Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Founded in 1952, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum has offered an expansive collection of exhibits featuring live animals in natural desert settings, botanical gardens and educational programs. The museum is dedicated to researching and protecting the harmony of the land, plants, and the animals of the Sonoran Desert region. The exhibits feature more than 300 animal species including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and arthropods.

During your visit you may catch a glimpse of the mountain lions, prairie dogs, bears, skunks, Gila monsters, and many other native animals. You’ll have no trouble at all noticing some of the more than 40,000 plants representing 1,300 different species located through the Museum as you walk through the 2 miles of paths covering the 21-acre desert preserve. Enjoy the beauty of the Sonoran Desert at this Arizona paradise destination.

For a close animal experience, visit on Thursday and take the Walk With A Keeper tour. This special tour gives you a view of the Museum through the eyes of an animal keeper. You’ll get to meet some of the animals that live at the museum including the otter and coati. The tour begins at 10:30 a.m. and lasts about 45 minutes ($25 fee).

Then, check out the live animal presentation of Running Wild! presented every day except Tuesday and Wednesday at 11 a.m. Located in the museum’s Warden Oasis Theater, you’ll see animals interacting and learn all about how the skunks and raccoons coexist in the desert together and why people sometimes find porcupines and pelicans in Tucson. This is a great show for young children—full of good humor and music.

One of the museum’s greatest visual delights is the Raptor Free Flight demonstration held every day from October 24-April 10 at 10:30 a.m. and again at 1:45 p.m. Experience the thrill as these flying birds of prey perform a dynamic demonstration in the open desert. Each show offers a glimpse into the natural habits of various raptor breeds including owls, hawks, falcons, ravens and more.

There is no shortage of delicious meal or snack options at the Sonora Desert Museum. At the Ironwood Terraces, a self-serve casual grill, you’ll find a menu of pizza, burgers, salads, children’s items, wraps and more. Or, try the Ocotillo Café—offering fine dining utilizing fresh and local ingredients with a menu full of authentic regional cuisine including tacos, enchiladas, filet mignon and more. The Ocotillo Café is open seasonally for lunch and in winter and for dinner. Finally, there’s Phoebes Coffee Bar and the Cottonwood Snack Shop—both offer a variety of hot and cold drinks, pastries, sandwiches, ice cream and other snacks.

HelloMetro Tip: You’ll find an abundance of educational programs the Sonora Desert Museum including a range of docent research programs as well as many children’s programs and events. Some of the children’s programs include summer camp, a youth environment summit, junior docent programs and a poetry contest where children write poems about the Sonoran Desert. For more information on current events, research and other programs at the Museum, visit the website and follow on Facebook.
 

- by Jennifer Pruett, Tucson Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Jennifer Pruett

A self proclaimed “queen of everything," Jennifer is a writer, planner and passionate lover of making exciting events extra special. As a creative mother of two she loves art, music, family, friends, exotic cuisine and exploring new areas of self improvement. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal studies from the University of Oklahoma and has been writing restaurant and attraction reviews in the Phoenix Metro area since January, 2009.