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Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (ASDM) is unlike most museums you’ve ever experienced with 85% of its 98 acres being outdoors. Consistently ranked as a Top 10 museum in the nation via Tripadvisor.com, the ASDM provides a unique and memorable experience to learn about the diverse flora and fauna found in the Sonoran Desert. It is a fusion experience: part zoo, botanical garden, natural history museum, aquarium and art gallery.
Here you will find 21 interpretive acres with 2 miles of walking paths through different desert habitats with panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes and mountain ranges. On display to see, enjoy and experience are 4,892 living specimens 242 animal species and plants from 1,200 taxa and 56,000 individual specimens. Between 110 and 120 of the living species at the ASDM are considered to be of conservation concern.
We will depart the Academy at 8 a.m. and travel via bus to the ASDM. This trip can accommodate all who register and is a 45-minute drive, during which folks can get reacquainted and meet new people within the Wildlife Viewing and Nature Tourism industry from across North America. Vouchers will be provided for a diverse array of locally sourced Southwest cuisine lunch options that can be enjoyed at your leisure inside or outside on terraces with spectacular views. Included in this experience will be a guided 45-minute tour by ASDM educational staff and then plenty of time on your own to wander and enjoy the critters, flora and displays. We will board the buses at 3 p.m. and head back to the Westin La Paloma to get ready for the Monday evening welcome reception.
Wear comfortable walking shoes and, while there are plenty of places to get a drink, it is a good idea to bring a reusable water bottle with you. Since the vast majority of the experience is outdoors, it is recommended to bring clothing layers and a hat to protect you from the Arizona sun, which is strong even in February. The average daily high will be in the high 60s or low 70s with lows in the mid-40s F. Binoculars and a camera can be good choices to have on hand as well.
