You could win a 10-day Arizona vacation including airfare, rental car, and hotel accommodations! For a chance to win the Arizona Adventure of a Lifetime giveaway, all you need to do is send an Arizona e-Postcard to someone you know. If you win, you could be touring through the many landscapes of this Southwestern state, eating Mexican food all along the way. (Well, that’s what I’d do if I won!)

Sample e-Postcard (from the Arizona Office of Tourism website)

I lived in Arizona for 12 years of my life and I head back once a year to visit, so I’m a bit partial to the Grand Canyon State. The Arizona Adventure of a Lifetime giveaway allows you to experience much of what this state has to offer, from shopping and golf galore in my hometown of Scottsdale, to the overwhelming beauty of the Grand Canyon, to the sweet small-town feel of the state’s former capital of Prescott, to the walk-able student town of Tempe (home of my alma mater, Arizona State University). There’s also a stay in Tucson, home of my rival school, University of Arizona. Surely there are nice things in Tucson too, just don’t ask me about them on game day!

One lucky grand prize winner will receive:

- Two-night stay at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale
- Two-night stay at Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn  in Tusayan (near the Grand Canyon)
- Two-night stay at Prescott Resort & Conference Center in Prescott
- Two-night stay at Loews Ventana Canyon in Tucson
- Two-night stay at Fiesta Resort Conference Center in Tempe
- Rental car for use during 10-day stay
- Airfare for two

Enter by January 31, 2012 by sending an Arizona e-postcard to a friend or family member. It’s easy. (I sent one to my mom.)

Writing this blog post is getting me all amped up for my family’s trip to Arizona this April! Maybe I’ll see you there?

You might also like:

• Montezuma Castle with Kids

• Musical Instrument Museum – A Tour of the World through Music

• Phoenix Fun Spots for Kids

• Phoenix Restaurants Worthy of Craving

• Sedona, Arizona – Beyond Imagination

A Note from The Travel Mama: This giveaway is hosted by the Arizona Office of Tourism. I did not receive any sort of compensation related to this post.

Have you ever visited a Native American archealogical site and felt disappointed when you found only few arrowheads and some difficult-to-spot sand drawings? (I have.) You will NOT be disappointed by a visit to Montezuma Castle, I promise! After I came here as a kid, I became enthralled by Native American culture, strapping a baby doll to my back and pretending to grind corn into flour in my desert yard. (Really.) It was one thing to read about the history of my childhood state of Arizona and quite another to see with my own eyes these ancient cliff-dwellings and try to picture the day-to-day lives of the Sinaguan people.

Montezuma Castle, a 20-room cliff-dwelling once occupied by the Sinaguan Indians, is the perfect road trip stop for an intriguing history lesson and a mid-day nature walk with the kids. This is a must-see for anyone traveling from Phoenix to Sedona or Flagstaff.

Montezuma Castle cliff dwelling

History
Named one of America’s first national monuments in 1906 by President Theodore Roosevelt, today 350,000 people visit Montezuma Castle each year. The small on-site museum includes exhibits and artifacts depicting the lifestyle, history and culture of the Sinaguan Indians who built Montezuma Castle. The Sinagua (meaning “without water” in Spanish) settled here approximately 1,000 years ago and left 400 years later. Miners who discovered the ruins in the 1860s mistakenly thought they had found remnants of the Aztec people and named the impressive building after the Aztec emperor, Montezuma.

Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy by Beaver Creek during cooler months

Explore
Follow a self-guided 1/3-mile loop trail past the incredible 5-story Montezuma Castle built into limestone cliffs, through a shaded Sycamore grove, and along the perennial, spring-fed Beaver Creek. Keep your eyes and ears open for song birds, lizards, jackrabbits, coyotes and more animals during your hike. Be sure to stay on marked paths because Western Diamondback and Black-Tailed rattlesnakes also call Montezuma home.

A Montezuma Castle diorama depicting the lives of the Sinaguan Indians brings history to life for children and adults. Ask kids to imagine what it would be like to live in the castle so many years ago and to pick out which room they would like as their own. 

My daughter was fascinated by the Montezuma Castle diorama

Junior Ranger Program
To get children excited about exploring the Montezuma Castle National Monument, stop by the Visitor Center to pick up Junior Ranger materials before setting out. Older kids answer questions about the monument and surroundings like, “Prickly Pear Cactus: What color are the ripe fruits?” and “Cliff Dwelling: Imagine the view! How many people do you think lived inside?”

