During the Tucson Gem Show, you should go to some interesting places in Tucson.
We have some recommended places for you.
Museum
Here are wonderful museums in Tucson. There are Art, Nature, Historic museums.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum consists of the zoo, natural history museum, and botanical garden, all in one place. You can see some of the wildlife such as coyotes, mountain lions, rattlesnakes. You can learn many things related to wildlife at there.
| Location | 2021 N. Kinney Rd., Tucson AZ 85743 |
| Hours | March-September: 7:30-5:00 October-February: 8:30-5:00 |
| Contact | 520-883-2702 |
| Fee | General Admission (ages 13-64): $21.95 Senior (ages 65+): $19.95 Youth (ages 3-12): $9.95 Children (under 3): Free Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Members: Free (As of 2020) |
| Website | Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum |
Tucson Museum of Art
Tucson Museum of Art is the best place to see historic arts, contemporary arts, great collections. It located in the Presidio District of downtown Tucson. Be careful, they are only open Thursday to Sunday.
| Location | 140 North Main Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701 |
| Hours | Thu-Sun: 10:00-5:00 |
| Contact | 520-624-2333 |
| Fee | Adults: $12 Seniors ages 65+: $10 College students, Youth ages 13-17: $7 Children 12 and under, Veterans, Active military: free (As of 2020) |
| Website | Tucson Museum of Art |
Arizona State Museum
Arizona State Museum is located on the University of Arizona campus. You also can visit the Arizona History Museum. It takes 3 minutes on foot from this museum.
| Location | The University of Arizona, 1013 E University Blvd, Tucson, Arizona 85721 |
| Hours | Mon-Sat: 10:00-5:00 |
| Contact | 520-621-6302 |
| Fee | Adults(+18): $8 Seniors(65+): $6 (As of 2020) |
| Website | Arizona State Museum |
Arizona History Museum
If you want to visit the Arizona State Museum, you can access by foot from the Arizona History Museum. Both museum are located very close.
| Location | 949 E 2nd St, Tucson, AZ 85719 |
| Hours | Mon-Sat: 10:00-5:00 |
| Contact | 520-628-5774 |
| Fee | Adults(+18): $10 Seniors(65+): $8 Students (14+) with ID: $8 Youth (7-13): $5 Children 6 and younger: Free (As of 2020) |
| Website | Arizona History Museum |
National/State Park
There are great national parks in Tucson. You can feel real western nature.
Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park is an American national park in Tucson. The 92,000-acre (37,000 ha) park consists of two separate areas, Rincon Mountain District (East) and Tucson Mountain District (West). We recommend that East because you can drive through in the park, and you can see beautiful cactus.
| Location | Rincon Mountain District (EAST): 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, Arizona 85730 Tucson Mountain District (WEST): 2700 N. Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona 85743 |
| Hours | 9:00-5:00 |
| Contact | 520-733-5153 |
| Fee | Vehicle Weekly Pass: $25 Individual Weekly Pass: $15 Motorcycle Weekly Pass: $20 Annual Pass: $45 (As of 2020) |
| Website | Saguaro National Park |
Catalina State Park
Catalina State Park is a good place for taking a break in nature. You can enjoy camping, RVs, and trails. January and February are the best seasons for trails. You take 20-30 minutes from the downtown area. Please do not forget to bring water and sunscreen!
| Location | 11570 N. Oracle Rd, Tucson, AZ 85737 |
| Hours | 5:00-10:00 |
| Contact | 520-628-5798 |
| Fee | Per vehicle (1-4 Adults): $7 Individual/bicycle: $3 (As of 2020) |
| Website | Catalina State Park |
Sabino Canyon
Sabino Canyon is a significant canyon located in the Santa Catalina Mountains and the Coronado National Forest north of Tucson. You can enjoy trails or open-air shuttle bus.
| Location | Sabino Canyon Crawler (tickets & customer service): 5700 N. Sabino Canyon Rd. Tucson, AZ 85750 |
| Hours | 9:00-4:00 |
| Contact | 520-792-2953 |
| Fee | Day pass: $8 Week pass: $10 Annual pass: $40 (As of 2020) |
| Website | Sabino Canyon |
Other Parts of Arizona
If you have a car, you should go to other beatuiful places of Arizona. Here are some recommended places.
Tubac
Tubac is a very historic and unique place in Arizona. Tubac established in 1752 as a Spanish Presidio, and it has since transformed into the premier destination in Southern Arizona for culture, history, and art. You can find many souvenir shops, restaurants, and galleries.
| Location | Tubac Presidio State Historic Park: 1 Burruel St, Tubac, AZ 85646 |
| Hours | 9:00-5:00 |
| Contact | 520-398-2252 |
| Distance from Tucson | 45 miles 40-50 minute drive |
| Website | Tubac Chamber of Commerce |
Bisbee
If you are interested in turquoise, you have to visit Bisbee because the town is well-known as Bisbee turquoise mine. The Copper Queen Mine is the best place to know mining history. Bisbee is a well-known artist’s community whose architectural and historic heritage has been preserved.
| Location | Bisbee Visitor Center: 478 Dart Road. Bisbee, AZ 85603 |
| Hours | 9:00-5:00 |
| Contact | 520-432-3554 |
| Distance from Tucson | 95 miles 1 hour 40-minute drive |
| Website | Discover Bisbee |
Tombstone
Tombstone is a historic city in Cochise County, Arizona. You can enjoy the old west atmosphere and historic buildings. There are many souvenir shops, coffee shops, and restaurants in the town. We recommend that watching the show of gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
| Location | Tombstone Chamber of Commerce: 109 S 4th Street, Tombstone AZ 85638 |
| Hours | 9:00-5:00 |
| Contact | 520-457-9317 |
| Distance from Tucson | 72 miles 1 hour 10-minute drive |
| Website | Tombstone Chamber of Commerce |
Sedona
If you have a day off when visiting the Tucson Gem Show, you should go to Sedona for relaxing and charge energy. Sedona is one of the famous spiritual places in the world. We recommend that you should do a photoshoot of your minerals or gemstones around the Sedona Redrock monuments. Sedona is the best place for a photoshoot!
| Location | Sedona Visitor Information Center: 331 Forest Road. Sedona, AZ 86336 |
| Hours | 8:30-5:00 |
| Contact | 928-282-7722 |
| Distance from Tucson | 229 miles 3 hour 30-minute drive |
| Website | Sedona Visitor Information Center |
Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon is the symbol of Arizona. There are two main visiting spots such as the North Rim and the South Rim. The South Rim is popular and easy to visit. During the Tucson Gem Show (January to February), around the Grand Canyon, sometimes snow will be covered the road. If you want to visit there, should check the weather information in advance.
| Location | Grand Canyon Visitor Center: S Entrance Rd, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023 |
| Hours | 8:00-6:00 |
| Contact | 928-638-7888 |
| Distance from Tucson | 342 miles 5 hour 10-minute drive |
| Fee | Vehicle Permit: $35 Motorcycle Permit: $30 (As of 2020) |
| Website | Grand Canyon National Park |
Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon also symbolistic place in Arizona. You can experience astonishing nature and Native American’s story. We highly recommend that you should book the tour before 1-2 months you visit.
| Location | Antelope Canyon Tours: 22 South Lake Powell Boulevard. Page, AZ 86040 |
| Hours | 7:00-3:30 |
| Contact | 855-574-9102 |
| Distance from Tucson | 387 miles 6-hour drive |
| Fee | Adult: $54 Child (Ages 0-7): $44 There is an additional $8 Navajo Park Fee for those aged 8 & older (As of 2020) |
| Website | Antelope Canyon |