Saguaro National Forest

Arizona – Sonora Desert Museum

The name, for me, was a misnomer. I heard museum and dressed for indoors. It wasn’t until we arrived that I learned 95% of the museum is outside. Makes sense for a desert, eh? Be warned and dress for the temperature, taking into account the wind factor. I froze in hiking pants, t-shirt, long-sleeved shirt and jacket. Thank goodness for brilliant sunshine!

Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
Arizona Sonora Desert Museum

This is a 98 acre hunk of land that aims to educate visitors and does a good job of it. There are literally thousands of things to see—from the zoo-like parts to the clearly marked cactus and other plants. There are two miles of walking paths, wheelchair accessible. In fact, about 98% is wheelchair accessible with a few of the grades being a bit steep.

There are shady spots, and areas under canvas roofs, water fountains scattered around to refill your water bottles. Don’t skimp on staying hydrated!

We were there from 10:15 – 1:00, but we missed the raptor free flight that takes places twice a day. Try scheduling to see it, the docents said it would be quite the experience. It’s a busy museum, even in February, so allow for crowds.

Javelina
Javelina

A variety of critters.

Alex liked seeing the five Javelinas—with signage: We’re not pigs!

I got a kick out of the porcupine curled up under a heat lamp in his little cave.

The fox looked fat, the mountain lion fierce, the coyote like a skinny, typical coyote.

We maintain two summer hummingbird feeders and love watching them zip in for a drink and off again to who knows what destination.We’re not sure where our handful of visitors go in the winter but these desert species were good fill-ins for us. The museum’s hummingbird area was fun, many with bright red or orange beaks. One landed on my husband’s shoulder, but dashed off too quickly for me to snap a picture of it.

There was a cactus, tall & skinny with thin red nodules sticking out from it. I said: “God really has a sense of humor.” Two couples our age heard me and cracked up.

I tend to stay away from crawling, slithering things, so skipped the Riparian Corridor. As part of the Warden Aquarium and new to the Museum is a school of stingrays—you can arrange to touch. How fun for desert-living kids to have that experience.

God humor, cactus in Arizona
God humor

Be careful in the Earth Sciences Center cave. I didn’t let my eyes adjust long enough and ran my forehead smack into an overhanging way.

When you go to the Sonora Desert:

Getting there is a gorgeous drive through Gate’s Pass, west out of Tucson. To learn about the Saguaro National Park West, don’t skip stopping at their visitor’s center to pick up some good information.

To quote their statement, We inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation, and understanding of the Sonoran Desert.

We’d say they do a very good job of that.

Entrance fee is $20.50 per each adult without senior or military discounts. There’s also a discount for Arizona/Sonora residents.

The gift shop prices were reasonable and the coffee shop made a very good latte for less than Starbucks.

Summer Saturdays would be a good time to visit, the museum is open until 10:00 with programs especially designed for families. I might have to borrow our friends’ kids so we fit in.

Tucson and Gates Pass

The sunset was worth the drive and the wait for that perfect moment when the sun dipped between the mountains. Multiple people assured us that some of the most famous sunset photos were taken from the Gates Pass vantage point. Our first trip was anticlimactic, with too many clouds hiding the colors. Seeking balance, we wanted clouds spilling, spreading the sun’s dying shades across the sky, while not hiding the fading light.

Driving to Gates Pass is a journey through Tucson Mountain Park, a striking, rolling landscape of 20,000 acres. The winding road takes you to Old Tucson, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Saguaro National Park West. Old Tucson is a former movie set. If you want to see the locations and costumes from Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie and movies, head here. 

When we arrived a half hour early there were many people scattered around. The air held the expectation of waiting for a parade to begin. The anticipation of something exciting was about to happen. Hikers trod the hills on either side of the watcher’s roost, kicking tiny red stones and brown pebbles down. A trio of college-age kids carried two watermelons and a honeydew up one hill and then another. We couldn’t fathom why they fruit.

The sun burnt orange in the sky, casting reddish shadows on the hills behind us. The saguaro silhouettes threw long and wildly different shadows everywhere.

Then the two kids showed up. Only about two and four years old. Their parents perched them on the thick stone wall and advised: watch, watch! As the colors expanded, the little boy said, bye, bye, sun. I laughed. At once it struck me how fun and funny it was to make a big deal out of the setting sun.

Sunsets Connect Us

Thirty-odd people drove to an out of the way wide spot in the road. We stood in the unseasonably chilly air to watch an event we take for granted every day. Why? Why are we excited about celebrating the dropping of an orb from our view?

Is it something internal to us? Does it reach back thousands of years? To when we were more in tune with the earth’s cycles out of need, rather than strictly for pleasure? Do you find yourself sighing in delight and relaxing when you watch the sun sink out of sight?

**

Read: Tempe, Arizona and Picnic, Montana style