With the weather finally warming up, we can go outside without freezing or melting because we are entering spring, the perfect weather to go outside and participate in fun activities. But what kind of stuff is there to do in Tucson? Well, for one, there’s the obvious: taking a walk and smelling the aroma of the estimated 3,900 flower species in Tucson, like the desert marigold or brittlebush. With spring being the peak season for almost everything, why not celebrate and enjoy it for a little while after all, it comes only once a year.
But the biggest national park in Tucson spans over 92,000 acres, and Saguaro National Park is the best spot to camp and see the beautiful spring sunsets. But also be careful of rattlesnakes, as we are home to one of the most venomous snakes in the world, the diamondback rattlesnake. Luckily, all ambulances carry anti-venom for that snake. The price to get in is $25 for a private vehicle, for motorcycles its $20, and $15 for pedestrians or bicycles.
The Biosphere 2, in Oracle, has become a tourist attraction for many people. The purpose of the biosphere was to simulate Earth’s environment and how humans could theoretically live in a self-sustained environment on other harsh planets like Mars. Some of these simulated environments include a rain forest, a mangrove system that is currently undergoing renovation, and a coastal fog desert. Tickets can be bought on the Biosphere 2 U of A website, costing $15-29, with kids under four, admission is free.
The Tucson Air and Space Museum features many kinds of retired aircraft, such as an SR-71, also called the Blackbird, one of the fastest manned aircraft, reaching speeds of Mach 3. The B-29, also called the Flying Fortress, is the plane that dropped the bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. It is very easy to spend many hours here with your family, as it features a restaurant and a playground. Because of the current weather, this location is perfect for just walking around and learning about the history of aviation and how planes got to where they are today. Opening at 9 am, tickets start at $22-29 for adults, $19-25 for the elderly, and $20-27 for military veterans.
Don’t stay indoors this spring; go out and enjoy it with your family and friends before the weather gets to 100 degrees and melts you away. Tucson has plenty of things to do that were not listed here; you just have to go out of your usual area and explore around town.
