While the Tucson Marathon is certainly the main reason to travel to Tucson 😉, we highly recommend that you take some time, either before or after the race to enjoy some of the other attractions Tucson has to offer.
With average temperatures between 67 and 37 degrees in Tucson in December, it’s a great opportunity to explore some of Tucson’s world class trails or check out one of many museums in the city.
Here is our list of top 10 attractions to check out while you’re in town:
Biosphere 2 – Along the Tucson Marathon Course you’ll pass the Biosphere 2 Research Center. If you have the time, either before or after the race to stop by (probably not during..) they offer guided tours and the history behind this one of a kind research center is fascinating.
State Parks – Tucson is surrounded by some of the most beautiful State Parks in Arizona. Oracle, Patagonia Lake, Picacho peak, and Roper Lake State Parks all have ideal hiking trails for your pre or post race shakeouts.
Saguaro National Park – This 92,000 acre park is split into two separate areas: The Tucson Mountain District and the Rincon Mountain District. Combined, these two parks hold a total of 165 miles of trails and paved roads to explore.
Mt Lemmon – Although it might be chilly at the top, we couldn’t leave Mt Lemmon off this list. With temperatures 20 degrees cooler than the base of the mountain, the small town of Summer Haven provides a sanctuary from the Summer heat, but in December (Granted there is enough snowfall) Ski Valley, the Southernmost ski destination in the continental United States opens its chair lifts to the public. It also has some of the best trails for running / hiking and a paved road all the way up to the top, making it one of the most popular road biking destinations in the US.
Colossal Cave – Located 15 Mins south of Tucson, Colossal Cave Mountain Park is a popular tourist attraction which offers guided tours of the cave. It contains about 3.5 miles of mapped passageways and the average temperatures inside is 70 °F year-round.
Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium – The Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium is a science museum and planetarium in Tucson, Arizona. Part of the University of Arizona, the Eos Planetarium Theater seats up to 146 people and the science center includes fossil insect, shark and mineral exhibits.
Pima Air and Space Museum – The Pima Air and Space museum features about 400 historic aircraft, from a Wright Flyer to a 787 Dreamliner. Over the past forty years, the museum has grown immensely and today encompasses six indoor exhibit hangars (three dedicated to WWII).
Wine Country – Experts say the climate and soil conditions in the Southern Arizona villages of Sonoita, Elgin, and Willcox are perfect for growing grapes. Vineyards have sprung up across the grasslands with former ranches turned wineries. The conditions are not only great for making wine, but they’re also great for tasting it too, with sunny skies, fantastic views, and plenty of room to spread out as you sip the local award-winning varietals.
Breweries – If you ask around locals will tell you that Tucson is one of the best-kept secrets in the craft beer world. Tucson’s brewers take traditional techniques and add their own spin to make something entirely new. From sour ales fermented with cactus fruit to stouts infused with Mexican spices, local ingredients and flavors inspired by the Sonoran Desert come through in just about every glass they pour.
The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures – Located in Tucson, Arizona, this 15,560 square foot, state-of-the-art museum displays an entertaining and interactive array of over 300 miniature houses, room boxes. The museum styles itself as a mini time machine, by which the visitor sets off on a self-guided tour through different lands and times both real and imagined.
Register today and secure your spot before the next price increase on November 18th.