Junior Rangers take an oath promising to protect nature and they receive an official Junior Ranger badge and certificate. Younger rangers (like my then 5-year-old daughter) can do a simpler activity like a word find and/or answering questions posed by the Park Ranger on duty.

My daughter taking her Junior Ranger oath

Getting Here
Follow I-17 to exit 289 (90 minutes north of Phoenix, 45 minutes south of Flagstaff). Drive east (through two traffic circles) for approximately 1/2 mile to the blinking red light. Turn left on Montezuma Castle Road.

What is your favorite National Monument? Tell us in the comments below!

You might also like:

• Musical Instrument Museum – A Tour of the World through Music

• Phoenix Fun Spots for Kids

• Phoenix Restaurants Worthy of Craving

• Sedona, Arizona – Beyond Imagination

The Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona gives a glimpse into the world’s people through the music we create, love, and dance to. I thought a visit would involve silently walking the halls, staring at clarinets and trombones, and reading standard museum text. Instead, visitors don headphones that come to life with music and narration when an exhibit is approached. Musical diversity appears before your ears and eyes with songs and videos of concerts and dances, colorful displays of familiar and unusual instruments, plus traditional costumes and huge photographs. Children and adults even get a hands-on opportunity to make music with a variety of instruments from around the world.

A sign welcoming visitors to the Musical Instrument Museum announces, “Music is the language of the Soul.”

Mongolia’s musical display in the Geographic Galleries features traditional costumes, instruments, and video.

Here is an up-close look at Tenovoim (leg rattles) in a Southwest United States display. These instruments are made from giant moth cocoons, pebbles, cotton, and animal skin. They sounds like rain when worn by Pascola and Deer dancers.

Listen to John Lennon’s “Imagine” at this display in the Artist Gallery containing the upright piano on which he composed the famous song.

The Mechanical Museum Gallery features instruments designed to play on their own, like phonographs, jukeboxes, and these player pianos.

The Experience Gallery provides a noisy and exuberant finale to a Musical Instrument Museum visit.

As someone who loves to travel and experience other cultures, visiting this museum was a wondrous buffet of the world’s cultures. You can read about a country’s history and see its artifacts, but to hear its music and watch its people dance in joy – that brings the essence of its people to life.

What unique attraction or museum do you recommend to other Travel Mamas and Travel Daddies? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

You might also like:

• 5 of the Best “World’s Biggest” Attractions

• Orange County Great Balloon – It’s Fun & It’s Free!

• Phoenix Fun Spots for Kids

• Romantic Getaway at Scottsdale’s Intercontinental Montelucia Resort & Spa

After a hectic day that included a trip to the emergency room for one of our children (don’t worry, she’s fine!), the minute my husband and I stepped into the lobby at the Intercontinental Montelucia Resort & Spa in Scottsdale we could feel our tensions begin to drift away. During our trip to Arizona to visit family this past fall we dumped left the kids at my parents’ house and checked into this luxurious resort for a mini romantic getaway filled with fine dining, good wine, spa treatments, relaxation and, of course, romance.

Intercontinental Montelucia in Scottsdale, Arizona

A Hopeful Welcome
At check-in we were invited to choose from a myriad of colorful rocks in a decorative wooden box. We were to then make a wish when dropping the stone into the Joya Fountain located at the entrance of the resort’s on-site Joya Spa. Never mind that I dropped my wishing stone in the wrong fountain, my wish was granted.

Joya Fountain Tradition

A Meal to Remember
A bellman dropped our bags in our room while we headed straight to our overdue dinner reservations at Montelucia’s signature restaurant, Prado. While this fine-dining restaurant’s decor and name are Spanish, the menu was filled with Italian-inspired offerings thanks to the influence of its Head Chef Claudio Urciuoli, who hails from the Cinque Terre region of Italy. Two classical guitarists, the Sonas Brothers, played Spanish flamenco music intermingled with renditions by the Eagles and other well-known artists. 

To ease our rattled nerves, we ordered a bottle of a wine. I was a little surprised to find a few Arizona wines on the menu and even more surprised by how much I liked the sangiovese blend from an Arizona winery, Paige Springs.

