My husband, 7 year old son and I will be in the Tucson area March 8-11. Can anyone recommend a nice place to stay that is central to attractions, reasonably priced and kid-friendly. What%26#39;s the weather like in March? Any attractions that you can suggest for a 7 year old boy?
Tucson %26amp; Southern Arizona in March
I would try the Doubletree at Reid Park. Centrally located and you always know what you are getting. The don%26#39;t miss attraction for a 7 year old is Old Tucson. ALso, Reid Park Zoo, the Planatarium at the University, and the Tucson Children%26#39;s Museum. March daytime highs are often perfect...in the 80s...but can also swing 10 degrees in either direction. There were some 90s last year mid March. It obviously can also rain.
Tucson %26amp; Southern Arizona in March
The don%26#39;t miss attractions for a 7-year old boy would be the Zoo and the Sonoran Desert Museum.
Great. Thanks very much. My son is into cowboys so Old Tucson will be a definite for us. He also mentioned that he wanted to go to an Indian Reservation. Is there anything between Phoenix and Tucson that you know of that we could visit that would show him their way of life? We were in Sedona last year and did the north part of Arizona and managed to see Montezuma%26#39;s Castle and the Hopi House in the Grand Canyon but I was wondering if there was anything south. I read somewhere about the Gila area but I can%26#39;t find and web links.
I would rank the Doubletree as a ';3.5 star'; property. It is very nice. Rates at the time you want would be $197-229 for a single room plus taxes. A less expensive centrally located property would be the Randolph Park Hotel and Suites at $80-140 depending on room type which includes suites with kitchenettes available. The latter hotel is recently upgraded but I would rank it as a ';2 star'; property.
Old Tucson - Before you go, once you are here, call them and find out what they are actually offering the day you want to go.
Indian Reservations - Southwest of Tucson are the Tohono O%26#39;Odham tribal lands. Their way of life today is not different than ours. The same for the Akimel Ootham (Gila River) people south of Phoenix. We also have Yaqui communities. All live in houses, generally lower economic circumstances, work, etc. Other than a sign that says ';tribal lands,'; you would not notice anything different. There is really nothing to visit. These people are not and were never like the Indians portrayed in Western movies. The San Xavier Mission is located on the tribal lands near I-19 south of Tucson. The Arizona State Museum on the campus of the Univ. of Arizona has some cultural displays about native people of this area. The best resource is the Heard Museum in Phoenix.
I wish the normal early March temperatures were in the 80%26#39;s. In fact, the averages are low 70%26#39;s daytime and mid - 40%26#39;s at night. But it certainly could be much warmer -- or cooler.
You and your son would also probably enjoy Tombstone.
I think your son will enjoy Old Tucson. They have various activities, actors walking around interfacing with kids, then put on gun fight shows in the middle of the street or in a stadium area. Not much for adults to do though. Maybe think about doing a horseback ride while here.
Between Tucson and Phoenix, there%26#39;s the Gila River Indian Community which has the ';Huhugam'; Cultural Center at the Highway 347 exit (Exit 162). There%26#39;s also Casa Grande (the monument, not the town), which is just a large, ancient dwelling of the people that once lived along the Gila. No one there now though.
If you go to the San Xavier Mission in Tucson, there are a few craft stores on the mission grounds along with the frybread vendors.
For hotels, maybe also look into the La Quinta and Embassy Suites on Broadway, the Inn and Suites at Saint Mary%26#39;s or on Oracle, and the Country Inn and Suites on Oracle.
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