Things to Do

We can’t possibly begin to list all the things to do in the Tucson area, but this list is a good start, especially for things to do nearby. If you need some more ideas, just ask. We are both Tucson natives who have lived here most of our lives.

WALKING/BIKING

The neighborhood itself is great for walking. There is a walking trail through the natural open space that can be accessed by walking to the end of Labyrinth Road and going north. There is also a multi-use trail on Palisades Road at the entrance to the subdivision.

We are very close to “The Loop” a system of paved multi-use paths that generally follow the major washes in the Tucson area. This is a great place to walk and ride bicycles safely. Just Google "Loop Tucson map" for a map of the entire trail system.

PARKS

Oro Valley has some great parks with facilities for all your family members:

HIKING

If you’re really into hiking, let us know and we can point you to some other trails in the Tucson area, but these are the ones closest to our property. Even in cooler weather, you will want to take plenty of water with you when hiking. It is very dry here and you can get dehydrated quickly. There are hiking water bottles in the kitchen pantry.

GOLF

There are a number of public and private courses near our property as well as others throughout the Tucson area. For discounted rates, I like to use https://www.golfnow.com/. Here are the courses closest to the house:

ARIZONA SONORA DESERT MUSEUM

(2021 N, Kinney). This is a “must see” in our opinion. The Museum is a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, all in one place. In the warmer months, try to go early when the animals will be more active.

SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK

There is both an East and a West unit. You can easily visit the West unit when you go to the Desert Museum since you will drive right through it. The East unit is worth a separate trip if you have time.

MT. LEMMON

With a summit of 9,159 feet, this is the place to go to get out of the heat in the summer months. You will travel through four different life zones, ranging from the Sonoran Desert to Alpine forest. There is even a ski area near the top of the mountain. And if you’re at all interested in astronomy, the University of Arizona has a fantastic Sky Nights program where you can look through their telescopes at the observatory.

PIMA AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM

(6000 E Valencia Road) One of the world's largest non-government funded aerospace museums. The museum features a display of nearly 300 aircraft spread out over 80 acres on a campus occupying 127 acres.

MISSION SAN XAVIER DEL BAC

(1950 W. San Xavier Road) Built in the 1700s, this recently restored white adobe church, representing a wonderful example of Spanish colonial architecture, is beautiful inside and out, with colorful frescoes, sculptures and carvings.

OUTSIDE THE AREA (BUT STILL WORTH THE DRIVE)