Tucson

Tours

Explore the Coronado National Forest on horseback and admire the Santa Catalina Mountains in the Catalina State Park. Ride around a ranch which was homesteaded in the 1800s. Explore at your own pace, and then return to the equestrian center when you finish your ride. Come to the meeting point and check in with the activity provider. Then, saddle up and get on the horse to start exploring the historical ranch. Go along equestrian trails among the Saguaro Cactus and take in the spectacular view of the Santa Catalina Mountains along the way. Take your time while you explore the ranch at your leisure. Enjoy a beautiful early morning ride, or else select an optional afternoon ride if you like. Finally, return to the equestrian center to finish up your horseriding experience. Weight limit is 240 lbs in order to remain safe and protect the horses from injury and is strictly enforced.

Feel your adrenaline pumping as you ride 5 ziplines above the Sonoran Desert near Tucson. Explore the desert landscape on short hiking trails between the ziplines, and admire sweeping views over the scenic surroundings. Make your own way to the zipline adventure course, located just 1 hour north of Tucson and 2 hours of Phoenix in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains. Upon arrival, take in scenic views of the San Pedro River Valley, the Galiuro Mountains, the Tonto National Forest, and the Catalina Mountains. Then, prepare for your thrilling zipline adventure. Push the limit of your comfort zone as you ride 5 ziplines ranging in length from 400 to 1,500 feet. The last and longest run is a dual line, making it possible to zip alongside a friend or loved one. In between ziplines, plant your feet back on the ground and discover the desert landscape from the short hiking trails. Familiarize yourself with different types of plant life such as ocotillo, agave, and different types of cactus. While you are ziplining and hiking, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife: desert spiny lizards, Gila monsters, javelina, deer, and even bobcats inhabit the property. Stay refreshed during your desert experience with the water provided along the trails.

Learn the story of a city that started with open spaces and rich agriculture and became an eclectic part of the southwestern United States on a walking food tour of Tucson. Start at The Mercado, an authentic Mexican marketplace, where you will sample a classic Mexican pastry. Next, find a delectable Sonoran treat made to perfection. Then, hop on a modern streetcar, diving deeper into the historic downtown before sampling a secret dish. For something lighter, take refreshment with a local favorite, where you will cool down with an expertly crafted tea. On your walk, see some local and national creative artistry up close and personal and hear the stories of how a humble farming village transformed into a vibrant, creative community. Move onward to discover a local infusion of Latin flair and Indian flavor. Finally, conclude the tour by sampling the delectable sweetness of a time-honored tradition as you pay homage to a Tucson icon.

Learn about the world and the stars with admission to the Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium. Enjoy a variety of exhibits that explore sharks, space, and fossils, and stay after dark to see Jupiter through a telescope. At the heart of the University of Arizona campus, enter Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium. After showing your ticket, head in to explore the universe, from earth to space. Get your young children excited about science with interactive elements, games, and activities. Older children and adults alike can learn about bugs, sharks, black holes, and space. Consider adding as a full-dome planetarium experience while you're there. Metalheads can pop into the Planetarium for a laser show featuring music by Pink Floyd and Metallica. Stroll through the many exhibits. Learn about the importance of bugs for the environment, discover the largest scale model of the surface of Mars, and see the Undersea Discovery aquarium exhibit. Throughout the year, changing exhibits focus on biology, energy, and optics and weave in ground-breaking UA research, revealing the world of science careers for budding scientists. During special events, meet with a volunteer astronomer after dark to peer through a 16-inch telescope to see Saturn's rings, the cloud belts of Jupiter, and the Andromeda galaxy.

