The three-acre cactus garden at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum features cacti and other succulents from all over the Western Hemisphere.
The legendary Biosphere 2 facility is now operated by the UA.
The 24-inch telescope was installed in the newly remodeled dome at the Mt Lemmon. SkyCenter in April 2008.
There is a place where can you view art and photography from prominent photographers and artists, see and learn about the Great Trees of Arizona and attend a locally made production of a Broadway musical.
It’s called The University of Arizona, and for southern Arizona residents and travelers, it is all within your reach.
This summer, as gas prices continue to rise along with the cost of air travel, many would-be travelers are staying close to home.
That could be a good thing because the UA – known around the world for its research, education and outreach program – is home to a bevy of local tourist attractions.
Consider this three-day schedule:
Day One: Take the family or a group of friends and head to the UA’s Boyce Thompson Arboretum, one of the state’s oldest and largest botanical gardens, featuring trails, a three-acre cactus garden, an herb garden, a human-made reservoir and rotating exhibits. The arboretum is about a one-hour drive due east of Phoenix, which makes it an excellent option for a day trip.
Day Two: Wake up early and head to campus for a self-walking tour – and some light exercise – while the temperatures are still moderate. Take a plant walk or look at some of the Great Trees of Arizona and the Heritage Trees in various parts of campus. Many of them are the largest and most unique trees in the Southwest.
After the tour, cool off at the Center for Creative Photography or UA Museum of Art, both of which have rotating and permanent exhibits. While at the Center for Creative Photography, be sure to ask to look at the collection of works by renowned American photographer Ansel Adams.
Day Three: Toward the late afternoon, visit the UA Poetry Center, home to one of the largest collections of contemporary poetry in the country – with more than 60,000 items, including books, journals, photographs and recordings. Then wrap up your mini-vacation by taking the family to the Tucson Children’s Museum where Phoenix Mars Mission staff will host one-hour, hands-on activities at every Monday at 5 p.m. through Aug. 4.
If that schedule doesn’t quite fit what you’re looking for, here is a list of other options:
ATTRACTIONS
Biosphere 2: The iconic facility in Oracle, Ariz. is now managed by the UA. B2 Science Saturday summer events begin at 10 a.m. in the Biosphere 2 Visitor Center. These special summer events are designed to give visitors a hands-on experience in science.
Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter: The newly-introduced SkyCenter is located on Mount Lemmon and leads groups and individuals through evening observing programs. The SkyCenter will also offer new astronomy and science camps for adults, youth, educators and students, as well as workshops on topics ranging from how to use a telescope to tree-ring science.
Arizona State Museum: The Smithsonian Institution-affiliate is the oldest and largest anthropology museum in the Southwest.
UA Museum of Art: Five summer exhibitions will be held, running through September, and will feature 19th and 20th century sculpture highlights from the museum’s permanent collections, abstract works, works by members of the American Photorealist movement, The Portrait in America series and landscapes.
Phoenix Mission Science Operations Center: Members of the public are invited to make reservations for one-hour visits to the mission control facility for the Phoenix Mars Mission. Individuals and groups are welcome. Tours are held on Wednesdays throughout the day and include interactive exhibits, activities and an update about the mission.
The International Collection of Children's and Adolescent Literature: Housed in the Education building, the collection is one of the world’s largest of its kind.
UA Poetry Center: The UA Poetry Center features one of the largest collections of contemporary poetry in the country, with more than 60,000 items, including books, journals, photographs and recordings.
Campus Arboretum: The UA is home to scores of unique plants from arid and semi-arid climates around the world and many trees on campus are the largest specimens in Arizona.
Center for Creative Photography: The center has an ongoing exhibit featuring the work of Ansel Adams. The exhibit draws from the center’s extensive archive of Adams’ work and periodically rotate prints that are in and out of that exhibit.
EVENTS
ONGOING EVENTS
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