Attraction: Biosphere 2 Description: Tour this renowned environmental research facility and see where science lives. Biosphere 2, under the management of The University of Arizona, is one of the world’s most unique facilities dedicated to the research and understanding of global scientific issues. Your Guided Tour of this 3.14-acre laboratory for controlled scientific studies includes the Biosphere 2 structure interior, movie theater, human habitat, climate change exhibit, and more. Self-guided tours are also available. Address: 20 minutes north of Tucson, 90 minutes south of Phoenix. Turn on Biosphere Rd. from Hwy. 77 (Oracle Rd.) at mile marker 96.5 Hours: Open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Reservations recommended for tour groups of 10 or more. Call for seasonal hours, rates, directions and additional information. Entrance Fees: Adults $20, Children ages 6-12 $13, Children ages 5 and under FREE. Additional discounts and group rates are also available. Please call for more information.  520-838-6200  Website 1 |
Attraction: Boyce Thompson Arboretum Description: Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park is the place to discover the intricate beauty and many faces of Arizona’s botanical life. The Arboretum is Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical garden, which was founded in the 1920s by mining magnate Col. William Boyce Thompson. In 1917, Thompson served as coleader of a Red Cross mercy mission to Russia where he came to understand the importance of plants as the ultimate source of mankind’s food, clothing, and shelter. Encompassing 323 acres, the Arboretum is the first purely botanical institution in the inter-mountain states.
Address: 37615 U.S. Highway 60, Superior, AZ 85173
Hours: Summer Hours: May through August the Arboretum is open daily from 6:00 am until 3:00 pm. Paid admissions are accepted until 2:00 pm and closes promptly at 3:00 pm. Winter Hours: September through April admission is taken daily from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (every day except Dec. 25) and it closes promptly at 5:00 pm.
Entrance Fees: Adult Admission is $7.50, Children ages 5 to 12 are $3; Children ages under 5 are FREE
520-689-2723 Website 1 |
Attraction: Canyon Lake – Steamboat Description: Dolly Steamboat has been offering cruises on Canyon Lake for over 20 years. Canyon Lake is made up of more than 28 miles of cactus speckled shoreline, amazing rock formations, and serene coves. A variety of wildlife inhabits the lake’s surroundings such as big horn sheep, deer and numerous species of birds. During the Dolly Steamboat tours, the captain will share with you the enchanting tales of the Superstition Mountains.
Address: 16802 N.E. Highway 88, Tortilla Flat, AZ 85119
Hours: Nature Cruises depart Tuesday through Sunday at 12:00pm. Additional cruises may be scheduled.
Entrance Fees: Nature Cruises are $18.00; Dinner Cruises are $51.95-$61.95
Dolly Steamboat: 480-827-9144 Canyon Lake Marina: 480-288-9233 Website 1Website 2 |
Attraction: Casa Grande Ruins National Monument Description: Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is a unique structure built by the Hohokam Indians in the 14th century. The Big House stands an impressive four story building. The ruin is 40 feet by 60 feet at the base and some of the walls are more than 3-feet thick Address: 1100 Ruins Drive, Coolidge, Arizona 85128
Hours: Daily 8:00 am to 5:00 pm except Christmas Day
Entrance Fees: $3.00 per person, Children ages 16 and under are admitted FREE. Golden Eagle, Golden Age, and Golden Access Passport cards are honored.
520-723-3172 Website 1 |
Attraction: Florence Historic District Description: The small town charm of Florence gives visitors an authentic sense of old west history and culture. The downtown commercial district and surrounding residential area is designated as a National Historic District with over 120 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic district is noted for its abundance of adobe buildings and the evolution of its architecture from the Territorial Period through the middle of the 20th Century. The Historic Florence Audio Tour, available at the visitor center, brings history to life with narrated stories of colorful characters that once graced the streets of Florence. Two museums are dedicated to preserving the town’s history – McFarland State Historic Park and the Pinal County Historical Museum. Address: McFarland State Historic Park and Florence Visitor Center
24 W. Ruggles St.
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Entrance Fees: Free 866-977-4496 Website 1 |
Attraction: Gila River Indian Arts & Crafts Center Description: The Arts & Crafts Center has many items on display: Pottery, jewelry, baskets, etc. They have Authentic Crafts, Historical Museum, Gila Heritage Park, The best Indian Fry Bread/Cafe, Authentic jewelry , Kachinas, rugs and southwestern crafts from many different tribes, at reasonable prices. It's Indian Owned and operated. It's a unique experience.
