Fun Things to Do, See and Eat with Your Kids in Tucson, AZ
Thinking about a trip to the fabulous city of Tucson, AZ? You won’t want to miss this conversation Lisa has with Heather Farris from Wheeling to Dream. Learn about all of the fun things both Heather and Lisa think your family will enjoy doing and eating while visiting this beautiful city in the Sonoran Deseret.
iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Podbean
When is a great time to visit Tucson?
November - March will be ideal. Moderate temperatures. Cool in the evenings, so be sure to pack a jacket.
What are some great outdoor activities in Tucson?
Hiking and biking!
Bear Canyon and Sabino Canyon are two great family-friendly hikes.
Sabino Canyon and Bear Canyon have a tram tour. You could hike in and take the tram/bus back in.
Seven Falls Hike. 8 miles round trip. A strenuous hike for families with older kids.
Mount Lemmon. Plan to spend at least 1/2 a day here. You can ski up there in the winter. Plan to take time on the drive and enjoy the beautiful views.
Stop at Windy Point about halfway up Mount Lemmon. Restrooms and amazing views.
Summerhaven on Mount Lemmon. Cute town to explore.
Stop at Cookie Cabin for pizza and cookies.
Incinerator Ridge. Be sure you have an off-road vehicle. Great place to hike or camp.
Paved bike paths. The Loop. Paved, flat, and safe.
In-city hikes: Tanque Verde Falls
Lisa and family hiking in Saguaro National Park
Saguaro National Park. There is an east side and a west side. Great place for a hike or a scenic drive.
Agua Caliente Park. Great place to relax, BBQ, and picnic with lots of grass.
Photo courtesy of Heather Farris.
What indoor activities do you recommend for families in Tucson?
Alphie Norville Gem Museum. Run by the University of Arizona in downtown. Be sure to check out the jewelry vault! If you love rocks, you will love this museum.
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Lots of animals wandering around plus beautiful plant life. There are night tours in the summer and fall.
Reid Park Zoo. Plan to spend about 1.5 hours. This is a conservation zoo. They are working to restore populations of wildlife.
Pima Air and Space Museum. So many military airplanes. It’s a plane boneyard.
Lisa’s daughter, Hannah, and friends @ the Pima Air and Space Museum
Titan Missile Museum. Tour a Cold War missile silo. You get to wear a hard hat and tour down inside of the missile silo.
What are some of your favorite restaurants in Tucson?
520 Taco Truck. Check them out on Instagram to find out where they will be. The best tacos and burritos! @520tacostop
The Monica. Downtown on Congress. Great for brunch!
Pizza. Check out Bear Canyon Pizza and Rosatis.
The Gardens at Bear Canyon. Outdoors with food, live music, and games.
Hillhouse Coffee. Best local coffee shop.
Prep & Pastry. Great for breakfast and brunch.
Zin Burger. Great burgers and shakes! An AZ local chain.
Taqueria Juanitos. Amazing carne asada burritos. Try the shrimp ceviche, tacos or a bean burrito. Casual and order at the counter.
El Charro Cafe. Get the Carne Seca. It’s a Tucson specialty!
Check out Tucsonfoodie.com for lots of great Tucson food ideas!
A big thank you to our guest, Heather, Farris, from Wheeling to Dream. Here’s a little more about Heather:
Heather is a former full-time traveler turned desert dweller in Tucson, Arizona. She & her husband sold everything and set off in their motorhome with their kids in 2019. Then the pandemic hit and they were trapped in Tucson and decided to settle back down for a while. Now they’re planning a full escape from the United States and a big move to Europe in 2023.
Professionally Heather runs a Pinterest marketing agency. She teaches about Pinterest on YouTube and in a paid membership community. She and her family enjoy hiking the mountains of Tucson, finding off-the-beaten-path bike trails, and eating their way through the city.