5 Fun Things to do in Tucson

Tucson Botanical Gardens

Take a day to enjoy the sunny Arizona weather and learn more about the local plant life during a stroll through the Tucson Botanical Gardens. The Gardens feature flora native to the Sonoran desert, such as cacti and wildflowers, as well as a Native American crops garden and an herb garden. Exotic plants are featured in the Australian garden, and the Zen garden offers a relaxing place to meditate.

Learn about the sustainable methods used to make this piece of desert land flourish, from rainwater harvesting to composting. Take a tour to learn about the history of the gardens or the butterflies and birds that inhabit the grounds. One of the most beautiful and fun things to do in Tucson, this oasis is a place you don't want to miss.

Old Tucson Studios

For a rip-roarin' journey through time back to the Old West, check out the Old Tucson Studios. Used in more than 300 Westerns since being built for the movie, "Arizona," this movie set is now an attraction for anyone eager to live like John Wayne. Watch gunslingers battle it out, take in a musical number performed by can-can dancing saloon girls, or haggle with a snake oil salesman.

Visitors to the Old Tucson Story Museum can see the costumes worn by movie and television stars in these streets over the years, and kids will enjoy taking a ride on the locomotives chugging through town. This is one fun thing to do in Tucson that the whole family will enjoy.

Tumamoc Hill

One of the most fun things to do in Tucson that will leave you breathless (because of the view, not the climb) is hiking up Tumamoc Hill. Sloping up over 700 feet to the top, the summit of this hill offers amazing views of the surrounding landscape, so be sure to bring your camera. The hill's 860 acre ecological reservation is a United States National Historical Landmark where visitors can study the natural ecosystems of the area, and history buffs will love the 2300-year-old ruined village that sits atop the hill.

The Mini-Time Machine Museum of Miniatures

One of the biggest hits among visitors to Tucson is this museum of tiny villages. Featuring over 275 miniature houses and collectables, including miniatures from artists all over the world, this museum is sure to captivate the imagination of the child in everyone.

Discover the fairy castles and woodland creatures of the Enchanted Realm, or take a trip through mini-time in the History and Antiques Gallery, which features one of the oldest miniature houses in the United States. This miniatures collection is sure to leave a huge impression on any visitor's idea of fun things to do in Tucson.

Tucson Museum of Art

A visit to the city's art museum is one of the most educational and fun things to do in Tucson. Sprawling over an entire city block in the heart of historic downtown, this museum houses permanent collections that focus on locally-produced pieces, as well as rotating exhibitions.

Visit the Art of the American West wing to see works by Native American and Euro-American artists that are uniquely inspired by life in the Southwest, or examine the nearly 2,000 works included in the Art of Latin America wing, some dating all the way back to 500 B.C. More current artists are represented in the Modern and Contemporary Art section, which features internationally-renowned artists like Jasper Johns and Chuck Close. No itinerary of fun things to do in Tucson would be complete without a visit to this cultural hotspot.

For another great thing to do in Tucson, check out Sabino Canyon.