Transportation Links
Here you will find useful links regarding transportation for the Phoenix-metro, Greater Tucson, and Flagstaff areas. There are links to transit guides, maps, and more. This is a great resource if you plan to utilize public transportation to get around and socialize.
Phoenix-Metro Transportation Links
Valley Metro Bus and Lightrail Guidebook – in Spanish and English
This useful guide provides information about the Phoenix-metro area’s lightrail system. It discusses issues like handicap accessibility, bus and airport connections, how to use fare vending machines, lightrail stations, nearby destinations, schedules, and a lightrail map.
Valley Metro Website
Check this website out for more information about transportation in the Phoenix-metro area.
Greater Tucson Transportation Links
Sun Tran Website
Check this website out for more information about transportation in the Greater Tucson area.
Sun Tran System-wide Bus Schedule
Here you can download PDFs of the Greater Tucson bus schedule and view alerts and detours.
Sun Tran Shuttle Schedule
The Sun Tran Shuttle is a neighborhood shuttle service, connecting riders to communities and neighborhoods not serviced by the larger Sun Tran bus routes. Here you can download PDFs of the shuttle schedule and view alerts and detours. Some shuttle routes have specified schedules while others are “Dial-a-Ride,” meaning you must call to schedule a pick-up.
Sun Tran Fares and Passes Information
Here you can find information about fare prices and how to purchase tickets.
Flagstaff Transportation Links
Mountain Line Transportation System Website
Check this website out for more information about transportation in the Flagstaff area. You can browse route information, fare pricing, schedules, route delay alerts, and ridership tips.
Phoenix-Metro Area
Explore Nature
- Desert Botanical Gardens – Boasting 50,000 plant displays showcased in beautiful outdoor exhibits spanning over 145 acres of desert landscape, the Desert Botanical has been teaching and inspiring visitors from the local community and around the world for more than 70 years. This is a must see!
- Papago Park – The sandstone buttes of Papago Park are a unique attraction, even in a state that boasts world-class natural attractions like the Red Rocks of Sedona or the Grand Canyon. Visitors can hike Papago’s extensive trail network or visit the parks two major residents: The Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Gardens.
- Camelback Mountain – If you’re up for a challenge, Camelback Mountain boasts two strenuous and sometimes tricky summit trails. This is a fun activity to do with friends. Make sure to bring plenty of water.
- Tempe Town Lake – From boating and kayaking to sailing and fishing, Tempe Town Lake is a desert oasis in the heart of Downtown Tempe, right off of the historic Mill Avenue District. The Lake attracts more than 2.7 million visitors each year and hosts dozens of special events, including Ironman Arizona, the Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade and the state’s largest Independence Day celebration.
Museums and More
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West – Frank Lloyd Wright was a famous American architect who took his inspiration from Nature. Taliesin West is Wright’s desert masterpiece and winter home, studio, and architectural campus.
- Heard Museum – The Heard Museum is an incredible place to learn about and experience the culture and art of Native Americans of the Southwest.
- Phoenix Art Museum – The Phoenix Art Museum boasts more than 18,000 works of American, Asian, European, Latin American, Western American, modern and contemporary art, and fashion design. In addition, the Phoenix Art Museum presents festivals, live performances, independent art films and educational programs.
- Musical Instruments Museum – MIM collects, preserves, and makes available high-quality musical instruments, images, and music from around in the world. MIM’s collection spans more than 200 countries and territories. “We celebrate our world’s diverse musical cultures and foster global understanding by offering our guests an incomparable interactive experience, a welcome and fun environment, dynamic programming, and exceptional musical performances.”
- Arizona Science Center – With over 350 hands on exhibits, a state-of-the-art planetarium, five-story giant-screen theater, live demonstrations, and traveling exhibitions, the Arizona Science Center is a great place for science buffs. The Arizona Science Center aims to inspire, educate, and entertain people of all ages.
- Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium
Experience American Sports
City Websites
Shopping
Notable Restaurants
Greater Tucson Area
Explore Nature
- Catalina State Park – located north on Oracle Road about 30 minutes from central Tucson, is a 5,500-acre park situated at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Visitors can hike, picnic and camp. The park, which is home to nearly 5,000 saguaros and more than 150 species of birds, has campgrounds, picnic tables, an equestrian center, a group use area, restrooms, showers and gift shop.
