Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
Offering a zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum has solidified its reputation in the scientific community because of its more than half-century mission of education, research and preservation of the Sonoran Desert. Featured animals include mountain lions, prairie dogs and Gila monsters—more than 300 animal species and 1,200 kinds of plants, in total. The museum offers two miles of walking paths snaking through 21 acres. The Desert Garden, Ironwood Complex and Taylor Complex can be kept open for events after the museum closing time of 5 p.m. On-site catering is available.
Old Tucson Studios
Attendees can dine in an OId West town that has been brought back to life, serving as a theme park and movie set. Meal styles range from chuckwagon barbecues and five-course meals to picnics for up to 5,000. Groups of more than 1,500 can take advantage of exclusive park rentals. Staff at Old Tucson Studios can also customize events, and one interesting option is to have them shoot a movie starring your organization.
Sabino Canyon
Sabino Canyon is a natural desert oasis located in Coronado National Forest, and is home to a wide array of flora, such as palo verde trees, cholla and prickly pear cactus and ocotillo, and fauna, including the pig-like javelina, many varieties of snakes, tarantulas and white-tail deer. Sabino Canyon Tours coordinates group tour arrangements that include small trams that can accommodate 48 up to a large tram that fits 64. Evening rides are offered three nights per month during April, May, June, September, October and November.
Pima Air & Space Museum
More than 300 aircraft and spacecraft from the U.S. and from around the world are on display, including an SR-71A Blackbird, the only manned, jet-powered aircraft to exceed Mach 3. The museum can accommodate groups from 20 to 700, with virtually unlimited outdoor capacity. The facility specializes in theme parties held in its hangars, amidst its prodigious collection. Tours of 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, aka "The Boneyard," can also be arranged, but carry various security restrictions.