SPORTS & RECREATION
With sunny skies year-round, Tucson provides the perfect backdrop for outdoor adventures. There are sports and games for kids—swimming, rock climbing, Pee-Wee football, and more—while adults can practice their golf games at one of the many courses citywide. Plus, the surrounding mountains offer endless trails for hiking, biking, and birding.
GOLF
Visitors to Tucson spend more time and money on golf than on any other form of recreation. And no wonder—Tucson and Southern Arizona have a wealth of fine courses. Check the annual Tucson Golf Guide (phone 800-638-8350) or the "Golf Guide" course listings in the latest issue of Tucson Guide magazine. Or visit www.azgolfguides.com for a comprehensive listing of courses throughout Arizona.
U OF A SPORTS
Baseball Many pro players have come out of The University of Arizona's baseball program. The U of A Wildcats have won the national championship three times at the College World Series. They look to carry on that tradition under head coach Andy Lopez.
Basketball The Wildcats have been PAC- 10 champions 10 of the past 17 years. Under coach Lute Olson, the team has averaged 20 victories a year for the past 16 years. They’ve also participated in the NCAA tournament each year for the past 23 years, reaching the Final 4 four times. In 1997 the Wildcats won the NCAA championship game. The U of A sends several star players to the NBA each year. In 1998 coach Joan Bonvicini’s women’s basketball Wildcats tied for second in the PAC-10—the best record in the team’s history.
Football The Wildcats garnered national recognition after their 1998 Holiday Bowl triumph over perennial powerhouse Nebraska. Head coach Mike Stoops promises to lead the Wildcats to further glory with top-drawer recruits and an exciting offensive game.
Hockey The U of A Icecats play in the Tucson Convention Center (TCC). A strong club hockey team, they've ranked among the best in the nation since their initial season in 1979.
Softball U of A women’s softball has become a legend in the PAC-10 and national tournaments under the direction of coach Mike Candrea. The Wildcats have won seven NCAA national championships in the past 16 seasons, including their latest victory in 2006.
U of A Tickets: 520-621-2287, www.arizonaathletics.com For the Icecats phone the TCC ticket line at 520-791-4266, or visit www.uaicecats.com for more information.
For more information on U of A sports, visit www.arizonaathletics.com.
⇑ return to topFITNESS CENTERS
Fitness centers should not be excluded from your overall healthcare picture. Some health insurance companies offer a discount on health insurance if you participate in a fitness plan.
| Bally Total Fitness 2475 N. Swan Rd. 4690 N. Oracle Rd www.ballyfitness.com |
520-323-1238 |
| Gold's Gym 7315 N. Oracle Rd. #203 www.goldsgym.com | 520-297-8000 |
| Gold's Gym 5851 E. Speedway Blvd. www.goldsgym.com | 520-751-0303 |
| Gold's Gym 110 S. Church Ave. #5030 www.goldsgym.com | 520-623-6300 |
| Green Valley Recreation 1070 Calle de las Casitas (Green Valley) www.gvrec.org | 520-625-3440 |
| LA Fitness 4240 N. 1st Ave. www.lafitness.com |
520-888-4900 |
| LA Fitness 2950 W. Ina Rd. www.lafitness.com | 520-742-2881 |
| LA Fitness 240 S. Wilmot Rd. www.lafitness.com | 520-748-1295 |
| Mid-Valley Athletic Club and Wellness Center 142 S. Tucson Blvd. | 520-792-3654 |
| Randolph Recreation Center 200 S. Alvernon Way | 520-791-4560 |
| Tucson Racquet & Fitness Club 4001 N. Country Club Rd. www.tucsonracquetclub.com | 520-795-6960 |
| Morris K. Udall Recreation Center 7200 E. Tanque Verde Rd. | 520-791-4931 |
PARKS
CITY PARKS
Tucson has several attractive, large parks and dozens of small neighborhood parks within its city limits. In addition to maintaining the parks, the Tucson Parks & Recreation Department runs sports and aquatic programs, athletic leagues, and a wide variety of leisure education classes through recreation and neighborhood centers. Among these centers is a therapeutic recreation center in Reid Park at 200 S. Alvernon Way. For more information on city-organized recreational activities phone 520-791-4873. Reid Park Zoo (520-791-4022) houses more than 400 animals from all over the world.
| After-school recreation | 520-791-4873 |
| Aquatics programs | 520-791-4245 |
| Citywide sports | 520-791-4870 |
| Health & wellness programs | 520-791-4873 |
| Info, field & ramada reservations | 520-791-4873 |
| Performing arts classes | 520-791-5223 |
| Visual arts programs | 520-791-4063 |
PIMA COUNTY NATURAL RESOURCES
PARKS & RECREATION
A free map of metropolitan Tucson, identifying Pima County park facilities, is available at local public libraries. The county parks offer fewer amenities than the city parks, and a different but equally enjoyable range of activities, including arts & crafts classes, summer children's programs, and more. 520-877-6000
STATE & FEDERAL PARKS
The Internet offers a fast introduction to Arizona's state parks (www.pr.state.az.us), national forests (www.fs.fed.us), and national parks (www.nps.gov). Many of these charge entrance fees.
