Traveling to Arizona: What to See and Do in Tuscon

When most people plan a trip to Arizona the Grand Canyon is understandably one of the top locations mentioned. Obviously the Canyon is a must-see site for anyone visiting the state of Arizona. I've personally made it a point to see the majestic Grand Canyon on every trip to Arizona. After the Canyon, usually the next on the list of places to see is Phoenix, Arizona's largest city and the tourist-y Red Rocks of Sedona. Somewhere, farther down on the list is the city of Tuscon, the subject of this installment.

Tuscon is Arizona's second largest city and perhaps it's most beautiful. Surrounded for the most part by scenic mountain ranges, the city of Tuscon has everything a vacationer could ask for- superb restaurants to world-class golf courses, coupled with wonderful weather all in a beautiful desert setting. Tuscon is well know for it golf courses, but the true hidden treasures of Tuscon are in it's museums, parks and recreational areas.

One of the most outstanding attractions is the Sonora Desert Museum which is located on the outskirts of western Tuscon. Why it's named a museum, I haven't a clue because it's actually a zoo and said to be one of the finest in the country. At the Sonora Desert Museum, you'll find the mammals, reptiles, insects and birds of the Sonora Desert, all living in their natural setting ( of course, if you look hard enough, you'll spot some barely visible fencing). We visited many exhibits at the Desert Museum and walked for hours, so it's a very good idea to wear a comfortable pair of shoes or sneakers, a hat and carry plenty of water. There are many great places for photographers to capture the beauty of the Sonora Desert and my favorite, was the Hummingbird exhibit. I recommend this exhibit highly and if you have to wait awhile because of the crowds you will not be disappointed.

Saguaro National Park is another of the can't-miss spots in the area. The opportunity to see the huge Saguaro cacti when they are blooming is worth the price of admission, but to hike among them while searching out a spot for a quick picnic before taking in some of the spectacular views is a memory that won't be forgotten any time soon. Like the Desert Museum, don't be surprised if you spend several hours exploring in Saguaro.

The Sabino Canyon Recreation Area was not on our can't-miss list and it should have been. The Sabino Canyon is located on the northeastern edge of the city, at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The recreation area is a favorite hiking area of the locals and it's no wonder why. The scenery is nothing short of beautiful. Loaded with hiking trails, Saguaro cacti and a clear, cold stream, Sabino Canyon is a perfect place to spend the afternoon.

The rec area offers a narrated tram ride up and down the lower canyon (due to severe storms, part of the road had been washed out earlier in the season and the tram only went up about a mile) and is recommended if you have smaller children. The hike up the canyon is somewhat strenuous for youngsters and the tram was a welcome relief since we were traveling with our two sons. The return trip gave us a chance to relax and we received a couple of bonuses when the narrator spotted a couple of snakes sunning themselves near the roadside. We also stopped a few times for some incredible photo opportunities.

The Sabino Canyon was the one park I wished we had more time to return to. The employees of the park were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. The hiking trails were begging us to go exploring. On our next trip to Tuscon, we will set aside an entire day to further explore Sabino canyon and hopefully make the trek to the top.

On our last day in Tuscon we took an unplanned trip to Tohono Chul Park. The park is on the smallish side but it's wonderful wildflower displays offered many great photo opportunities. The desert setting of the park was perfect for short walks along it's trails and the children's garden exhibit provided a great learning experienced for our youngsters. The garden afforded our young sons to touch and play among the wildflowers and the wooden boat race kept our youngest occupied for at least a half hour. If you have a passion for photography, Tohono Chul's wildfower gardens are fantastic.

With so many attractions in Tuscon, we felt we missed out on so many great attractions such as the Old Tuscon Studios, the highly recommended art museums and of course golf. But spending the afternoon lounging by the pool, while watching the sun paint an ever-changing picture on the Catalinas is just as enjoyable and relaxing. We left with a larger to-do list than when we arrived and more than any attraction in Arizona, we look forward to a return trip to Tuscon.