We begin by strolling past a rebuilt section of a mud adobe wall, hearing of Tucson's founding as a walled Spanish Colonial Presidio, and learning the number of national flags that have flown over Tucson! From there, we walk Main Ave in the El Presidio Neighborhood, seeing the mansion homes of Tucson's Pioneer Founders, including several designed by Henry Trost. Learn the fascinating tales of these individuals! We stroll past historic mud adobe Sonoran Row Houses, learning how they were constructed for our harsh desert climate and how they were built to protect the occupants. Next, we will visit the Historic Pima County Courthouse, an ornate Spanish Colonial Revival-style building designed by Roy Place. We see the modernist Presidio Fountain by Charles Clement and then pop up to the Dillinger Courtroom, which appears today just as it did in the 1930s, as we hear the tales of John Dillinger in Tucson. We walk to Plaza de la Mesilla to see the Mexican-styled gazebo bandstand and learn of famous Western outlaws who partied the night away in this plaza! We also discuss the first cathedral that sat adjacent and the sordid tales of what happened after it was decommissioned. Plus, we learn of the nearby Red Light District and how Tucson was the headquarters for the Alianza Hispano-Americana! Next, we stroll past the historic Fox Theatre, the last remaining "southwest" art decor-designed theater in the country! We discuss the marquee and decorative exterior features and hear tales of what went on inside during the several decades it was closed. Plus, we learn how it was nearly torn down before being lovingly restored to its original glory. Finally, we walk to Jacome Plaza and discuss the historic Pioneer Hotel and downtown department store tycoons that gained national acclaim. We learn of their global significance and forward-thinking urban planning. The tour concludes where we began, at the southeast corner of W Alameda Street and N Church Ave in Downtown Tucson, across from the YMCA which is located at 60 W Alameda Street. It is 2 hours and 2 miles long. Please wear comfortable walking shoes, apply sunscreen, and bring a bottle of water. Please note that we stroll the charming sidewalks and plazas of Tucson, seeing the exteriors of mansion homes, historic buildings, and theaters. We enter the Historic Pima County Courthouse, seeing the interior of this beautiful structure. We are not able to enter many of the other buildings. Still, guests hear the stories of these structures and the individuals who inhabited them, plus see historic photos of the interiors and exteriors of the buildings.

Discover Southern Arizona's top attractions and save over $600 at over 100 different locations. The Passport entitles you to 2-for-1 admissions and other offers at participating attractions. Visit as many attractions as you like during normal operating hours until your time runs out. The clock starts when you use your pass at the first attraction. Have your pass instantly delivered to your phone via text or email and start using it immediately without wasting your phone's storage on app downloads. Save the pass to your phone's home screen for easy one-tap access. Some of the attractions included: • Arizona Zipline Adventures • Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley • Golf N' Stuff • Reid Park Zoo • Southern Arizona Heritage & Visitor Center • Tombstone’s Boot Hill • Tucson Sugar Skulls (Spring) • Center For Creative Photography • DeGrazia Gallery In The Sun Museum • Helen S. Schaefer Poetry Center • Madaras Gallery • Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson • Sonoran Glass School • The Mini Time Machine Museum Of Miniatures • Tubac Center Of The Arts • Tucson Desert Art Museum • Tucson Improv Movement • Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block • Ajo District Chamber and Visitor Center • Amerind Museum • Arizona History Museum • Arizona State Museum • Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum • Bisbee Tourism Center • Discover Bisbee • Discover Marana Visitor Center • Mission San Xavier Del Bac • Nogales-Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center • O.K. Corral® Famous Gunfight Site • Presidio San AgustÍn Del Tucson Museum • Southern Arizona Transportation Museum • Tombstone Epitaph Newspaper & Museum • Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum • University Libraries • Arizona- Sonora Desert Museum • Campus Arboretum • Colossal Cave Mountain Park • Desert Laboratory on Tumamoc Hill • Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce • Green Valley Sahuarita Chamber Of Commerce • International Wildlife Museum • National Parks Store • Oracle State Park • Patagonia Lake State Park • Picacho Peak State Park • Sabino Canyon Crawler • Saguaro National Park East and West • Tohono Chul • Tubac Presidio State Historic Park • Tucson Botanical Gardens • Tumacácori National Historical Park • La Encantada Shopping Center • Main Gate Square • University of Arizona Book Stores - Student Union • Biosphere 2 • History of Pharmacy Museum • Space Imagery Center GoodEnough Silver Mine and Trolley (Tombstone) • TopGolf • Arizona Opera • Arizona Theatre Company • Fox Tucson Theatre

