Get Local

Get to know Tucson like a local. Take in a sporting event from the Pac-12 University of Arizona Wildcats. Golf at top notch courses like Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain, Ventana Canyon, La Paloma, Tucson National, or Vistoso Golf Courses. Explore Pima Air & Space Museum, Biosphere II, Mission San Xavier del Bac or the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. There are so many things to do in Tucson, you may need to extend your stay. The 3 Palms Tucson is perfectly located for a vast array of activities and sights. Check out some of the best things to do in Tucson below.

An Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Hotel

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum - Where the wonders of nature abound. Stay at our Arizona-Sonora Museum hotel and enjoy easy access to a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden in one. Founded in 1952, the museum is ranked on TripAdvisor.com as one of the Top 10 Museums in the country and the #1 Tucson attraction, with 85% of its exhibits outdoors. The 98-acre museum encompasses 21 acres with two miles of walking paths through desert habitats, 230 animal species, 1,200 types of plants and one of the world's most comprehensive regional mineral collections.

Every year, the Arizona-Sonora Museum hosts about 400,000 visitors and reaches approximately 35,000 school children each year through field trips and outreach programs. Join them and make a day of it; the museum is also home to two restaurants and snack shops.

Come stay at our hotel near Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 3 Palms Tucson in the North Foothills, located just 20 miles from the museum.

Arizona-Sonora Museum Desert Museum
2021 North Kinney Road
Tucson, AZ 85743
(520) 883-1380

The University of Arizona

Situated conveniently close to campus, the 3 Palms Tucson is one of the most accessible hotels near University of Arizona-Tucson. One of the top public research universities in the world, the University of Arizona is home to over 42,000 students. Including major organizations like UA Health Networks, the UA Medical Center and the BIO5 Institute, the university is particularly known for its innovations in medicine and space exploration. In fact, UA receives more NASA grants for space exploration than any other university nationally.

As one of the world's premier public research universities, the University of Arizona is the source of many incredible innovations, ongoing projects and initiatives. Conducting more than $625 million in research annually, UA is ranked 19th among public universities and 29th overall in research expenditures, UA Health Networks helps treat more than 100,000 patients each year, and the UA Medical Center houses the only Level I trauma center in Southern Arizona. Researchers at the UA's BIO5 Institute have helped form 20 spin-off companies in the past eight years, and the UA is leading a first-of-its-kind mission to send a spacecraft to a near-Earth asteroid in 2020.

If you’re a prospective student or the family of one, you can choose a variety of free, guided tours through the UA Visitor Center in the fall and spring semesters (reservations recommended).

Here are some great things you can do at U of A:

• The Arizona State Museum (ASM) - Founded in 1893, the Museum holds artifacts, exhibitions and educational and research opportunities. One highlight is the world’s largest collection of Southwest American Indian pottery and basketry.
• The Arboretum – The oldest continually maintained green space in Arizona holds a vast collection of arid and semi-arid native plants, shrubs and trees.
• Biosphere 2 – A real “Wonder of the World” (chosen as such by Time Life Books), Biosphere 2 contains a living rainforest, ocean and four other biomes in a 3.14-acre laboratory.
• The Center for Creative Photography – Rotating exhibitions at this Ansel Adams-founded institution include the seminal works of 20th century photographers.
• The Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium - Southern Arizona’s only planetarium hosts hands-on exhibits, sky shows and music laser shows, and features a 16-inch telescope (no reservations needed).
• The Jim Click Hall of Champions – A showcase for the Arizona Athletics, rotating exhibits feature historic moments in Wildcats history.
• University of Arizona Poetry Center - Arizona’s first literary arts center and internationally renowned library collection contains over 70,000 poetry-related items; you can visit exhibitions, readings, lectures, classes, discussion groups and children’s activities all year long.

All these and many more attractions of educational, scientific and artistic significance can be found during your visit to the University of Arizona. After an engaging day of touring the campus, return to our Tucson hotel for a refreshing nights' sleep and generous amenities. If booking a group stay or event space is necessary, please don't hesitate to contact our staff and learn about our planning capacities.

Golf

You can't visit Arizona without making sure to get a couple of rounds in. Fortunately, Red Lion Inn & Suites Tucson North Foothills is in close proximity to some of the best in the state.

Dating back to the 1930s, golf in and around Tucson has been part of the city for decades. Enjoy the beautiful Arizona landscapes while you are on the green and then return to our spacious accommodations and relax in our deluxe amenities such as our outdoor whirlpool/hot tub and pool.

Enjoy a peaceful day on the green of one of these golf courses near the Red Lion Inn and Suites Tucson North Foothills:

El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Club
10555 N La Cañada Dr
Oro Valley, AZ 85737
(520) 544-1900

Crooked Tree Golf Course
9101 N Thornydale Rd
Tucson, AZ 85742
(520) 744-3366

Links At Continental Ranch Golf Club
8480 N Continental Links Dr
Tucson, AZ 85743
(520) 744-7443

Heritage Highlands Golf & Country Club
4949 W Heritage Club Blvd
Marana, AZ 85658
(520) 579-9574

The Golf Club at Dove Mountain
6501 W Boulder Bridge Pass
Marana, AZ 85658
(520) 572-3500