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Traveling the Old West Highway Near Phoenix

Traveling the Old West Highway Near Phoenix

If you’re heading east towards New Mexico and want to venture off the beaten path and avoid the extreme traffic on I-10, consider taking a trip down the Old West Highway. This historic route between Apache Junction, AZ, and Lordsburg, NM, runs through the Superstition Wilderness on US Highway 60, over the Salt River Canyon between Superior and Miami-Globe, and through the San Carlos Apache Indian…

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Kids and Golf in Arizona

Kids and Golf in Arizona

It’s February, which in Arizona means prime golf season. Ranked as the second “golfiest” state in the union by Golf Magazine (only Florida ranks higher), our state hosts the best-attended golf tournament in the world, the Waste Management Phoenix Open, and is home to seven of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 courses.

Our stunning desert and mountain views serve as a backdrop to a world class golf…

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Taking Your Kids to a Professional Hockey Game

Taking Your Kids to a Professional Hockey Game

It’s hockey season! With the regular season is in full swing from October through April, with post-season lasting until early June, going to a hockey game is a great way to get your kids out of the house and have a fun sports experience for the whole family. We love going to see the Arizona Coyoteswhenever we get the chance, but we’ve learned a few lessons about taking kids to hockey games along…

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Tips for Getting Your Child Involved in Music

Tips for Getting Your Child Involved in Music

Music is an important part of our lives. It enriches us emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually. Studies have shown that music and music lessons improve cognitive development in children, as well as brain efficiency, learning speed, and overall brain health. Learning to play a musical instrument helps individuals understand mathematical concepts, develop better motor skills, teaches…

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Getaway to Arizona State Parks

Getaway to Arizona State Parks

Arizona is known for being a fantastic place to get outside and enjoy the wonders of nature, regardless of the activity you choose. Fortunately for us, our state is not only home to 22 National Parks and Monuments in the National Park Service, we also have one of the best managed state park systems in the United States. In 2017, the Arizona State Parks & Trails system was awarded the Gold Medalfo…

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Visiting the Verde Valley in Central Arizona

Visiting the Verde Valley in Central Arizona

As Phoenicians, we love to travel north towards Flagstaff, especially during the heat of summer. But one of our favorite areas to visit on weekend and day trips is nestled between Phoenix and Flagstaff, in the rolling hills of the Verde Valley, just south of Sedona. The small, rural towns of Camp Verde, Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Cornville, Page Springs and Rimrock sit along the banks of the Verde…

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Pumpkin Patch List 2019

Pumpkin Patch List 2019

It’s Pumpkin Patch Season in Arizona! Here is a list of some of our favorite spots to go pumpkin patching.

MacDonald’s Ranch

MacDonald’s Ranch in north Scottsdale is one of our family’s annual favorites. We make time every year to visit the ranch’s pumpkin patch, which is only accessible by horse drawn hayride. The first stop at the ranch is their old Western town, just inside the entrance, then…

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Pumpkin Patch Season Has Arrived - Tips for Pumpkin Patching in Arizona

Pumpkin Patch Season Has Arrived – Tips for Pumpkin Patching in Arizona

Temperatures are slowly starting to drop, leaves are beginning to change in Northern Arizona, and everywhere you look are pumpkin patches, fall festivals, haunted houses, costumes, and spooky decorations. Autumn is officially arriving in Arizona and one of our favorite ways to celebrate and enjoy the season is to visit one of our many local pumpkin patches. We’re sharing our inside knowledge and…

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Back to School Basics in the Valley of the Sun

Back to School Basics in the Valley of the Sun

Back to school already? The summer seemed to fly by and it’s once again time for kids in Phoenix to start back to school. With summer heat and monsoon season in full effect, every bit of advice to make life a little less hectic and eliminate the drama is welcome. We collected some great tips from teachers, parents, doctors, and other education and child experts to find some of the most practical…

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Going to the Lake! Tips for Fun and Safey at the Lake This Summer

Going to the Lake! Tips for Fun and Safey at the Lake This Summer

Summer is the perfect time to cool off and enjoy our almost year-round sunshine by the lake or pond. Whether you love boating, fishing, swimming, water sports, or just enjoying the beauty of a sparkling water oasis in the desert, there are many large lakes near the Phoenix area for you to enjoy with your friends and family. Here is a list of some of the lakes in the area and tips to help you have…

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Visiting Tucson - Great Getaways in Arizona

Visiting Tucson – Great Getaways in Arizona

It’s always surprising to hear how many Phoenicians have never spent time in Tucson. Just a short distance south of the Phoenix metropolitan area is a charming gem of southwestern sights to see. Tucson is home to the University of Arizona, but ASU fans shouldn’t let that stop them from enjoying the many fascinating places to see in Pima County. The hotels and resorts are plentiful, but our advice…

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Hiking with Kids in Arizona

Hiking with Kids in Arizona

As Arizonans, we love to hit the trails and enjoy the beauty of our desert environment. Hiking with kids is a fun way to spend time and get outside, but it is critical to be well prepared so you can make the hike enjoyable and safe for your children before you go. As experienced hikers, we have a few things we have learned first hand that can help make your hike a good one for both you and your…

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Ghostly Places in Arizona – A History of Haunting

Ghostly Places in Arizona – A History of Haunting

As the temperatures begin to drop in Arizona, the thrills and chills of Halloween spookiness begin to creep in. One of the most fascinating, and entertaining, aspects of Arizona is the legendary prevalence of its ghost stories. As the heart of the Wild West, Arizona has had a history of violence, tragedy and mayhem from its earliest days on record. The result was hundreds of ghostly stories that…

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Riding the Rails in Arizona

Riding the Rails in Arizona

There is something special about trains. Their size, power and the ability to take us form one destination to another, sometimes through impassable wilderness, is awe-inspiring. Folks settled in Arizona by riding the rails and traveling in carriages and on horseback. In keeping with that spirit, there many opportunities to take a train ride through historic parts of our state. Here are some of…

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Art and Culture in the Valley of the Sun

Art and Culture in the Valley of the Sun

Arizona is home to some of the most unique sights to see and places to visit in the world. The Sonoran Desert itself is one-of-a-kind, featuring the lushest desert in the world with distinct flora and fauna only found in our area. The arts and culture in the Valley of the Sun are no exception to this pattern. Many of our local galleries, theaters and museums are as unique to the Sonoran Desert as…

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4th of July in Phoenix - the Best Phoenix Fireworks Shows!

4th of July in Phoenix – the Best Phoenix Fireworks Shows!

Are you looking for the best place to see Phoenix Fireworks this Fourth of July? Well, Ladybug has you covered! Celebrate Independence Day with fun, festive fireworks at locations throughout the Valley. Here are some of our top recommendations of places around Phoenix.

Wet ‘N Wild Hero Appreciation and Free Fireworks

Wednesday, July 4, 2018 10:00 am – 8:00 pm Fireworks at 8:45 pm

Join Wet ‘N Wild…

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Make a Big Splash! Waterparks and Swimming Pools in the Valley of the Sun

Make a Big Splash! Waterparks and Swimming Pools in the Valley of the Sun

{Published in the July 2018 issue of the Deer Valley Times, North Tatum Times, and North 32nd News} Summer is in full swing and it’s hot outside! So what’s the best way to keep your kids busy while keeping them cool and getting them outside into the fresh air? Well, make a big splash and head to the water park, pool or splash pad near you! Here is a list of some of the best water parks in the…