Tucson is a wonderful place to have guests, because there are so many fun things to do in and around the city. From incredible museums to awesome hiking trails, Tucson has is all and this guide will help you find some of the best. If you’ve got guests coming and you want to show them what a great city this is, you have come to the right place.

Catalina State Park
This 5,500 acre high desert park at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains is home to a wide range of desert plants and wildlife. It’s a great place for camping, picnicking, and bird watching. In fact, more than 150 species of birds inhibit the park. There’s also an equestrian center, which provides a staging area for trail riders and trailer parking. Catalina State Park is a few miles north of Tucson’s city limits off State Route 77.
Cost: Free
Park Phone Number: (520) 628-5798

Sabino Canyon
Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountain range, Sabino Canyon hosts hordes of people every day who go there for a dose of peace and quiet. Between its huge canyon walls lie sparkling swimming holes and a diverse population of plants and wildlife. It’s definitely a nice retreat from the city on a hot day.
Cost: Free (Although tram rides are available for around $6 for adults and $2.50 for kids)
Visitor’s Center: (520) 749-2861

Tucson Mountain Park
Much of the Tucson Mountains is included in this park, which is home to saguaro and other desert plants. There are picnic areas, hiking and riding trails, and a campground. The park is about 8 miles west of the downtown district on Speedway Blvd. To get there, take Speedway Boulevard west of f of I-10, and continue through Gates Pass Road. This road is very curvy and not a good option for those who get carsick easily. An alternative route is south of downtown off Ajo Way going west from Mission Road. Turn right on Kinney Road, and from there you will have a smooth ride.
Cost: Free
Park Phone Number: (520) 740-2690

Rillito River Park
The Rillito (pronounced ree-EAT-oh) River Park is a great place for running, jogging, bike riding, walking, in-line skating and even horseback riding. The park runs along the Rillito riverbed and is approximately 3 miles long. It’s a great place to enjoy the outdoors that’s right in town. Keep in mind that cyclists and in-line skaters may only use the north bank, while horseback riders may only use the south bank. Walkers and joggers may use either. Also, the riverbed is a great place to let dogs run freely, as there are tall cement walls on either side. The park is located from Campbell Avenue to Flowing Wells Road.
Cost: Free

Santa Cruz River Park
This park runs from Grant Road south through the urban area around Congress Street and ends at Irvington Road. There are playgrounds, ramadas, picnic tables, water fountains and restrooms throughout the park. Also, there is a great exercise course near Congress Street to get a workout in. This park is home to Tucson’s largest tree – a eucalyptus that is 4 feet in diameter. Open from sunrise to sunset.
Cost: Free

Barrio Historico
The Barrio Historic District, just south of Cushing Street and the Tucson Convention Center, dates from the mid 1850s. It contains the largest and best collection of old adobes in the West. It is also home to the Cushing Street Bar and Restaurant, named for Army hero Howard Cushing. The building combines the original Joseph Ferrin home and country store, built in the 1880s. El Tiradito, or commonly known as the Wishing Shrine I at the corner of Simpson and Main Streets and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Cost: Free

Campbell Road
If you want to give your guests a bird’s eye view of the city, take a drive up Campbell heading north. If you follow the road to the end, you are in store for a wonderful view of Tucson from the foothills. It’s a great photo spot, and there are daytime parking spots if you want to get out and enjoy the view. It’s also quite a spectacular view at night.
Cost: Free

Tohono Chul Park
Tohono Chul Park is a 49-acre desert preserve located in the midst of an ever-growing urban area in northwest Tucson. Take a walk down the winding nature trail through the various gardens, tour through the Exhibit Hall in a renovated historic home, enjoy breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea in the Tea Room and shop in the Greenhouse and Museum Shops.
Cost: $2.00 Donation
Phone: (520) 742-6455

Saguaro National Park
This is a great place for scenic drives, bird watching, photography, hiking, and participating in guided walks. There are visitor centers that are staffed and offer slide shows, museums, cactus gardens, and a sales outlet.
Cost: $4.00 admission fee per car
Visitor Center/Information: (520) 733-5153

Tucson Botanical Gardens
Take a walk in the garden, right smack dab in the middle of Tucson. Here you can take guided and self-tours of the gardens and enjoy the picnic area, gift shop and library. There is even a nursery that specializes in low-water-use plants and holds Spring and Fall Plant Sales.
Cost: Admission for non-members is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors (62 and over) and $1 for children 6 to 11. Children 5 and under and TBG members are free.
Hours are: 8:30 A.M.-4:30 P.M.
Phone: (520) 326-9686

Reid Park Zoo/Reid Park
Reid Park Zoo, spanning 17 acres and home to over 500 exotic animals, is involved in captive breeding programs for several threatened and endangered species, including: small clawed otter, Siberian tiger, white rhinoceros, Grevy’s zebra, lion tailed macaque, Bali mynah, ruffed lemur and others. The Zoo also provides a snack bar and gift shop. Reid Park, Tucson’s premier park, houses picnic ramadas, swimming pools, tennis courts, horseshoe pits, the community bandshell, a formal rose garden, two 18 hole golf courses, and of course, the Reid Park Zoo.
Cost (Reid Park Zoo): 15 years and up $4.00; 5-14 years $0.75; 62 years and up $3.00; Under 5 years FREE
24-Hour Recorded Information Line: (520) 791-4022

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, all in one place. As you wander the desert paths, you’ll encounter Gila monsters, hummingbirds, boojums and more. There’s even a mineral museum here. If your guests have a wide variety of interests, this is an excellent place to take them. Be sure to allow yourself at least three hours to explore the museum, as there are so many sights to take in
Cost: Adults (age 13 & older) $9.95 ($8.95 May through October); Children (ages 6-12) $1.75; Children (under 6) Free Admission
Phone: (520) 883-1380

Go Fishing
Did you know there are urban fishing lakes in Tucson? That’s right, these lakes are regularly stocked with trout from November through early March and catfish from late March through October. The trout average a third of a pound, while the catfish are about 11/2 pounds. Tucson’s Kennedy (La Cholla Boulevard and Mission Road), Silverbell (Camino del Cerro and Grant Roads) and Lakeside (northwest corner of Stella Road and Sarnoff Drive) lakes are all open for urban fishing
Cost: $12 urban fishing license; $8 day license; Kids under 14 are free
More Details: (520) 791-4873

Old Tucson Studios
While a little more expensive then other activities, a visit to this Wild West town is sure to entertain your guests. It started out in 1939 as an elaborate set for Arizona and eventually turned into a frontier town replica open to the public. It’s still used for television and movies, and who knows, maybe you will catch a movie in the making. Activities include: gunfights, stagecoach rides, saloon shows, gold panning, amusement rides, petting farms, magic shows, restaurants and gift shops.
Cost: $14.95 adults; $9.45 children (4-11); 3 and under free (Note: find discount coupons at Tucson Convention Center and Visitors Bureau, some grocery stores and banks)
Phone: (520) 883-0100