Hello, I know there is a Phoenix thread but how about a little bit farther south? We are staying in the outskirts of Tucson at a vrbo over by Saguaro East at the end of March. Four adults and two 12 year old boys. Any restaurants you like? DH is already planning on the missile museum and the Air & Space museum. I have put in for the Desert museum and hiking. One kid wants a trail ride. Any other suggestions?
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What a bummer. The Old Tucson Studios park is apparently closed for good. 
Would have been a fun place for 12 yr olds to visit.
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Make sure you stop for an eegie - half lemon/half strawberry - you’ll see them everywhere (i.e. Eegies…a fast food place…just get the eegie…don’t eat food there).
If you’re at the university, No Anchovies is a solid student pizza hangout.
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We love the Titan missile museum and Pima air & space. Have you thought about going to Kartchner Caverns? Reservations are a must.
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For hiking: Sabino Canyon and Tanque Verde (hiking up a creek with a waterfall but might need to check conditions before you go as It was basically hiking right up the creek, not beside it) are near where you are staying. , Picacho Peak a little ways north of Tucson is very popular (this one is difficult and you need to start early). We have visited Madera Canyon recently and loved it. It’s south of Tucson.
Eating out: our D and SIL are great cooks so we usually eat at their house, but we have enjoyed Serial Grillers which may be near where you are staying. It’s casual and inexpensive and the pizza is great. There is lots of good food in Tucson but I’m not the best person to ask where to find it!
There’s a bunch of cool murals in downtown Tucson. You can google Tucson murals and find maps if you enjoy that kind of art treasure hunt.
It’s a pleasant and scenic drive to the top of mount Lemmon. You may still find snow up there in March. There’s some nice trails for hiking.
Lots of people enjoy Tombstone, AZ for a bit of the old west.
If you want to drive further, we recently visited Chiricahua National Monument and loved it. Beautiful place.
The sunrises and sunsets can be really stunning.
I really want to visit the Sonoran Desert Museum
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If you have time, add in Kitt peak observatory and San Xavier del Bac mission.
Places to eat:
Pinnacle Peak - great fun steakhouse. If you wear a tie, they’ll cut it off.
El Guero Canelo - sonoran hot dogs (hot dog wrapped in bacon). Counter service, not table service place.
Guadalajara Grill - they have 2 locations - 1 on Prince Rd and 1 at Oracle Rd & Ina Rd. Be sure to tip the salsa cart lady. They make the salsa right at your table to your own spiciness preference.
Mi Nidito - get the carne seca.
Vero Amore - good Italian food. 2 locations.
Others will recommend El Charro Cafe, but their Mexican food is just bleh in my opinion.
I knew I could count on you guys. I have started filling out a notebook with the headings of Food, Hiking, Things to See. I wrote all the restaurants down, added murals and the mission. Tombstone, I thought the boys might get a kick out of but the Kitt Peak Observatory is closed right now. I already know that we have too short of time but I am hoping to come back next year and spend much more time. Thank you!
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If you go to Mission San Xavier del Bac, bring some cash so you can buy some Native American fry bread. I’m not sure if the fry bread sellers are there 7 days a week, but they’re there for sure on weekends.
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Also, if you have to choose between the Tucson Botanical Gardens and the Sonora Desert Museum, given the ages of the kids joining you, I’d go with the Sonora Desert Museum instead. It’s a combo of botanical garden and zoo. It’s a really cool place.
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The Queen Mine Tour is Bisbee is pretty cool. Takes about an hour to get there from Tucson.
How did I forget! Beautiful hiking. Our 7 yr old (at that time) did just fine there. 
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I’ve only been to Tucson for the annual gem and mineral show, so have nothing more to add than what’s been recommended upthread. However, the Pima Air and Space Museum is DH’s and son’s absolute favorite place in all of AZ. Evidently not to be missed.
Oh, I thought you lived down that way. I only know the Surprise area.
I’m about 45 minutes SE of Scottsdale.
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Thank you for your question! Very timely. We’re headed to Tucson the week before you. Too bad the observatory is closed, it was recommended to us. My husband travels there for work quite often. I’ll have to pick his brain about restaurants.
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