Looking for a perfect destination to flip your hair, wearing stylish shades and summer outfits? Get ready for a dramatic desert vacation to the United States. Trust me, Nowhere on this planet, a desert is as fascinating as it is in this beautiful land. Located in Pima County in the state of Arizona, Tucson is the second-largest city in the state. Lose your mind while exploring the gorgeous city and observing the pretty sunshine. With a population of over 500,000, the city also houses the University of Arizona. Since it is located in between the US and Mexico, it has an influence of both regions. In this article, you will get to know about the important things to do in Tucson that will make most of your trip.
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Things to do in Tucson
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
- Sabino Canyon Hiking
- Saguaro National Park
- Tucson Botanical Garden
- Reid Park Zoo
- Tohono Chul Pa
- Pima Air & Space Museum
- San Xavier del Bac
- Sentinel Peak
- Old Tucson Studios
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Want to experience aquarium, zoo, botanical garden and art museums in one place? The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is the ultimate destination to enjoy all under one roof. Spread over a huge space of 98 acres, the place is home for over 200 species of desert animals and 1000 types of plants. Also, the museum offers quality education about the flora, fauna, art history and tradition of Arizona. Due to its versatility, the museum attracts 400000 travellers every year.
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Sabino Canyon Hiking
Head to the north of Tucson to enjoy a dramatic hiking experience at the Sabino Canyon and a nature walk at the Coronado National Forest. The beautiful trails with majestic views will surely make you trekking experience a memorable one. Though it is located in a desert region, you can still find waterfalls while passing through the bridge. If you’re not interested in trekking, you can still explore the place by jumping into a tram that will take you to nine stops in this region. This is indeed one of the best things to do in Tucson
Saguaro National Park
Being an active member of the United States National Park System, the Saguaro National Park is separated into two directions as east and west of Tucson. The park covers parts of the Rincon Mountains, the Tucson Mountains, and the Sonoran Desert. You can spot a unique kind of cactus here which gave the name ‘saguaro’ to the park. Plan a hiking trip with your friends as the park has lovely trails for both beginners and experienced hikers.
Tucson Botanical Garden
Become a botanist while exploring the greens of Tucson Botanical Garden. Take a nature walk and roam around the large compound which is made up of 16 individual gardens. The place offers a peaceful atmosphere amidst the rich flora of the Arizona state. Though it is a small area of 5 acres, it houses 4 beautiful segments namely children’s garden, a Zen garden, and a butterfly garden. Do not miss visiting the gallery located in the premice of the garden and take part in one of the rotating exhibitions taking place here.
Reid Park Zoo
How will your vacation be complete without meeting the wild buddies at Reid Park Zoo? Founded in the 1960s, Reid Park Zoo spreads over a vast area of 20 acres. You can spot around 500 different species of animals here. Also, the zoo is divided into four sectors where you can see animals such as bears, to elephants, to giant tortoises. The most fascinating part of the zoo is that there are veterinarians working at the faculty since the local population has raised money over the years to take care of the animals.
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Tohono Chul Pa
Make way to the Tohono Chul park which is made up of an onsite museum. The word ‘Tohono’ means desert and ‘Chul’ means corner as spoken by the indigenous people of Arizona. It majorly focuses on environmental stewardship and offering education about the Sonoran Desert region. You will be amazed at the natural beauty of the botanical gardens along with the majestic views of the Santa Catalina Mountains.
Pima Air & Space Museum
Do you ever have space dreams where you can collide with the clouds while flying at a higher altitude? Join the club. Because you are not the only one. Head to the Pima Air and Space Museum and learn all about aerospace. Also, it is one of the largest air and space museums in the world. Explore the 300 aircraft and spacecraft arranged at a wide area of 80 acres. You can also learn about the history of the United States Air Force here. This will surely be one of your favourite things to do in Tucson if you are an aerospace buff.
San Xavier del Bac
Head to downtown Tucson because it’s time to indulge in pure spirituality at San Xavier del Bac. This Spanish Catholic Mission was built in the 18th century. It is considered as the Spanish colonial architecture in the United States. Because of its serene atmosphere and mind-blowing architecture, the place attracts around 200000 visitors annually. Also, the place is so good at offering peace and tranquillity to its visitors while instilling positive thoughts in their mind.
Sentinel Peak
How about a fun-filled trekking or hiking experience with your favourite bunch of people? To the Southwest of Tucson, lies the Sentinel Peak in the Tucson Mountains. The peak is less trodden as the people believe in a rumour that it is a dormant volcano. This misperception is due to the surrounding land which was volcanic before 20 million years. This is truly one of the fun things to do in Tucson. Get ready to lose your mind to the scenic views of the Tucson Valley and the city of Tucson.
Old Tucson Studios
Are you a movie buff or a fan of old school Westerns? Take a trip to the movie set at Old Tucson Studios. You can spot this studio right next to the Tucson Mountains. If you couldn’t figure out this spot, you can brush up on a few scenes from the movies of Little House on the Prairie, Gunfight at the O.K Corral, and Arizona. Additionally, the studios have now been expanded into a theme park. Here, visitors can go on a complete historical tour and enjoy live-action performances that include gunfights, stuntmen and women.
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What else you need on a beautiful vacation other than beautiful architecture, leafy gardens, desert flora and fauna, traditional activities and an abundance of Mexican inspired food and beverages. A visit to Tucson will surely be the best pages filled in your passport. Ready to witness the prettiest sunshine in Arizona? Head to the Pickyourtrail website and start planning your trip to the United States right away! Now you can connect with us via WhatsApp and plan your dream trip at ease. Its time to unwrap the world with Pickyourtrail!