Updated 01/22/2019. Occasionally, many of our local merchants offer Free and special deals and discounts on products and services for our visitors to Tucson and Baja (Southern) Arizona. We will update this page from time to time.
These deals can amount to substantial savings on lodging, dining, and merchandise and make your vacation dollars go a lot further.
Check out our Best Deals in the posts below.
Also, check out our Featured Events page, many of which are FREE or FREE with Admission.
MUSEUMS
The Gadsden Pacific Toy Train Museum is open most 2nd and 4th Sundays 12:30 – 4:30pm.
Tubac Center of the Arts
Free entrance to the Art Museum
Children’s Museum
The Children’s Museum offers free or discounted admission days throughout the year.
- • $3/3s – $3 per person admission on the third of each month
- • Make it Mondays! – $3 per person admission every Monday from Memorial Day through Labor Day
- • Art After Dark – Free admission from 5:30-8 pm on the Second Saturday of each month
- • Free community events – Please check the calendar for upcoming events or call ahead of time to confirm.
   • Military families can get one child in free for each presented Military ID.
• Children’s Museum Tucson is part of the Museums for All program. Families that present an EBT/SNAP card or a WIC card and a valid form of photo ID can get $3 per person admission for up to 4 people.
Tucson Museum of Art
- FREE first Thursday of the month, from 5pm – 8pm
- FREE 2nd Sundaze of the month to Residents of AZ and Sonora Mexico.
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Tucson History Museum – Arizona Historical Society
A Free look at Tucson’s Past. Only open Weekdays.
De Grazia Museum
Tucson’s own. Well, Ettore De Grazia was actually born in Morenci, Arizona
GARDENS and NATURE
San Pedro River Conservation Area
The Friends of the San Pedro offer free tours from time to time. Tours such as a trip to the ghost town of Charleston or Fairbank, a tour of the Mill sites that processed ore for Tombstone or a trip to the Clanton Ranch Ruins.
- Docent led Tours along the San Pedro River.
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Mission Garden
Free – $5 suggested donation
Birding in the Garden (second Thursday of each month, 8 a.m.)
Wander the garden in search of birds with Kendall Kroesen. Free.
Herbalist in the Garden (third Saturday of each month, 9 – 11 a.m.)
An expert from the Tucson Herbalist Collective answers questions about our herb gardens. Free.
Arizona Sonora Desert Museum
The best buy here is to purchase a membership.
MUSIC
One our favorite Sunday venues is the Arizona Folklore Preserve. Only $15 a show.
Check out other Best Deals in the posts below.
The 25Th Anniversary Edition – The Tucson Attractions Passport
For many years, Southern Arizona Guide has recommended the Tucson Attractions Passport (aka Book of Fun) to our visitors. It’s consistently the best deal in
A Visit to Santa Theresa Tile Works
Today, my neighbor and friend Maggie visited Santa Theresa Tile Works. For me, it was the first time. I have lived here for 20 years
Van Gogh Exhibit: An Adventure Review
Ms. Karen had ordered tickets for the Van Gogh Exhibit online and we went in mid-August 2023. It is located at the Oro Valley Marketplace
Great Plans for the Reid Park Zoo
This past week, we went on an early morning tour of the Reid Park Zoo as a part of our membership to the Attractions Alliance.
DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun
Ted DeGrazia was a world-renowned artist who, with his Native American friends, built one of the world’s most unique art galleries to showcase his work. However you describe his art, I’m sure your visit to the DeGrazia Gallery In The Sun in Northeast Tucson will be a most interesting and enjoyable outing.
Wanderland at TucsonBotanical Gardens 2021
Recently we had the distinct pleasure of a private tour of Tucson Botanical Gardens. The occasion was an annual Christmas party for the Southern Arizona
A Puppet Show For Grownups in Tucson!
I visited Lisa Sturz, from Red Herring Puppets the other day. Lisa is the Puppet Master and Proprietor of Red Herring Puppets. Red Herring Puppets
Bird Walks: Sierra Vista Environmental Park
The bird walks are not currently being hosted by the Friends of the San Pedro River on Sundays at the Environmental Operations Park in Sierra
Experience Barrio Bread
Who has not heard of Barrio Bread? Everyone has written about them, including the New York Times. But have you tasted their bread? Barrio Bread
Tucson Meet Yourself Is Both Local & Very International
As Tucsonans going about our daily business, few of us realize just how culturally diverse our city is. But over a 3-day weekend each October,
Summit Hut: A Top Notch Adventure Store
Warning: This is a shameless plug for Summit Hut. No one pays us for our recommendations. We just like Summit Hut. It is a high
The Heavens Through Sky Center’s Telescope
(While 99% of the Guide’s content is either Ms. Karen’s or Jim’s product, occasionally we invite adventurous and talented others to write a guest column.
Did You Know Pima County Has a Membership Program?
Pima County is actively updating their website infrastructure, bringing it into the 21st Century, so to speak. And it doing so they have made it
A Date In Yuma
When we stopped by the Yuma Visitor Center to ask about what there is to see and do nearby, the helpful folks there made several
Big Changes At Tucson Museum of Art
Kelly Wiehe, Director of Communications and External Affairs for the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, recently gave me a tour of the Museum
Love Music? On a Budget?
Do you love music but can’t afford the upscale venues around Tucson? Here is a suggestion. Fred Fox School of Music – Visit this page
A Deal for the Gaslight Theatre
Everyone who has been in Tucson for more than a year has probably heard of the Gaslight Theatre. If not, see our review of this
Should Desert Dove Be On Our List Of Tucson’s Best B&B’s?
Blue Agave Bed & Breakfast was on our original Five Best Tucson Bed & Breakfast Inns published in 2014. It was with profound regret that
You Won’t Miss The Gluten At Gourmet Girls Bakery & Bistro
April 2016 – Permit me to say this straight away. Gourmet Girls is one of the best bakeries and restaurants in Tucson. If you are
The Ghost Town Tour You Should Not Have Missed!
Our Ghost Town Tour leaves from Costco parking lot at I-10 & Kino Parkway at 8 AM. Usually, we go mid-week. It takes about an
