When you bring your team to participate in a tournament at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona, you’ll be looking for fun and exciting things for them to do in the area.
And you’re in luck! Tucson is one of the best places to bring your kids for exciting things to do and for the best sights and sounds of the great Southwest. The town is chock-full of family fun, so we have put together some suggestions of things to do and places to eat that will satisfy everyone in your group during your time at the Kino Sports Complex.
Things to Do
The Mini Time Machine of Miniatures
For the science fiction fans in your family, and for those with a love of history, The Mini Time Machine of Miniatures is the place to be in Tucson. This exciting museum sports more than 300 contemporary and antique dollhouses and roomboxes sure to delight children of any age.
Explore the History, Enchanted Realm, and World galleries. Let your team loose on self-guided tours of these educational and enlightening miniature spaces. Let them linger at their favorite time periods and places around the world. Of course, it’s perfect for your kids, but you’re likely to fall in love with this unique museum yourself. 15,000 square feet of time-traveling fun! 4455 E Camp Lowell Dr, Tucson, AZ 85712
Reid Park Zoo
You can’t miss the Reid Park Zoo because it takes up 24 acres right in the center of town. Also, it’s surrounded by a major park, which could make for a great day all around.
Check out the all-inclusive day pass which includes all-day admission, unlimited carousel rides, and a ride on a camel! During specified times you can meet and feed the giraffes. Take the train all around the zoo. Visit the Wildlife Carousel with 30 animal species from all around the world. Let your kid ride an anteater or polar bear for a nominal fee!
Be sure to check the daily schedule at the gate for special activities for kids, training demonstrations, and chats with zookeepers. 3400 E Zoo Ct, Tucson, AZ 85716
Pima Air & Space Museum
With its collection of 300 aircraft, the Pima Air & Space Museum is an acclaimed attraction that’s sure to impress the kids. Set on more than 127 acres, the museum is the largest non-government funded aerospace museum in the world.
During their exploration, kids will witness sights of historic airplanes like the Douglas A-1 Skyraider and the North American P-51 D Mustang. If your group includes any budding pilots or history enthusiasts, this venue is a marvelous place to spend some time. 6000 E Valencia Rd, Tucson, AZ 85706
Rocks and Ropes
Rock climbing is a popular pursuit in the Southwest, but climbing in the wild may be beyond the ability of the kids in your group. To introduce them to this outdoor pastime, consider spending a morning or afternoon at Rocks and Ropes.
This venue features exciting climbing walls where kids of all ages can hone their skills. They may even develop a passion for climbing! 330 S Toole Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701
Main Gate Square
Main Gate Square is a dining, shopping, and entertainment destination located five miles north of the Kino Sports Complex. It boasts over 30 restaurants and eateries, tons of stores and specialty shops, and attractions like the Arizona History Museum, the Arizona State Museum, and the University of Arizona Museum of Art.
Near Main Gate Square on the University of Arizona campus is the Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium. With a state-of-the-art FullDome digital projection system installed in 2014, your kids can discover the wonders of the world without leaving their seats. Fly through the solar system! Visit planets! Anybody already intrigued by science in your brood? Generations of families have visited this fascinating center. With the enthralling experiences it offers, many kids have been inspired to pursue careers in science just by visiting the Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium.
You can also enter the fascinating world of fossils, gems, and minerals at the UA Mineral Museum. This world-class mineral collection will mesmerize you and your team, especially when you explain how geologic forces underfoot shaped them. Don’t miss the meteorites! Let the fun and informative interactive exhibits engage you. Make sure to check out the many tabletop exhibits designed to encourage thoughtful interaction while building interest in art, science, and technology. 800 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85719
Places to Eat
Bobo’s Restaurant
Known for its breakfast and hearty meals, Bobo’s Restaurant is the place to bring your family during your visit to the Kino Sports Complex when they start missing mom’s cooking.
This homey diner serves up comfort food in big portions like there’s no tomorrow. Go there for the home-style country breakfasts or come for their brunch and burger selection. Definitely don’t leave Tucson without trying Bobo’s banana pancakes! 2938 E Grant Rd, Tucson, AZ 85716
Lerua’s Fine Mexican Food
Only four miles north of the Kino Sports Complex is Lerua’s Fine Mexican Food, a Tucson mainstay for the best food from below the border.
First and foremost, Lerua’s has served locals since 1922! Their home-style Mexican cooking has been a consistent aspect of the community for almost a century! Whenever a restaurant is around for a long time, you know they’re doing something right. Don’t miss out on your chance to experience Lerua’s for yourself. 2005 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85719
BrushFire BBQ Company
BrushFire BBQ Company is located seven miles east of the Kino Sports Complex, and it is certainly worth the drive.
All of the ribs cooked at BrushFire are dry rubbed with their signature “BrushFire Pork and Rib Rub” before being slow-smoked with mesquite and pecan wood. Once you order your ribs, you can select one of their six sauces for them to grill on your ribs before they serve them.
Don’t forget some of their signature sides like deviled egg potato salad, chili lime butter corn on the cob, baked beans, and mac and cheese! 2745 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719
Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink
Let’s be upfront. Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink is located in a former funeral home. If you can get beyond that, the place has ‘killer’ pizza; okay, bad pun; and is one of the highest rated pizza restaurants in Tucson. Jokes aside, Reilly Craft Pizza & Drink really does get a lot of good reviews on how great the atmosphere is.
The owners describe themselves as the “new breed of hospitality.” Their focus is on quality ingredients and quality interactions. Located in downtown Tucson, they believe everything in life should be done passionately, and they have cultivated a team of individuals who share in this belief. Try it; we think you’ll like it! 101 E Pennington St, Tucson, AZ 85701
After a long day playing at the Kino Sports Complex, you will most certainly enjoy the activities in and around the Tucson area. Traveling with a team takes a lot of preparation and work, so be sure to fill the downtime with relaxing and enjoyable things to do.