Tucson is surrounded by rich desert vegetation and four mountain ranges. At 2389 feet above sea level, the temperatures are typically warm in the day with cooling at night. Tucson boasts over 300 days of sunshine a year, allowing plenty of time for recreational pursuits such as golf, bike riding, gardening, hiking, skiing, fishing and swimming.

Tucson museums include the Arizona Historical Society Tucson Museum, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, the Arizona State Museum, Fort Lowell Museum, International Wildlife Museum, Pima Air and Space Museum, the Postal History Foundation, the Tucson’s Children’s Museum, and, at the University of Arizona, a Mineral Museum.

Other places of interest are Catalina State Park, Tohono Chul Park, the Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson Mountain Park, Kitt Peak National Observatory, Sentinel Peak Park, Sahuaro National Park, and Gene C. Reid Park. Reid Park Zoo is located in Reid Park and is home to 550 animals. Also in Reid Park is DeMeester Outdoor Performance Center where Tucson Parks and Recreation offer year round concerts, performances and special events. The Rose Garden, in Reid Park just west of Reid Lake, has over 1000 beds with over 100 species of roses.

Mission Xavier Del Bac is the only active Kino mission in the nation, operating a school and church. Old Tucson Studios was the location for more than 350 movies, television shows and commercials including the films “Arizona” and “Tombstone,” and the television series “High Chaparral” and “The Young Riders.”