The Amerind Foundation is a private anthropological and archaeological museum and research center dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Native American cultures and their histories.  Located in the spectacular Texas Canyon, the Amerind houses one of the finest private collections of Native American art and artifacts in the country. Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10:00a.m. - 4:00p.m. http://www.amerind.org

At Arizona State Museum you experience the vibrant indigenous cultures of Arizona and northern Mexico through exhibitions, educational programs, a research library, and a museum store.  The museum’s scholars and extensive collections are among the most significant resources in the world for the study of Southwestern peoples.  www.statemuseum.arizona.edu

The Arizona History Museum’s focus is southern Arizona history from Spanish colonial through territorial eras. Exhibit topics include mining and transportation. The Arizona’s Treasures exhibit features Geronimo’s rifle and 18th-century Spanish silver artifacts. Long-term and changing exhibits depicting the history of Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico; lectures & free guided tours.   www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a zoo, natural history museum, aquarium, and botanical garden all in one place.  Visitors come from all over the world to walk its beautiful desert paths and explore naturally landscaped live animal exhibits.  www.desertmuseum.org

Kartchner Caverns is a stunning limestone cave that boasts many world-class features that have been protected since the cave was discovered in 1974. Reservations are recommended for all cave tours.  www.azstateparks.com

Saguaro National Park.  Lush desert floor is highlighted by stately Saguaro cactus and scores of smaller trees and shrubs.  Two year-round visitor centers offer museums, films, and helpful personnel and literature.  www.nps.gov/sagu
Saguaro National Park East. 3693 South Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ 85730
Saguaro National Park West. 2700 North Kinney Road, Tucson, AZ 85743 (520)733-5158

Tohono Chul Park.  Walk down the winding nature trail through various gardens tour through the Exhibit Hall in a renovated historic home.  Enjoy breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea in the Tohono Chul Tea Room and shop in the Greenhouse and Museum Shops.  www.tohonochulpark.org

Pima Air and Space Museum. Climb aboard President Kennedy's Air Force One!  Stroll through the past in the World War II Memorial Park or relax during a narrated experience into AMARC, the living Boneyard of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.  Take photographs of unique and rare aircraft or explore outer space in the Challenger Learning Center of the Southwest.  www.pimaair.org

Statue of Pancho Villa.  No visit to Tucson would be complete without seeing the statue of Pancho Villa!  What other city in the US has a statue glorifying a foreign terrorist who invaded the United States and killed American citizens for political reasons?