Dec 4 2008
- Sosa-Carrillo Fremont House. In the heart of Downtown Tucson, the Sosa-Carrillo Fremont House is one of Tucson’s original adobe houses. First purchased by José Maria Sosa in 1860, the house was later owned by the Carrillo family for 80 years and leased at one point to territorial governor John C. Fremont. The restored house is furnished in 1880s period décor and features displays of territorial life in the Sonoran Deserts of Southern Arizona. Admission $3 adults, $2 seniors & 12-18; 11 & under free.
- Saguaro National Park. Those in search of a trek through the classic, towering Saguaro cacti for which the Sonoran Desert is famous can set out on the many trails in Saguaro National Park in the Tucson Mountains just west of the city.
At the park, take on the short, half-mile Signal Hill Trail – a perfect adventure for kids. The mostly flat, out-and-back trail leads to the Signal Hill Petroglyphs – ancient rock art created by the extinct Hohokam tribe. The trail takes hikers across a wash and up a hill of dark basalt rock, to the Signal Hill Overlook, where the thousand-year-old circular petroglyphs and other geometric rock art shapes are clearly visible on the hilltop stones.
For the more adventurous hiker, the scenic, relatively flat 10-mile Cactus Forest Trail coils through the native cacti and succulents of the Sonoran Desert. On the east side of Tucson, guests can hike through Saguaro National Park East on the Cactus Forest Loop Drive, an 8-mile, mostly paved trail that twists and turns through the Rincon Mountains. Hikers on the Cactus Forest Loop Drive can also head off-road on a 2.5-mile adventure on the Cactus Forest Trail, which twists through stands of the park’s namesake cacti. $10 per car. See our Saguaro National Park Photos.
- Finger Rock & Pontatoc Ridge Trails. Hikers and birders can head to the luxurious foothills north of Downtown Tucson for a challenging trek on the Pontatoc Ridge and Finger Rock trails, which also wind around the Santa Catalinas. The shorter, out-and-back Pontatoc trail is a 4-mile round trip, taking hikers up 1,000 strenuous feet in elevation and over craggy desert rocks on the path to the top. The longer Finger Rock trail takes hikers on a difficult, steep 10-mile trek to the summit of Mt. Kimball. The six-to-seven-hour trek takes visitors from the cacti and palo verde trees of the Tucson Basin, up to the cooler pines of Mt. Kimball. Free parking & admission.
- Tohono Chul Park. Translated from the Tohono O'odham language, Tohono Chul means "desert corner." This 49-acre desert preserve is a leading Southwest center of desert nature, arts and culture – and is listed by National Geographic Traveler as one of the top 22 Secret Gardens in the United States and Canada. This oasis in the desert offers a respite from the hectic pace of daily life, provides an informative look at the region's fascinating cultural traditions and its even more interesting flora and fauna. Visitors can enjoy a delicious breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea in The Tea Room, which is housed in a handsome Spanish-Colonial home; or shop in the museum shops. Admission $7 adults, $2 children 5-12, $3 students, $4 seniors & military with ID.
- Tucson Botanical Gardens. Tucked away in the heart of Midtown Tucson, the Botanical Gardens is a 5-acre oasis of natural beauty, inspiration and education about the natural desert. The Botanical Gardens feature 16 gardens with diverse themes – such as the Herb Garden, the Xeriscape Harden, the Butterfly Garden, the Backyard Bird Garden, the Cactus & Succulent Garden and more – located on the historic 1920s property of Tucson’s Porter Family. Visit www.tucsonbotanical.org for more information. Adults: $7, children 4-12 free.
