Places to Visit in Tucson

Tonono Chul Tucson is a combo botanical garden, tea-house, lunch restaurant, book shop, and a place to "chill." Not to mention the children's special area.

With 49-acres of plants native to the Tucson Arizona desert. Formed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Pathways through multiple gardens are Handicap Accessible. Among the gardens featured are:

• One designed to attract hummingbirds
• The Desert Palm oasis
• Streamside Garden, a riparian habitat with flowing water
• Geography wall for those rock-hounds among us
• Sin Agua (Spanish for without water) garden, demonstrating local xeriscaping style
• Sonoran Seasons Garden for appreciation of yearly changes here in the Arizona Desert

There's plenty of parking on-site.

Open every day, except specific holidays: Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's Day & Independence Day.

Regular Hours:

• Winter Hours: 8am to 5pm.
• Summer Hours (avoids hottest part of the day): 7am-2pm daily June through September.

1. Children: ages through 4 years enter Free. Ages 5-12 - $6. Over 12/adults - $15.
2. Discounts available, including Senior & Military.

DIRECTIONS: North side of town, near Ina & Oracle.

• Exit I-10 #248. Head east on Ina Road. Turn left onto N.Paseo del Norte.
• Oracle Road is Hwy.77, north to south through town. Turn west onto Ina Rd. at intersection. Immediate right onto N.Paseo del Norte.

1. Further info: (520) 742-6455

This drive to an Observatory in Tucson Arizona is well-worth it! From I-19 take Exit-99 & head west on Ajo Road (AZ-Hwy.86). From there it's 39-miles, nearly one-hour driving time.

Along the way to Kitt Peak National Observatory you'll cross into Native American Lands. The Observatory's location is within the Schuk Toak District on the Tohono O'odham Nation.

You'll drive up to the top, at a 6,877ft/2,096m high elevation of the Quinlan Mountains. With sprawling desert and mountain vistas along the way up the steep road.

Once there, the Visitor Center is your best first stop to view displays featuring the universe, experienced through Observatories.

• You can Sign Up for Tours - in advance is best.
• Three versions take 4-1/2 hours. Another, the most popular, goes overnight.

Management is under a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy.

Reid Park Zoo is our fun local zoo. How many times we've been here, bringing our kids & grandkids.

Lots of animals to see! From Anteaters to Zebras. Funny ones, odd ones, scary ones, yucky tiny ones, but all are interesting!

It's adjacent to Tucson's major city park. On the North side of 22nd Street, between Country Club & Alvernon Way. Turn into S.Randolph Way, turn left onto Zoo Court for parking.

HOURS:

• October to May: 9am-4pm
• June to September: 8am–2pm

More info: (520) 791-3204

Discover the cultural beauty & rich history of San Xavier Mission. This stunning Spanish colonial mission, has been a local spiritual and community pillar since 1797.

Founded by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692. He ministered to the people of the Tohono O'odham Nation.

The outdoor entryway is stunning. Go inside & you'll marvel at the incredible interior craftsmanship. Like intricate stone carvings and colorful frescoes. Its magnificent altar is styled with statues and paintings of saints.

What a testament to those historical builders & designers.

That's the Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium.  It's on the University of Arizona (UofA) campus, part of the College of Science.

In 1972 the university received a generous philanthropic grant from the estate of Grace H. Flandrau. She was an author and a regular Tucson visitor. The UofA wanted to use that funding for the public's benefit in learning the value of science.

They built it as part of the Astronomy Department. It's also situated near Optical Sciences, Lunar & Planetary Lab, and Flandrau Observatory.

Why Visit?

• Seeing the shows in the Eos Foundation Planetarium theater.  Like...

1. Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity
2. A Search for the Edge of the Solar System
3. Desert Moon
4. Climate Change in Our Backyard
5. From Earth to the Universe - and more!