Vacation Ideas: The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson, Arizona

nThe Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is located at 2021 North Kinney Road, in Tucson, Arizona 85743nnIt is a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden. The Sonoran Desert is an arid region in parts of Arizona, California and the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California. The museum features interpretive displays of living animals and plants native to the Sonoran Desert. The Museum has been in operation since September 1, 1952.nnThreatened and endangered species on exhibit include:nn• Mexican wolfn• Thick-billed parrotn• Ocelotn• Margayn• Jaguarondin• Desert pupfishn• Sonora chubn• Ponytail chubn• Razorback suckern• Gila topminnown• Colorado River squawfishn• Isla San Esteban chuckwallan• Apache troutnnThe smallest animal is the leafcutter ants and the largest animal is the American black bear. The oldest non-living animal at the Museum is the Sonorasaurus dinosaur dating from the Cretanecous.nnYou can plan to spend at least 2 to 3 hours touring the Desert Museum. Since the Desert Museum is primarily an outdoor experience, you should plan on wearing a hat, some good sunscreen and comfortable shoes, or appropriate colder weather clothing during colder times of the year. All indoor exhibits are cooled.nnWheelchairs and strollers are available free of charge. There are two electric scooter-style wheel chairs available for $10 per day.nnThere are trained Museum volunteers able to help you gain a better understanding of the complex relationships between the plants, animals and the natural environment of the Sonoran Desert.nnMuseum HoursnnThe Museum is open every day of the year:nn• Summer Saturday Evenings: 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (June – August)n• March – September: 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (no entry after 4:15 p.m.)n• October – February: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (no entry after 4:15 p.m.)nnMuseum Admission Costsnn• June – August: $9 Adults, $2 Kids 6 – 12n• September - May: $12 Adults, $4 Kids 6 – 12n• Children 5 and under are FREEnnThe exhibits at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum re-create the natural landscape of the Sonoran Desert Region very realistically. You can experience eye-to-eye contact with mountain lions, prairie dogs, Gila monsters and more. There are more than 300 animal species and 1,200 kinds of plants, as well as almost 2 miles of paths traversing 21 acres of desert. The Museum’s main focus is to inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation and understanding of the Sonoran Desert.nnSource: The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum OnlinennImportant Disclaimer: The URL address in the resource box of this article is not associated with any of the attractions mentioned in this article. This article and the web site are offered as a resource for formulating vacation ideas.nnnnThis article is FREE to publish with the resource box.nn© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reservedn