Tucson

A blindingly white adobe building that rises from a serene, brown landscape. — Frommer's

Easily accessed recreation area on the northern edge of Tucson in the Coronado National Forest. Trails, picnic areas, self-guided walking tours and shuttle buses. — Where

More than 300 airplanes are on display in hangars and outside, including a presidential plane used by both John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. — Fodor's

On the campus of the University of Arizona in Tucson sits the largest and oldest anthropology museum in the SW United States. — Afar Magazine

This small campus museum houses a collection of more than 6,000 artworks. — Fodor's

A real rainforest, a million-gallon ocean, green-technology systems and firsthand experiments about future life on our planet. — Where

The Cold War is recounted in chilling detail, from the conclusion of World War II through the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, on the former site of a Titan II intercontinental ballistic missile. — Where

Attractions include a 16-inch public telescope for evening stargazing, hands-on science exhibits, planetarium shows, and a Mineral Museum, which displays more than 2,000 rocks and gems, some quite rare. — Fodor's

Also known as the Tucson Mountain District, the smaller, western section of the glorious Saguaro National Park is perhaps slightly ahead of its eastern neighbor in photogenic splendor. — Lonely Planet

Miniature art that tells an enormous story.  — Atlas Obscura

Exhibits include re-created O'odham, Mexican and Anglo-American homes of the 1870s and a replica of El Presidio. — Michelin Guide

Immerse yourself in 5 1/2 acres of stunning, regional plant life, plus 17 specialty gardens. — Where

A global menagerie... delights young and old at the small and compact Reid Park Zoo. — Lonely Planet

The CCP is known for its ever-changing, high-caliber exhibits. — Lonely Planet

Play-based learning experiences that illustrate principles of science, technology, engineering and math, with dedicated zones for guided art-making, construction activities and lessons in wellness. — Where