American Gothic Statue - Chicago, IL
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Traveling is expensive. This is not news.
Traveling with kids can be an exercise in restraint. It happens.
Kids need a moment to run, stretch and yell. And possibly air out. You know, kid stuff. What kids don’t need, however, is something that costs a lot of money. Sure, they’d be pleased as punch to stop at an arcade or amusement park, and maybe you will, but don’t underestimate the appeal of a rest area hill and a piece of cardboard.
Granted, you may not have a piece of cardboard in the family truckster, but you do have imagination and a road open with possibilities.
After all, it’s the trip, not the destination.
For more family-friendly travel photos visit DeliciousBaby’s Photo Fridays.
Photo by W. Honea
Mother and son on the beach in Maui, HI.
Photo by Whit Honea
Dove Mountain Course in Marana, AZ (Photo: WSTickets)
Tucson, Arizona (and the surrounding towns of Marana, Oro Valley, Green Valley and Sauharita) is an area of over a million people and even more cacti. It is an oasis in the desert where saguaros grow on golf courses and margaritas are served with lunch.
Although the winter nights can be quite chilly the days are relatively warm and almost always sunny. The same can be said for the spring and fall.
During the summer it tends to get a tad bit warmer (think hell-like), however, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more comfortable night than a summer evening in Tucson- especially if a monsoon has been by (they usually clear out fairly early).
There are plenty of things to do in and around the city. Some may require a drive of an hour or two, but all are worth it. Here are some favorites:
Sabino Canyon in Tucson, AZ (Photo: NSF)
Sabino Canyon- You can’t beat the beauty of this hiking area, but you can see it without the walk- tram service is available. Bring a swimsuit (and a camera)!
Old Tucson Studios – It’s twelve miles and 100 years from town. It’s an interactive and working studio specializing in your favorite westerns, Shoot out to Old Tucson!
Tombstone, AZ – If the real thing is more your style take a day trip to the home of the OK Corral. From Boot Hill to Big Nose Kate’s you can’t go wrong. While you’re in the area visit nearby Bisbee and tour the mine and/or check out the local art scene.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum – It’s a zoo. It’s a museum. It’s a botanical garden. It’s world-famous. It’s also very close to Old Tucson Studios.
Mount Lemon – You can drive it, hike it or ski it. Or all of the above.
Kitt Peak Observatory – Kitt Peak is to astronomers what Graceland is to Elvis fans. The views are fantastic.
Kitt Peak and Lightning (Photo: Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF)
San Xavier Mission – “The White Dove of the Desert” is a must-see for Catholics and non-Catholics alike. In a nutshell, it’s beautiful.
Tubac – If you like golf and galleries then you’ll enjoy a trip to Tubac. Also, if you like hiking the beautiful Madera Canyon is just a short drive away.
Nogales, Sonora (Mexico) – About two hours south of Tucson is this gateway to Mexico. It’s a great day trip for shopping, dining and culture. It can get a little rough in the evening as it fills up with drunken teens from the United States (drinking age is only 18 and rarely enforced), so you may want to get an early start on the drive back to Tucson. Depending on when you read this post a passport may be required to cross the border.
Bear Down, Arizona!
The University of Arizona – Home of the Wildcats, the University of Arizona is part of the Pac-10 confrence and a leader in all kinds of stuff. The campus is filled with museums, activities, and bikini-clad coeds (if you’re into that sort of thing, which I am). Notable alumni and staff include: Bob Dole, Barry Goldwater, Joan Ganz Cooney (creator of Sesame Street), Jerry Bruckheimer, Ted DeGrazia, Barbara Kingsolver, Greg Kinnear, Linda McCartney, Linda Ronstadt, Ruchard Russo, David Foster Wallace, Kristen Wiig, Gilbert Arenas, Lance Briggs, Tedy Bruschi, Mike Bibby, Terry Francona, Amanda Beard, Kurt Busch, Jennie Finch, Trevor Hoffman, Steve Kerr, Kenny Lofton, Annika Sorenstam, Jason Terry, Luke Walton, Mike Candrea, Lute Olson, Andrew Weil, and me.
