For a day trip with a difference you can head just 56 miles southwest of Tucson, where you will find the Kitt Peak National Observatory on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation. This working research facility is home to the largest array of radio and optical telescopes on the planet. The facility welcomes you to their Visitor Center Daytime Programs, which include guided and self-guided tours and exhibits and their Nightly Observing Program, when you can spend an exciting evening viewing the night sky and learning about astronomy. The facility also offers a museum and gift shop. After your tour you can consider visiting the near-by Mission San Xavier del Bac.
Kitt Peak National Observatory, Tucson, AZ 85634, Phone: 502-318-8000