Things to Do

History & Culture

Yoemen Tekia Cultural Center and Museum
Dedicated to the preservation of Yaqui Culture, Customs, History and Traditions. The museum was conceived by the late Traditional Chief and Spiritual Leader Anselmo Valencia Tori, as a place where the preservation and presentation of Yaqui Culture and History would be in the hands of Yaqui Elders, Cultural Leaders and the Yaqui Community.

Presidio San Agustin del Tucson Museum
The Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Museum is a reconstruction of the original Tucson Presidio built in 1775. Docent tours of this history museum give visitors a glimpse of Tucson history and what life in the Presidio was like for soldiers and other residents. Additional highlights include an original 150-year-old Sonoran row house and a 2,000-year-old prehistoric pit house.

Tumacácori National Historical Park
The abandoned ruins of three ancient Spanish colonial missions are here on 45 acres. The mission San Jose de Tumacacori first was listed in 1691 as an outlying vista by Father Kino, and is one the oldest in Arizona. Tumacacori contributed a herd of cattle to the Anza expedition and Father Font, a member of Anza’s colony, stayed here while Anza marshaled his forces at Tubac.

Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium
Flandrau is Tucson's destination for adventures in space and science! Located on the University of Arizona campus, Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium inspires visitors of all ages to discover the wonders of science. Explore the solar system and beyond in Flandrau’s state-of-the-art planetarium theater, featuring a full-dome digital projection system that can launch from the Earth and fly to planets, moons, and asteroids.

John E. Greivenkamp Museum of Optics
The Wyant College of Optical Sciences is proud to offer access to its collection of antique and historic telescopes, microscopes, lenses and cameras in the John E. Greivenkamp Museum of Optics. These specimens represent work by the world’s most respected instrument makers from the 18th century to the present.

Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Tucson
Established by artists, MOCA is Tucson’s only museum devoted exclusively to contemporary art from Tucson and around the globe. MOCA is committed to thinking globally, acting locally, and engaging with the ethics and aesthetics of contemporary life. Through varied programs, MOCA is Tucson’s primary educational resource for contemporary art and maintains a full exhibition, education, and artist-in-residence program.

Outdoor Activities

Boomerang Riding Adventures, Colossal Cave Mountain Park
The best way to see the Sonoran desert is from in the saddle. When it comes to the Southwest, there's a bunch that Hollywood gets right, including the horse culture. Horseback riding is as much a part of Tucson and Southern Arizona as cactus, Wildcat basketball, and sweet, salty, transcendent margaritas.

Mount Lemmon
Aspen Loop is Tucson’s refuge: this riparian trail near the top of Mount Lemmon is a beautiful escape in all seasons. The subalpine forest is twenty degrees cooler than the desert floor, making it a perfect destination during the summer heat

Bird Watching
Bird watching is a wonderful pastime in Tucson and Southern Arizona, whether you want to identify birds in your own backyard or join a band of birders on a field trip.  Agua Caliente Park, Sweetwater Wetlands, The Loop, Tohono Chul, and Tucson Botanical Gardens are all urban oases that are greta to catch stellar bird watching! 

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Shopping and Dining

Fourth Avenue District. Affectionately known to locals as "Fourth". Find local artisans and boutiques offering curated selections of vintage clothing, jewelry, furniture, artwork, antiques, handcrafted and imported wares, hard-to-find books and anything else you might want to go digging for

Beyond the ordinary dining experience, Tucson boasts a captivating fusion of cultures, exclusive to Southern Arizona. Delve into the rich heritage of indigenous peoples who have cultivated native ingredients for millennia, culminating in Tucson's prestigious designation as the first UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the country. Mexican culture is at the core of Tucson and the reason we've become the undisputed home to the best Mexican food in the United States. Embrace the diverse and mind-blowing flavors that define Tucson's culinary scene.