100 Things To Do in Tucson & Arizona
The Arizona Centennial Commemoration will be a statewide, multi-year observation, with events and projects taking place from 2010 through 2012 in communities across the state. To help celebrate Arizona's Centennial, here is a list of 100 great things to do in Tucson and Arizona. To find out more about the Centennial, be sure to visit our BestFest page, as well as the official AZ100Years website.
| Company Name | Phone Number |
| 2nd Saturdays Downtown | |
It's a shopping trip, an art walk, a night of entertainment, and a Tucson happening that celebrates … | |
| A Higher Elevation | |
| Experience Tucson and Southern Arizona from a different perspective; The peaceful height of a hot … | |
| A Mountain | |
| Perhaps Tucson's most notable, or should we say most easily noted, landmark is "A" Mountain. Rising … | |
| Agua Caliente Park | |
| Some call it "Tucson's best-kept secret." Pima County manages this park, which was once part of … | |
| Amado Territory Inn | |
| This enclave of shops, eateries, and galleries within the small town of Amado offers a scenic slice … | |
| Arizona Trail (the) | |
Hike, bike, horseback ride, or cross-country ski on 800 miles of interconnecting trails through … | |
| Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum | |
| Wandering through this living museum is like taking an enchanted walk through the desert—with no … | |
| Art Scene | |
| Tired of paging through different websites for upcoming local events and performances? Find it … | |
| Arte Aeropuerto | |
| The first taste of Tucson many visitors get is Tucson International Airport—and while it may seem … | |
| Bead It | |
| Beads date all the way back to prehistoric times. Many ancient cultures used beads to denote wealth … | |
| Beat the Heat | |
| Get out of the desert heat with a short, scenic, 30-mile drive and experience 30-degree cooler … | |
| Biosphere | |
| Experience the University of Arizona's Biosphere 2 and see for yourself why Time Life Books recently … | |
| Bisbee Arizona | |
| When you visit this old mining-town-turned-artists'-enclave, you'll understand why people speak … | |
| Book Browsing | |
| What better activity for a bibliophile than browsing through Tucson's independent bookstores? The … | |
| Boyce Thompson Arboretum | |
| In 1927, William Boyce Thompson established this arboretum near Superior (11/2 hours north of Tucson) … | |
| Casino Fun | |
You can bet Tucson has its share of casinos. Desert Diamond Casino & Hotel, owned and operated … | |
| Catalina State Park | |
| Just 12 miles north of Tucson on Oracle Rd. (AZ Hwy. 77), this park offers the best views of the … | |
| Caves & Caverns | |
Cave explorers of all ages and abilities can have a field day in Arizona. | |
| DeGrazia Gallery | |
| Many works by one of Tucson's most famous artists, Ted DeGrazia, are housed in DeGrazia Gallery … | |
| Derby or Die | |
| Tough women dominate at the Tucson Roller Derby as teams like the Furious Truckstop Waitresses … | |
| Desert Greens | |
Find an urban oasis near you! Tucson Botanical Gardens (2150 N. Alvernon Way, 520-326-9686, … | |
| Dinner and a Show | |
| Looking to add a little drama or mystery to your dinner out? Check out this Tucson theater that … | |
| Downtown Divas | |
Two historic theaters reign as the grandes dames of Tucson's city center. The refurbished Fox … | |
| Exploring Biosphere2 | |
| The University of Arizona Biosphere 2 currently serves as a laboratory for controlled scientific … | |
| Flam Chen | |
| Balinese fire chains, flaming swords, fire eating, and a flying trapeze—just another performance … | |
| From Apples to Zucchini | |
| If you're a stickler for fresh foods, fresh air, and friendly faces, a farmers market may be just … | |
| Frybread | |
| An initiation to the Southwest, this puffy delight can be found smothered in honey or savory toppings … | |
| Gadsden-Pacific Toy Train Operating Museum | |
Toy-train aficionados will want to make a stop at the Gadsden-Pacific Division Toy Train Operating … | |
| Garden of Gethsemane | |
| In return for prayers answered during World War I, Tucsonan Felix Lucero began work on sculptures … | |
| Gates Pass | |
| A winding uphill drive west on Speedway Blvd. (which becomes Gates Pass Rd.) brings you, at its … | |
| Gold Panning | |
| Do it just like the original gold diggers—dry washing, kneeling in running streambeds, or digging … | |
| Grand Canyon | |