Catalina State Park, north of Tucson, off AZ Hwy. 77 offers camping, hiking, picnicking, birding, an equestrian area, and a souvenir shop. 520-628-5798
Coronado National Forest encompasses mountain ranges throughout Southern Arizona. Enjoy camping, hiking, birding, picnicking, and even some fishing. Phone 520-388-8300.
Patagonia Lake State Park is northeast of Nogales, off AZ Hwy. 82, and offers camping, hiking, fishing, picnicking, swimming, boating, and a beach area. Thirty-four electric hookups. 520-287-6965
Picacho Peak State Park lies north of Tucson off I-10. Enjoy camping, hiking, picnicking, spring wildflowers, and a Civil War battle reenactment each spring. Camping, hookups. 520-466-3183
Saguaro National Park, east and west of Tucson, offers hiking and visitor center exhibits. 520-733-5100
Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park, in Tombstone, at 3rd and Toughnut Streets, is a Victorian courthouse filled with Wild West exhibits and artifacts. Bookstore. 520-457-3311
Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, in Tubac, off I-19, showcases a military site, schoolhouse, antique printing press, archaeological site, museum exhibits, and Los Tubaqueños, a late-1700s Spanish period village. Picnicking facilities. 520-398-2252, www.tubacaz.com
MT. LEMMON
Mt. Lemmon is an instructor's manual in vertical life zones. The narrow and winding Catalina Highway takes you from the saguaro-studded desert floor up to a forest at the summit, with pines, aspens, and firs. Campgrounds, picnic areas, a lake at Rose Canyon, and a quaint village at the top, appropriately named Summerhaven, all serve as great rest stops. A $5 fee applies unless you are visiting only Summerhaven or Ski Valley or Rose Canyon Lake. Call ahead for road conditions and closures. 520-751-9405 or 520-547-7510 for a recording.
SABINO CANYON
Enjoy narrated tours through the place where mammoths roamed, ancient Hohokam people made irrigation dams, pony soldiers discovered swimming holes, and the Civilian Conservation Corps built bridges and cut hiking trails. Trams run daily, with multiple stops, including one at the trailhead of a lovely 2.6-mile (one-way) hike to Seven Falls. Evening
shuttles run (by reservation) just before each full moon Apr.–June and Sept.–Nov. Fees for parking and the tram. Phone ahead for tram schedules and stops. Located on north Sabino Canyon Rd. 520-749-2861,
www.sabinocanyon.com
TOHONO CHUL PARK
Known for its demonstration and ethnobotanical
gardens and wheelchair-accessible
trails, as well as a retail greenhouse, this privately
owned 49-acre natural desert park received
a special citation from Mutual of
Omaha’s Wildlife Trust for dedication to conservation
and education. It features changing
exhibits and programs for adults and
children. At 7366 N. Paseo del Norte, the
park includes the Tohono Chul Tea Room.
520-742-6455,
www.tohonochulpark.org
TUCSON BOTANICAL GARDENS
A desert oasis in midtown, the Tucson Botanical Gardens has demonstration gardens, tours, lectures, classes, a gift shop, and exhibits of arid, semitropical, and tropical plants—all displayed in intimate garden settings around an adobe home. Plant sales and other events are held throughout the year. At 2150 N. Alvernon Way. Phone 520-326-9686 or visit www.tucsonbotanical.org.
⇑ return to topSAFETY
Tucson is a great spot for birdwatching, hiking, biking, and exploring, but before hitting the trail, keep these safety tips in mind:
- Check the weather forecast.
- Check in with park rangers before hiking on cold days or during hot, dry weather.
- Always carry water, regardless of the temperature outside. Also pack a first-aid kit, bug spray, sunscreen, energy snacks, and a cell phone in case of an emergency.
- If traveling alone, tell someone where you are going and when you plan to be back.
- Stay on designated paths.
COMMUNITY CENTERS
Local community facilities cater to families, offering everything from swim lessons to child care to youth programs.
| YMCA of Tucson 60 W. Alameda St. www.ymca.net | 520-623-5511 |
| YMCA of Tucson 2900 N. Columbus Blvd. www.ymca.net | 520-795-9725 |
| YMCA of Tucson 5085 S. Nogales Hwy. www.ymca.net | 520-294-1449 |
| YMCA of Tucson 401 S. Prudence Rd. www.ymca.net | 520-885-2317 |
| YMCA of Tucson 7770 N. Shannon Rd. www.ymca.net | 520-229-9001 |
| Tucson Jewish Community Center 3800 E. River Rd. www.tucsonjcc.org | 520-299-3000 |