Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson

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The Desert Museum is one of the unique features of Tucson that you won't find anywhere else in the world. It is barely a museum, but rather really a zoo of Sonoran Desert Animals. This is one of the few places in the world where you can see some really amazing desert creatures, from rattle snakes, to gila monsters, to Javelina (wild desert pig). Not to mention the up close and personal encounter with humming birds and a mountain lion. My daughter is two years old and loved it. We went in late December and it was comfortable, and busy. You do want to get there right when the Museum opens to avoid the lines. Food is available, not great and a little pricey, and it can take you a whole day to see all of the exhibits. We were there for about 3 hours and saw 70% but the little ones ran out of gas. We cruised through a few things that were less interesting to us. They even have an underground cave experience. All in all, I highly recommend this as one of those things you should do if you ever find yourself near Tucson.

Like the desert as a whole, this outdoor museum can be dismissed easily with a quick stroll and exit. However, give yourself some hours to take it in and you'll be rewarded with an appreciation of richness and some insight into the abundant, complex, and varied life in the area. It helps put this special environment in much better context for travellers, beyond tourism. Photo ops are tremendous. My visit in mid-May was prime springtime for extra color.

The grounds are well developed and broken down into various segments with vegetation and associated wildlife. Helpful staff and signs are useful. There are several restaurants and refreshment areas for breaks. I first saw this some 25 years ago. The positive impression from those years ago stayed with me and I found it even more engaging last week. Like other activities in the desert, a morning start is cooler and less demanding. Two aviaries (one for hummingbirds, another for many more kinds of birds) was nice. The 'talk show' featuring live gila monsters and diamondback rattle snakes was well done in a cool comfortable theatre. Spending some time here can give you a different perspective at the vast desert lands of the SW.

Nearby Saguaro catcus reserves were impressive, especially if you think many can be hundreds of years old, in bloom, with an array of arms towering above you. You can easily drive through these areas. Picnic areas are available for the truly heat tolerant. See and be changed!

The Sonoran Desert Museum has been said to be a museum, zoo and botanical gardens in one. There are several indoor museum exhibits about the desert and the animals that live here. The winding paths offer a variety of desert plants that are identified with tags, and you can view many animals that live here in Arizona including the bighorn sheep, bobcats, mountain lions,etc.
The hummingbird gardens were my favorite, this is a great spot to view several different species of hummers living in one confined area. When we were there we could easily see and hear them all around. Another neat thing was that you could see their tiny nests, which would otherwise go unnoticed. There is also an aviary with other Arizona birds that was pretty cool to see, the tangiers were very pretty birds.

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Another important place I wanted to visit but was unable to was the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum. The Museum packs quite a punch with its many different features including a zoo, gardens, trails, a walk-in aviary, ampitheater, education center, museum, eateries, etc. Look for javalinas, coyotes, lizards, prairie dogs, bears, tropical birds, hummingbirds, beavers, long-horn sheep and scores of other animals, birds or amphibians!!

It is a great place if you like to learn about the desert, its wonderful wildlife, the natural geography of the area, and be in the out-of-doors. It's exhibits are so varied, and s's going on special events fill the calendar so check out all that's available for the day you plan to visit.

If all the fresh air and excitement makes you hungry, there are several options for you. "Ironwood Terraces" self-serve grill, open everyday, offers a full menu including children's meals. The Ocotillo Cafe offers fine dining but is open only seasonally for lunch in winter and dinner in Summer on Saturday evenings--Lunch: 11 am to 3 pm from Dec. to April; Dinner: June - August. Check the website for exact dates and times.

Phoebes Coffee Bar and the Cottonwood Snack Shop are open for hot & cold beverages, pastries, sandwiches and ice cream, and other assorted snacks.

There is something here to please everyone and admission fees are reasonable:
$9.50 adults in Summer June - August; $13 Winter September - May
$2.25 kids 6 -12 in Summer; $4.25 Winter. Children under 5 free!

Check website for exact opening times and prices.

It's located at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum's History wall. The current George L. Mountainlion resides with his sister in the mountain habitat at the Museum. Current hours at 7:30 to 5.

By the way, a mountainlion is the largest cat that purrs, so technically it is a small cat 'cause large cats roar rather than purr.

In the Arizona-Sonora Desert museum, there is an animal enclosure of local animales including cougar and birds of prey.

Was surprised to see how rather small in size were two of my favorite animals, the wiley Coyote and speedy Roadrunner bird. Both are the characters of TV cartoon series "The Road Runner" ... peep peep

The scientific name of the Roadrunner is Geococcyx californianuso. Found in the USA Southwestern deserts of Mojave, Sonoran and Chihuahuan. It can attack and eat rattlesnakes and achieve a maximum running speed of 17km/hr.

Enjoyed this amazing open desert museum, walking the trail with different species of thorny, bulbous and flowering cacti species.

There is a walking trail and you can see different groups of water hardy flora grown in close proximity. Many are even flowering in this natural outdoor.

Be carefrul not to allow children running or go hands on with some of the spikey cacti.

Regarding food at the museum, the only picnic area is outside the ASDM, however we came across a couple of restaurants inside.

The 2004 admission for adults in high season was $12. Go early in the day, and avoid walking the trails at mid-day (desert trails have no shade).