Get into a HOLE in the Mountain at Papago Park and other Phoenix, AZ Things to Do Tips

July 26, 2009 ---- Wow, this place just beside the Phoenix Zoo is just amazing -- it is a big hole in the middle of the a little mountain and you can be up there in just 5 minutes! Easy going up the the side of the hill where they have steps that go up exactly to the whole...and once there you get these amazing views of the Phoenix area!

You also see planes going in and out of the Sky Harbor Airport...the many palm trees around the area of the Phoenix Zoo. And best of all, going up to this hole is FREE!

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Address: Papago Park in Phoenix
Directions: just across the Phoenix Zoo

If you are in Phoenix and you just want to buy some local goods from local farmers and maybe some stuff from local artists and craftsmen, then just head off to Central and McKinley --- at this area, they have the Phoenix Public Market every Wednesday from 1600-2000 and Saturdays from 0800 to 1300.

It is fun going to this Downtown Phoenix Public Market, but during summer, we prefer to go during either early morning or during the early evening times. It can be tiring walking under the heat!

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Address: Central and McKinley

With party-loving ASU (Arizona State University), the Metro Phoenix Area does not have a lack of places where to get a good beer! I don't drink but I do know a lot of travellers look for that good pint of beer - so here's a list I found from Arizona Quick Guide and I will also add more as I see them around!

We live near the Yard House in Glendale which has 150 drafts drawn from a keg room to the bar...this is a west coast chain which actually boasts of having the largest beer selection in the world! Found in Scottsdale Fashion Square in the east side, and at Glendale's Westgate on the west side.

AZ 88 7353 E Scottsdale Mall 4809945576
Carly's bistro 128 E Roosevelt St, Phx 6022622759
Delux's 3146 E Camelback Rd, Phx 6025222288
Four Peaks Brewing Company 1340 E 8th St, Tempe 4803039967/Frank Lloyd Wright and Hayden Rd, scottsdale 4809911795
The Rose and Crown 628 E Adams St, Phx 6022560223
Orange Table 7373 E Scottsdale Mall 4804246819
Papago Brewing Company 7107 E McDowell Rd Scottsdale 4804257439
The Roosevelt 8816 N 3rd St, Phoenix 6022542561
Sonora Brewhouse 322 E camelback Rd, Phoenix 6022798909

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There are several flash pads for kids that have cropped up within the Metro Phoenix area where kids (and adults like me) can have great fun with the shooting waters and sometimes shooting water guns. We actually have just one in our own community park, and my wife and I inquired about how much to set up a small splash pad for our kids at our backyard but the price tag was about $50,000 – so I think we will just keep on using the many splash pads around the Valley, hehehe…Besides, maintenance of these water playgrounds are also expensive. These splash pads are also open only during the very hot summer 4-5 months of summer.

Our favorite is the one at the Tempe Town Lake at Tempe Beach Park near the entrance to the park at Rio Salado Parkway and Mill Avenue. And then we also love the one beside thevery tall waterfountain at Fountain Hills Park (this one has amazing waterguns for the kids).

Right in the stadium of the University of Phoenix in Glendale is the Westgate Center Splashpad…we are almost always here every week , walking around the splashpad and in summer, joining into the fun!

Other Spalshpads (source: http://phoenix.about.com/od/publicswimmingpools/ss/splash.htm ):

