While Wayne and I were visiting Tucson, we used one of the sunny says to drive up to the Saguaro National Park West and Tucson Mountain Park. While we were there, we stopped at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.The entrance fee isn't cheap, but the natural displays are well done and very informative. The trails are a mixture of paved walkways and well-pack desert gravel. The terrain is mostly level, and ramadas made with natural desert materials give shaded rest spots along the way.
Different desert habitats are depicted including the desert, mountain woodlands, desert grasslands, and pollination gardens.
Displays include typical desert animals including mountain lions, bears, wolves, coyotes, squirrels, prairie dogs, javelinas, lots of birds, and other creatures great and small.
While the animal habitats were clean and natural, it was a bit sad to see these proud animals on display. I guess there's a fine line between needing specimens to study and allowing animals to remain in their home environments. -- Margy
We hAd the same feelings about the museum. Spent a couple winters in Tucson, which we loved, but one visit to the museum was enough. Hiked a lot in the two parts of the NP tho and loved that.
ReplyDeleteWe like to go to Arizona during our cold months. There's nothing like hiking in shorts when everyone at home is still bundled up. - Margy
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