| Drive about 6 hours through some of the nation's most memorable countryside, and you'll be at one … | |
| Hannagan Meadow | |
| This grassy meadow area surrounded by fir and spruce on the eastern border of the state is a great … | |
| Historical Museums | |
| Just northeast of the Main Gate of the U of A campus, the Arizona State Museum exhibits pottery, … | |
| Hop on the Trolley | |
| Take a step back in time with a trolley ride from University Blvd.'s Main Gate Square, through … | |
| International Wildlife Museum | |
| This natural history museum features more than 400 displays of mammals, birds, and insects from … | |
| La Encantada | |
| For some of Tucson's premier upscale boutiques, national retailers, and unparalleled mountain and … | |
| Laughs Galore | |
| Prepare for side-splitting entertainment at Laffs Comedy Caffé, featuring nationally known comics. … | |
| Let's Bowl | |
| If you're wondering where the action is, try a little moonlight, a little music—and the crack of … | |
| Lights, Camera, Action! | |
| 3:10 to Yuma, 1957. Tin Cup, 1996. Traffic, 2000. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, 2008. What … | |
| Lingering Evenings Outdoors | |
| Warm night air, the scent of orange blossoms, stirring sunsets, dark starry skies—we don't advertise … | |
| Live Music | |
| Ready to boogie to the blues, honky-tonk, two-step, twist and shout, ride the soul train, or jazz … | |
| Live Theater | |
| All dressed up with no place to go? Try Southern Arizona's many antidotes—musicals, comedies, dramas, … | |
| Local Authors | |
| For a spine-tingling thriller, check out J. A. Jance's latest novel, Fatal Error. Several U of … | |
| Main Gate Square | |
| Searching for some U of A gear—a hat, T-shirt, or maybe a pair of Wildcat flip-flops? Find collegiate … | |
| Mariachi Music | |
| Mariachi is a music born of many influences, including modern radio. The instruments, clothes, … | |
| Meet Me at Maynards | |
| Get lost in downtown with 200 new friends during this weekly 3-mile walk/run. It's noncompetitive, … | |
| Mexican Food | |
| Carne asada, salsa, tortillas, pollo asado—the names alone tempt your palate. The tastes are as … | |
| Microbreweries | |
| Should you find that the freshness date on your can of beer has already passed, why not have a … | |
| Mission San Xavier del Bac | |
| Called "the White Dove of the Desert," the San Xavier del Bac mission was founded by Father Eusebio … | |
| Muleshoe Ranch | |
| Join the ranks of outlaws, settlers, ranchers, ecologists, coatimundis, javelina, mule deer, hummingbirds, … | |
| Museums of Fine Art | |
| The permanent collection of The University of Arizona Museum of Art includes Spanish and Renaissance … | |
| Musical Arts | |
| The Tucson Symphony Orchestra, under Music Director and Conductor George Hanson, continues to delight … | |
| Narrated Tours | |
| Here's a great way to get a quick orientation to the city and Southern Arizona—contact one of Tucson's … | |
| Off-Road Adventures | |
| Get off the highway and take a look at what you've been speeding past. Off-road Hummer and Jeep … | |
| Old Towne Artisans | |
| In the historic Presidio district, Old Town Artisans (201 N. Court Ave., 520-623-6024) is a haven … | |
| On a Roll - Tucson Sushi | |
| Sushi—a Japanese treasure—has found fans in Tucson and all around the world. A few tips to remember … | |
| Organ Pipe National Monument | |
| This takes some driving—168 miles of it—but it's worth it. AZ Hwy. 86 will take you west to the … | |
| Patagonia | |
| Consider a daytrip to the eclectic town of Patagonia, where you'll find interesting galleries, … | |
| Phone Line Hiking Trail | |
| Following the route of an old phone line that went up the mountain to the Palisades Ranger Station, … | |
| Photography Center | |
| Established in 1975, the U of A Center for Creative Photography is one of the finest institutions … | |
| Pima Air and Space Museum | |
| One of the largest collections of historic aircraft in the US is at the Pima Air & Space Museum. … | |
| Pima County Fair | |
| Southern Arizona's plumpest chickens, award-winning pigs and cows, cotton candy, carnival rides, … | |
| Play Ball! | |
| Triple-A baseball began in Tucson in 1969 and continued until the Sidewinders left in 2008. After … | |
| Play Hard | |
| Sometimes Frisbee in the park just doesn't get the adrenaline flowing. For those times, Tucson … | |
| Posture Perfect | |