Address: I-10 at exit 175
Hours: 8a-5p Entrance Fees: Free 520 315 3411 |
Attraction: Goldfield Ghost Town Description: Goldfield Ghost Town was first established around 1892 when the first gold-strike was discovered. In its glory days, the town supported about 4,000 people. The town consisted of three saloons, a boarding house, general store, blacksmith shop, brewery, meat market and a schoolhouse. Now Goldfield Ghost Town has a variety of attractions. Families can stroll down Main Street, explore the many shops and buildings, visit the Goldfield Superstition Museum, pan for gold, take a narrow gauge train ride, and witness an old west gunfight. Lodging and camping are also available. Sunday Service and Weddings are held at the Church on the Mount.
Address: 4650 N. Mammoth Mine Rd, Goldfield, AZ 85119
Hours: Daily 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saloon 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Entrance Fees: FREE
480-983-0333 Website 1 |
Attraction: Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino Description: The Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino is 40,000 square feet of gaming. They have everything from slots, keno, poker, live dealer blackjack to bingo. Harrah’s Ak-Chin is more than just a casino. It is a full-scale resort destination. On the grounds, visitors have plenty to do. There is shopping, a golf getaway, exotic pool, jacuzzi and Corkscrew’s swim bar. If you need a place to rest after playing, Harrah’s Ak-Chin has 144 luxurious guest rooms. They also have a 5,000 square-foot ballroom for weddings or any other special occasion.
Address: 15406 Maricopa Road, Maricopa, AZ 85139
Hours: Daily Entrance Fees: Entrance to Casino is free, For Hotel pricing call (480) 802-5000 480-802-5000 Website 1 |
Attraction: Lost Dutchman State Park Description: Named after the fabled lost gold mine, Lost Dutchman State Park is located in the Sonoran Desert at an elevation of 2000 feet. The park offers a variety of hiking trails, nature trails, 35 regular campsites, picnic facilities, and special programs throughout the year. Mild winter climates and the close proximity to the Valley of the Sun make this an ideal destination. During the winter, daytime temperatures usually reach about 60°F; while the summer months can see temperatures soar above 100°F.
Address: 6109 N. Apache Trail, Apache Junction, Arizona 85119
Hours: Daily from sunrise to 10:00 pm
Entrance Fees: $5.00 per vehicle; Friday before Memorial Day through the Tuesday after Labor Day: $3.00 per vehicle
480-982-4485 Website 1 |
Attraction: McFarland State Park Description: McFarland Courthouse and museum provides visitors with a window into the past. The 1878 Territorial Courthouse represents a transition between Sonoran and Anglo-American architecture with a wood-shingled pitched roof surmounting traditional adobe brick walls. Like most buildings in Territorial Arizona, the original 1878 structure was constructed by hand using native materials. In 1963, the Pinal County Historical Society acquired and maintained the building as a museum. Today, the buildings and house exhibits depicting the history of the area include the Ernest McFarland Archives and World War II POW Camp.
Address: 24 W Ruggles St, Florence, AZ 85132
Hours: CLOSED Entrance Fees: Adults (Ages 14 and older) are $2.00, Children (Ages 13 and younger) are FREE
520-868-5216 Website 1 |
Attraction: Oracle State Park Description: The Oracle State Park Center for Environmental Education is located in the northeastern foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains ranges from 3,500 to 4,500 feet in elevation, and the nearly 4,000-acre park consists of oak grassland, riparian woodland, and mesquite scrub habitats which contain a diversity of wildlife and plant species. Acting as a wildlife refuge and environmental learning center, the park’s educational programs present basic ecologic principles. Mankind has used the area since prehistoric times and this interaction between man and environment has played an important role in shaping the landscape seen today.
Address: 3820 Wildlife Drive, Oracle, Arizona 85623
Hours: Daily 7:00 am to 5:00 pm except Christmas Day; House tours available on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm
Entrance Fees: $6.00 per vehicle; Friday before Memorial Day through the Tuesday after Labor Day: $5.00 per vehicle
520-896-2425 Website 1 |
Attraction: Picacho State Park Description: 17th century, Jesuit priest Father Kino mentions Picacho Peak in records of his journeys. In 1775, the de Anza Expedition passed by the Peak and in 1846; the Mormon Battalion constructed a wagon road through Picacho Pass. The most significant Civil War skirmish in Arizona took place near Picacho Peak on April 15, 1862, when an advance detachment of Union forces from California attacked a Confederate scouting party. Visitors enjoy viewing exciting mock battles during the annual “Civil War in the Southwest” event. Also on display at the reenactment are recreated military camps and living history demonstrations. 85 campsites offering electric and non-electric sites plus several group camping areas.