Altadena Park Spray Pad: 3711 E. Altadena Avenue
Civic Space Park Spray Pad: 424 N. Central Ave in Downtown Phoenix.
Edison Park Spray Pad: 901 N. 19th Street.
Francisco Highland Park: 2702 E. South Mountain Avenue.
Harmon Park Spray Pad: 1239 S. 5th Avenue.
Laveen Village Park Spray Pad: 3146 W. Vineyard, Phoenix.
Mountain Vista Park Spray Pad: 13647 S. 50th Street in Ahwatukee Foothills.
Nuestro Park Spray Pad: Ninth Street and Pima, south of downtown Phoenix.
Pecos Park Spray Pad: 48th Street and Pecos Road in the Ahwatukee Foothills
Phoenix Zoo’s Leapin' Lagoon with paid admission to the Phoenix Zoo
Jaycee Park at 817 W 5th Street (at Hardy Drive) in Tempe
Aquatic Playground Splash Pad in Glendale, Arizona at 83rd Avenue and Bethany Home
Chuparosa Park Spray Pad is located at 2400 S. Dobson Rd., south of Germann Rd, Chandler.
Desert Breeze Park Spray Animals at 660 N. Desert Breeze Blvd., between Rural Rd. and McClintock Dr. and between Ray Rd. & Chandler Blvd
The Espee Park Spray Pad at 450 E. Knox, between Arizona Avenue and McQueen Road.
Rio Vista Splash Park, 8866 W. Thunderbird Road, which is 1/4 mile west of the Loop 101
Vista del Camino Park at 7700 E. Roosevelt in the Indian Bend Wash complex, near Hayden Road.
Paiute Park at 3210 N. 66th street, South of Osborn Road.
McCormick Stillman Railroad Park, 7301 E. Indian Bend Road
Agua Linda Park, 8732 E. McDonald (Pima Road and McDonald).
La Mirada Park at 8950 E. Pinnacle Peak Road in north Scottsdale.
Chesnutt Park spray pad at 4565 N. Granite Reef Road.
Pima Park at 8600 E. Thomas Road.
Hollyhock Community Pool at 15808 N. Hollyhock Street in Surprise
Goodyear Community Park at 3151 N. Litchfield Road in Goodyear, Arizona
SanTan Village, Gilbert close to Dillard's for easiest access
The Plaza Water Fountain at Kierland Commons in north Scottsdale is in the center of the complex, just off Main Street in Section B near Cold Stone Creamery.
The Fountain at Desert Ridge Marketplace is located in The District near the AMC Theatre and may be accessed from the north near Paradise Bakery or the from the south near Islands Fine Burgers.

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Address: 1500 North McClintock Dr
Directions: just North of the 202 on McClintock. Tempe
Website: http://www.azohwy.com/b/bigsurf.htm

July 26, 2009 ---- I saw a picture of this very old firetruck in a magazine and it says it was a picture taken from America's largest Fire Museum which is in Phoenix!!! So, I gathered up the twins and off we went, about a 30 minute drive from our home to the HALL OF FLAME (NHFF) Museum of Firefighting established in 1961...and yes, the place is big!!!

It is filled with amazing firetrucks all the wayy back from decades and decades ago! Really old...I told my VT friend MAXUS that we were going that afternoon and he said that in UK, they call them Fire Engines.

But it was so fun going around the exhibits of this nice museum...and there is one fire truck from MIAMI where you can go on it -- so the twins liked going up it. And I had the idea of being a shirtless fireman myself so I took my shirt off and got a shot, hehehe...

They also have a nice gift shop where the twins bought their firehats - 3 kinds prices at $1.50, $2.50 and and one at over $8. The entrance for adults was only $6 and it was $4 (ages 4-17), and those 3-5 yo are $1.50 (twins belonged to that) and free for under 3 yo.

It was a Sunday when we went and they were open from noon-4 PM....But Monays to saturdays they are open from 0900 to 1700. And it was easy to follow the signs near the Phoenix Zoo (they are also beside the Phoenix Municipal Stadium).

They also have interactive kid exhibits/playland - safety area...and the twins had so much fun there, even donning firemen outfits! There's a gallery dedicated to those who lost their lives as firefighters. And they have an amazing collection of fire badges from all over...

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Address: 6101 East Van Buren St
Directions: next door to Phoenix Zoo

It was a Saturday morning and I surfed the web for something to do with the kids and found an acclaimed puppet theater right in the middle of Phoenix!

The Great Arizona Puppet Theater has been around for 25 years, the largest and prettiest puppet theater in the western United States complete with a puppetry gift shop, workshops and a research library! The show we saw was at 2 PM and we found that the puppet theater was a nice building (kinda residential looking). The gift shop is filled with puppets and the very high ceiling was well decorated with interesting chandeliers. The stage was even more impressive with huge wooden doors, looking like you’re entering a medieval castle. The sound system was also great.
It’s amazing that shows are given several times during the week: W, Th, F 10 AM, Sat 10AM and 2PM and the Sundays at 2PM. So, when you are in town and the kids would like a one of a kind puppet show, go in. Tickets are not expensive (only $6 for kids and $8 for adults).
At the time we went, the show was on The Elves and the Shoemaker, and even we the adults enjoyed it. The kids were able to sit in front and even lie on a carpet in front of the huge stage. And the theater also has shows for “adults” also--- nothing graphic/nasty, instead the puppet show themes include political and economic humor (like looking for humour on the crashing 2008 stock market...) Isn’t that interesting?

