If you are getting a rental car much cheaper to fly into Phoenix and drive down but is 1 1/2 hours. Desert-Sonoran museum is cool. There is also a middle silo tour near Tucson. Also there is the Tucson Zoo. The bio done is cool but not for an eight year old. Just western edge of campus are lots of college bars and restaurants. There is a Marriott hotel next to campus and walking to stadium but may be fully booked. There is also an old mission nearby which is a great tour. Not sure what it is called but may be Catalina.