Arizona Sonora Desert MuseumWorld Renowned Tucson Zoo Brings Visitors Closer to the Desert Go to Arizona Sonora Desert Museum sections: What Makes the Arizona -Sonora Desert Museum SpecialWhere can you...
At the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, of course. This world famous facility is one of the best places to discover the animals and plants of the Sonoran Desert. It’s one of the best Arizona attractions. It’s also one of our favorite outings. This is one of the spots that we always take out of town visitors to see because you can't get a better introduction to the desert and its plants and animals than here. The Desert Museum - as its often called - combines a zoo, a botanical garden, a museum and a nature preserve all in one place. With two miles of paths on 21 acres, the Desert Museum feels larger. That's because its in the middle of some of the most beautiful desert out in Tucson Mountain Regional Park, on the far west side of the city.
Walk through the grounds and you’ll feel like you’re on a hike in the wilderness. Gaze to the south and west for views of broad valleys and saguaro-studded mountains. Then you’ll suddenly round a corner and enter a rocky canyon, encountering bighorn sheep sunning on a warm rock or an ocelot prowling a dry stream bed.
The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is not the kind of place you can get through in an hour. There’s so much to see that you could easily spend the entire day here. It’s also just outside of Tucson, so be sure to factor in your travel time to and from the site. Though it takes a little extra time to get there, the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is worth it. This is a must-see attraction for both Arizona vacationers and residents alike. What You'll See at the Arizona-Sonora Desert MuseumThe Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is more than just cacti and desert animals.
The grounds are divided into unique habitat sections that recreate the diverse environments of the Arizona Sonora region. In each, you'll see animals representative of each habitat types: River otters swim and play in a deep stream in the Riparian Corridor. Mexican wolves roam the Mountain Woodland. There's even a tree-filled walkthrough aviary where the path follows a babbling brook. Keep an eye out for brightly colored orioles, cardinals and Gambel’s quail as they forage for food along the banks. The majority of exhibits are open air and resemble natural environments that blend into the surrounding desert. You'll see over 300 animals at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Besides mammals, their collection includes a wide variety of vertebrate and invertebrate species such as:
In addition to animal exhibits, there are more than 1,200 types of plants throughout the grounds. In spring, the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is full of color as wildflowers like Mexican gold poppies, owl’s clover and Parry penstemon bloom in profusion. Summer brings the vibrant blossoms of cacti including the brilliant yellows, oranges and pinks of barrel cactus, cholla and prickly pears and the creamy white flowers of the saguaro. We always like to check out the lovely pollination gardens. Each garden is planted with flowers that attract specific pollinators - bees, butterflies, moths and hummingbirds – which we often see during our visits. Informative displays detail the complex associations between these animals and the flowers that depend upon them for their reproduction.
You can also pick up tips on which plants to put in your own garden so you can attract these important animals. Be sure to visit the Earth Sciences Center, which showcases colorful and sparkling gems, minerals and fossils from the Sonoran Desert region. The Desert Museum’s regional mineral collection is considered to be one of the best in the world. Children will really enjoy exploring the limestone cave here, complete with stalagmites, stalactites, pools and salamanders. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum HighlightsThe Hummingbird Aviary is a favorite with visitors.
Here you have a chance to see these beautiful, jewel-colored birds up close as they feed at flowers and nectar feeders. Seven species of hummingbirds - Costa’s, broad-billed, black-chinned, Anna’s, magnificent, rufous and broad-tailed – coexist in this walkthrough exhibit. One spring, we were thrilled to see a female hummingbird quietly sitting on her eggs in a tiny nest made of twigs and bits of leaves and held together by spider webs. One of our favorite areas is the Desert Grasslands. Be sure to spend some time at the prairie dog colony. These active animals are always a delight to watch as they forage for food and pop in and out of their underground burrows.
Another great area is the Riparian Corridor. These exhibits have large, underwater viewing areas where you can see the beavers, river otters and desert fishes swimming. Be sure to walk up to the viewing platform and look through the small glass window into the "beaver’s den." We’ve often seen a beaver curled up in there, taking an afternoon siesta. Favorite FeaturesWhile its hard to pick just one favorite, we really like the ½-mile Desert Loop Trail.
This unpaved path simulates a rugged, outdoor hiking experience, allowing visitors to experience the native desert up close. Along the way, there are coyotes, javelinas and lizards in desert exhibits that blend in with the natural surroundings. During a walk along any of the Desert Museum’s paths, you may see wild animals that live on the grounds such as:
It’s a real wildlife lover’s paradise here and you never know what you might encounter.
Visitor AmenitiesThe Arizona Sonora Desert Museum is out of town and out in the desert.
So, there are no services close by. If you're like us, you’ll definitely get hungry after all that walking. We suggest having lunch at the Ironwood Terrace Restaurant. This self-serve style grill offers pre-made wraps and salads. You can also order hamburgers, veggie burgers, pizza and tacos at the short order grill. There’s plenty of indoor seating but, if the weather is nice, we recommend sitting out on the patio to enjoy the lovely views. You might have a cactus wren, Harris’ antelope ground squirrel or other desert wildlife stopping by your table. Just remember, don’t feed the animals. There is also fine dining at the Ocotillo Café. Their menu features Arizona Sonora regional cuisine with elegant presentations. Hours vary seasonally; be sure to call ahead for hours of operation.
If you’re over at the Riparian Corridor to see the beavers, stop by the Cottonwood Snack Shop for a tall, cold glass of limeade. This favorite Southwestern drink is freshly made and is a perfect thirst quencher on a warm day. We think they have one of the best limeades we’ve ever had. The snack shop also offers a variety of pastries, drinks, ice cream and other snacks. The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum has several great gift shops with a variety of Southwestern souvenirs, books, beautiful jewelry and local handmade arts and crafts. An art gallery has changing exhibitions throughout the year. Much of the art work displayed is by students of the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum’s Art Institute. Keep an eye out for the trained docents who give a wide variety of guided tours, special demonstrations and live animal presentations. If you have the time, consider signing up for one of the Desert Museum great educational classes, special programs and Sonoran studies classes, tours and field trips. Fast Facts: Arizona Sonora Desert MuseumWhat to Know Before You Go:
Location: Far west side of Tucson Address: 2021 North Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ 85743 Google Map Directions: Click on "+" and "-" signs on Map Controls in upper left hand corner to zoom in and out on the location. Phone: (520) 883-2702 Hours: Open every day of the year. Admission Fee: Changes seasonally Amenities: Two restaurants: The Ocotillo Café is a fine dining venue that serves Southwestern style cuisine. Open for lunch in winter and dinner on Summer Saturday Evenings. Call in advance for specific days and times. Also on site: coffee bar, snack and ice cream shop, two gift shops. Wheelchairs and strollers are free of charge on a first come, first served basis. Two electric scooters are available for $10 each. Activities include:
The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum also has a wide variety of educational classes including nature tours, wildflower walks, saguaro fruit harvesting, family toadwatch, astronomy campouts and kids summer camps. The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum Art Institute offers courses in nature sketching, painting, digital photography, papermaking and origami among others. The information in this review was accurate at the time of our visit. All contact information, availability, access, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the facility before making reservations and/or travel plans. Back to Arizona Zoos page from Arizona Sonora Desert Museum page
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