Tucson, Arizona: Gateway to the Stars
By Jim Rue
Tucson, Arizona is a desert city of nearly a million souls that aspires to rival Phoenix. It has cheesy tourist traps, a world class wildlife museum, and good bookstores.
Nearby lies 'Old Tucson' where Western movies are made and re-enactments are staged for the benefit of paying tourists. The authentic Old Tucson burned down decades ago, but the new Old Tucson entertains tourists from all over the globe. It is frankly acknowledged as a theme park and a movie studio. Old West re-enactments compete against carousel rides, trained chickens and air-rifle shooting galleries for the attention of children.
At $13 to enter on a weekend, the prices won't siphon the entire contents of your credit card like Disney will. The barbeque is good, of course. The barbeque is good everywhere in Arizona.
Desert Wildlife that Can't Eat You
Admission to the International Wildlife Museum is only $7. Even if it cost more it would hold more interest for a traveler such as myself. A short trip Southwest out of Tucson and an ascent through a narrow mountain pass is required to get to the museum. Emerging from the pass leaves nearly all signs of suburban Tucson behind you. But arrival at the museum is misleading. All you find is a parking lot. Though crawling with over 400 species of wildlife, the center is very effectively hidden in the gentle incline of the hillside on which it resides. After paying your admission you follow a wide path through the park.
Around every curve in the asphalt, another underground pavilion houses reptiles, spiders, ants, bees or fish. Outdoor displays hold havalina, jaguars and prairie dogs, all caged within a couple of steps of visitors. The strong nets that contain the animals are comprised of nylon filament so thin it can hardly be seen, even from a yard away, maintaining the illusion that you are sharing the desert with these creatures.
Literate Tucson
Tucson also offers Bookmans, a supermarket of used books. In fact, they have three stores, and another one in Tucson. This place puts even Borders to shame. It is spacious, community-involved far beyond the capability (some might say 'willingness') of any mass marketing superchain, and the coffee bar serves excellent coffee. Book events and musical performances are frequent and eclectic. Unlike Borders, Bookmans' Wi-Fi connection is free. They even sell computer software still in the box for cents on the dollar.
Hot!
Did I mention that Tucson is hot? It's hot. Summertime temperatures sometimes exceed 120 degrees F. While Tucson averages 350 sunny days per year, the wettest month is July when monsoons and flash floods become part of the local scenery.