The signature restaurant, Prado

Next, we ordered a scrumptious antipasto platter to ease our rumbling bellies. It was a delightful mixture of tastes and textures including Manchego cheese, prosciutto, olives, giant toasted almonds, orange blossom honey, and crackers. The we split the Local Lettuces. While the salad was visually stunning with its curls of bright, thinly sliced carrots and hot pink watermelon radish, the sherry vinegar dressing was too acidic for my palate. Next time I’d try the Panzanella – an Italian salad made from homemade bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, feta and wild oregano.

You can choose both a pasta and main course in the Italian tradition, but we skipped the noodles and went straight for the entree. My husband sopped up any remaining broth from his bowl of Caciucco, a traditional Tuscan seafood stew. Meanwhile the tangy, pillows of olive gnocchi were the highlight of my Coumbia River Coho Salmon dish.

Caciucco, traditional Tuscan seafood stew

After my husband and I (playfully) argued over which dessert to order, our waitress brought us all three choices: a white chocolate coconut cake served with passion fruit, a warm chocolate cake served with vanilla gelato, and an apple crostata served with bourbon caramel. The argument then continued over which confection was the best. My husband insists it was the crostata but if you like chocolate, the Moelleux au Chocolat is absolutely not to be missed.

Grounds for Romance
Not quite ready to turn in for the night, we took a stroll through the resort’s fountain-filled grounds before warming up in hanging chairs nestled beside a roaring fire pit. It was the perfect way to top off our romantic evening. 

Warming up by the fire after dinner

Room with a View
Our room had a rustic Spanish elegance featuring carved wood furniture accented with a modern crimson couch on which to snuggle up before climbing into the plush platform bed. The massive tiled bathroom with sunken tub and separate two-head shower was impressive but the best part was the view. Giant doors slid open onto our balcony, which overlooked the pool, the resort’s plentiful fountains, and the burning fire pits below. In the not-too-far distance we could see the outline of the camel’s head of the famous Camelback Mountain illuminated by the light of the moon. 

View of the resort and Camelback Mountain from our room’s balcony in the morning

Breakfast for Two
For a casual breakfast of gourmet coffee and house-made pastries, we considered popping into Crave Cafe. Instead we opted to return to Prado for the breakfast buffet. We chose the continental version with fresh fruit, yogurt parfaits, bagels with cream cheese and lox, and an array of pastries. Those seeking a heartier meal can order the full buffet with eggs, meats, and other savory selections.

Yogurt and granola parfaits on display at the Prado’s breakfast buffet

A Spa Escape
No romantic getaway would be complete for me without a trip to the spa. Joya Spa invokes the feeling of an exotic Morrocan escape with its decorative tile-work, an abundance of bright throw pillows, and sheer curtains draped across entryways. My husband worked out in the spa’s fitness center while I indulged in a massage treatment. Afterward, we relaxed together beside the Joya Terrace roof-top pool.

Traditional spa treatments like facials, nail treatments, hair service, massages, and body treatments of all kinds are available. If you’re looking for a unique experience, check out their hypnotherapy, tarot readings, meditation sessions, and even belly dancing classes!

Traveling with kids? Drop off children ages 5 to 12 for a few hours of FREE childcare in the Planet Trekkers kids’ club with the purchase of any spa service 50 minutes or longer!

Joya Spa

Worth Wishing For
What was my wish? To relax and connect with my husband, forgetting about our stresses and responsibilities for a little while. The Intercontinental Montelucia Resort & Spa certainly made that wish come true. It would have been nice to have time to lounge by the main Kasbah Pool, take a spin on the rentable bicycles, and hike Camelback Mountain. But our parental duties called. Maybe next time we visit this resort we’ll bring the kids. Then again…maybe not!

Where do you wish to go for a romantic getaway? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

You might also like:

• Phoenix Restaurants Worthy of Craving

• Romance at Disneyland

• Sedona, Arizona – Beyond Imagination

• Tips for A Romantic Getaway WITH the Kids!

A Note from the Travel Mama: Thank you to the Intercontinental Montelucia Resort & Spa for hosting our romantic getaway!

Located on one of the most spectacular spots of real estate in the world, everything at Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Arizona seems to have been created to allow the scenic landscape take center stage.

Sedona’s famed Enchantment Resort

An Enchanting Welcome
The minute we arrived at Enchantment, someone was there with a warm welcome to walk us to check-in. There was no ornate, grand entrance to the hotel’s lobby. Instead, natural elements like stonework, vibrant green vines, colorful flowers, and cyprus trees led to an unobtrusive stucco building. The children were greeted with a gift bag filled with a stuffed toy coyote and a coloring or puzzle book. You can warm up by the fire in over-sized leather chairs in the lounge here before dinner or duck into the game room to watch television or play board games with the kids.

