Tucson

Value City Rating:  $$

Photos courtesy SACVB/SACVB

Pima Air and Space Museum:

Explore aviation history at the Pima Air & Space Museum. It is home to the largest privately owned collection of historical aircraft in the country. See everything from a full-scale model of the Wright Brothers’ 1903 Wright Flyer, to a mock-up of the world’s fastest aircraft, the X-15. More than 130 military and civilian aircraft are here on display, along with engines, flight simulators, uniforms and other aviation memorabilia. You can step right into Douglas DC-6 used by both Presidents Kennedy and Johnson during their terms of office. Some of the aircraft at the Pima Air & Space Museum are on loan from the Smithsonian, the Navy and Air Force Museum, all of them significant from both engineering and historical perspectives. This museum is sure to interest everyone.

Mission San Xavier del Bac:

Celebrating its 206th birthday in 2003, the beautiful “White Dove of the Desert”, Mission San Xavier del Bac, has been claimed as being one of the finest examples of mission architecture in the world. It is a graceful blending of Moorish, Byzantine and late Mexican Renaissance styles. Mission San Xavier del Bac is situated on an elevation in the Santa Cruz Valley, nine miles south of the city of Tucson. From the earliest times, the Native American settlement in which the Mission is located was called Bac, “place where the water appears” because the Santa Cruz River, which ran underground for some distance, reappeared on the surface nearby. The celebrated Jesuit missionary and explorer, Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, first visited Bac in 1692. Eight years later in 1700, Father Kino laid the foundations of the first church, some two miles north of the present mission. Father Kino named the mission in honor of his chosen patron, St. Francis Xavier, the illustrious Jesuit “Apostle of the Indies.”

Biosphere 2:

     Situated on 250 acres, amidst the beautiful Sonoran Desert, Biosphere 2 is one of the world’s largest living laboratories of the world. A monumental feat of engineering, the glass and metal shell hosts several different land types, or biomes, where scientists use the latest technology to experiment on Earth systems on a relatively large scale. Inside Biosphere 2 is a rainforest, a million gallon salt water ocean, a coastal fog desert, and four other wilderness ecosystems. In 1994 Biosphere 2 was converted from an experiment to test the feasibility of humans living in a closed eco-system to a large scale ecological laboratory and Western branch campus of Columbia University. Explore the eight ecosystems represented here on the “World of Discovery” tour.

 Saguaro National Park:

     This unique desert is home to the most recognizable cactus in the world, the majestic saguaro. Visitors of all ages are fascinated and enchanted by these desert giants, especially their many interesting and complex interrelationships with other desert life. Saguaro cacti provide their sweet fruits to hungry desert animals. They also provide homes to a variety of birds, such as the Harris’ hawk, Gila woodpecker and the tiny elf owl. Yet, the saguaro requires other desert plants for its very survival. During the first few years of a very long life, a young saguaro need the shade and protection of a nurse plant such as the palo verde tree. With an average life span of 150 years, a mature saguaro may grow to a height of 50 feet and weigh over 10 tons. You may choose either a leisurely drive on one of the scenic loops, or explore the park on one of the many walking trails. 

     Kitt Peak is the home of research facilities for two divisions of the National Optical Astronomy Observatories. The site supports the most diverse collection of astronomical observatories on Earth for nighttime optical and infrared astronomy and daytime study of the Sun. Founded in 1958, KPNO operates three major nighttime telescopes, shares site responsibilities with the National Solar Observatory and hosts the facilities of consortia which operate 19 optical telescopes and two radio telescopes.

     While visiting Tombstone, tourists will find themselves stepping back into the past as they witness re-enactments at the O.K. Corral or take a stroll along the boardwalks on Allen Street where they might want to unwind and relax in the Bird Cage Theater, Big Nose Kate’s or The Crystal Palace, some of Tombstone’s best known tourist attractions and saloons. More of Tombstone’s western heritage can be appreciated in its historic buildings, such as the Tombstone Courthouse, built in 1882, which is now a state park. Visit the Rose Tree Inn, where the world’s largest rose tree lives or Boot Hill Graveyard where you can read some very interesting epitaphs.

     Explore the art colony and historical site known as the Village of Tubac! Founded in 1752, Tubac is the first European settlement in the region that later became Arizona. The area is rich in history, with the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park and the nearby Tumacacori National Historical Park providing visitors a glimpse into the ancient roots. Today the community is known as a haven for artists and craftspersons, and the village offers over 80 shops, studios and galleries. In addition, the Tubac Center of Arts features year-around exhibits of some of the southwest’s finest art.

