A nature lover's paradise, Catalina State Park is just five minutes north of the Resort. Easy-to-follow self-guided nature hikes take you through grassy desert plains and into the northern foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains. A long flowing creek gives you a great opportunity to view abundant desert wildlife.

A scenic 49-acre desert preserve and center of nature, arts and culture.  Enjoy three art galleries, the Tea Room for breakfast, lunch and high tea, nature trails, gardens and unique gift shops.  Open daily from 8am – 5pm.

One of the world's largest living laboratories, the Biosphere 2 is just 25 minutes from the Resort and was originally designed as a prototype for space colonization. It now houses Earth science research facilities and hands-on science exhibits. Daily tours and public astronomy programs offered. 

Discover the natural world of Arizona's Sonoran Desert, just 30 minutes from the Resort. The 'museum' is really an internationally acclaimed zoo and garden with hundreds of native species of plants and animals. Restaurant dining is available, and the large gift shop is an excellent source for local guidebooks.

Discover spectacular canyon scenery and a fascinating array of wildlife, just 30 minutes from the Resort. Hike the 3.8-mile paved trail into the canyon, or take the fun, narrated tram ride to learn about the history and fascinating wildlife.

This mountainous park, just 30 minutes from the Resort, is a popular place to see the massive saguaro cactus, which grows only in the Sonoran Desert. View the park with a scenic drive or take advantage of the many hiking trails.

The terrain of Saguaro National Park, just 40 minutes from the Resort, differs from that found at its sister park to the west. Rolling foothills are softened with trees, grasses, and desert shrubs. An 8-mile loop drive around Cactus Forest Drive provides an overview of the park area.

See hundreds of historic aircraft at the largest privately funded air museum in the world – 40 minutes from the Resort.

The 1-hour scenic drive up Mt. Lemmon will take you from the desert valley up to a Ponderosa pine covered mountain peak, the highest point in the Santa Catalina range. Enjoy the scenic viewpoints, picnic areas, a trout-stocked lake and miles of hiking trails. There's even a ski lift ride open year round, and skiing is available depending on snow conditions.

Old Tucson Studios, just 35 minutes from the Resort, was originally built as a movie set for the 1939 Western epic Arizona. This world-famous Old West theme park is a re-creation of an 1880's frontier town with period townsfolk. A steam train, pony rides, gold panning, stage shows, and stunt-show shoot-outs entertain all ages. You may even see a Hollywood production being shot.

Established in the 17th century by Spanish missionaries, this 200-year-old church, just 40 minutes from the Resort, is recognized as one of the finest examples of mission architecture in the country.

One of the great natural wonders of the western United States, Kartchner Caverns State Park is located 1.5 hours from the Resort. It's believed that no human had ever seen this huge living cave prior to its discovery in the 1970's by two Tucson cave enthusiasts. Care has been taken to preserve the pristine conditions and stunning variety of multicolored cave formations. Kartchner Caverns is exceptional because it's a "wet" cave, meaning the formations are still growing. Reservations are recommended well in advance.

This distinctively Tucson plaza, just 15 minutes from the Resort, is home to an exquisite collection of art galleries, fashion boutiques and several exceptional restaurants.

Located in the historic El Presidio neighborhood, 25 minutes from the Resort and adjacent to the Tucson Museum of Art, this adobe complex filled with galleries and shops occupies an entire city block.

Arizona's oldest European settlement, just one hour from the resort, Tubac was once the site of a Spanish presidio. It is now a thriving artists' community, with more than 80 unusual shops and galleries of crafts and original fine art accompanied by several restaurants to satisfy any culinary craving.