Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Pros: Lush, beautiful, interesting - better than what you expected!!
Cons: Can't see it in one day; temperatures in the summer may prohibit day visit

What is the Sonoran Desert? It is approximately 100,000 square miles of varied terrains ranging from Southern Arizona north to the Grand Canyon and Mogollon Rim (north-east Arizona), the SE corner of California, Sonora Mexico, and Baja California. In...

Pros: Knowledgeable docents, educational exhibits, great for all ages
Cons: The grey fox appears to be on vacation and I think the otters are fake

Otters? The first time I visited Tucson was right after my husband and I became engaged. He grew up there and was continually telling me about this wonderful place called the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum" but he said it really wasn't a museum, ...

Pros: One of the best zoos in the United States, extensive cactus collection, beautiful grounds
Cons: Some small outdated bird enclosures

Since my childhood I have read and heard about the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and its reputation as one of the finest zoological and horticultural facilities in the nation, if not the world. Finally this year I travelled to Tucson and was able to tour ...

Pros: A magical, environmentally Perfect Zoological Site, and the raptor flight experience.
Cons: Late spring, summer, and early fall heat.

If you ever visit Tucson, the one place everyone here will agree you must visit is The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. This is especially true (and the main reason for this update) since the museum began raptor free flight demonstrations (November ...

Pros: A chance to discover and enjoy the place where you are right now.
Cons: Not every city has a place like this. Closes too early in summer!

Just west of Tuscon, a short but stunning drive through the Tucson Mountains will bring you to the western part of Saguaro National Park. National Parks are supposed to be big deals, but this one is upstaged by its spectacular home-grown neighbor, the...

Pros: Amazing scenery, Wide Variety of Animals, Cheap
Cons: None

No trip to Tucson would complete without a trip to the Desert Museum. My parents live in Tucson and I have made several visits. On every single visit I have made the trip out to the Desert Museum. The name is very misleading. It is not a museum, it is a...

Pros: Beautiful, natural home to wildlife and plants of the desert
Cons: I would still rather vacation in Hawaii.

Upon arrival in Tucson, Arizona, I briefly examined my surroundings and immediately decided that rustic desert settings (i.e. cacti, dirt and rocks), while pretty on the short term (for about 10 minutes) bore me to tears in the long run (for any amount...

Pros: Great Wildlife!
Cons: Heat!

One of the highlights about my recent trip across America this last summer was the stop at the Sonora Desert Museum. My family and I pulled into our hotel that hot, summer Monday and asked the clerk about nearby attractions that we could visit. The clerk...

Pros: unique sites, people-friendly, beautiful
Cons: it can be hot in the summer!

We crammed a lot into our week-long stay in Tucson. I have to say this museum was one of the highlights! It is so well planned and easy to see. The botanical offerings are gorgeous. You will enjoy fantastic vistas. Even the drive to the museum is...

Pros: Beautiful, educational, great food, and views, views, views.
Cons: A little pricey, but worth it

I went to the Sonoran Desert Museum for the first time two years ago when we first relocated to Tucson. I have been there many times since, and never get sick of it. I have visited weekdays, weekends, holidays, you name it. There is nothing I hate or...

Pros: Very interesting, lots to see
Cons: Can get crowded

I just recently moved away from Tucson, but I lived there for about 4 years. I always visited the Desert Museum about 3 or 4 times a year.

The Desert Museum has it ALL!! You can see spiders, snakes, rodents, javelina, cats, coyotes, wolves,...

Pros: Pretty much everything
Cons: ?

I live in the Midwest but have alot of family in Arizona--and when ever I visit them, I make sure a trip to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is included. It is a truly educational place--I have always loved the desert but am able to appreciate it even...

Pros: Beautiful, appealing to a wide age range
Cons: Lots of walking, bring water

I wasn't too thrilled about going to a Desert Museum. I mean, having relocated to Tucson, I was surrounded by desert and really thought that my kids (1 and 5) would enjoy some of the other sites in the area much more. But this ended up being our first...

Pros: A lizard lover's paradise!
Cons: Well, it is Arizona!

We were visiting Tucson, and had heard about this from several people and had to go! As most of you who read my opinions know, I am a reptile owner-enthusiast, and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum didn't disappoint! As you first walk up to the...