Historic Hispanic theatre that was/is neglected by Tucson…read more From 1913 to 1923, the Teatro Carmen lined with professional touring companies from Europe and Mexico, it included variety shows, musical performances, operas, and plays. Later it was a dance hall, brothel, a garage, and a boxing ring. Hey, here's an idea Tucson, tear it down!

Beautiful desert park!…read more Despite the shutdown (2025) and the rain, we dropped by this park on the way back home from 'Em's soccer tourney in Mesa. This park is filled with the famous saguaro cactus that fills scenes of the southwest, but really is only located in the Sonoran desert of Southern Arizona. It was not summer hot, and overcast. We were able to hideout from the passing showers at the Red Hill Visitor Center. Inside they have a glass encased wildlife model. You can learn a lot about the Sonoran desert flora and fauna. There are a couple of hand phones that go into specific themes. Also available every 30min is a 15min video about the Sonoran Desert and the images of the culture and sustainment themes. The cool thing about the video was the end when the screen rises and reveals the back side of the visitor center and this vm beautiful scene of the park. Really beautiful. I can only imagine what it would look like on a clear sunset. The kids were able to do their Junior Rangers and we took some short hikes and drove through the scenic loop before heading out. The park is huge, we entered through the Western side in Picture Rock, and drove along the southern edge on the way home. It was nice to see this park, and I was glad we stopped to check it out. Recommended.

5/5 TOP RECOMMENDATION! Saguaro is now one of my favorite national parks in the country! If you're…read morea fan of cacti and the intricacies of plant life this is the spot for you. There's so many shapes and sizes you'll run into. The massive amount of cacti and plant life is astounding in such a vast desert environment. The park is super popular with Tucson locals and visitors alike. It's a perfect place for an adventure and introverts! I saw people relaxing as they marveled at the landscape around them. Saguaro is about 20 mins from Tucson. The roads are smooth inside the park and signage is pretty clear. Just don't go off the beaten trail and watch for rattle snakes! I felt safe, but it's always good to be cautious. The visitor center is sizable, it's got a cool gift shop, mini-museum, and information booth. I bought a National Park Passport so I can start stamping and inserting cancellations to my book. It's a perfect way to track your adventures across the US. The staff are slightly wet blankets, but hey I didn't come to see them. Guess they must be jealous!

Grateful to Yelp for inviting us Yelpers to come for the Momentos series at TMA, a celebration of…read moreArizona's Biennial Artists. What a stunning collection of local artists and their art. In addition to the beautiful artwork we could peruse, there was snacks and mangonadas, a DJ, and drinks. One of the museum staff also walked us through an activity to discuss and share our reactions to the art. I loved that she made it feel approachable, even for folks like me who are not art experts. My husband is a big art lover and ended up buying a membership before we left. Can't wait to come back to explore the rest of the collection! Highly recommend stopping by for the Momentos series this summer.

The building is absolutely beautiful. Go to see what is on offer. The collections are not my…read morefavorite, but of course everyone's tastes differ. There are absolute gems in terms of the ancient pottery collection, the Peruvian exhibit, and the Puerto Rican artist featured on the first floor. However, I found a lot of the contemporary art... so-so. It's just not compelling enough to fill the space. I was excited for the special AZ exhibit, but only about half of what was shown was interesting. I'll definitely go back. Exhibits rotate and collectiona expand. I look forward to returning.

A great place to see Tucson's artifacts regarding the famous Parade. Still running as a non…read moremechanical parade every February it is a must see . The staff are very knowledgeable on the wagons . I attended with my daughters class and I enjoyed the artifacts . Clean restrooms , and good parking and lots to view .

Great local western rodeo parade museum on the sw corner of the rodeo grounds! Busy during this…read moreweek with rodeo la fiesta de vaqueros going on . Parade Thur am. Rodeo through next Sunday. A Tucson cultural classic since 1925?

I have seen stories about Ignite Neon Sign museum, but didn't know where it was. Today I left the…read morenew Trader Joes off Broadway and drove by. I stopped and took a look see with my husband. It's currently closed due to a fire ( a big banner posted at the entrance says this ). I am looking forward to coming back once they reopen to see the inside. I saw many things in their back area that stirred up fond memories of neon signs in Tucson.

What a fantastic walk through time!…read more This place has more than just signs - their extensive collection of unique items from our colorful advertising past is so much fun to explore. Besides the nostalgia, you can also learn the details behind how sign artists create neon signs. We went on one of their free demonstration days where a delightful man named Chuck showed us how to make a neon sign. The space is also available to rent for special events - what a cool venue for a party!

