Things to Do in Oro Valley

Kruse Arizona Tours are led by Alan Kruse, whose encyclopedic knowledge of local culture earned him the title “the king of local tours” by the Arizona Daily Star, as well as a vice-presidency at the Southern Arizona Guides Association and membership at the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau. Opt for the twilight Barrio Viejo walking tour and meet by La Pilita to set out on a two-hour exploration of the cultural and architectural traditions of local Hispanic culture. Or take the tour of Armory Park, which meets at the Royal Elizabeth Bed and Breakfast and boasts two hours of enlightening education about the Victorian and Californian architectural stylings of 1880s Tucson. The two-part Pioneer Women of Tucson tours chronicle female architects, artists, and politicians who have shaped Tucson's cultural landscape. Tourists can meet at the northwest corner of Main and Alameda for a two-hour stroll admiring the historic mansions of Main Street, complete with anecdotal entertainment on the life and times of early Tucsonans. Tour guide Alan Kruse is a former college professor who now boasts one of the busiest walking-tour schedules in Tucson. His cunning wit and quirky attire promise to charm even the most gruff and hardened historical home touree. Call ahead to schedule the tour of your choice and prepare for two hours of unparalleled enlightenment.

Paint your own ceramics studio offering parties, fundraising ideas, classes for children and adults, after school programs and more!

Offering scenic views of Tucson and the surrounding area, the Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley sky ride (a $9 value for adults and a $5 value for children) allows lounging adventurers to kick back and catch a bird’s-eye view of nature’s bounty without lassoing an albatross. Each sky ride to the summit takes approximately 30 minutes and covers approximately one mile. Departing from an 8,200-foot base, sky riders will climb nearly 1,000 feet into the clouds while soaking in views of the Reef of Rocks, San Pedro Valley, and the mountains of Globe and Phoenix in the distance. Along the way, scan the surroundings for golden eagles, wild turkeys, and more than 200 species of birds, as well as black bears, mountain lions, white-tailed deer, and dodos.

On the Riptide slide, brave park goers grip small, yellow rafts as they descend down a nearly vertical 35-foot drop into a long alley of water. This thrilling ride is one of the Breaker Water Park's main attractions, joined by the twisting and turning Bonzai Pipeline—which propels bodies through a large jumble of pipes—and a massive wave pool filled with more than 1 million chlorinated gallons. The sprawling Breakers compound also has two food and refreshment stands and plenty of space for dining or relaxation. Sunbathers and those afflicted with wicked-witch syndrome can plant their beach towels and collect sunshine at one of many seating areas, and families with children too small for larger water slides can escort the tykes to Captain's Kidd's Surfari. A designated kids' area, the Surfari gives littler kids an oversized and waterlogged playground outfitted with wading pools, tamer slides, and elaborate sprinkler fountains.

This museum of pint-sized pieces showcases more than 275 miniature houses, room boxes, and other collectibles that are organized into three categories: Enchanted Realm, History and Antiques Gallery, and Exploring the World. Leave the girth of planet Earth and enter the whimsical fantasyland of a tiny-sized Enchanted Realm. Interactive exhibits allow you to search for an elusive fairy within the goblets of a sentient tree showpiece or unearth scattered woodland creatures, snow villages, fairy castles, and witch compounds. Teleport through the blue, arched rotunda to the History and Antiques Gallery, which chronicles the significance of miniature relics throughout history and displays one of the oldest mini houses in the United States, dating back to 1775. Travel the floor as a nephilim Magellan in the Exploring the World section, which surveys the cultural value of miniatures from other countries.