I live in the community, and we always love walking or riding this small but enjoyable trail…read more Always clean, and surprisingly never too packed.

Love this park! Great for families, clean and well kept! Open space to run and play or do frisbee,…read morenice covered play area and walking trails and well cared for community pool

Such a great find! The volunteers were great and taught us what to look for. There were plenty of…read morebirds, even turkeys. It was an outstanding experience!

It's been ten years since my last visit and this one was especially fun because we brought our…read moretoddler along. The preserve has about three miles of walking trails that take you along Sonoita Creek and through an incredible cottonwood forest. The sanctuary/preserve offers a totally different experience with nature because it is a wetland. It's been said that over 300 species of bird migrate to the preserve. The trails are pretty flat so it was totally doable with our daughter. There were tons of birds, flowers, and lush green. The volunteers are super helpful and kind. And the restrooms are the cleanest of any park I've been to.

Anamax Park is a 22 acre park where skateboarders were practicing jumps and kids were blowing off…read moresteam. Features: * covered playground area with swings and multiple structures http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/qfHjZeDXxsBhLTynMC_NtQ?select=rM4CVX1pfj9jJ4FKWlxsyg * skate area http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/qfHjZeDXxsBhLTynMC_NtQ?select=2riVPtm62g6O935ZrT7GmQ * new sensory playground for children with special needs http://ci.sahuarita.az.us/index.php/current-news/350-new-sensory-playground-opens-at-anamax-park.html * 3 lighted little league baseball fields * 2 lighted multi-use football & soccer fields * 2 concession areas * lighted basketball and sand volleyball court * one acre off leash dog area called Anamax Bark Park * several picnic areas and barbeque grills http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/qfHjZeDXxsBhLTynMC_NtQ?select=MqmSA8FdfBdLxbcf8LfQug * 2 restrooms There is an approximate half mile path surrounding the northern portion of the park with additional pathways connecting all park facilities. The 5,000 square foot recreation center is open M-F from 8am-5pm, Saturdays, from 9am to 4pm. Park hours are 7am-10pm.

There are basically three types of Moms on the park circuit. There's the…read more"I-just-crawled-out-of-bed-after-three-hours-of-sleep-don't-you-f'ing-dare-judge-me" Mom on the sidelines, buried in her smart phone. There's the perfectly coifed yoga Mom, gathered around her other hot mom friends talking $hit about their husbands. Lastly, there's the universally reviled Helicopter Mom, romping after Sweet Baby Noah down the slide. Trust me, I'd love to relax in the shade catching up on Facebook drama or chatting up my friends but as a parent of a special needs child, I HAVE to shadow two steps behind my son or he'll run off and join a pack of javalinas. Anamax Park is the only park that I've found in the greater Tucson area that was designed specifically for such children and their families. The covered playground has a fence around the perimeter, with only one gate in and out. We visited this park on the Sunday during Memorial Day weekend, and oddly enough it was totally deserted. We were the only family at this 22 acre park. In addition to the little fenced in playground that we visited, there's also a sensory park, but that requires keys to get in which wasn't happening on a Sunday. My review wouldn't be complete without mentioning the bathrooms. Actually, that was kind of a problem...I'm pretty sure the restrooms are in the recreation center building, which was locked up. I'll spare you the grisly details on how that problem was resolved. I did mention that the park was totally deserted, didn't I?

I've heard of Lake Patagonia and for a belated birthday present. My husband took us to go kayaking…read morein the lake. Living in Tucson it takes just under two hours to drive from where we are to get to Patagonia State Park. The Ranger station opens at 8 AM and it was $20 to Park for the day. Due to mismatch schedules, we went on a Monday and in Tucson. It was in 105F and the escape from the heat was a great plus. Around the lake is an area for swimmers and Kayak launching in a separate space in a different area to launch boats for people going fishing. There are multiple campsites available for tent, camping and RV camping. In addition to dry cabins in Rose with A shared restroom area and showers available. There are multiple picnic areas and a large ramada available for the swimmers and kayakers. They were a generous number of restrooms available where we were. When we arrived employees were cleaning the restrooms and trash was being dumped. In coming on a Monday, the grounds were tidy. If you're bringing children to like Patagonia, they want them wearing life fest and they have a limited number of free life fess available for people that are gonna be in boats or kayaks. We had everything we needed to have a wonderful experience. We took advantage of the picnic tables to inflate our Kayak and it didn't ever feel like a crowded experience. We were able to have a peaceful three hours of enjoyment.

This is a great location for outdoor enthusiasts. They have a nice birding trail and they…read moresometimes lead guided tours. The traffic gets a little congested during weekends in the summer, and there is a slight discount for visiting on weekdays. I thought the admission price at $25 was steep, in comparison to what other states are charging around the country. They don't take American Express, so I had to go 20 miles for an ATM machine. Prices were high in the market concession, and I didn't see any pricing. They charged $8 for a 19.9 oz of Coconut Water, which is at least a 100% markup. I was impressed that they offered free WiFi down by the lakefront, unfortunately it wasn't working.

