If you love to soak up the sun and stunning scenery, you will never get bored in Tucson, Arizona. Fortunately, though, these are far from your only option, and you will be able to find activities, events, and excursions that will take you deeper into the heart of Tucson. Lazy days in the sun are wonderful – and you are sure to get your fill of those – but when you want a little more adventure, a little more excitement, and a lot more fun, you will have no shortage of options. Just a sampling of things to do in and around the Tucson’s historic real estate is.

Within the city limits, Tucson has its own ballet company – Ballet Tucson, professional theater – Arizona Theatre Company, symphony – Tucson Sympony Orchestra and an opera company – Arizona Opera. Art-lovers will appreciate the Tucson Museum of Art, the University of Arizona-Museum of Art and the nationally acclaimed Center for Creative Photography. There are more than 35 art galleries in Tucson’s downtown district alone.

Just a little outside of Tucson there are many more things to do. One of which is visiting the Mission San Xavier del Bac, which was founded as a Catholic mission by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692 and was once part of a chain of churches that stretched from northern Mexico to the western U.S. This National Historic Landmark is as brilliant white structure is often referred to as the “White Dove of the Desert” and the “Sistine Chapel of North America” for the intricate paintings on the walls and ceiling.

The Kitt Peak National Observatory features the world’s largest collection of optical telescopes. It is home to over twenty state-of-the-art optical telescopes as well as two high-tech radio telescopes, National Solar Observatory exhibit gallery, a Visitor Center and more.

Showcasing remnants of the Cold War between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union, the Titan Missile Museum provides an account of the nuclear conflict and the peace keeping. In fact, this area was once one of America’s most top secret places is now a National Historic Landmark, and nowhere else in the world can visitors get this close to an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) in its operational environment.

Pima Air & Space Museum is one of the largest aviation museums in the world with over 270 aircraft and 125,000 artifacts including a full-size replica of the Wright Flyer and the bombers of World War II as well as the SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft and the VC-118 “Air Force One” used by Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. In addition, the museum also offers exclusive tours of the world’s largest military aircraft storage facility at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC), located on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base across the street from the museum.

Old Tucson Studios is a frontier town that transports visitors back to the Old West. In fact, for more than 70 years many of Hollywood’s most famous western-genre movies, filmed by legends such as John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and more have been filmed at Old Tucson Studios.

But what really sets Tucson apart is the magnificence of Mother Nature that envelopes the city like a loving embrace. Awash with midnight-black night skies, incredible mountain vistas, cliff-side canyons and forests of statuesque saguaros, this dramatic desert city is truly an amazing place to live, work and play – and Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty is proud to become part of her circle of friends.