Address: PO Box 275 (I-10 Exit 219), Picacho, AZ 85141
Hours: Park is open: 8:00 am to 10:00 pm
Entrance Fees: Fee schedule - http://azstateparks.com/feeschedule.html
520-466-3183 Website 1 |
Attraction: Pinal County Fair Grounds Description: Grounds- 120 acres including, rodeo arena , race track, four multi-purpose buildings, open air stage, camping and more. There are different annual events such as: County Fair, Fiddler & Bluegrass Jamboree, Car races, Family Motorcoach Assoc. RV Rally and much more.
Address: 512 S. Eleven Mile Corner Rd. Casa Grande, AZ 85122
Hours: 8am - 5pm Entrance Fees: Free 520-509-3555 Website 1 |
Attraction: Pinal County Historical Society Description: The Society was organized and incorporated as a non-profit Arizona Corporation in 1958. At first members were meeting in homes, at the City Hall and later in County buildings furnished by the Board of Supervisors of Pinal County. The first museum was dedicated October 10,1970. They added a south wing which was dedicated on November 4, 1979
Address: 715 S. Main St., P. O. Box 851, Florence, AZ 85132
Hours: Hours 11-4 Tues.-Sat.; 12-4 Sun.
Entrance Fees: Free (520) 868-4382 |
Attraction: Saint Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Monastery Description: Six monks arrived in the Sonoran desert in 1995 from Mount Athos, Greece. The monastery has now grown to 40 fathers. The monks at St. Anthony’s follow the “coenobitic” way, which means they all follow the same schedule under the discretion of the Abbot. The monastery consists of the main church, living quarters for the monks, the dining hall, guest facilities, vegetable garden, small vineyard, citrus orchards and olive grove. There is also a complex arrangement of gardens, pathways and gazebos with Spanish fountains, which make the massive grounds an oasis in the desert. Guests respectfully are asked to dress accordingly. Visit the website for more details.
Address: 4784 N. St. Joseph’s Way, Florence, AZ 85132
Hours: Daily 10:30 am to 3:30 pm (All visitors are asked to stop at the bookstore upon arrival.)
Entrance Fees: FREE
520-868-3188 Website 1 |
Attraction: Sunland Visitor Center Description: Sunland Visitor Center located ¾ miles north of I-10, Exit 203, Toltec Road, in the Golden Corridor in Pinal County, Midway between Phoenix & Tucson. Housed in the Villa Santa Cruz, a historic hotel built in 1916.Part of the Villa Oasis School campus, a private school developed by Headmaster John Steinbeck II, son of Pulitzer Prize winning author John Steinbeck. Visitor Center houses all information about the County with free brochures, maps and statewide information.
Address: P.O. Box 280 Arizona City, AZ 85123
Hours: Entrance Fees: (520) 466-3007 1-888-786-3007 Website 1 |
Attraction: Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum Description: The purpose of the Superstition Mountain Museum is to collect, preserve and display the artifacts, history and folklore of the Superstition Mountain area and adjacent regions. There is evidence that man was here some 9000 years ago. Later inhabitants included the Salado and Hohokam followed by Spanish explorers, Apache Indians and Mexican gold miners. As modern times approached men and women began searching for what they believed was the richest gold mine in the world. The Superstition Mountain Museum is located in the Goldfield Ghost Town. Come feel the Gold Rush in Arizona at the turn of the century.
Address: 4087 N Apache TrailApache Junction, AZ 85119
Hours: 1Open Daily 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Closed Thanksgiving Day and Xmas Day
Entrance Fees: 480-983-4888 Website 1 |
Attraction: Tonto National Park Cliff Dwelling Description: The Tonto Cliff Dwellings are a remnant of the Salado people. President Roosevelt protected the dwellings after the construction of the Roosevelt Dam began. The Tonto National Park consists of the Lower and Upper Cliff Dwellings. The Upper Cliff Dwellings are only open November to April and it is a 3-mile round trip hike. To get the Lower Cliff Dwelling, it is only a ½ mile trek. The park also has scheduled special activities like full moon hikes, off-site hikes and living history demonstrations.
Address: Highway 188, Roosevelt, AZ 85545 (near Theodore Roosevelt Lake)
Hours: Daily 8:00 am to 5:00 pm except Christmas Day; Lower Cliff Dwelling trail closes to uphill travel at 4:00 pm.
Entrance Fees: $3.00 per person
520-467-2241 Website 1 |
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