Entrance to the Enchantment Resort lobby

Boynton Canyon Hiking Trails
One of my favorite memories from this trip was hiking the Vista Trail with just my little girl, Karissa. We paused to stare at tiny wildflowers, note the strange purplish hue of the prickly pear cactus fruits, and guess where our room was from where we stood on the trail. Karissa kept asking if we could take Sedona home with us. When I asked her what she meant, she said, “I want to keep it and put it in our back yard because it’s soooo pretty here!”

There are several hiking trails accessible from Enchantment. Two of Sedona’s most beloved trails are located just behind Mii amo Spa. Head to the left for Boynton Canyon Trail, which is 2.4 miles each way. Go to the right to hike Vista Trail up to Kachina Woman rock formation, which stands guard over one of Sedona’s famous energy vortexes. This hike should take about 20 minutes up and 15 minutes down, unless you are hiking with a five-year-old, then it takes longer!  Both were too rigorous for my two-and-a-half-year-old to hike for any distance.

My daughter beaming with pride at the top of Vista Trail below Kachina Woman rock formation

Camp Coyote
Our daughter begged to go back to Camp Coyote after her half-day adventure here. This kids’ camp is for children ages four to 12. Choose from half-day or full-day camps plus summer evening camps. The camp is renowned for incorporating its natural surroundings and the Native American heritage of the area into its activities. Campers might take guided nature walks where they learn about  Boynton Canyon’s plants, insects, mule and white-tailed deer, jackrabbits, and other inhabitants. Or they might do sand painting, weave dream catchers or design arrowhead necklaces. Standard kids’ camp fun is available too in the form of trucks, toys, and craft projects.

Camp Coyote

Mii amo Spa
This spa is located on the same property as Enchantment Resort and is open to Enchantment guests but is also a destination spa with guest rooms of its own. From sunrise stretches to medicine walks, aqua aerobics, and cooking demonstrations…activities and lectures abound at Mii amo. I didn’t get a chance to try any of these out, but I was able to indulge in a massage at this world-renowned spa. The facilities are nearly as stunning as the setting. After my treatment I took a dip in the indoor pool with its soothing fountains. Then I relaxed in the outdoor hot tub while staring at the breathtaking view of Boynton Canyon, overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude to experience such beauty.

Indoor and outdoor pools with a spectacular view at Mii amo Spa

Dining Options
Two of the onsite restaurants feature expansive windows to allow diners to gape at the gorgeous red rocks in which the resort is nestled. One of the most upscale dining options in all of Sedona is located here, Yavapai Restaurant, which offers 180-degree views of Boynton Canyon.

We had dinner one night at Tii Gavo, the more casual dining option at Enchantment. With its candlelight and swanky bar-like atmosphere, this would make a lovely date night option. However, eating here with our noisy young children was like leading a marching band blaring through a church as my husband and I (unsuccessfully) attempted to keep our offspring from annoying the other diners. The mushroom empanadas appetizer was the star of the meal with its earthy mushrooms, flaky crust, and tasty tomatillo sauce.

Mushroom Empanada at Tii Gavo

A third restaurant is available at neighboring Mii amo Spa. Since the spa is for guests 16 and older, don’t plan to bring little kiddies here to eat. Before my spa treatment I enjoyed a quiet solo lunch at Mii amo Cafe of miso soup and a salmon Caesar salad. Everything was fresh, light, and delicious -the picture-perfect spa cuisine.

Each morning, a charming bucket of orange juice and a USA Today is delivered to resort guests. We brought a few breakfast items with us and supplemented them with coffee made in-room and a couple of room service items, which saved on time and money. Try the homemade granola – it’s heavenly!

Morning delivery of orange juice and the paper

Accommodations
Guest rooms are designed for comfort at Enchantment. If you are traveling with children and can afford a glorious upgrade, I suggest booking a casita. Our one-bedroom casita was decked out with a patio and outdoor barbecue plus my kids’ favorite, a gas-powered fireplace around which we warmed our tootsies after chilly fall hikes.

