One of the most visited attractions in Southern Arizona is the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. The ASDM covers 98 acres and is a botanical garden, zoo, aquarium, natural history museum, and art gallery, dedicated to educating visitors on the desert biome of the surrounding Sonoran Desert. This is the first place I send new visitors to Tucson, as it has something for everyone and is a great way to learn about life in the Sonoran Desert. If you are looking for things to do in Tucson with kids, bring them here – there are plenty of kid-friendly exhibits like Stingray Touch and the Packrat Playhouse which is super awesome!

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These are the eight things I recommend you see and do at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum.

#1: Hummingbird Aviary

The hummingbird aviary is my favorite place at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. This is the only place I’ve ever seen a hummingbird’s nest and it’s as cute as you can possibly imagine, let alone the teeny-tiny eggs! The aviary is a small enclosed area with many hummingbirds. I always see at least a dozen when I visit. Some are not at all skittish and will hang out for photos, while others flit around constantly. There are benches scattered around the aviary so you can rest your feet and wait patiently for a hummingbird to visit you!

#2: Raptor Free Flight

On my last visit to ASDM, I just happened across the raptor free-flight demonstration. In the fall and winter, there are two daily demonstrations at 10 am and 2 pm, while spring has just one show at 10 am. You’ll want to arrive in the area about 10-15 minutes before the show starts, and you will line up at a gate that is opened just before the show. I followed the guys with the big camera lenses, assuming they knew the best spots to be in. But there really isn’t a bad spot – you can also watch from above at the Cat Canyon overlook as they have trainers stationed up there as well.

The show features different types of raptors and hawks, which fly just inches over your heads. The animals are not tethered, in fact, one escaped not too long ago, but eventually returned to the museum. I’m guessing the free meals were too easy! This is a fun show, and it’s fairly short, so kids would enjoy it as well.

 #3: Cactus Garden

The cactus garden is pretty self-explanatory – all the kinds of cactus you can expect to see out in the Sonoran Desert. I try to learn a new one each time I come so I know what I’m looking at when I’m out hiking. It will be especially fun in the spring to see all of the different cactus blooms!

Everyday Wanderer has the best spots to see Arizona wildflowers!

 #4: Views of the Sonoran Desert

The ASDM has some incredible views of the surrounding desert. You can get some great vantage points from various overlooks throughout the museum, as well as the desert loop trail. Not to mention the views you’ll get driving to and from the museum! I recommend driving in from the north through Picture Rocks and leaving the south over Gates Pass as they are both really pretty drives through Saguaro National Park.

#5: Ironwood Terraces Cafe

After a few hours of working up an appetite on the trails of the museum, there are several dining options to choose from. The Ironwood Terraces is a cafeteria-style option that has food stations with different cuisines. For a museum snack bar, I found the prices very reasonable, and the options range from hot burgers and pizza, tacos and cold sandwiches. I, of course, had the tacos and was not disappointed! There is also the Ocotillo Cafe, a step up from the cafeteria, and Phoebe’s Coffee Bar, in addition to a few snack shops scattered throughout the museum.

#6: Desert Museum Gift Shop

If you want to bring back unique Arizona souvenirs from your Tucson vacation, the Desert Museum gift shop has a great variety of interesting desert-themed gifts. From Southwest and Mexican cookbooks to Native American jewelry, toys for the kids and home decor, it is hard to leave here without picking up something from the gift shop.

#7: Walk-In Aviary

Similar to the hummingbird aviary, the walk-in aviary is a great place to see several kinds of birds. When you enter, grab a set of the laminated flashcards to bring along on your walk through the aviary so you can identify the birds you are watching. There is a short path that winds through the aviary and a couple of benches where you can hang out to watch the birds and ducks.

#8: Agave Garden

The agave garden is another interesting stop on your walk through ASDM. You’ll be surprised at just how many kinds of agave there are, and how some of them just look like giant asparagus spears!

Getting to Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Give yourself plenty of time to arrive at ASDM. The drive out from Tucson is one of the most scenic spots in town. You’ll drive over Gates Pass, surrounded by thousands of saguaro cactus. If you visit later in the day, try to time it so you can watch the sunset from Gates Pass – there are a couple of pullout areas where you can park and get out of the car to watch the sun go down.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Tickets

Arizona Sonora Desert Museum tickets (as of 2020) are $23.95 for adults, $21.95 for seniors. Basic annual membership is $69 and comes with two guest passes, which can be used on the day of purchase. If you are visiting with friends, or plan to return, the membership is a great deal! It also gives you discounts at the gift shop and cafes. The museum is open every day, although hours vary by season. Give yourself at least two hours to visit; more if you want to eat, shop or linger for any of the demonstrations.

Purchase Arizona Sonora Desert Museum tickets ahead of time!

Hotels Near Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

The closest hotel to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is the JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort, a popular four-star resort. Casino del Sol Resort is also less than 30 minutes away. However, there’s not much else in this part of town and it’s a lovely drive to and from ASDM. Browse Tucson hotels at Booking.com

Looking for more things to do in Tucson? I’ve got you covered with my Tucson bucket list!

Besides these great things to see at the Tucson Desert Museum, they also have some pretty cool tours and classes you can join. Everything from day trips to harvest saguaro fruit, to multi-day archeological tours in Mexico. You can also join a docent tour of the gardens to enhance your Sonoran Desert experience and knowledge!