Walkway at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

When Martine and I were in Tucson in April, we ran into 100° Fahrenheit (37° Celsius) temperatures. While we visited the spectacular Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, I was constantly seeking deep shade and cool water. As a result, we saw only a fraction of the museum’s grounds, which were substantial. There is no doubt in my mind that we must revisit it during the winter months.

In addition to several buildings housing reptiles, birds, fish, and so on, there is a zoo along a pathway that winds through the grounds. I spent a lot of time watching the desert bighorn sheep, because I could view them from a nice shady place. We missed most of the other outdoor zoological exhibits, as well as the desert plants in their immediate vicinity.

To get an idea of the museum’s variety, click here to see the various exhibit categories.

In the vicinity of the museum are a number of other interesting sights:

• The Western District of Saguaro National Park with its highly recommended Scenic Bajada Loop Drive
• Tucson Mountain Park with its trails and picnic grounds
• Somewhat to the south along Interstate 19 is the splendid San Xavier del Bac mission on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation
• The Pima Air & Space Museum with its hundreds of aircraft

Until our short visit in April, I had never visited Tucson, though Martine had long ago to visit her aunt living there.