Courtesy of Hilton Tucson El Conquistador.
Need a quick weekend escape? Just two hours southeast of Phoenix, the Old Pueblo offers lots of family attractions and makes for an affordable getaway. Here’s our roundup of family-friendly places worth a visit.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
This museum boasts 85 percent of its exhibits are outdoors. The scenic drive to the site—14 miles west of Tucson—is worth the trip as you wind through an impressive display of desert scenery that’s part of Saguaro National Park. The Desert Museum combines the experiences of a botanical garden, zoo, art gallery and natural-history museum all in one visit. There’s even a small aquarium. The day we toured, docents were talking to visitors about owls and tarantulas and letting kids see each up close. We also like the discount for Arizona residents and affordable memberships. Bring water, hats and sunscreen for this excursion, which is best experienced in the early morning or before sunset in the summer.
IF YOU GO: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily March-September. Hours extended to 10 p.m. Saturdays through Sept. 3 for Cool Summer Nights events. $15.50 (Arizona residents), $8 ages 3-12; free ages 2 and younger. 2021 N. Kinney Road, Tucson. 520-883-2702 or desertmuseum.org.
Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures
The charm starts at the gigantic front door—only a corner of which actually opens into the lobby. This “miniature time machine” was built by and for a collector more than for tiny visitors, but it’s a fun foray into miniature worlds, and it was a hit with the many families who stopped by the day we toured. Historical and contemporary dollhouses, an extensive Santa’s village and a giant enchanted tree where a fairy appears all are part of the draw. There are monthly children’s story times (typically on Wednesday mornings) with costumed characters and miniature crafts for kids (free with admission) from 1 to 4 p.m. on the second Saturday each month.
IF YOU GO: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Closed Mondays and major holidays. $9; $6 ages 4-17, free ages 3 and younger. 4455 E. Camp Lowell Drive, Tucson. 520-881-0606 or theminitimemachine.org.
Pima Air & Space Museum
This 80-acre museum, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, features 300 historical aircraft—from a Wright Flyer to a Boeing 787 Dreamliner—plus five exhibit hangars and tram tours of the grounds. It also operates exclusive weekday bus tours of the U.S. military’s only “Boneyard” (technically the 309th Aerospace Regeneration and Maintenance Group) of retired aircraft on the adjacent Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The family-friendly museum hosts Soarin’ Saturdays for Kids, where kids can build model airplanes, experiment with rockets, learn about flight and more. From 5 to 9 p.m. Saturdays July 22 and Aug. 26, the museum hosts affordable Night Wings events ($10; free for kids 12 or younger) with aviation-related kids activities, tours and entertainment.
IF YOU GO: 9 a.m to 5 p.m. daily. $15.50; $9 ages 5-12; free ages 4 and younger. Tram and “Boneyard” tours $4-$7. 6000 E. Valencia Road, Tucson. 520-574-0462 or pimaair.org.
Colossal Cave Mountain Park
Southeast of Tucson, Colossal Cave stays cool on even the hottest days. Hourly tours from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. detail the six-story cave’s history, legends (think bandits and lost gold) and geology as you explore its crystals, stalactites, stalagmites and more. There’s no entrance fee for the park outside the cave, which has a petting zoo, picnic area, riding stables, camp grounds and cafe.
IF YOU GO: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 16721 E. Old Spanish Trail, Vail. $16; $9 ages 5-12; free ages 4 and younger. 520-647-7275 or colossalcave.com.
Children’s Museum Tucson. Photo: Lynn Trimble.
Children’s Museum Tucson
This hands-on museum is geared to children 10 and younger. There’s an art studio, several hands-on science and technology exhibits, a Bodyology wellness area (with giant body parts), a treehouse, farmer’s market and a Wee World area for age 4 and younger. S.T.E.A.M Sundays during the summer feature activities in science, technology, engineering, art and math.
IF YOU GO: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends. $8; free ages 12 months and younger; $3 Sundays through Sept. 4. 200 S. Sixth Ave., Tucson. 520-792-9985 or childrensmuseumtucson.org.
D&D Pinball
This pinball arcade in a warehouse on trendy Fourth Avenue restores pinball machines and hosts tournaments. It’s a fun, affordable family stop, close to shops and restaurants.
IF YOU GO: 1-8 p.m. Wednesday and Sunday, 1-10 p.m. Thursday, 1-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. 331 E. Seventh St., Tucson. 520-777-4969 or danddpinball.com.
Where to stay
If you’re planning to stay for a weekend (or longer), these Tucson resorts offer discounted summer rates and family-friendly amenities:
Hilton Tucson El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Resort
10000 N. Oracle Road, Tucson
520-544-5000 • hiltonelconquistador.com
About: This resort at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains offers newly renovated pools and outdoor amenities. Family-friendly features: Free daily morning fitness classes, poolside games and dive-in movies Friday and Saturday nights. Solar tours Saturday afternoons, and Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum animal encounters on Sunday mornings. Children younger than 5 eat free all summer with the purchase of an adult entree, and kids can take cooking classes with the chef. There’s a fish-shaped kids play pool, a 143-foot waterslide, new outdoor poolside fire pits for s’mores and a Native American flute player nightly. At check-in, guests get a Passport to Summer Savings booklet with special offers and a children’s souvenir book. Summer specials (through Labor Day): Rates start at $109 per night.
JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa
3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd., Tucson
520-792-3500 • marriottstarrpass.com
Family-friendly features: Rising Starr Kids Club for ages 4-12, Blur Teen Lounge for ages 13-19 (offering gaming, movies and more), a lazy river, children’s pool, waterslide and more. Summer specials: Online rates as low as $145 (not including resort fee).
Loews Ventana Canyon
7000 N. Resort Drive, Tucson
520-299-2020 • loewshotels.com/ventana-canyon
Family-friendly features: Loews Loves Kids program offers a welcome gift to kids younger than 10. The Coyote Kid’s Club for ages 4-12 offers desert walks, playground time, back-of-house tours, scavenger hunts, arts and crafts and koi feeding. Family fun includes dive-in movies, pool games, ping-pong, tiny tots/junior tennis, guided nature walks and stargazing. Summer specials (through Thursday, Sept. 1): Ventana Adventure Package includes a $50 daily resort credit and Passport book with discounts throughout the property starting at $139 per night.
Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa
245 E. Ina Road, Tucson
520-297-1151 • westwardlook.com
About: This 80-acre resort at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains dates to the early 1900s.
Family-friendly features: On-site hiking and nature trails. Biking trails, bike rentals, horseback riding (on-site stables), basketball, tennis, volleyball and horseshoes. Family activities at the main pool include contests, dive-in movies and such game stations as corn hole, ping-pong, board games, foosball and billiards. Summer specials (through Thursday, Sept. 8): Play Your Way rates from $99 with free breakfast for two adults; kids younger than 12 eat free. Resort fee has also been reduced to $10.