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Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Desert Animals

Perhaps one of the reasons you're traveling to Southern Arizona is to revel in the beauty of the Sonoran desert landscape or to learn more about it. Or maybe both.

It is intriguing. And there's no better place to experience it than 33 minutes and 17 miles from Lodge on the Desert's front driveway. At the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. It is a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, all in one place! Exhibits re-create the natural landscape of the Sonoran Desert Region so realistically visitors find themselves eye-to-eye with mountain lions, prairie dogs, Gila monsters and more. On the Museum grounds, visitors will see more than 300 animal species and 1,200 kinds of plants. In fact, almost two miles of paths traverse 21 acres of beautiful desert.

Consider it a civilized adventure! And one that appeals to lovers of nature, history and horticulture alike. With 'live' demonstrations such as Raptor Free Flight, Live and On the Loose (sort of) and Running Wild – let your imagination and spirit of adventure run free.

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is an excellent representation of the best of the Southern Arizona desert. Allocate anywhere from a couple of hours to all day to experience this attraction fully. Summer Saturday evenings are particularly special and rewarding. For all there is to see and do at the Museum as well as hours and rates, visit their website.

But first things first. Before you make plans to visit this magical place where desert plants and animals dwell, be sure to make your Tucson guestroom reservations at Lodge on the Desert.

The Lodge's mid-town combination historic and contemporary setting, architecture and landscape makes it an ideal home-base from which to explore not only the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, but Southern Arizona's many other natural and man-made attractions too.