The eat-in kitchen featured a stove, microwave, coffee maker, refrigerator, pots, pans, dishes, eating utensils, and even a toaster. The spacious family room was so large and comfy; it felt more like a home than a hotel. The Murphy bed was more restful than a sofa pull-out and took up no space when stowed away. The bedroom had two queen-sized beds and a second television plus its own bathroom.

My kids warming up by our in-room fireplace

So, Is It Worth the Splurge?
Although there are more affordable accommodation options in Sedona, I think Enchantment Resort is worth a splurge. My husband announced during our stay, “I never want to leave here.” I asked him why and he said, “Because it’s beautiful and there’s a fireplace and even the soap smells good. Seriously, there are no worries here.” (The soap, by the way, was made with olive oil and it did smell really, really good!)

This is the most upscale resort in Sedona. Could you stay somewhere for less money? Yes. But you come to Sedona to stand in awe of something bigger than yourself, to breathe in fresh air, listen to the sounds of gravel crunching beneath your feet, climb to the top of something majestic, and forget about your inbox, laundry, and to-do list for awhile. Staying at Enchantment submerses you in all that beauty and relaxation. Isn’t that the point?

What resort do you think is worth the splurge? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

You might also like:

• A Mommy-Daughter Vacation in Puerto Rico

• Phoenix Restaurants Worthy of Craving

• Quiznos Giveaway – New Year, New You, New Travel Plans!

• Sedona, Arizona – Beyond Imagination

Sedona Vacations

A Note from The Travel Mama: The Enchantment Resort provided my family with complimentary accommodations, our dinner at Tii Gavo, and my spa treatment. I always provide my honest opinion, no matter who’s footing the bill.

You know Sedona is famous for its gorgeous red rocks and breathtaking desert landscape. You’ve heard about this Arizona mountain town’s mysterious energy vortexes, and probably dismissed their existence. Maybe you’ve imagined escaping to this scenic destination to hike trails amidst all that natural beauty.

As you drive north from Phoenix, saguaro cactus with their arms stretched outward or twisted in defiance stand guard over bits of desert brush and fruit-bearing prickly pear cactus, chubby round barrel cactus, and the dreaded jumping cholla (whose evil needles long to cling to bewildered human and animal skin). This gives way to a more lush landscape of evergreens intermingled with a few stubborn cacti. Trite clouds made of cotton puffs are suspended in an impossibly blue sky.

You come up over a hill, and drive through a mountain pass as the earth turns from bland to russet. At last you see what all the fuss is about. Cathedral Rock appears in the distance and you grab your cell phone and snap photos, eager to share this beauty on Facebook or Twitter. The jutting mountains, plateaus, and science fiction rock formations in various hues of orange and red resemble an oil painter’s fantasy more than real life.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more stunning…the sun begins to set. You’ve seen sunsets before, but somehow the colors seem more alive here in the high desert. The sky ripens with colors from your Crayola box – carnation pink, burnt umber, sienna, scarlet.

You are buzzing with energy from all this beauty…and a part of you begins to believe in energy vortexes after all.

Which destination have you visited that is better in-person than you had imagined? Please share your thoughts in the comments below!

You might also like:

• Favorite Family-Friendly Nature Spots in California

• 4 Phoenix Fun Spots for Kids

• Phoenix Restaurants Worthy of Craving

• The Travel Mama’s Top 3 Hidden Gem Destinations

A Note from the Travel Mama: I was invited to Sedona by the Enchantment Resort. Check out my review now!

If you will be in Phoenix, Arizona during the holiday season, you absolutely must visit Zoolights at the Phoenix Zoo! Go here to see a twinkling array of animal-shaped light displays, watch dancing trees, chat with a talking giraffe, go sledding without snow, and more!

Lights, Lights, Lights!
You’ll see forests of bright purple and white lights, cacti decked out in a rainbow of colors, and a multitude of bright animals lit up by environmentally-friendly LED lights. In total, there are 3.5 million lights and 600 light sculptures!

Dancing Trees
Be sure to walk through the Music in Motion forest to see trees that “dance” to Christmas music. When the music stopped and the lights dimmed for a moment during our visit, my two-year-old broke the silence with a joyful, “Yaaaay!”

Jengo the Talking Giraffe
Kids are amazed by Jengo the Talking Giraffe, especially when she calls them out by name! Jengo’s neck, mouth, and tail move as she chats and sings holiday songs with Zoolights visitors.

