Sonoran-Arizona Desert

If you have one day in Tucson, visit the Saguaro National Park and the Sonoran-Arizona Desert Museum.  As Mike would say, “It is dang near a forest of Saguaro cactus out there.”  More than that--there are lots and lots different cactus— spectacular.  Probably the prettiest desert we have visited to date and best desert museum.  (Note:  Visit the Saguaro National Park visitor center first to pick up a 2-for-1 coupon for entry to the Sonoran-Arizona Desert Museum—a savings of $14.)

The Sonoran-Arizona Desert Museum is really well laid out with over 2 miles of paths traversing 21 acres of beautiful desert and lots of dedicated volunteers with interesting information (over 500 volunteer serve this museum).  We went over the whole place twice spending over 4 hours here.  Beside the walking paths you enjoy an extensive cave complete with deep underground formations, hummingbird cage, aviary containing many types of desert birds, animal exhibits where you are eye-to-eye with snakes and Gila monsters (kinda’ creepy), Mexican wolves, mountain lions, and more.

There is a 2 p.m. free-flight raptor demonstration of a group of Harris' Hawks. Big guys.  We were told they fly in family groups of three to seven birds in the wild. The demonstration had the birds flying barely over the heads of the spectators.  Very cool.

Fist bump day.