Reid Park Zoo is a compact 24-acre city zoo, set inside Tucson's main park east of downtown. It is well-managed and easy to do in a couple of hours — elephants, anteaters, jaguars, polar bears, and a small flamingo pond.
The zoo runs popular Summer Safari Nights on Saturdays in June and July, when it stays open until 8pm to escape the heat. Adjacent Reid Park itself has duck ponds, a rose garden, and lots of grass for picnics — a good combination for an easy afternoon.