The Polar Slide
Who says you need snow to go sledding? At the Phoenix Zoo you can zip down the Polar Slide aboard an inner-tube during daytime zoo hours and Zoolights evenings throughout the holiday season. My kindergartner had an absolute blast zooming down this 180-foot snow-free hill. Even my usually ride-phobic toddler begged to join in the fun, but riders must be at least four-years-old. Grandpa appeased him with a visit to the zoo’s nearby Virginia G. Piper Enchanted Forest playground instead.

Arizona Creatures
The Phoenix Zoo’s Arizona Trail is home to this state’s indigenous creatures. The Zoolights in this area focus on the same animals. Here you’ll find bright displays of jackrabbits, Javelinas (wild pigs), a giant rattlesnake, and other desert inhabitants.  

More Fun
As though that’s not enough, for a few extra bucks you can go for a ride on a real camel, take a spin on a carousel, or climb aboard a horsedrawn carriage for a tour of the lights. Plus, Santa is available to pose for Christmas portraits with children at an additional charge.

This is a wonderfully festive event to share with children or to enjoy as a romantic date night with your honey. Tickets can be purchased online at a discount. Visit the Phoenix Zoo Zoolights website for additional information.

To read about more December events, check out this week’s Trekaroo Spotlight Thursday.

Where is your favorite holiday light display in the world? Share in the comments below!

You might also like:

• 4 Phoenix Fun Spots for Kids

• Holidays at Disneyland

• How to Survive Visiting Family during the Holidays

• Phoenix Restaurants Worthy of Craving

A note from The Travel Mama: The Phoenix Zoo provided my family with free entrance to Zoolights.

There weren’t nearly as many fun attractions for families to explore in Phoenix when I was growing up there as compared to what exists today. When I return with my two kids to visit family each year, I love discovering the newer child-friendly Phoenix-area attractions as well as revisiting old-school favorites. Here are four family-friendly spots that are sure to please kids.

My daughter, Karissa, putting her mind to work at the Arizona Science Center

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
I don’t know what it is, but most young children are down-right enthralled by trains of all sizes! My toddler son, Leo, is particularly loco for locomotives, so the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park was a must-see during our visit to Phoenix last fall.

This Scottsdale park is a great place to just let the kids get their wiggles out during a short visit. Or, you can make a day of it by grabbing hotdogs and hamburgers at the Snackstop or packing a lunch to enjoy at a picnic table while watching the choo-choo chug past.

That’s me with my boy at one of the playgrounds at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park

The highlight of a visit here is climbing aboard the park’s miniature steam train for a winding ride through the grassy park. Afterwards, kids can frolic about at the park’s elaborate playgrounds before taking a spin on the Charros Carousel.

My kids loved Hartley’s General Store, which sells hand-dipped ice cream and an array of train toys. It houses a Thomas the Tank Engine table stocked with wooden trains and tracks for hands-on playing. A model train that encircles the store adds to the fun.

Kids love to sit in the enclosed train car for some odd reason…Don’t worry, there are plenty of open-air cars to choose from too!

Hall of Flame Firefighting Museum
The Hall of Flame Firefighting Museum boasts the world’s largest collection of vintage fire trucks, ranging from a 1725 English hand pumper to more modern engine-powered models. This attraction will probably take about one hour to explore with young children and up to two hours with older kids who have more patience for reading the displays. You could combine a visit here with a day at the Phoenix Zoo, which is located just across the street.

Here’s just one of the shiny, beautifully-restored fire trucks on display

My family made a game of our visit by having everyone select his or her very favorite fire truck from among the museum’s more than 90 vehicles. Most of the trucks are strictly hands-off, which made wrangling two curious youngsters a wee bit nerve-wracking. There is one climb-aboard fire engine for make-believe, albeit stationary, rescue missions.

Browse the display of wacky fire helmets from various countries and time periods, including some with fancy, unnecessary decorations

There is also a touching memorial to fallen fire rescue heroes, with a special display for those who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Towers in New York.

Arizona Science Center
I have been to my fair share of science museums, and let me tell you, the Arizona Science Center in downtown Phoenix rocks! With hands-on experiments complete with nobs to crank and buttons to push, children are too busy having fun to realize they’re learning something too! You definitely could (and should!) spend a whole day exploring the center.

