You can find some very remarkable things out in the desert - if you know where to look! You'd never expect to find an ocean or a rain forest in the middle of the Sonoran Desert, but if head to Biosphere 2 in Oracle, that's exactly what you'll discover - and so much more!
Biosphere 2 is an astounding research and educational facility now housing various programs and research projects for The University of Arizona.
And the best part? You can visit and take one of the many tours, like the Under The Glass Tour. Biosphere 2 contains more than three acres of Earth science research underneath the various glass-enclosed structures, and this comprehensive tour sees most of them.
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You'll get to experience the thrill of the ocean without having to drive to the coast.
And walk through a tropical rain forest without traveling to South America.
Biosphere 2 research projects include a variety of Earth science projects under the direction of The University of Arizona. The campus is filled with a variety of odd-looking structures, making this tour seem a little like a visit to another planet instead of planet Earth.
Specialty tours include a more comprehensive look at their ocean research, including a trip to an indoor beach! You can also take a focused rain forest tour, a landscape evolution tour, and the Food-Water-Energy tour. (Learn more about specialty tours at this link.)
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Built between 1991 and 1994, this unique biosphere research facility in the Sonoran Desert is now on its third life with these unique Earth science projects.
However, two previous uses weren't as well-received or popular. The first attempt to use the facility placed it at the center of research for ways to maintain life in outer space. When that didn't prove as helpful as intended, it was then used as a closed-system living experiment for humans. That research also failed for a variety of reasons.
The University of Arizona has been conducting research here now since 2011.
Time Life Books named Biosphere 2 one of the "50 Man Made Wonders of the World." It holds a spot on this coveted list with other man-made wonders like the Eiffel Tower, the Hubble Telescope, and the famous Sydney Opera House. Have you visited this unique planet Earth research facility near Tucson? We'd love to know!
Biosphere 2 is located at 32540 S Biosphere Rd., Oracle, AZ 85739. As a point of reference, that's a mere 30 miles north of Tucson, and just over 100 miles from Phoenix. Biosphere is open 363 days a year, and closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tours are offered throughout the day on a first-come, first-served basis. The last tour begins at 3:45 p.m. The facility is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. General admission tickets range from $13-$20 depending upon age. The Under The Glass Tour is the only one that is included in the general admission price. Learn more on the official website for Biosphere 2.
Arizona is home to a plethora of natural wonders. Keep reading here to discover 12 of them you can easily visit without hiking.
When I was offered the opportunity to take a scenic train ride in Arizona, I jumped at the chance. After all, it’s quite a rare event to travel by train in certain parts of the U.S. I have lived in New York and have visited Washington D.C. and Boston throughout my life, and rode trains in each of those cities. But I’ve never ridden a train out West.
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My children get a week-long break from their Arizona schools in October each year, so this year, I decided to take them on a Grand Canyon train vacation adventure with the Grand Canyon Railway. Leaving Williams, Arizona, a town known as the "Gateway to the Grand Canyon," we boarded a train that took us to the Grand Canyon's South Rim. And what an adventure we had!
Per journalistic integrity, we disclose that the writer of this piece was invited on this trip to the Grand Canyon by Grand Canyon Railway and Percepture PR, with expenses covered. However, all opinions and thoughts expressed in this piece are their own.
First thing first - the night before our train ride was spent at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams, which was built in 1995 to resemble the original property, the Fray Marcos Hotel. After checking in at the front desk, we went across the courtyard to the Williams Depot to pick up our reserved tickets. There were a few old-fashioned-style ticket counters, a large gift shop with all sorts of trinkets and souvenirs, and a coffee shop inside. My son and daughter were delighted to explore as I waited in a short line for our train tickets.
The Grand Canyon Railway has been in operation since 1901. The train station in Williams, Arizona, was built in 1908 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic nature of the railway helped to make our train-themed vacation even more memorable than we anticipated.
After dropping our luggage off at the room, we spent time at the hotel pool before grabbing dinner at Pine Country Restaurant in downtown Williams. The food and service were great, and apparently, this local eatery is known for its pies, but we were all too stuffed after dinner to try a slice. Maybe next time!
Back in our comfortable hotel room, we went to bed early to rest up for the next day's train excursion. In the morning, we grabbed a quick breakfast at the railway station and then headed to the pre-boarding show. As part of the experience, the Grand Canyon Railway has a performance at its makeshift Old West town, complete with actors and a reenactment of a gun fight. After the show, it was time to board.
We had first-class tickets for the Yavapai car, and a woman named Mary Ellen was our train car attendant. After our car was boarded, she gave us some background on both herself and the Grand Canyon Railway, as well as what to expect on the ride. The train ride from Williams to the Grand Canyon takes a little over two hours, and the train travels between 38 and 41 m.p.h.
The scenery is lovely along the way, but there's more to do than just stare out the window the entire time. On the way to the Grand Canyon, a musician came through with a guitar and sang a few cowboy and country songs before moving on to the next car. Both our train car attendant and the train conductor would jump on the intercom to tell us about points of interest we were passing. And, at one point, a photographer came through to take pictures of individual groups onboard - a great way to commemorate the trip!
Each group of seats had a small table and newspapers that offered further information about the train. My kids enjoyed reading the history of the train and how it all started.