- Colossal Cave Mountain Park – located east of Tucson on Old Spanish Trail, is spread out over 2,000 acres and includes the Colossal cave and historic La Posta Quemada Ranch. Visitors can take cave tours, visit the museum or picnic.
- Kartchner Caverns – located about an hour from Tucson, is a live cave that has variety of minerals and formations. Visitors must make a reservation to tour the cave. The park also features a Discovery Center with exhibits, gift shop, theater and regional displays. There are also hiking trails, campgrounds, shaded picnic areas and hummingbird garden.
- Mount Lemmon – is the highest point in the Santa Catalina Mountains and can be reached via a scenic hour-long drive from the desert floor of Tucson to a pine forest at 9,000 feet in elevation. Visit the village of Summerhaven, Ski Valley, hike one of the dozens of trails or go picnicking. Mount Lemmon also is a popular rock climbing destination, and the 26-mile long road to the top attracts bicyclists year round.
- Sabino Canyon – located on Tucson’s east side, is a natural desert oasis featuring a pools of water, abundant wildlife and desert plants. Visitors can hike one of the many trails or take a 45-minute, 3.8-mile tour via a tram into the canyon.
- Saguaro National Park – has two locations in Tucson. Saguaro East is in the Rincon Mountain District, which ranges in elevation between about 2,600 feet and more than 8,600 feet, has numerous hiking trails and a paved eight-mile loop for bicyclists and vehicles. Saguaro West, which is at a lower elevation, has an orientation program offering a Native American perspective on the saguaro cactus.
- Tucson Botanical Gardens – is a five-acre oasis right in central Tucson. The gardens have 16 specialty gardens and a seasonal live tropical butterfly exhibit.
Museums and More
- Arizona Sonora Desert Museum – It’s a zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden all rolled in one. The museum, located west of Tucson, has more than 300 animal species and 1,200 kinds of plants spread out over two miles of paths traversing 21 acres of desert. Here, you’ll come face-to-face with mountain lions, Gila monsters and javelina.
- Biosphere 2 – University of Arizona, located in Oracle north of Tucson, is the world’s largest living science center. A trail system allows visitors to explore a savanna, coastal fog, desert, million-gallon ocean and tropical rainforest.
- Kitt Peak National Observatory – located on the Tohono O’odham Reservation, has the world’s largest collection of optical telescopes operated by dozens of astronomical research institutions. Visitors can take a docent-led tour, watch scientists operate the world’s largest solar telescope and explore the exhibits. The observatory also holds nightly stargazing, which requires reservations.
- Mission San Xavier del Bac – located southwest of Tucson on the Tohono O’odham Reservation, is more than two centuries old and is the oldest intact European structure in Arizona. There is no admission charge, and visitors can take a 45-minute tour led by volunteers, who explain the mission’s history and ornate interior.
- Old Tucson Studios – located west of Tucson near the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, is a Western movie studio and theme park with a variety of live shows, gunfights, stunts and saloon musicals.
- Pima Air & Space Museum – located on Tucson’s south side, has more than 300 aircraft covering more than 100 year of aerospace history. The museum is spread out over 80 acres and features rare and important aircraft.
- Presidio San Agustin del Tucson – located near downtown, was established in 1775 and remained in use until 1850s. Visitors can tour a museum or gift shop. The Presidio hosts a number of events throughout the year including, Living Histor Day and the Luminaria Festival in December.
- Reid Park Zoo – located in central Tucson, has more than 500 exotic animals, including Expedition Tanzania, a seven-acre elephant exhibit.
- Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block – located in downtown Tucsons, features original and traveling exhibitions with a focus on art of the American West, Latin American Art, and modern and contemporary art.
- Flandrau Science Center – which is located on the UA campus in central Tucson, features interactive exhibits, astronomy, free 16-inch telescope stargazing, one of the top five gem and mineral collections in the country as well as laser light shows in the planetarium.
Flagstaff Area
Explore Nature
- Hiking – there are numerous exciting and beautiful hiking trails in the Flagstaff area. Check out the U.S. Forest Service website for a full list of trails. Each listing provides background information pertaining to each trail, including details about estimated hiking time, phyiscal location, intensity, and ideal hiking season.