One of our group had been here before and recommended it. I was initially confused as we'd seen a…read morelarge 'aircraft boneyard' / parking lot en route into Tucson from Phoenix. However, that it not associated with this place. This is a large museum located a few miles southeast of downtown Phoenix. They have 5 hangars with displayed aircraft plus a large collection of planed parked outdoors in several long rows. They do NOT allow backpacks or have storage for them. Leave these in your car (concealed) or you'll have to go back to do so. Not a complaint, just a fact. Some / most of their parking lot has awnings, which is nice for keeping your car somewhat cooler in the Arizona sun. In addition to the general admission, they have other options including a narrated tram tour of the outdoor aircraft. We added this on, but there may also be other side-tours. We added this to our itinerary. You begin in the main hangar, which is the largest. Here they have a large array of planes on display (on the ground and suspended from the ceiling). Among the many displays were an SR-71, an A-10 Warthog, a couple of large flying boat military aircraft, multiple military helicopters, etc. We spent almost an hour here. The tram tour boards at a 2nd hangar, so we visited that before boarding. They had some spacecraft (Apollo capsule?) and a Blackhawk helicopter, plus other displays. The tram tour ran about 45 minutes and was interesting. It would be exhausting to do this on foot, given the area. Among the displays were a couple of planes that served as Air Force One, a B-52, an enormous amphibious transport plane, and some F-16s. There were MANY others. After the tram tour, we visited an additional hangar (operated separately from the museum) housing a B-17 with associated displays. This is staffed by enthusiastic volunteers. It was worthwhile and merited a separate donation. Before they started closing for the day we managed to visit 2 more hangars (we ran out of time for the final one). We got to see a B-29 (the type of craft that carried the atomic bombs to Japan), and more WWII-vintage planes. About the only thing they did NOT have which I'd like to have seen was a Spitfire. Maybe one was in the final building. If you have any interest in military history or aircraft, this is a highly worthwhile stop.

Really big, fun museum. I have no special love of aircraft, but my son and husband do, so I tagged…read morealong. I still had a great time and enjoyed all the cool aircraft. Go early or in the winter because it gets hot and a lot of the exhibits are outside. If I had one complaint it would be that there weren't very many aircraft you could go inside. I'm sure this is a liability they have to weigh-- but I've lived other similar museums that had a lot more opportunities to go inside airplanes. Very nice gift shop. Cafe looked nice-- but didn't try it. I'm

Great way to workout and learn an international dance. The teacher is well-knowledgeable about the…read morevarious types of belly dancing based on the various countries. She makes sure the student knows the techniques before going to an advanced class. The gift shop has so many traditional wear. Even if one is too shy to try belly dancing yet, it is worth checking out the gift shop!!

We ordered a belly dance performance for a firm executive's birthday lunch. Jessica and her dance…read morepartner did a wonderful job. They brought their own sound system, were beautifully dressed, and provided an energetic and festive performance. Both dancers were quite skilled, looked happy to be there, and kept their movements completely tasteful. Only detractor was that they arrived a bit late. Other than than, very well done...definitely recommend.

some places teach you things..this place stays with you…read more I went into the African American Museum of Southern Arizona expecting a quick visit..something meaningful but modest. What I didn't expect was to leave genuinely moved and still thinking about it hours later. This isn't a museum you just walk through quietly, read a few plaques, and move on from. It asks you to slow down. To listen. To rethink what you thought you knew about Tucson, about the Southwest, and about American history in general. What hit me almost immediately was how local and real everything feels. These aren't distant stories from far-off places. This history happened right here. Buffalo Soldiers stationed in Arizona. Fred Snowden shaping the University of Arizona. Quilts carrying coded messages. Families, neighborhoods, resistance, creativity...all unfolding in the same city we drive through every day. It makes you realize how much has been overlooked or left out, and how different the picture becomes when those stories are finally centered. The exhibits are thoughtfully curated, but what truly elevates the experience is the people. The staff and guides are incredible...warm, knowledgeable, and clearly invested in what they're sharing. You don't feel rushed or talked at. You feel welcomed into a conversation. There's a sincerity there that you can't fake, and it changes the whole tone of the visit. It feels less like a museum and more like being trusted with something important. Another thing that surprised me..the scale. The space is intimate, but in the best way. It allows you to actually absorb what you're seeing instead of being overwhelmed. And somehow, this entire experience is free. No catch. No watered-down presentation. Just high-quality storytelling, thoughtfully done, offered to the community because it matters. This is a place for everyone...whether you're deeply familiar with Black history or just beginning to learn, whether you've lived in Tucson forever or are new to the area. You'll walk out knowing more, feeling more, and probably asking better questions. That's rare. If you're looking for something meaningful to do in Tucson..that actually adds depth to how you see this city ...don't skip this! Don't rush it. And definitely don't sleep on it. History doesn't disappear just because we stop paying attention.