| In the fast-paced world we live in, it makes sense that yoga has become increasingly popular as … | |
| Rattlesnake Bridge | |
| With shiny fangs and a winding tail, a huge diamondback rattlesnake serves as a bicycle and pedestrian … | |
| Reid Park Rose Garden | |
| Hundreds of rosebushes—from old-fashioned specimens to the newest all-American varieties—have brought … | |
| Reid Park Zoo | |
| If you see a young giraffe learning to run across an open field; a polar bear taking a plunge; … | |
| Ride into the Sunset | |
| Saddle up and ride through the land that inspires cowboys to write poetry. Guests of White Stallion … | |
| Sabino Canyon | |
| Enjoy narrated tours through the place where mammoths roamed, ancient Hohokam people made irrigation … | |
| Sanctuary Cove | |
| The desert and serenity go hand-in-hand. Something about the quiet, the vegetation, and the blissful … | |
| See the Lights of Tucson | |
| Drive north of River Rd. on Campbell Ave. When you reach Skyline/Sunrise Dr., head either east … | |
| Skydiving | |
| If your life is too rooted in the practical and mundane, skydiving centers around Tucson are ready … | |
| Some Like it Hot | |
| For authentic Mexican food, beautiful scenery, and some of the hottest salsa in the Southwest, … | |
| Sonoita & Elgin | |
| Wineries, fine dining, and charming B&Bs are hallmarks of the Sonoita/Elgin experience. The picturesque … | |
| Spiritual Shopping | |
| Kachinas, carved and painted figures called tihu by the Hopi, a Native American tribe from northern … | |
| St. Augustine Cathedral | |
| Built in 1896 and refurbished in 1968, the cathedral's high interior, tall narrow windows, and … | |
| Stargazing | |
| Southern Arizona is an astronomer's delight and home to some of the most prestigious observatories … | |
| Sunday Brunch | |
| When Sunday rolls around, pamper yourself with the luxury of brunch at one of Tucson's world-class … | |
| Sunrise | |
| Sunsets are spectacular; sunrises are for meditative moods. Watch the Santa Catalinas as the first … | |
| Sweet Treats | |
| Indulge at local patisseries that whip up decadent desserts in dozens of fanciful flavors. Red … | |
| Tee it Up! | |
| Visitors to Tucson spend more time and money on golf than on any other form of recreation. And … | |
| These Hikes Get Your Goat | |
| Southern Arizona is a hiker's paradise, but many people are daunted by the idea of navigating a … | |
| Tiny Treasures | |
| Let Caitlin, The Mini-Time Machine Museum of Miniatures' wee resident fairy, guide you through … | |
| Titan Missile Museum | |
| A sure bet for family fun is the partly underground tour at the Titan Missile Museum. You can see … | |
| Tombstone | |
| About 70 miles southeast of Tucson is the "town too tough to die," where Doc Holliday and Wyatt … | |
| Trail Dust Town | |
| This collection of shops and eateries is a little slice of the 19th-century West, with boardwalks, … | |
| Tubac & Tumacacori | |
| Situated 45 miles south of Tucson off I-19, Tubac was once the site of a Spanish presidio established … | |
| Tucson Chinese Cultural Center | |
| Situated at La Cañada Dr. and River Rd., the 15,000-square-foot Chinese Cultural Center serves … | |
| Tucson Mountain Park | |
| More than 22,000 acres of lush Sonoran desert and mountains, offering astounding sunsets, numerous … | |
| Tucson Originals Restaurants | |
| Hungry? Why not try something different and head to one of the independently owned restaurants … | |
| Tucson Portrait Project | |
| View a marker of Tucson’s history as you walk through the Fourth Avenue Underpass and into downtown. … | |
| Tucson Real Deals | |
| Looking for a real deal at Tucson hotels, resorts, restaurants, and attractions? Enjoy discounted … | |
| U of A Softball | |
| They won the NCAA Division 1 championship in 1991, 93, 94, 96, 97, 01, 06, and 07. You'll want … | |
| UA Presents | |
| The University of Arizona's performing arts series brings leading artists from around the world … | |
| Vintage Clothes | |
| One prominent visitor called Tucson "the used-clothes capital of the United States," and anyone … | |
| Walk the Presidio Trail | |
| Head downtown to explore Tucson's historical landmarks on this self-guided walking tour. The 2.5-mile … | |
| Wilcox Museums | |
| Nearby Willcox, birthplace of the late Western film and singing legend Rex Allen, now honors him … | |
| Wishing Shrine | |
| A love triangle, broken hearts, and a crime of passion are all pieces of the intriguing legend … |
