Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

“This was an amazing experience for someone from the east coast! I learned so many things I had no idea about the desert. There are plenty of water stations and covered areas for those not use to the sun or heat. Definitely wear appropriate sun screen and clothing on hotter days along with a water container. I loved reading all the informational posters and plaques. It was so cool getting up close with so many different animals, birds, and insects. Above all, all of the different gardens and walk arounds were awe inspiring! This was one of the most breathtaking museums I have ever been to. I can not wait to come back here every time I visit Arizona and bring family and children along one day! Small side note, there are tons of life sized brass figures of animals everywhere and one or two of them may be real. I accidentally disturbed a rather large blue belly spiny lizard sleeping in a large crack!”

“The Sonora Desert Museum is a gorgeous, interactive museum and natural observation walk/hike in a beautiful part of the Sonora Desert. It's a unique experience, taking the walker through exhibit houses, animal enclosure areas, biome observation decks and a lovely, fun, low-impact hike along the edge of spectacular scenery. Children, older folks, and even a few wheelchair users were able to make much of the trek. There are a few exhibits underground and in narrows that might preclude a few, but overall and easy enough experience for most. We went during the early week on a weekday and there were still plenty of joyous visitors along with us. One could simply go for a great, scenic hike, or dig in and learn a thing or two! A great experience. There was plenty of parking in a big set of lots, but you may have to walk a bit. Most areas seemed to be pathed for wheelchair accessible travel.”

“I learned about this museum while visiting the area. I figured it would be redundant to visit if I was already going to be visiting Saguaro National Park. However, I was wrong. The museum does a great job of capturing beauty of the desert and its plants and inhabitants. It is a cross between a botanical garden, zoo, and a museum. There are several distinct areas to see throughout the park and the park is very informational. This is a great way to see the the features of Arizona and the Sonoran Desert in a more consolidated fashion. It is great for small children and it even has a nice indoor play area for kids. I would definitely recommend it if visiting the area.”