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Recreation, Leisure and Entertainment
Recreation is an important facet of our lives. It's fun, allows us to unwind, and helps enhance our quality of life. Leisure activities may change due to circumstances but it's not a reason to stop having the opportunity to refresh, relax and enjoy ourselves.
Below are some fun things to do in Tucson, whether for the visually impaired or not, and the great weather in Tucson just invites us to get out and about!
In the Fresh Air
Sabino Canyon is a nice walk but you do have to be in decent shape. The way in is a paved road, with barely any traffic, bordered by many short trail segments. The full distance in is less than four miles with a total rise of about 600 feet; if you make it to the top that would be great exercise.
Rillito River Park is an easy and nice walk: no bumps or obstacles to worry about.
Reid Park Zoo is fun. There is a key you can purchase (for $2.50) and at each of the animal areas you can put in the key and they tell you all about that particular animal. If you wish to talk to someone about this program call 791-4760.
Let's Eat Out
It's so nice to go out for a good meal and leave someone else do to the kitchen clean up! A number of local Tucson restaurants offer Braille menus. Here is our most current list:
Applebee's
Claim Jumper
Coco's
Denny's
Macaroni Grill
Mimi's Cafe
Olive Garden
Outback Steakhouse
PF Chang's
Red Lobster
Red Robin
T.G.I. Fridays
Texas Roadhouse
The Cheesecake Factory
At the Movies
In the Theatre
Movies are great fun. Currently there is just one theatre in Tucson - at the Foothills Mall (AMC Foothills 15, Auditorium One) - with descriptive video service (DVS). You get the descriptions with a headset that they'll lend you. There's a new movie each week (Friday-Thursday) and it plays all day in Auditorium One. Call them at 740-5050 to find out which movie is playing.
Alternatively, here is a list of movies now out with (DVS), as well as a listing of coming attractions, both in the movie theaters and for home use. There are currently two studios that caption and describe all their releases: Twentieth Century Fox Films and Universal Pictures. Not only do these studios caption and describe all their films now, they've done so since the very beginning of the Motion Picture Access (MoPix) effort in 1997. MoPix also lists all theatres in USA equipped with the DVS system.
Videos at Home
Free movie loans can come to you from the Arizona Braille and Talking Book library. They are easy to acquire and are delivered postage free right to your door. These are described by library volunteers and a few outside services, not by the studios.
TV at Home
If you want to just watch TV at home there are some shows that also have descriptive video attached to them. Here are instructions on how a sighted person can describe a movie/program to someone who can't see the on-screen action.
What is Descriptive Narration?
Many people are familiar with closed captioning, the means by which the dialogue and sound effects of a film or television program are made visible via on-screen text. However, description, for viewers who are blind or have low vision, is less familiar. Description narration conveys the key visual aspects of a film or television program by describing scenery, facial expressions, costumes, and so on during natural pauses in dialogue. Learn more about descriptive narration here.
Reading
Talking Books are great! They have books and a large variety of descriptive movies that you can check out. The new talking book player is really nice; very portable and easy to use. Contact them at 1-800-255-5578
Sun Sounds of Arizona loans out radios (at no cost for as long as needed) to provide audio access to those who cannot read print. Covers everything from local newspapers, grocery ads to Spanish language magazines.