Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson

If you're looking for an indoor activity during the hot Arizona summer, this is it! This modern museum is attractive and interactive! Kids can climb inside the cockpit of helicopters and planes and let their imaginations go wild! Even more fun is the air traffic control tower where kids can push buttons and communicate with the landing planes! There are flashing lights too! And kids can listen to live air traffic control tower broadcasts to give them ideas.

Another fun corner is the collection of colorful patches by Buddy Amos, who would ride his bicycle to the train station during World War II and ask the returning servicemen for their patches.
If it's not too hot, go outside and check out the extended collection of planes, including a Blue Angels fighter jet.
Top off the fun visit with some icecream in the cafe that looks out on the planes. The icecream is Thrifty brand, which is really delicious- you can't go wrong with Rocky Road!
Also great in Tucson is the Tucson Botanical Gardens. Go early in the morning and enjoy a stroll around the themed gardens. Kids like it too!

Directions

Pima Air and Space Museum is located at 6000 E. Valencia Rd, Tucson AZ 85706.
Open daily 9-5. Closed Thanksgiving (fourth Thurs in Nov) and Dec 25.
Admission is $15.50 for adults, $12.75 for seniors and county residents, $9 for children aged 5-12, and free for children aged 4 and under.

Click on map for interactive view