However, the best thing to do in Tucson might be the easiest (and cheapest). Just find a place to sit and look at this:
Tucson Sunset (Photo: Photobucket)
Related:
Photo: TucsonAZ.gov
When people think of Tucson, Arizona and its gun-slinging element they tend to conjure up images of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday hopping trains to nearby Tombstone. Not many people think of the infamous criminal/folk hero John Dillinger and his gang that were all captured there. Dillinger Days can change that.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the moment which put the notorious Dillinger Gang behind the bars of a Tucson jail (Dillinger was shot 6 months later in Chicago) – all without a shot being fired.
The event kicks off this evening at the legendary Hotel Congress and fills the downtown area tomorrow with era-related car shows, lectures, tours, period costumes and a re-enactment of the big moment. Dillinger Days also serves as a charity supporting C.O.P.S. (Concerns of Police Survivors) that benefits families of officers killed while in the line of duty.
A schedule of events can be found here.
If you plan on visiting Tucson for the event or just the mild winter there are plenty of places to stay in the Downtown area, most notably Hotel Congress (also a great club and restaurant).
From downtown a quick walk will take you to 4th Avenue where a trolley can connect you to the University of Arizona (Go ‘Cats!) and the surrounding historic area and/or bars (that’s where the trolley really helps out).
Just because money is tight does not mean that you have to sit at home and stare at the walls. There are plenty of free activities to keep you and your family busy. Why not challenge yourself to find the most interesting free activity? Here are some suggestions to get you started on your path of Free and Exciting Things to Do in the Midwest.
In Kansas, try the Fashion Museum, a museum that covers 100 years of style, from 1870-1970. Or visit one of the many free activities in Amelia Earhart’s birthplace of Atchison. Click on the Other Attractions option on Amelia’s Birthplace Museum for a listing of free and/or inexpensive activities.
In Omaha, visit a replica garden of Mt. Vernon Gardens, that half-size replica of George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate. The estate sits on top a bluff overlooking the Missouri River and is said to be reminiscent of the view from the original Mount Vernon of the Potomac. Or visit the Mormon Trail Center at Historic Winter Quarters, a museum and visitor’s center that showcases the Mormon Trail from Illinois to Salt Lake City, with a Mormon temple and cemetery adjacent to the Center.
In Illinois, you can see a cube made from 1 million dollars and learn how to properly identify fake bills at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Money Museum. Of course, there are plenty of opportunities for history buffs in Illinois, as it is the birthplace of Abe Lincoln. For a list of free Abraham Lincoln sites, visit the Springfield Visitors Center web site. If a more rural take on Midwestern history interests you, then check out the Deere and Company World Headquarters.
In Michigan, honor those who fought, lived, and died during the Holocaust by visiting the Holocaust Memorial Center. For more history specific to the state, try the Michigan Historical Museum, where you can get a sample of arts and culture, research your family’s history, and discover much about Michigan’s past.
In North Dakota, the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site features exhibits, trails and a film that explore the culture and history of the villages where Sacagawea once lived. Or stop by the North Dakota Heritage Center, where a giant marine lizard greets visitors at this kid-friendly history museum.
Clearly there are plenty of options for those of us who are trying to tighten the belt and watch our budget. If you want to continue entertaining yourself and your family, you can pinch pennies at the same time by enjoying so much of what the beautiful Midwest has to offer. So load up the kids and head on out!
With children home for the summer, I’ve been trying to find ways to get them out of house and having fun without spending too much money. There are lots of kid-friendly things to do, but finding the ones that work when you’re feeling broke can be more of a challenge. This translates into our spending a lot of time at parks and playgrounds, because you know what? The parks in the Dallas metro area are extremely varied, educational, beautiful and, best of all, free.
© UpTake Networks, Inc. 2009
