It’s about a 2 hours trek mostly via the interstate from Phoenix down to the Tucson region. Then it’s off the highway and a short drive through the country side en route to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a world-renowned zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden, all in one place! Exhibits re-create the natural landscape of the Sonoran Desert Region so realistically you find yourself eye-to-eye with mountain lions, prairie dogs, Gila monsters, and more. Within the Museum grounds, you will see more than 300 animal species and 1,200 kinds of plants.

The Museum offers interpretive displays of living animals and plants native to the Sonoran Desert -- an arid region encompassing parts of Arizona and California in the United States and the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California.

At the ASDM you can enjoy fine dining and beverages in the Ocotillo Café or serve yourself in the Ironwood Terraces.

You’ll also find some of the areas best shopping in their gift shops. The Mountain House Gift Shop is located near the main entrance area, featuring Native American crafts from Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico. The displays of traditional southwestern jewelry shine alongside the newer contemporary styles. In addition, there is a fine selection of books on the human and natural history of the area, including all of the Museum's own ASDM Press. Children will find their own book selection, as well as toys to remind them of some of the animals they have met here.

The Ironwood Gift Shop, completely remodeled in fall 2005, is located near the highly acclaimed Ocotillo Café. This unique shop offers designer jewelry and handcrafted items from southwestern and local artists including Nancy Lenches t-shirt designs and tableware by Chris Bubany.

There are almost 2 miles of paths traversing 21 acres of beautiful desert so wear comfortable walking shoes, bring plenty of water and your camera. I’d plan on spending the morning or afternoon here.

For more on the Tucson region contact the visitor’s bureau at http://www.visittucson.org/ or call 1-888-2-TUCSON.

By the way for baseball fans the Cleveland Indians will be relocating their spring training camp to the Greater Phoenix area in 2009 plus the Cincinnati Reds are also being aggressively recruited to move to Arizona.

It may be time to start planning your desert getaway.