, is the “White Dove of the Desert”. It was founded in 1770 by Spanish Jesuits. The mission buildings, notably the ornately adorned church, are excellent specimens of colonial Baroque architecture. It is still utilized as a spiritual site by the Tohono O’odham Indians.
Although this is a free attraction, contributions are welcome to help pay for the continuing repair. Visitors are welcome to stroll through the historic church and gardens at their leisure. The museum houses objects that depict the Mission’s history, and a 20-minute movie gives a good summary.
Arizona-Desert Sonora Museum
The name “museum” may give you a false picture of what’s on offer at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum’s 98 acres. It combines a zoo, an aquarium, a botanical garden, and an art gallery. To comprehend the live, dynamic Sonoran desert, here is the place to start, with 230 animal species presented in their native environment surrounded by 1,200 plant species.
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum provides a close-up look at the desert terrain surrounding Tucson. With a zoo, natural history museum, and botanical garden all in one, this museum is ideal for a family excursion.
The exhibits feature live creatures and plants belonging to the Sonoran Desert, including endangered species like the Mexican wolf, thick-billed parrot, ocelot, margay, jaguarundi, desert pupfish, Sonora chub, bonytail chub, razorback sucker, and Gila topminnow.
Keep a watch out for the active and colorful hummingbirds zipping around from blossom to flower as you walk the walkways. There are about 40,000 plants with 1,200 species on display here. Exploring the gem, mineral, and fossil collections will be a blast for rock hounds.
One of the most popular activities is seeing live animal performances, such as the Raptor Free Flight, which has hawks swooping above the crowd. Following that, they present information on the birds and an opportunity to observe them up close.
You can find things you may not expect to see at a desert museum. Examples are the stingray touch tank, an aquarium with 14 tanks exhibiting desert aquatic life, the Gulf of California, and the Riparian Corridor section with river otters, bighorn sheep, and beavers can find all here.
Saguaro National Park (East and West)
They are bordered on the east and west by Tucson, where the saguaro cactus reigns supreme, reaching 50 feet. The park has lots to offer all year. However, the wildflowers bloom in late February and March, producing a spectacular desert spectacle.
Saguaro National Park provides a convenient way to explore and enjoy the Sonoran Desert to the east and west of Tucson. The iconic saguaro cactus, the tallest species in North America, may be found here. Hiking routes wind across the park, providing an excellent opportunity to see animals. Gila woodpeckers, desert tortoises, cactus wrens, jackrabbits, and Gila monsters are among the animals and reptiles that live in the desert (lizards).
The park is separated into two sections: Saguaro East – Rincon Mountain District and Saguaro West – Tucson Mountain District. Furthermore, Saguaro West is the more popular. Each place is unique in its way. Saguaro East is a beautiful, paved, undulating, picturesque road with short hikes. Saguaro West is a little further out but offers more rugged scenery and longer and more magnificent treks, although the beautiful drives are on dirt roads. If you’re looking for a camp place, the Gilbert Ray Campground is a terrific option.
Your purchased entry or park pass is valid for both places, and it takes roughly an hour to go from one to the other.
Mountain Park Trails
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is located in Tucson Mountain Park. Thus, visiting both places allows you to experience and learn about this fantastic desert terrain. The park situates around 20,000 acres west of Tucson in the Sonoran Desert. Although there is an extensive trail system for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, many people come here to view the museum and enjoy the sunsets.
Tucson Mountain Park borders the west side of Saguaro National Park. Therefore visiting both areas is simple. You may find mountain lions, bobcats, and other species in the park. However, some prefer to congregate in the most isolated locations.
El Presidio Historic District
The El Presidio Historic District, one of the oldest inhabited locations in the United States, is steeped in history. The Hohokam Indians formerly inhabited the region before becoming the location of a Spanish military fort that would become Tucson in 1775. Today, tourists may observe a blend of Spanish-Mexican and Anglo-American architecture and wonderfully restored adobe buildings.
The Old Town Artisans, a recreated 1850s marketplace, is one of the primary tourist attractions. It consists of an entire city block of galleries and shops housed in one-of-a-kind structures. The shops sell art, jewelry, crafts, home décor, and other products Tucson and other Arizona artists created.
University of Arizona
The Arizona State Museum, Mineral Museum, Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona Museum of Art, Flandrau Science Center, and Campus Arboretum are located at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Visitors might spend a few hours or a few days seeing the sites on this campus.
In addition, the Arizona State Museum’s extensive archeological collection chronicles 10,000 years of Indian cultural history. It is the oldest and biggest anthropological museum in the Southwest of the United States, having opened in 1893. The most excellent vessel collection of Southwest Indian pottery, a comprehensive Hohokam artifact exhibition, is one of the best. They also exhibit Navajo weaving collections and hundreds of Mexican folk masks.
St. Augustine Cathedral
They built the St. Augustine Cathedral in the Mexican Baroque style. The cast stone façade, comparable to the Cathedral of Querétaro in Mexico, was finished in 1928 after being built-in 1896. However, after restoring the cathedral in the late 1960s, just the façade and towers remained of the old construction.
If you look closely at the façade, you may see Pope Pious XI’s elaborate coat of arms and carvings of numerous natural desert flora. Also, a spectacular crucifix, estimated to originate from the 12th or 13th century, hangs just inside the door. The cathedral is open to the public for free. However, donations are always welcome.
Reid Park Zoo
The Reid Park Zoo is a tiny zoo with an impressive assortment of exotic species. It is also home to many popular animals, including elephants, bears, lions, tigers, giraffes, etc. However, they divided the zoo into three smaller loops: Expedition Tanzania, Tropical Trail, and the Lee H. Brown Family Conservation Learning Center.
Giraffe encounters are one of the most excellent participatory experiences at the zoo. You may also hand-feed a giraffe for a modest charge. Furthermore, other attractions are the Reid Park Zoo Express train, a wet play area, and varied daily events.
Colossal Cave Mountain Park
Colossal Cave, located just east of Tucson in neighboring Vail, is one of the most extensive dry caves in the United States. However, parts of it have yet to be excavated, and rumor has it that treasure from an ancient stagecoach heist is hidden inside. There are three tours available: Classic, Ladder, and Wild. Which one you choose is determined by your degree of adventure and athleticism.
The 2,400-acre park also has a museum, butterfly garden, guided horseback riding, wagon excursions, hiking and horse paths, etc. There is also basic camping available, although there is no electricity or water on the individual sites.
Tumamoc Hill
Are you looking for something to see and do in Tucson while you’re there? Tumamoc Hill, located in the city’s heart, provides breathtaking vistas in exchange for a bit of effort. A broad, paved route leads to the summit of the hill. At first, the elevation is modest and gradually becomes more challenging as you rise. However, most people can make it to the forum.
Tohono Chul
The Tohono Chul botanical gardens are less well-known than some of Tucson’s significant parks and museums. However, they are well worth visiting. They spread out a beautiful collection of Sonoran desert flora across 49 acres. There are around 500 distinct species on exhibit. The Cereus plant, which only blooms at night, is one of the attractions.
International Wildlife Museum
The International Wildlife Museum in Tucson has around 400 different animal and insect species to see from all over the world. The museum houses preserved specimens, some rare and more than a century old. Dioramas provide visitors with a close-up view of animals in their natural habitats. The museum also provides visitors with the opportunity to learn about animal behavior, the environment, and much more.
Stay with Us
Staying in one of the top-end, a full-service golf resort is a terrific option if you’re here to take up the sun and lovely landscape. Staying with us is the perfect option if you wish to spend more time viewing the sites and learning about their history.