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base:

     Aerospace Maintenance & Regeneration Center, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base supports customer’s storage, regeneration, reclamation and disposal needs in war and peace. Today AMARC is where the U.S. Air Force mothballs planes until they either need them again or it’s time to salvage them for parts. Whenever the U. S. sells surplus planes to foreign governments part of the sales pitch is that there will always be a ready supply of spare parts. Some are turned into pilotless drones and used for missile target practice.  You can think of it as a huge warehouse for all types of spare parts which saves taxpayers millions of dollars every year. There are over 4,500 planes in storage, most now from the Vietnam era. Almost 70 different types of aircraft are currently stored at AMARC, ranging from U. S. Army and Navy helicopters to the Air Force’s Vietnam War era F-4s.
 

     Opened in 1952, the museum consists of six areas representing the Sonora’s different climate zones. The interpretive displays are alive and the animals live in their natural desert setting. There are almost 2 miles of trails in 21 acres of exquisite Sonoran Desert. Along the way, there are docents to answer your many questions about the museum itself and the wildlife that abounds in this part of the Southwest. The museum is divided into sections, so you can easily head for your favorite animals or plants.

     Some of the divisions include the Cactus Garden, the Hummingbird Aviary, the Cat Canyon, the Bighorn Sheep, a Walk-in Aviary, Reptiles and Invertebrates, Life Underground, Caves and Minerals, Riparian Corridor, Desert Garden, Desert Grassland, Arizona Upland, Mountain Woodland, and the Overlook with a breath-taking view of the Sonora Desert. There’s something that everyone will enjoy.

     This is the home of more than 500 animals, presented in naturalistic habitats, on a 17-acre park. Animals include mammals, fish, reptiles and birds from all around the world. The Reid Park Zoo Express can take you on an adventurous ride around the park if you tire of walking. As one of Tucson’s most popular attractions, it is high on the list for a must-see when visiting Tucson.  

Tucson Botanical Gardens:

Billed as an urban oasis in the middle of Tucson, this five and one-half acre garden illustrates the evolution of gardening in Tucson. The gardens consist of sixteen specialty gardens, including a butterfly garden, display garden, herb garden, kitchen garden, perennial garden, sensory garden, native plants garden, tropical garden, and xeniscape and more. The gardens represent a variety of gardening traditions and botanical themes.

Kartchner Caverns:

     This underground labyrinth, boasting 13,000 feet of passages and rooms the length of football fields, was discovered in 1974 by a pair of amateur cavers who kept their discovery a secret until 1988. The caverns finally opened to the public in 1999, giving visitors a view of the spectacular stalagmites and stalactites that line the cavern. One stalactite and stalagmite in the Throne Room have joined together in 58-feet of organic matrimony, producing the tallest column in Arizona. The Throne Room also displays the longest recorded calcite soda straw in the world, reaching a stunning 21 feet, 2 inches. Formations, like bacon draperies, quartz boxwork, brushite moonmilk, shields, totems and cascades of flowstone are marvels of nature rarely seen by human eyes. Alive and still growing in Kartchner Caverns, they draw 200,000 annual visitors seeking a glimpse of their astounding beauty.

Colossal Cave Mountain Park:

     Used as shelter by the ancient Hohokam Indians from 900 through 1450 AD, as well as train robbers and escaped convicts in the Old West, this cave is itself an attention-grabbing experience. Natural formations were formed over millions of years with stalactites, stalagmites and majestic columns by slow-seeping ground water through the limestone ceilings. As arid conditions evolved, Colossal Cave became totally dry, stopping the growth of new formations. Although there are an estimated 39 miles of cave tunnels, Colossal Cave has never been fully explored. The cave is located on La Posta Quemada Ranch which has been a working ranch since the mid 1870s. Today the ranch includes an active museum to promote public education and cultural history. Visitors can explore the park by trail rides, hayrides, cattle drives, cowboy style cookouts and pack trips through unspoiled Sonoran Desert nature. Make sure to see Desert Tortoise Exhibit and the Butterfly Garden.

 Fort Huachuca is a product of the Indian Wars of the 1870’s and 80’s. In 1913 the 10^th Cavalry, the famed “Buffalo Soldiers” arrived and remained almost 20 years. The fort is now home to the US Army Intelligence Center and School. Now that Fort Devens, MA is closed much, but not all, of the MOS Training previously done at Ft Devens is now done here; some training is done at Goodfellow, AFB in Texas and some at Pensacola Naval Station in Florida. We do not have the exact itinerary for our visit at Ft Huachuca because the Intel School is making a special tour for our group – and that agenda is not completed this early. We do have permission from the School to get on base and we’ll most likely be able to have lunch, probably a “Command Briefing”, a riding tour of the post and a visit to the two museums The Historic Museum depicts the entire history of the fort from Indian War Days to the present day satellites; and the MI Museum traces the history and accomplishments of the MI Branch.