Visitor Center - Stop at the visitor center to pick up maps, Junior Ranger program, Discovery Pack, guide to the Cactus Forest Drive, schedule of naturalist led walks, including night walks. Tip: Park entrance fee is good for Saguaro National Park East and West.

Cactus Forest Drive - This 8 mile scenic loop drive is a wonderful way to experience the remarkable landscape that's home to the saguaro and animals, such as javelinas, desert tortoises, screech owls, bats, cactus wrens and desert spiny lizards. If you come in summer, it may be too hot too hike much, so this drive is a good alternative.

Mica View Picnic Area - From the picnic area (with shaded tables), walk down the Mica View Trail a bit - not only are there saguaros to see close up, but fuzzy cholla and prickly pear galore. The road to the picnic area is dirt, but well-graded.

Desert Ecology Trail - This paved 1/4 mile loop trail is good if you have a toddler or child in a stroller. Plaques along the trail explain how plants and animals adapt to the desert environment and seasons in the desert.

Freeman Homestead Trail - Hike this one mile loop trail to see where the Freeman family (including children) lived in the early 20th century. There's nothing left of the adobe house except a dirt mound, but on the trail you'll see amazing old saguaro cactus, including one with thirty arms! Also on the trail are interpretive signs with activities for kids to do (e.g. go down to the wash, dig in the dirt, and you'll find moisture just before the surface).

Javelina Picnic Area - A large picnic area with plenty of shaded tables, and your best bet for picnicking when its hot.

Visitor Center - At the visitor center, check out exhibits about plants, animals, and geology of the canyon, touch a rattlesnake skin, saguaro rib, white tail deer antler at the touch table, work on a jigsaw puzzle, and pick up trail maps and shuttle bus tickets.

Sabino Canyon Shuttle - The shuttle departs from the visitor center; there are 9 different stops, and the shuttle goes both directions in a loop. You can get on and get off the shuttle, or ride the complete loop (it takes about an hour). The bus driver narrates useful information about the natural history of the canyon and points out animals, plants and trees to look for.

Sabino Beach - Get off at stops 5 or 6 and walk to Sabino Beach, a white sandy beach along the creek, perfect for little kids. Stops 5 and 6 also have very nice picnic tables along the creek.

Sabino Creek Trail - Ride the shuttle to stop 9. From shuttle stop, go the trail 100 ft or so, bear to left at the sign for Sabino Creek Trail (the other trail, the Phoneline Trail, goes up the canyon, away from the creek). It's a half mile trail, one mile round trip, to the creek. At two places on the trail, follow the cairns (rock piles) that mark where the trail goes. Bring your lunch and play along the creek (if the water is high, be careful).

Bear Canyon - If you have older kids or teens, go for a hike up Bear Canyon to the dramatic Seven Falls cascading off a rocky cliff, 4 miles round trip. From the visitor center, take the Bear Canyon shuttle to the Bear Canyon Trailhead. The trail crosses the creek and has switchbacks up the side of the canyon. Tip: Don't attempt to cross the creek during high water.