- White Water Rafting – White water rafting is definitely an activity for adventure seekers. It is often considered an extreme sport because it can be very dangerous.
- Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course – The Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course has four large adult circuits as well as one children’s course. Each adult circuit contains a mixture of 10-17 different obstacles ranging from rope swings, scrambling walls, hanging nets, wobbly bridges, and suspended “surprises.” The full adult course costs approximately $42. This is worth checking out!
- Hart Prairie Nature Conservancy – The Hart Prairie Nature Conservancy is a 245-acre nature preserve. The preserve is home to uncommon wildflowers, old growth ponderosa pine, a rare grove of Bebb willows, herds of elk and deer, porcupine, prairie dogs and more than 40 species of birds. The Hart Prairie Preserve is a great place for hiking, walking, wildlife watching, and birding.
- Rock Climbing – Located in historic, downtown Flagstaff, Vertical Relief features over 6500 square feet of widely varied climbing terrain to suit all abilities and climbing styles. This is a great place to train or climb socially year round. For those looking for an outdoor challenge, Flagstaff Climbing Guides provide rock climbing guiding and instruction for people of all ages and ability levels.
- Arizona Snow Play! – A snowy adventureland is only a few miles north of Flagstaff. Wing Mountain Snow Play offers sledding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and other snow activities.
- Arizona Snowbowl – If gliding down snow covered mountain slopes is more appealing, Arizona Snowbowl has 777 skiable acres, 40 separate runs, and six ski lifts!
- And so much more! Make sure to chat with your host families, school friends, and search the web for more fun and exciting activities in and around Flagstaff!
Arts and Entertainment
- Museum of Northern Arizona – The Museum of Northern Arizona is home to more than five million Native American artifacts, natural science specimins, and fine art pieces. Located on more than 200 acres, the museum campus is also home to more than 40 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are many events and activities held at the museum throughout the year.
- Northern Arizona University Art Museum
- Coconino Center for the Arts – The Coconino Center for the Arts is considered the cultural hub for the Flagstaff community. Enjoy the 4,000 sq. ft. gallery featuring diverse art exhibitions and an intimate 200-seat theater offering concerts, performances, films and other presentations. Together with other community organizations, the Coconino Center for the Arts also hosts concerts, art markets, festivals, fund raisers, workshops and other activities. Check their calendar to find out more about these events and activities.
- Heritage Square – The Heritage Square Trust makes quality entertainment and talent available to the public by omitting entrance fees in Flagstaff’s only open-air amphitheater. Check out the calendar for events!
- Orpheum Theater – Check out live concerts, film screenings, and other events at the historic Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff.
- Pepsi Amphitheater – Located in the heart of Fort Tuthill County Park in Flagstaff, the Pepsi Amphitheater boasts magnificent acoustics due to its location in a natural forest bowl. Surrounded by nature, this venue offers a wonderful outdoor entertainment experience. Check out the website for more information about concerts and events.
- Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra
Sports
- High Altitude Running – Join the Northern Arizona Trail Runners Assocation and experience a variety of wilderness trails in northern Arizona. This group of both new and seasoned veterans run every Saturday in rain, snow, or sunshine!
- Golf – To work on your golf swing, check out the Continental Country Club or Elephant Rocks Golf Course.
- Flagstaff Disc Golf Club – The Flagstaff Disc Golf Club welcomes professional, amateur, and recreational disc golfers in the Flagstaff and Northern Arizona area. The organization holds weekly leagues, monthly and annual tournaments, and beginner clinics.
- Northern Arizona University Athletics – From American football and basketball to soccer, tennis, and volleyball, NAU’s athletics department has most major sports. Join other Flagstaff community members by rooting on the NAU Lumberjacks.
Shopping
Notable Restaurants
Other Arizona Links
Still not sure what to do? Check out the following links – some are books you can buy.
Free Phoenix Travel Guides
The New York Time’s Phoenix Travel Guide – click on attractions for things to do/see
Frommer’s Arizona and the Grand Canyon 2012
Ghost Towns of the Southwest
Sedona Arizona Red Rock Country Tour Guide Book
Day Trips from Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff: Getaway Ideas for the Local Traveler
More books
