In a valley hemmed in by mountains and saguaro, Arizona's second-largest city blends American Indian, Spanish, Mexican and Anglo traditions. Tucson is a great place for budget travelers because of its unique scenery and history. You can explore the one-of-a-kind landscape full of saguaro cacti, colorful desert flora, and an unbelievable array of wildlife instead.
If you're looking for free things to do in Tucson, we have ten of the best attractions to start with, plus five not-quite-free but budget friendly attractions to check out, too.
From the dusty desert floor 8 miles south of Tucson, you can see the white towers of this mission. The white dove of the desert was built in the 1700s in a blend of Moorish, Byzantine and Mexican Renaissance styles. One of the best-preserved and most beautiful Spanish missions in the country was restored with the help of experts from the Vatican.
The mission's history is explained in a museum. Docent tours on Mondays to Saturdays add context. The website has times for tours. There are American Indians in the parking lot.
Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.The exhibits at the CCP are of the highest caliber. The archives of the best-regarded landscape photographer in American history are administered by it.
A wall-to-wall mosaic of about 7000 Tucsonian faces is a testament to the diversity of the city. The underpass is where 4th Ave ducks under the railway line. You can look at the panels on the internet.
The neighborhood was an important business district in the 19th century. The Barrio is home to funky shops and galleries that are begging to be photographed. Don't forget El Tiradito while you are here. The shrine to a local killed by his father-in-law when he fell for his mother-in-law is located in Tucson's Barrio Histrico.
Tucson has an amazing art museum. The permanent exhibition of pre-Columbian artifacts will awaken your inner Indiana Jones, and there's a decent collection of American, Latin American and modern art. The block surrounding the building is home to a number of notable historic homes. Admission is free on the first Thursday of the month.
The Southern Arizona transportation museum is located in the Southern Pacific Railroad depot and is perfect for families with train-obsessed kids. There are statues of "Doc" Holiday and "Wyatt Earp" who avenged the attack on the OK Coral in Arizona. The kind of steam engine that connected Tucson to far-flung western towns from New Orleans to Portland Oregon is still in use today.
This three mile hike has moderate elevation gain and is surrounded by flowers in the spring. Tumamoc Hill is on University of Arizona property, so it is open from 4am to 10pm. You can refill your water bottle on site.
2nd Saturdays is a free family-friendly music festival that takes place on the second Saturday of the month in downtown Tucson. There are street performers and musicians.
The Tucson Museum of Art is located in a low-key neighborhood that embraces the site of the original Spanish fort. One of the oldest continuously inhabited places in North America is the Spanish fort of San Augustn del Tucson, which was built over the Hohokam site.
In addition to Tucson's free attractions, there are even more that give you a lot of bang for your buck. Some of the city's best galleries, state parks, national forests, and more can be accessed for a small fee. Some of the best attractions are also included.
DeGrazia's Gallery in the Sun has hosted both regional art and the work of artist Ted DeGrazia. There are six permanent collections of paintings that trace historical events and native cultures of the Southwest in the gallery. The artwork is worth seeing and the setting is pure Tucson. The Gallery in the Sun was built on 10 acres. It is surrounded by indigenous plants and built with the help of local Indigenous people. Children under the age of 12 are free.
One of the city's favorites is the state park in the Santa Catalina Mountains, which has a day use area, campgrounds, hiking, biking and horse trails. There is an opportunity to learn more about the people who lived here 1,500 years ago. There are a number of easy one mile hikes that are easy to get to.
There are lots of hands-on exhibits at the Tucson Children's Museum, which parents rave about. On the third of each month, admission is $3.
It's worth a visit to Sabino Canyon in the nice weather. You can take a narrated hop-on, hop-off tram tour along the Sabino Canyon Trail, which leaves every half hour from the visitor center at the main car park. The sun hides in the canyon walls in the afternoon. If you want to visit Sabino Canyon, you will have to purchase a Coronado Recreation Pass, which costs $8 for the day, $10 for the week, or $40 a year.
In this desert playground, an entire cactus army of seguros is protected. The park is divided into two parts: the east and the west. If you only visit one of the sections, you'll get a good look at the desert flora. There is a weekly pass for the park.
There is a national forest north of Tucson. The view from the summit of Rincon Peak is amazing, but it is 16 miles out and back. The only paved road that reaches the upper reaches of the Santa Catalina Range is Mt Lemmon Highway, and it's a great place to see birds. The entry fees are per day or week.
The university's impressive museum displays 500 years of European and American creativity. The permanent collection features some of the greatest artists of the 20th century. Kids are free and admission is $8 for adults.
Also, you may like it.
You can get a taste of Tucson's Unesco-recognized food scene.
The article was last updated about 3 hours ago.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
