Best Of Tucson®

Best Fun for the Whole Family

TIE: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum / Golf 'n' Stuff

Sometimes when you live in a place for a long time, you begin to take things for granted. You start sleepwalking through life like a zombie. When, for example, was the last time you went to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum? This combination zoo, botanical garden, natural history museum and outdoor classroom opened to the public 55 years ago. Since that time, visitation has risen to some half-million people a year. The museum is constantly updating exhibits and expanding its mission, which is "to inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation and understanding of the Sonoran Desert." Maybe it's time to head back over there and reconnect with the place where you live.

Has your child been in front of the computer so long that he has become pale, with his eyes sunken? Did he start sharpening knives after you took away his copy of Grand Theft Auto? Help is here in the form of Golf 'n' Stuff! Bring the whole family, including the incipient zombie. You might start with one of the arcade games, then move on to some real fun stuff that you can all do together. Fun stuff includes batting cages, go-carts, bumper boats (which have water guns) and laser tag. Don't worry; if you are a parent who can't swing a bat, and fears anything that moves and requires steering, there are two 18-hole miniature-golf courses.

Runner up:

3. Funtasticks Family Fun Park, 221 E. Wetmore Road, 888-4653, www.funtasticks.com