The train has several classes of service, including Pullman Class, Coach Class, First Class, the Observation Dome, the Luxury Dome, and the Luxury Parlor. As I said before, we had first class tickets, and in first class, snacks, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and water were included. Cocktails were also available for purchase in our car.
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Upon arrival at the national park, we were able to see the historic Grand Canyon Depot. It was constructed between 1909 and 1910 and is a designated National Historic Landmark. It sits within the Grand Canyon National Park Historic District, a preserved village where the famous El Tovar hotel is also located.
Speaking of El Tovar, that's where we headed for lunch. The El Tovar first opened in 1905 and is a beautifully constructed hotel, as well as a National Historic Landmark. As much as we would love to spend the night here one day, we were happy to at least have lunch in its elegant dining room with wood-beamed ceilings, wood-paneled walls, and dimly-lit chandeliers that make the space feel cozy. My son ordered the Traditional Navajo Taco (frybread with ground beef, tomato, lettuce, and other fresh toppings), while my daughter and I split a charcuterie board. Everything was delicious, and I highly recommend dining here when visiting the South Rim.
After lunch, it was time to walk around and marvel at the Grand Canyon! We had visited before but were still awed by this natural wonder of the world. With nearly three hours before we had to be back on the train for the return trip, we took a walk, went inside several of the village's historic buildings, and took hundreds of photos, as one does when visiting this world-renowned national park.
Aside from the train ride and seeing the Grand Canyon again, my favorite part was getting to share this extraordinary experience with my son and daughter. What an incredible way to create family memories that will last a lifetime!
There’s something so alluring about riding a train, especially in this country. It’s no wonder that train travel is so romanticized! While it’s a daily part of life for other parts of the world, like Asia and Europe, it’s become more of a novelty here in the western U.S. And I will take a train ride any chance I get, no matter where I am in the world. My kids and I had such an amazing time taking the train to and from the Grand Canyon, dining at El Tovar, and exploring the park. I am so grateful we had this opportunity.
If you haven't yet experienced a Grand Canyon train vacation, I urge you to put it at the top of your Arizona bucket list. To book your train tickets to the Grand Canyon or a ticket package with a night at the hotel, head to the Grand Canyon Railway website.
Taking a road trip to Williams, Arizona, in order to explore the town and take a ride on the Grand Canyon Railway? Check out our Ultimate Road Trip Packing List for everything you need before hitting the road!
Take a Ride on the Eco-Friendly French Fry Express During the 123rd Grand Canyon Railway Anniversary in Arizona
The Grand Canyon Railway will be celebrating its 123rd anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, and it's a great time to embark on your Grand Canyon adventure.
For well over a century the historic Grand Canyon Railway has taken passengers on a scenic journey between Williams and the Grand Canyon, the most revered natural wonder in Arizona. The trip begins at the Williams Depot which was built in 1908 by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, and terminates north at the Grand Canyon Depot which was constructed between 1909-1910 inside Grand Canyon National Park. If a scenic train ride to the Grand Canyon is on your bucket list, you must make plans to take one this fall. In fact, the Grand Canyon Railway will be celebrating its 123rd anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, and it's a great time to plan your Grand Canyon adventure via train.
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Credit: Xanterra Travel Collection
Your journey begins once you board the train at the Williams Depot which happens to be on the National Register of Historic Places. The train will then take passengers 65 miles through the Colorado Plateau with views of the San Francisco Peaks, prairie, and Ponderosa pine and Pinion forests along the way.
Once you arrive at the Grand Canyon Depot, a National Historic Landmark, you will have time to get out and explore the park before heading back to Williams.
Credit: Xanterra Travel Collection
One of the trains that will run during the anniversary celebration on Sept. 21 is known as the French Fry Express (Locomotive No. 4960). This eco-friendly train runs on discarded vegetable oil from local restaurants, thus cutting emissions in half. The engine of this train was converted to run on recycled waste vegetable oil, or WVO, in 2009. Furthermore, the Grand Canyon Railway keeps approximately 50,000 cars out of the park annually. What a wonderful way to reduce emissions as well as vehicle traffic in the park.
Credit: Xanterra Travel Collection
For the 123rd Anniversary, you will have your choice of class between Pullman, Coach, First, Observation, Luxury Dome, and Luxury Parlor. Each class has its own price tag. If you plan on making a purchase on the train, make sure you have a credit card on hand as cash will not be accepted.
A scenic train ride to the Grand Canyon is a wonderful bucket list experience that has been on my Arizona bucket list for a number of years. And if you can go for the anniversary celebration on Sept. 21, you should!
If you plan on taking a scenic train ride with Grand Canyon Railways on Sept. 21, 2024, you can upgrade to the 3-night Canyon Rails Getaway Package. This package includes three nights at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel, breakfast and dinner at the on-site Fred Harvey® Restaurant, a $20 gift certificate to spend at the Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel gift stores, and 25 percent off train tickets in your class choice. However, you don't have to wait until the Grand Canyon Railways anniversary to take advantage of this package — it's available throughout the fall.
Taking a road trip to Williams in order to embark on a rail journey with Grand Canyon Railways? Take a look at our Ultimate Road Trip Packing List for everything you'll need on the road!
