favorite outdoor activities in tucson, az; things to do in tucson with kids
saguaros and mountains of tucson, az
we traveled to tucson for one reason: saguaro national park. but what we found was an incredible city, brimming with activities for any kind of traveler. we ended up spending a couple extra days outside of the national park to explore some of the other outdoor attractions and were so glad we did. the natural beauty of arizona is undeniable, so we prioritized outdoor activities in tucson. here are a few of the family-friendly activities in tucson that we enjoyed!
raptor free flight at arizona-sonora desert museum
the arizona-sonora desert museum came highly recommended by several fellow travelers - specifically, the raptor free flight. the desert museum is a combined zoo and botanic garden, along with an aquarium (you can even pet stingrays!), history museum and art gallery. the grounds are quite large, so expect a lot of walking. (i cannot speak to accessibility of the entire experience, but paths throughout are well-paved with some meandering and elevation changes.) in addition to the raptors, we thoroughly enjoyed the javelinas and the cactus garden.
onto the birds! the raptor free flight is a sort of recess time for native sonoran birds of prey. the birds are completely untethered and are free to stretch their wings. the program is very educational and extremely entertaining! and when i tell you these birds get close, I mean they get CLOSE. they literally graze guests as they fly back and forth over guests. at one point, kiddo threw himself on the ground because one of the birds came right at my head! obviously these birds have razor-sharp senses and will not actually hit any guests, but it’s worth noting they get extremely close. (sweating emoji here - lol!)
it’s recommended you arrive at least 20 minutes before the start of the show, but i’d encourage getting to the desert museum at least 30 minutes in advance. it takes some time to get to the flying area and you’ll find plenty of other eager guests waiting in line! while the raptor show was definitely a highlight of entire trip, the rest of the desert museum is fabulous. it’s worth planning for a couple hours post-show to explore all the various attractions and learn about the sonoran desert along the way. this is definitely a memorable experience for kids in tucson!
a crested caracara in its sonoran habitat
sweetwater preserve
the sweetwater preserve is nearly 900 acres of incredible desert wildness in west tucson. there are over 15 miles of trails to explore for hikers and equestrians. the area is also very popular for mountain biking and includes trails for beginner and intermediate riders. trails range from 0.4 to 2.6 miles and can be combined any which way to create the distance that works best for you.
from the trailhead, the black rock loop trail is 4.6 miles and takes you through some incredible saguaro stands. for a more challenging trek, try the 7.1 mile saguaro vista, black rock, homestead and oxbow trail. and for a shorter hike try the saguaro vista, lost arrow, spine and wildflower ridge loop, which is 2.5 miles.
tucson botanical gardens
the tucson botanical gardens are a great place to explore and feature a butterfly pavilion that allows guests to interact with the butterflies! there are more than a dozen gardens to pique the interests of young and old, alike, including a native american crops garden, a children’s garden, a bird garden, and more. there’s also a desert tortoise that lives on the grounds! kiddo especially loved the zen garden, which was both a great sensory break and sensory engaging for kiddos who enjoy those features. and though not native, i always appreciate the rose and iris gardens.
the gardens also host a number of fantastic art exhibits and events. we explored the galleries and also enjoyed the festival of illumination, a holiday lights show.
kiddo hikes a trail in saguaro national park
saguaro national park
this one is obvious for any outdoors lover! check out this blog post which includes our itineraries for 2 days in saguaro national park and 1 day in saguaro national park. it’s worth noting the park has east and west sides, which are completely disconnected and about an hour’s drive apart. you could certainly visit both parks in a single day, but i’d recommend one day for each side so you can really enjoy and explore the unique ecosystems.
tucson is a very family friendly destination full of cultural and outdoor activities for all ages. we highly recommend a visit and hope this list gives you some great ideas to go out wild and explore the beauty of tucson’s sonoran desert.
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