Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Arizona is absolutely breathtaking! The vistas and landscapes are incredible. I find them almost other-worldly (but maybe that's because we just left Roswell...).  The mountains are so extreme and the land everywhere else is so flat. There are cacti lining every bit of land, whether it's on the mountain or just alongside the road. I decided that it looks like the cacti are all trying to walk up the mountain. Each one is just a little further ahead than the last one and it looks like they're all journeying to the top. Like a prickly version of the game 'Mother May I'.

The museum was pretty stellar. It's in the Saguaro National Park and it is quite simply, gorgeous. There really isn't anything like it. It's not a museum as much as it is a wildlife preserve and educational center. They had all sorts of different cacti, birds, mammals, reptiles, creepy tarantulas, rats, bees, fish, otters, beavers....so many animals! I'm torn between being super excited that I can see them up close and sad that I can see them up close. The big jungle cats just kind of pace back and forth like they wish more than anything to be free of the man-made habitats. And other animals just look so 'ho-hum'. But regardless, they were awesome to see and learn about.

So many different shapes, sizes and varieties of cacti!

Almost all of the museum was outside in the wonderfully sunny 80 degree weather. It had winding paths that led you all around the different animal exhibits and plant life. 

Hummingbird! For the record, those things zoom at you kamakazi style. And they sound like a Harley when they fly passed your ear.

Turtle, turtle.

Big Horns. That's actually their name, not a reference to the size of their horns.

Beaver

Meet the Coatis. Kind of like a raccoon with a more pronounced and prolonged snout and a longer tail without the ringed pattern of most 'coons. For some unknown reason, the Coatis likes to rub fragrant trees and materials on his tail.

Bobcats. They have such similar mannerisms to my cats. I could have one as a pet then, right?

This is an Ocelot. Also another gorgeous cat. I also want this one as a pet.

Prairie dogs! This guy looks a little dopey in the picture. Did you know these are the only other animals that kiss besides humans? We caught some of them in the act this afternoon.

Mexican Wolf

Black Bear. But he's not so black is he? Apparently there are about 15 different shades of black bears.

Annnd, the mountain lion. I don't want him as a pet. He could kick my butt.

Tomorrow is another driving day. We're headed to the Grand Canyon!