Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In Saguaro Ranch, 3755 W. Conrads Way, Marana. & 520/579-2100. www.mcclintocks-restaurant.com.
Reservations required. Main courses $17-$45. AE, DISC, MC, V. Sun-Thurs 5-10pm; Fri-Sat 5-11pm.
Inexpensive
Teresa's Mosaic Café Finds MEXICAN A mile or so west of I-10, this casual
Mexican restaurant, with colorful mosaic tile tables, mirror frames, and a kitchen coun-
ter, is hidden behind a McDonald's on the corner of Grant and Silverbell roads but is well
worth finding for breakfast or lunch. Try the chilaquiles or chorizo and eggs for breakfast,
and don't pass up the fresh lemonade or horchata (spiced rice milk). This is an especially
good spot for a meal if you're on your way to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Old
Tucson, or Saguaro National Park's west unit.
2456 N. Silver Mosaic Rd. & 520/624-4512. Reservations recommended on weekends. Main courses
$5-$16. DISC, MC, V. Mon-Sat 7:30am-9pm; Sun 7:30am-2pm.
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5 SEEING THE SIGHTS
Go west, young man (and woman). That's what you'll need to do if you're visiting Tucson
and want to immerse yourself in the desert Southwest or the cinematic Wild West. Out
past the western outskirts of Tucson, where the cactus grows and the tumbleweed blows,
you'll find not only the west unit of Saguaro National Park (with the biggest and best
stands of saguaro cactus), but also the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (one of the
nation's top zoological parks) and Old Tucson Studios (film site over the years for hun-
dreds of Westerns). Put these three attractions together for one long day of getting to
know Tucson, and you have the city's best family outing (and you can bet the kids will
be beat by the end of the day).
TUCSON AREA'S MOSTLY NATURAL WONDERS
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Kids Don't be fooled by the name. This
is a zoo, and it's one of the best in the country. The Sonoran Desert of central and south-
ern Arizona and parts of northern Mexico contains within its boundaries not only arid
lands, but also forested mountains, springs, rivers, and streams. To reflect this diversity,
exhibits here encompass the full spectrum of Sonoran Desert life—from plants to insects
to fish to reptiles to mammals—and all are on display in very natural settings. Coyotes
and javelinas (peccaries) seem very much at home in their compounds, which are sur-
rounded by fences that are nearly invisible and that make it seem as though there is
nothing between you and the animals. You'll also see black bears and mountain lions,
tarantulas and scorpions, prairie dogs and desert bighorn sheep. One walk-in aviary is
devoted exclusively to hummingbirds.
The grounds here are quite extensive, so wear good walking shoes; a sun hat of some
sort is also advisable. Don't be surprised if you end up staying here hours longer than you
had intended. If you get hungry, there are two excellent dining options—the cafeteria-
style Ironwood Terraces and the more upscale Ocotillo Café. You'll find this zoological
park 14 miles west of downtown.
2021 N. Kinney Rd. & 520/883-2702. www.desertmuseum.org. Admission Sept-May $13 adults, $4.25
children 6-12; June-Aug $9.50 adults, $2.25 children 6-12. Oct-Feb daily 8:30am-5pm; Mar-Sept daily
7:30am-5pm. From downtown Tucson, go west on Speedway Blvd., which becomes Gates Pass Rd., and
follow the signs.
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