On this guided walking tour guests learn the rich history of the Barrio Viejo Tucson plus historic Scott Avenue! The Barrio Viejo features the largest collection of mud adobe structures found anywhere in the United States! Learn how these Sonoran Row Houses were built with two foot thick walls for our harsh desert climate and we discuss in detail the three styles of Sonoran Row Houses and what brings about each style change! As we stroll the charming sidewalks, hear the lively tales of the Barrio Viejo neighborhood, the working class neighborhood of the city. Hear of corner stores and front room shops. See examples of row houses that are beautifully resorted with bright colored exteriors, others in a vintage state and still others in a state of ruin where we can see how the mud adobe construction techniques! Next we visit the El Ojito Spring that was the water source for Spanish Soldiers and their families during the walled Spanish Colonial Presidio days of Tucson. Then we visit the El Tiradito Wishing Shrine and hear the tale of how this shrine came to be, the only shrine in North American dedicated to the memory of a sinner instead of a saint - this is an incredible tale! We finish our tour of the Barrio Viejo by strolling past the historic Teatro Carmen theater. On this tour we also stroll down historic Scott Avenue where we see several prominent structures by the famous architect Henry Trost including the Scotish Rite Cathedral. We stroll past what is believed to be the only mud adobe territorial styled building designed as a San Francisco Victorian styled mansion, today a charming Inn. Then we stroll into the courtyard of the historic Spanish Colonial styled Temple of Music & Art and learn of the theaters twin! Suggested: This tour involves 2 miles of walking and is 2 hours. Please wear comfortable shoes, bring a bottle of water and wear sunscreen.

Step back in time to the days of the Wild West and discover what it was like to be a cowboy on this guided day trip from Tucson to Bisbee & Tombstone. Take some free time to explore and try out activities like visiting mines, drinking at saloons, or riding in a stage coach.  Enjoy the convenience of pickup from the centrally-located meeting point at the Park Place Mall in the morning. Catch a gander of the planes as you drive by the Bone Yard and take in the landscapes of the Sonoran Desert before arriving in Bisbee. We will drive through historic Bisbee then stop at the Copper Queen Mine. Then we will board a mine train and take an excursion through an actual copper mine. (No opened toed shoes or high Heels) (Bring along a light sweater or jacket because it is underground) Arrive in Tombstone a bit after 12pm and have 3 hours to explore the town at your own pace. We include your ticket to the OK Corral to see the reenactment of the famous shootout (scheduled at 1pm) in your free time, enjoy live music at "Big Nose Kate's Saloon" or belly up to the bar at "Crystal Palace" for a drink with some old-fashioned vibes.  Spend some time buying a tour of the "Birdcage Theatre" or listen the retelling of Tombstone's history or visit the Silver Mine by purchasing a ticket for the "Good Enough Trolley Tour." Transport yourself back in time by catching a ride on an authentic stagecoach.  Visit the gallows of the original "Tombstone Courthouse" or stop somewhere for a bite to eat. At 3pm as we depart Tombstone, let's stop by Boot Hill (your entry into Boot Hill Cemetery is included) where the outlaws who lost in that gun fight were laid to rest. After Boot Hill we will make our way back to your meeting point at the Park Place Mall

Explore the extreme northeast corner of Florence, Arizona on board a thrilling Terrain Vehicle (ATV). Located halfway between Tucson and Phoenix, the Box Canyon and Pinal Mountains make for an ideal day out from both cities. The dirt trail that will set your blood racing is about 30 miles long, and you will have 3.25 hours to play. Once your guide has equipped you with safety equipment and received a short training, head off along dirt trails that twist, turn, and bump up and down the Pinal Mountains. Climb up and over the front range of the mountains. At the same time, your guide points out Indian petroglyphs left behind by the ancient Native Americans.  Another point of interest is an old adobe building that served as a way station for the Butterfield Overland Stage Coach Company during the 1860s. For a short time, it also serviced the Pony Express on what was known as the "Butterfield Route." The real highlight of the tour is Box Canyon. You'll be in the canyon for about 6 miles. Get set for the drama of the middle 3 miles, a slot canyon with walls only about 10-20 feet apart and 900 feet high on both sides!

Get picked up at Park Place Mall next to Starbucks and embark on a scenic drive to San Xavier del Bac Mission. Gaze at this impressive cathedral, completed during Spanish rule in the 1700s. Learn more about this beautiful monument with insightful commentary from your guide. Explore the Mission and the grotto. Cruise by Mission Gardens and hear more about its significance. Discover the Presidio San Augustine del Tucson and glimpse into the past at the Presidio Museum. Continue past the University of Arizona's Old Main, before returning to the pick-up location at Park Place Mall.