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Tucson's Popular Activities & Attractions
Sonoran Desert Museum - One of Southern Arizona's
most popular attractions. This museum exhibits the living, outdoor
world found in the Sonoran Desert Region. This is a mostly outdoor
museum located about 14 miles west of downtown. There are demonstrations
taking place everyday to help people understand the relationships
between plants, animals, and the environment of the Sonoran Desert
Region. There are over 300 different kinds of living animals and over
1300 kinds of plants. - Tucson / 520-883-1380
Old Tucson Studios - Another very popular attraction
in Southern Arizona. In 1939 this town was built for the movie "Arizona"
and now years later there have been over 300 productions shot here
and more coming. In 1995 the town was mostly "lost" due
to a fire, but has since been rebuilt and more exciting than ever.
You can enjoy a life in a frontier town. You can watch stunts, trick
riding, and you might even get a part in a Western film shoot or Saloon
musical. There are rides for the kids and great food. - Tucson / 520-883-0100
San Pedro & Southwestern Railroad - Starting
out in Benson, Arizona you will take a 4 Hour round trip train ride
through the Old West. With the expert narration you will hear stories
about Doc Holiday, Wyatt Earp, Geronimo and the Clanton Brothers.
You will see parts of the Old West that can only be accessible by
train. Travel through the once powerful silver mills and pass the
ruins of the historic ghost town of Fairbanks, Arizona. You'll also
travel to Charleston, Arizona very close to the famous town of Tombstone.
Southwestern Railroad is located only minutes from Tucson. - Benson
/ 520-586-2266
Biosphere II - Developed by the American Museum of
Natural History and the Environmental Defense Fund the Biosphere II
demonstrates how our actions and natural forces are changing our planet
and its environment. At one time scientist lived inside the Biosphere
for and extended period of time as part of the project. This is a
32 part exhibit that at one time you could only tour the outside,
now you can tour a portion of the project from the inside. The Biosphere
II offers a full service restaurant and overnight accommodations.
Located 40 minutes north of Tucson. - Oracle / 800-828-2462
Sabino Canyon - Set in the beautiful Coronado National
Forest, Sabino Canyon offers a 45 minute round trip narrated tour
on a shuttle bus through the Sabino Canyon. You will see some of the
most beautiful scenery that Tucson has to offer. The shuttle bus stops
at different points of the canyon where you can get off and hike for
a while, then you can pick up the shuttle bus on the way back . Sabino
Canyon is open 365 days a year. Moonlight rides three nights a month
are available by reservation April - December. - Tucson / 520-749-2861
Pima Air & Space Museum - There are over 200
example of vintage and current aircrafts, from the first Wright flyer
(an exact full scale replica) to what some say was the ultimate flying
machine, the famous SR-71 Blackbird. You will see helicopters, homebuilts,
ultralights, soaring planes and hang gliders. In 1991 the Museum also
included many space artifacts and exhibits, such as the X-15 and the
Mercury Space Capsule and much more. - Tucson / 520-574-9658
Asarco Mineral Discovery Center - A 20-minute drive
south of Tucson, you'll find the only regularly scheduled, public
tours of a modern, working copper mine in all of "The Copper
State." Open Tuesday through Saturday, this award-winning exhibit
center offers visitors an inside look at the industry. The Company
Store gift shop offers a beautiful variety of copper fountains and
home décor along with copper and silver jewelry. Located on
the southwest corner of I-19 and Pima Mine Road (Exit 80). Free admission;
One-hour mine tours are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, $4 for kids
5-12 years, and free for kids 0-4 years. www.mineraldiscovery.com,
amdcinfo@asarco.com - Tucson / 520-625-7513.
Kitt Peak Observatory - Located on the Tohono O'odham
Reservation, high above the Sonoran Desert is the home of the world's
largest collection of optical telescopes. The National Optical Astronomy
Observatories, under contract with the National Science Foundation,
oversees site operations on Kitt Peak. Learn the history of optical
astronomy and how Kitt Peak has had a shaping astronomical impact
for the last 38 years. Located about 1 hour south west of Tucson.
- Tucson / 520-318-8726
Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory - The Southeastern
Arizona Bird Observatory (SABO) is dedicated to the conservation of
the birds of southeastern Arizona, their habitats and the diversity
of species which share those habitats through research, monitoring
and public education. Founded in 1996 by Tom Wood and Sheri Williamson,
former managers of The Nature Conservancy's Ramsey Canyon Preserve,
SABO was created to address the growing needs for educational activities,
eco-tourism development and conservation-oriented research on both
public and private lands in southeastern Arizona. - Bisbee | www.sabo.org
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Tombstone, Arizona - Tombstone is one of the most
famous towns in Arizona. Know as "The town that was too tough
too die" you can experience it for yourself. Just 1 hour - 15
minutes southeast of Tucson. Experience the old west up close, visit
the OK Corral and check out the worlds largest rose bush. Fun for
the whole family. - Tombstone
Tohono Chul Park - As you walk down the winding nature
trail through our various gardens; tour through the Exhibit Hall in
a renovated historic home; enjoy breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea
in the Tea Room and shop in the Greenhouse and Museum Shops; you begin
to understand why the desert is so cherished in Tucson. Tohono Chul
Park exists to increase visitors' appreciation of the Sonoran Desert,
its history and culture. Come and experience the desert in a whole
new way. Tours daily, hours vary, donation requested. 7366 N. Paseo
del Norte, Tucson, AZ, 85704, (520)575-8468, FAX (520)797-1213, www.tohonochulpark.org,
general@tohonochulpark.org, April Bourie, Marketing and Communications
Director.
Colossal Caves - Before being discovered in 1879
this natural wonder was used for centuries by prehistoric peoples.
Since its discovery it has been the object of interest by train robbers,
outlaws and even a President of the University of Arizona. People
starting taking tours through the caves in 1923, before it had been
improved. Then Civilian Conservation Corps came in and constructed
the walkways, buildings and wiring in the 1930's. Since that time
they have improved it even more and now thousands of people have taken
tours through the caves. Tours of given daily, year round and there
is never more than a 30 minute wait. - Tucson / 520-647-7275
Davis Montham Air Force Base - Take a tour through
the base and see hundreds of planes that were once flown and now rest
in the desert. Some say that they could get them all in the air in
a matter of weeks. Many refer to this as the "Airplane Graveyard"
because, well thats exactly what it looks like. The base also has
a 18 hole golf course, shopping center and restaurant.
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