Also across the street in the Japanese Friendship Garden which unfortunately is open only until 3PM (as of 2008), but you can walk around it if you come way early before the show.

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Phone: 602-262-2050
Address: 302 W Latham St, Phoenix, AZ 85003
Directions: Take the I-10 to 7th Ave, go south, follow to the first light, then turn left onto Roosevelt. Follow Roosevelt to the light at 3rd Ave. Turn left onto 3rd Ave and go two blocks to Latham. Turn left on Latham and park in the theater’s parking lot.

I took my nephews here once and I was appalled at how these small young kids can tolerate the steep downhill water-ride – I was more scared/anxious/nervous/terrified than them.
Castles-n-Coasters has a double loop coaster, 4-18 mini golf courses and a total of 15 rides and attractions on top of the interactive video/arcade games. You can't miss it when driving on the I-17 in the Metro Phoenix Area. Definitely a treat for young kids and teenagers!

The place is also near the Metrocenter which is the city’s first bi-level shopping mall in 1973 which has Dillard’s, Macy’s, Sears and JC Penney, and cinemas.

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Phone: 602-997-7575
Website: www.castlesncoasters.com

All of us have seen the minimalist furniture and houseware of Ikea, and the East Valley boasts of a huge building containing a lot of Ikea’s merchandise.

There is even a restaurant where you can have Swedish stuff, including the famous meatballs. During afternoons when we just want to stroll around looking for little things to shop for, we just head off to this nice building and end up buying a lot of stuff!

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Address: I-10 at Warner Rd, Tempe

My family and I are here almost every week at the Westgate Center where you will see Belllagio-like fountains (of Las Vegas) – well they are smaller, but still a very nice fountain to watch.
If there’s a game, it is sometime broadcasted through a giant screen over the fountains.
The American Idol contestants and the recent winner held concerts here and met their fans.
The Westgate Plaza has shops, restaurants like Kabuki and the Yard House, and several bars including Jimmy Buffet’s Maragaritaville (has jerk chicken and coconut shrimp! And Cheeseburger in Paradise). It is beside the big University of Phoenix Stadium (home of the NFL Arizona Cardinals, college football’s Fiesta Bowl, with retractable roof and roll-out grass field) and the equally immense Jobing.com Arena (home of the NHL Phoenix Coyotes) where I have watched fighting matches like the gory “Rage in the Cage” before. The other night, Metallica just had their concert (Oct 2008).

My favorite places to have a snack with the kids is at Johnny Rockets, Shane’s Grill for the best tasty ribs and a nice sandwich place (Wich a Wich? Did I spell that right?).

Further, the stadium was the center of attention during the Superbowl Football match held this year, 2008 (Super Bowl XLII, February 3, 2008). It was amazing that there was not much traffic at all as the Glendale traffic enforcers did such a great job!

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I always liked space adventures and enjoyed visiting Cape Canaveral in Florida---- and guess what, there's a place in Maricopa County for NASA adventurers -- the Challenger Space Center!

This complex is a Smithsonian-affiliated institution that has hands-on aeronautic exhibits (patterned after NASA’s Johnson Space Center) for young and eager wanna-be astronauts (myself included, hehehe). It has regular planetarium programs and simulated space missions.

There is a nice big elevator that goes up the center's floors, and it has a nice see through windows to look out at the wonderful murals on the wall.

The place also has a huge ground level which is perfect for B I G parties. And so, for our twins’ baptism, we rented out the whole space center for our 150 guests and had excellent outside catering service (our baptismal party was more like a wedding...)! And the satff were very nice in showing our guests around, and even laying out pink and blue tablecovers.

So when in the Phoenix area and the kids are bored, it might be nice to stop by this space museum.

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Phone: 623-322-2001
Address: 21170 N 83rd Ave
Website: www.azchallenger.org