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Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona Libraries, 1030 N. Olive Road, 520-621-7968, creativephotogra . With the help of Ansel Adams, the center was created in 1975 to archive artists’ works, house book collections and support photography in general. The center features a collection of more than 26,000 volumes on the history of photography, rare books and books from photograhers’ collections, including Adams and W. Eugene Smith. The center also hosts traveling exhibits, and the public can view any of the 80,000 photographs in its archives of more than 50 renowned photographers for free simply by making an appointment.
DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, 6300 N. Swan Road, 800-545-2185, . Not only is it worthwhile to stop in at this sweet, 10-acre property to see the paintings, watercolors, ceramics, bronzes and other works of the late Ettore “Ted” DeGrazia, but through the generosity of the artist’s wife, exhibits from up-and-coming artists can be seen at the on-site Little Gallery, as well.
The Lost Barrio, Park Avenue south of Broadway. There’s no charge for looking, and if you happen to find a bargain, well, then put this in the “cheap” or “reasonable” category. But part of the fun here is just walking around this old warehouse district with a global bent, with something for everyone and a couple of eateries tucked among the mishmash of furniture, Mexican imports, Moroccan textiles and Asian antiques. My favorite is Aqui Esta! (204 S. Park Ave., 520-798-3605), which features locally made furniture and art, Dia de los Muertos figurines, retablos, crosses, santos and all manner of Mexican imported glassware and pottery. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, owner Edna Olmedo will help you track it down.
The Presidio Trail, or “Turquoise Trail,” a historic walking tour of downtown Tucson, download a free map for a self-guided tour at . .html or visit El Presidio San Agustin (on Washington between Church and Court Avenue) or at the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau (La Placita Village on Broadway and Church). If you do the whole trail, it covers 2.5 miles, takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours and follows a turquoise-colored line, past 23 points of interest and optional sites, including the historic Fox Theater, the Railroad Depot, the 1920s-era hotel and cafe where police captured the John Dillinger gang, the 1850s Sosa-Carillo-Fremont house and more.
Mission San Xavier del Bac, 1950 W. San Xavier Road, 520-294- 2624, . A donation is always appreciated, but no one will make you feel bad for simply driving the 9 miles out of Tucson to appreciate “the white dove of the desert,” a stunning sight in this landscape, with an impressive interior, as well. Situated on a reservation of the Tohono O’odham tribe, the mission has Indian arts and crafts for sale, and Catholic mass is held daily. Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, 5700 N Sabino Canyon Road, 520-749-8700, . or . A series of trails and natural pools provide a way to get away in the Santa Catalinas and Coronado National Forest north of the city; you can hike for free or pay Sabino Canyon Tours (sabinocanyon.com) a few bucks to haul you along in an open-air tram. Either way, there are opportunities to swim, relax, get in a good workout or just escape.
Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave., 520-624-2333, . Time your trip to include the first Sunday of each month, and there’s no fee; otherwise, it’s $8 for adults ($3 under 13; $6 over 60). The regular exhibit is always worth the price of admission, considering the American West and Latin America collections. Through Feb. 15, the Maynard Dixon show is top-notch; next up is “Trouble in Paradise: Examining Discord between Nature and Society,” Feb. 28-June 28.
Tucson Children’s Museum, 200 S. Sixth Ave., 520-792-9987, tucson . Call ahead to find out what each month’s free day is and plan accordingly. On the days when it’s not free, this interactive museum, which offers fun and educational games, events and just plain places for kids to be kids (all ages are welcome, but ages 2 to 9 seem to get the most out of it). Closed Mondays; admission is $5 ages 2-18 and seniors, $7 adults, under 2 free.
CHEAP
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 North Kinney Road, 520-883-2702, . In a world where a fancy cup of coffee costs $5, it seems as though $13 per adult ($4.25 ages 6-12) is a rather fair exchange to spend the better part of a day watching a mountain lion lick his chops as a thick-billed parrot preens, getting close enough to an encased rattlesnake to feel its warning vibrations, marveling at the javelina family dynamic and maybe letting a hummingbird land in your hair. In between, meander through the Sonoran Desert ecosystem thriving here, and don’t miss the raptor free- flight program or the free sunscreen in the restrooms. Also, in the summer on Saturdays from 5-10 p.m., admission is only $6 $2.25 ages 6-12).
Old Pueblo Trolley, oldpueblo . For $1 per person per trip (and 25 cents on Sundays), ride the historic electric streetcars on Friday and Saturday nights along University Boulevard and Fourth Avenue, which gives you a tour of restored homes and takes you to the shopping district and the University of Arizona. Not to mention it’s cool, and they let kids ring the bell.
Saguaro National Park, 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail, . There are two entrances to this magnificent park, and which one you pick depends on what you’re looking to do. The 66,621-acre east entrance, Rincon Mountain District (520-733-5153) is on Old Spanish Trail about 3 miles outside of downtown Tucson and abuts a lot of giant, fancy houses but is the one to go to if checking out the wonderful visitors center and then driving the magnificent, saguaro-studded, 9-mile Cactus Forest Drive loop. You can get out along the way and hike any of the 100 miles of hiking trails or have a picnic. The 24,824-acre west entrance to the Tucson Mountain District (520-733-5158) is off Kinney Road, 2 miles north of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and also has a visitors center, saguaro forests and about 40 miles of hiking and gorgeous mountain views. This is a national park, so if you don’t have a pass, admission is $10 per vehicle, good for seven days.
Spring training Feb. 25-Apr. 2. Major League Baseball tosses the Colorado Rockies, the Arizona Diamondbacks and other Cactus League teams onto the Tucson scene, and with tickets running $4-$17 for the Rockies at Hi Corbett Field and $5-$25 for Diamondback games at Tucson Electric Park, you can expect to get a family of four in — with hot dogs and sodas and a beer or two, a couple of souvenirs, and maybe an autograph — for more than half of what it would cost at a regular-season game. Visit visittucson . ing/ or . for tickets and schedule.