A beautiful historical place to walk and explore around amidst the ruins of three Spanish colonial…read moremissions. It illustrates the blending cultures of Native Americans and European peoples. Exploring the park is highly immersive and at the same time very calming. It is a short drive from Tucson to the park and is definitely worth a visit.

History was made here and really not all that long ago. A beautiful place to spend about an hour…read moregetting a real feel for the history of southern Arizona. It's a National Monument and located right across the street from the Santa Cruz Chile Company! Very convenient and makes for a great excursion!

This is a very special place. Wally and Marion Paton started inviting birders to their home in…read moreabout 1973. The Tucson Bird Alliance acquired the property in 2014. You will find lots of hummingbirds there, but also dedicated volunteers that help visitors learn about the birds. There are lots more than just hummingbirds, I had several "lifers" at the Center that were not hummingbirds. There are shady benches to watch the birds, and a real community of birders from around the country, well, even international visitors, too. Behind the Center are lots of other birds, one notable place in the Patagonia Sonoita Creek Preserve. The star of the Paton Center is the Violet Crowned Hummingbird. Yes, you can sometimes find this Hummingbird elsewhere, but this the place you can always reliably find it. It's beautiful. The volunteers are not pushy, they are always helpful. They also know other places to find birds. There's a sense of peace here, comradery, and fun. It's all free, but donations are welcome.

This little nestle of nature is just off the main road in Patagonia. Its almost a magical space…read morethat allows you to forget about the world. I went here with my husband for a day trip of bird watching and we got 20+ birds on the Merlin app and where able to spot most of them. The pollinator garden was small but dense filled with hundreds of beautiful flowers. Now the important facts: 4th Saturday they offer a guided bird walk! Be sure to RSVP to AStark@TucsonBirds.org There are also two public restrooms that are very clean! They offer bird guide books AND binoculars to borrow during your visit. The binoculars are great to try out as a new birder. Don't forget to donate to the Tucson Bird Alliance to help fundthese amazing spots!

Nice picnic area in a National Park. The bathrooms are nice and there's plenty of convenient…read moreparking. There are some great hiking trails with lots of opportunities to see birds and other wildlife. The park is a national treasure with a diversity for different habitats which is impressive.

Beautiful place to hike for all abilities The hummingbird…read moresanctuary is a treat to see as well

Mount Wrightson is one of the best hikes I have done in the Tucson area!…read more We hiked the Old Baldy trail with a large group, starting at 6:45 am. The trail is mostly tree-covered on the way up, and on this windy day we were all relatively cold rather than hot, despite what was a 4,400 ft elevation gain and a total of 11.08 miles. The hike took us 7 hours total, including some stops for rest and lunch. There is a very steady incline, making the trail easier than I expected for the amount of elevation gain. Only in the last mile to the top does it get noticeably steeper and more rocky. I liked how the trail was very straightforward, with very few intersecting paths, making it hard to get turned around. We only saw a handful of other hikers, many of which we passed by several times. With a long and challenging hike, it is nice to build rapport with and have encouragement from other hikers. The views at the top were incredible and truly make you feel like you are on top of the world! I would recommend starting early and coming prepared with friends, lunch, lots of snacks and water, and layers. It may be challenging, but you won't regret it!

This is a 10.4 mile (11.4 according to alltrails) out and back moderate/slightly strenuous hike…read moreabout 2 hours south of Phoenix (40 min south of Tucson). Total elevation gain is ~4100' (actually more than Humphreys). Alltrails rates it difficult but elevation gain is stead/constant throughout the 5 mile ascent. It gets a little rockier at the top, but there's no scrambling/rock climbing involved- no scootin' down necessary here! Breathtaking panoramic views from the summit, and there's a geocache box here too. Very clearly defined trail the entire way (I didn't get lost a single time). I passed 4-5 groups in tota, but I hiked this on a weekday. Started around 830am. It was 55 degrees and slightly cloudy. Made it to the summit in 2h31min and came back down in 1h31min. Dogs allowed on leash, restrooms at trailhead. @azfitfoodfun

Attended a workout group at himmel park ! What a vibe …read more The park is huge , plenty of space for all the things . Very peaceful.

I first came here about two years ago to photograph the beautiful mural painted by local muralist…read moreJoe Pagac. It's the mural on the outside of the Himmel pool. He painted it in 2021 as a thanks to his childhood neighborhood in the historic Sam Hughes district. Red brick and adobe homes line the streets here. Mature trees line the paths. It is a pretty and quiet neighborhood. I took my dog Gretel to walk the mile perimeter. It was a Saturday afternoo and the park was busy! Kids and their families were outside playing, picnicking, skateboarding A few dogs played frisbee. A homeless man was off to the side on the south side pleasing himself under his sleeping bag. I walked past two more homeless encampments along my perimeter walk. I used a portapot near the tennis courts. It gets cleaned weekly. It is a nice park for the neighborhood and a good leg stretcher for travelers coming through, but I imagine this place could be a little scary at night with people sleeping al fresco.