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Zoo and botanical garden combo by Crzy4AZ The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum was founded in 1952 to inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation, and understanding of the Sonoran Desert. * The museum is a mix of zoo and botanical garden over 21 acres including 230 animal species and 1200 types of plants. You will find an impressive regional mineral collection including 14,000 specimens and 2000 fossils. More recently a small aquarium was added along with art gallery exhibit. The Museum’s double name refers to the Mexican state of Sonora immediately south of Arizona and the relationship to share and exchange research and education programs with our neighbor. There are dozens of ways for children to interact with museum, and you can achieve the status of “Honorary ASDM Animal Tracker” if you locate and stamp all 15 animal tracks at the stations across the Museum. The shaded Fossil Dig exhibit is particularly fun for kids to find dinosaur eggs, claw, footprint, and nose horn. There are two miles of interlocking trails that weave through a natural desert environment and animals are kept as close to visitors as safely possible. Don’t miss the Hummingbird Aviary with eight species of hummingbirds and nectar plants that feed them. Of note the Museum does not sell water bottles; however they have a free cold water fountain at the entrance for refilling your own water bottle. Exhibit areas (from museum brochure):
Dining: Ironwood Terraces: food court, children’s menu Ocotillo Café: fine dining, accepts reservations Phoebe’s Coffee bar: snacks, coffee, ice cream Cottonwood snack shop: soft service ice cream, hand scoop ice cream * Reference: Official website www.desertmuseum.org Check out the Triplogs. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your walk/tour to support this local community.
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WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.
Most recent Triplog Reviews
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
went to the museum with a couple of stewards to watch the raptor free flight. The show is offered at 10am and 2pm during the non summer months. The price is included in the admission fee. They release about 4 different raptors during the show and educate us with information about each raptor. Nice opportunity to practice raptors in flight photography. Morning show did not have many people but 2pm show had attracted huge group. It was very windy and they had decided to show only 2 raptors for the afternoon show. Apparently birds stay away from too much wind and they picked harris hawks and peregrine falcon to show off their use of wind....those guys had lot of fun enjoying the wind. Overall, it was wonderful experience for me. I got to know the museum and 2 stewards. I took photos using my point and shoot method and did not practice my camera skills.
PS: they also have a wonderful hummingbird aviary with cute little nests. Food was amazing in their café. Also have a small aquarium and 2 nice gift shops.
PS: they also have a wonderful hummingbird aviary with cute little nests. Food was amazing in their café. Also have a small aquarium and 2 nice gift shops.
2016-01-31 New2hyk
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Daytrip to Tucson to spend the day at the Museum. George's first time to Tucson. Kids loved the animal tracker guide books and digging for fossils.
Could not believe that the mountain lion was pressed right up against the glass staring at everyone and pacing back and forth. We watched her for a long time!
Got there at 10am and we weren't finished even at 5pm when we had to leave. There was a night event going on that started at 5pm.
Could not believe that the mountain lion was pressed right up against the glass staring at everyone and pacing back and forth. We watched her for a long time!
Got there at 10am and we weren't finished even at 5pm when we had to leave. There was a night event going on that started at 5pm.
2014-03-08 Crzy4AZ
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Daytrip to Tucson to visit the Desert Museum. Amazing weather - perfect amount of wind. We brought our jogging stroller and Caroline enjoyed most of the animals. She saw the black bear and made a growl sound. She saw the mexican wolves and shouted "dog dog" - I guess she's pretty close there. Mountain lions were greeted with "cat cat" and a violent attempt to exit the stroller. The big horned sheep were met with furrowed eyebrows and silence. She made the "sssss" sound when we got to the display with snakes and gila monsters through plexiglass. The bird exhibit had some easy to spot ducks and Caroline laughed as they splashed around and she correctly shouted "duck duck duck".
Her favorite new word is "ouch" and there were plenty of those around!!! Any and all cacti are called ouch appropriately. Even aloe and some yucca she will call "ouch". We fought the crowds for lunch and let her roam around for a while dangerously climbing on rock surfaces with her wobbly 16 month-old gait. Last stop was the hummingbird exhibit (3 nests!) and she did see a few of them and exclaiming "busy bee" - that's her word for all flying or crawling small things with wings.
Her favorite new word is "ouch" and there were plenty of those around!!! Any and all cacti are called ouch appropriately. Even aloe and some yucca she will call "ouch". We fought the crowds for lunch and let her roam around for a while dangerously climbing on rock surfaces with her wobbly 16 month-old gait. Last stop was the hummingbird exhibit (3 nests!) and she did see a few of them and exclaiming "busy bee" - that's her word for all flying or crawling small things with wings.
2010-03-27 Crzy4AZ
