Tucson Botanical Gardensย was one of the top finalists in USA TODAY's 10 Best Readers' Choice contest for Best Botanical Garden.
The popular Tucson attraction, located atย 2150 N. Alvernon Way, took fourth placeย in the contest, which featured 19 other nominees from 14 states.
Phoenix's Desert Botanical Garden was the second Arizona nominee in the running but did not make the top 10 when winners were announced Friday, March 17.
The Tucson Botanical Gardens are made up of 17 individual gardens with over 4,000 species available for the public to visit and view every weekday. The gardens also host several events for the public including "Dog Days", to encourage more visitors to the landmark. Tickets and more information on exhibits and the gardens can be found at Tucsonbotanical.org. Pascal Albright / Arizona Daily Star
Tucson and surrounding areas made appearances in other travel categories this year as well. Tucson's White Stallion Ranchย took third place in theย Best Dude Ranchย contest, followed by Sasabe'sย Rancho de la Osa in fourth place andย Circle Z Ranchย in Patagonia taking fifth.
West of Tucson, the community of Ajo was nominated this year for Best Historic Small Townย but did not make the top 10 list.
All open contests and recent winners can be found atย 10best.com/awards/travel.
40+ sunset photos that show off Tucson's skies
A monsoon storm cloud is caught in the sunset behind a stand of saguaros on the west side of Tumamoc Hill, Tucson Ariz., August 10, 2023. The storm threw down some widely scattered rain, wind and lightning around metro Tucson.
The sunset illuminates the clouds in pink and orange, overlooking the city of Tucson and the Catalina Mountains.ย
The sunsets behind a Boeing EB-47E Stratojet on the display line outside at Pima Air & Space Museum during Night Wings, Tucson, Ariz., July 23, 2022.
Sunset seen from East Roger Road near the University of Arizona Campus Agricultural Center on July 1, 2022.
A pair of bikers ride under the sunset sky under monsoon clouds along the Rillito River Park paths near Columbus Avenue, Tucson, Ariz., July 13, 2021. The rains bypassed the city for the most part Tuesday following heavy storms the day before.
As the sunsets behind the visitor's bleachers, the crew of Bobcat TV get set up to record the highlights of Cienega's game at Mountain View High School, Tucson, Ariz., October 8, 2021.
The sun sets behind monsoon clouds and rain to the west of Tucson Mountain Park, Tucson, Ariz., July 1, 2021.
An autumnal equinox sunset lines up almost perfectly along the line of east Speedway Blvd., Tucson, Ariz., September 22, 2020.
The sunsets behind the Tucson Mountains as seen from S X-9 Ranch Rd. East of Tucson, Ariz. on August 23, 2020. The deep color of the sunset could be influenced by smoke from wildfires burning in California and Arizona.
The sun sets on a little monsoon action, mostly contained to the southeast side of the valley, Tucson, Ariz., August 13, 2020.
Lightning strikes as a monsoon cell skirts the ranges to the west of the city shortly after sunset on Aug. 7, 2020. Tucson received 1.62 inches of rain during last yearโs monsoon.
Smoky skies from the Apple Fire in California make for a red tint over the sun, as seen from E. Speedway Blvd., in Tucson, Ariz. on August 2, 2020.ย
Nighthawks weave through the sunset over the Rillito River, just barely running with the first significant monsoon rainfall of the season, Tucson, Ariz., July 23, 2020.
Sun sets over a dark and locked Hi Corbett Stadium, home to the Arizona Wildcats baseball team, as the city begins its second week under COVID-19 restrictions, March 26, 2020, Tucson, Ariz.
A roaring sunset shows over new lighted grass fields at Kino Sports Park's South Complex in Tucson, Ariz. on January 15, 2020.ย
The sunset is reflected in the rain slicked intersection of Ajo Way and Valencia Rd., during the first of two bands of monsoon storms to roll over the area, Tucson, Ariz., August 28, 2019.
Several sight seers take a minute to watch the sunset from Windy Point.
A brilliant sunset competes with the annual Lighting of A Mountain party on top of the Main Gate Garage at the University of Arizona in Tucson, on Oct. 21, 2018.
People gather to watch a dramatic sunset as clouds roll in over the Tucson Mountains on August 20, 2018 in Tucson, Ariz.
A young couple takes in monsoonal cloud sunset over the Tucson Mountains as they endure gusty updrafts at a lookout on Sentinel Peak on July 18, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz.
Sunset behind the utility towers southeast of the city near Houghton and I-10, Saturday, June 30, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
Reader Bonnie Quinn sent in this sunset photo.
Sunset sky seen from Saguaro Park East, Wednesday, June 6, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
Sunset over a tall metal cross, one of two for Heather Ramirez on the south side of Golf Links Road just east of Alvernon Way, Thursday, April 11, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.
Lightning touches down with a rain cell northwest of town on July 31, 2017, west of Tucson, Ariz.
A saguaro cactus stands tall during sunset following monsoon storm activity on July 24, 2017, as seen from Sentinel Peak in Tucson, Ariz.
A storm blew into Tucson from the south on Friday, July 21, around sunset. This clip was filmed near Interstate 10 and East Valencia Road.
The sun sets behind a ridge after afternoon monsoon storms on July 24, 2017, as seen from Sentinel Peak in Tucson.
The monsoon clouds didn't bring the rain, but sure brought the color for sunset over downtown, Tuesday, July 11, 2017, Tucson, Ariz.
Tucson High School Marching 100 band members await their performance time under a striking sunset before the Tucson High vs. Ironwood Ridge high school football game at Tucson High School, 400 N. 2nd Ave., in Tucson, Ariz. Photo taken Friday, Sept. 18, 2015. Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Reader Mike Moroz captured this image at sunset the day after in rained at Saguaro National Park.
Reader Bonnie Quinn submitted this sunset photo in 2015.
Sunset in Tucson on July 19, 2018. Photo submitted by David Aber.
Sunset light on thunderstorm over Tucson on July 19, 2018. Submitted by Robert Kerry.
Spring sunset with saguaros in bloom. Submitted by Annie Oliver.
A sunset at the end of the day on May 27, 2018, at approximately 7:25 P.M.
Taken from a reader's home in Tucson.
View of the Catalina Mountains with vivid clouds at sunset.
The sunset's light hitting the clouds from Tucson's west side on July 23, 2022.ย
A faint rainbow appears over downtown Tucson and the city after monsoon storms on July 24, 2017.
Saguaro National Park at sunset in Tucson, Arizona.
Lighting strikes southwest of Tucson, Ariz., July 29, 2021, from one of several monsoon cells that moved through valley just before sunset.
The sunsets behind the Tucson Mountains as seen from S X-9 Ranch Rd. East of Tucson, Ariz. on August 23, 2020.
Santa Catalina Mountains above Pima Canyon at sunset on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022.
Sightseers get out among the rocks to watch sunset from the Windy Point Vista on Mount Lemmon, Tucson, Ariz., January 4, 2023.