Leo trying to figure out one of a multitude of the center’s interactive displays

The coolest part is the Forces of Nature exhibit, which simulates natural phenomena for those brave enough to step aboard the “stage” to experience the five-minute show (which repeats every 15 minutes). It was too scary for my toddler and preschooler, but I saw lots of school-aged kids, teenagers, and adults nervously laughing as they experienced a (mild) earthquake, wind storms, thunder, lightning, and more.

My friend, Erin, and her daughter, Hannah exploring another exhibit

Arizona Museum of Natural History
If pressed, I would say the Arizona Museum of Natural History is my favorite of these four attractions. This museum, located in Mesa, will probably take about half a day for your family to enjoy.

Kids and grown-ups alike are drawn to the museum’s Dinosaur Mountain

Most impressive is Dinosaur Mountain, a display of life-sized animated dinosaurs on a cliff with booming “flash floods” that send water gushing down the display every 23 minutes.

Be sure to head outside to participate in Karissa’s favorite activity at this museum – panning for gold

At this museum, you can wander through the Lost Dutchman Mine exhibit and “lock up” your family members in its jail cells. Then explore a Hohokam village, stopping to grind some maize with stone tools and put together giant puzzle pieces to form pictures of Native American pottery.

As you can see, Phoenix isn’t just about shopping and golf. There are plenty of fun, educational attractions for families to enjoy during a visit to the Valley of the Sun!

What is your favorite Phoenix-area family attraction? Leave a comment below!

You might also like:

• Phoenix Restaurants Worthy of Craving

• San Diego Zoo’s Best Beasts, Eats, and Treats

• Texas Hill Country Family Activities

• Top 10 Disneyland Rides and Attractions for Babies and Toddlers

A note from the Travel Mama: My family and I received complimentary passes to the Arizona Science Center and the Arizona Museum of Natural History.

I lived in Arizona for most of my childhood and I’ve been going back once or twice most years since I moved away fourteen years ago. So, what’s on my must-do list when I return, beyond visiting family and long-time friends? Eating!

There are a handful of Phoenix-area restaurants that are not merely tasty; these places cause deep-rooted cravings. As a bonus, each is an affordable option for families with children.

Here’s a list of the eateries I try to squeeze in during any trip home.

Best Burgers and Dogs
Don’t let the name scare you! Chuckbox, located just across from Arizona State University in Tempe, is THE place to go for a grilled meaty treat before or after a Sun Devils game. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and chicken sandwiches are cooked as nature intended…over a huge flaming open fire. You might as well order some beer battered onion rings or deep fried zucchini while you’re at it. Portions are huge, prices are low. The atmosphere is rustic, with wooden plank benches and glass mugs of beer or root beer. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Best Pizza and Subs
With several locations throughout Arizona, Streets of New York makes the best pizza in Arizona as far as I’m concerned. It’s not fancy; it’s just cheesy, saucy, crispy, chewy pizza goodness. Not in the mood for pizza? Get a sub instead. My Scottsdale-resident parents are devotees of the Best of Everything hot sub, layered with Capocolla ham, Genoa salami, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pepperocini, and tasty Italian dressing all served on a warm, chewy roll. Yum!

Best Ice Cream Parlor 
Nothing beats an old-fashioned ice cream parlor for a special treat, especially when you have kids! Slide into a bubblegum pink booth in Old Scottsdale’s Sugar Bowl and order my favorite, a Blarney Dream – a tall layered sundae of green mint syrup, vanilla ice cream, chocolate fudge, and butter pecan ice cream, topped with whipped cream and a cherry. If that sounds too exotic, order a standard banana split, hot fudge sundae, or one of their many flavors of shakes. While you’re here, take a peek at the Family Circus drawings that adorn the walls. Artist and Sugar Bowl fan, Bil Keane, featured the Sugar Bowl in a bunch of his cartoons.

Best Coffee House
Back before Starbucks took over the world, Coffee Plantation was the forerunner of the coffee movement in the Phoenix area. My high school pals and I used to drive to Tempe on weekends to go to the original Coffee Plantation on the college town’s main street, Mill Avenue. The original location recently shut down despite its numerous loyal fans, but you can still grab a good cup of joe or an Italian soda (with cream or without) in one of two Scottsdale locations. 

Best Mexican Food
While good Mexican food can be found in my adopted hometown of San Diego, for me, nothing beats Arizona’s Sonoran-style Mexican cuisine. I couldn’t narrow it down to just one, so here’s my top three picks.

Ajo Al’s has three locations in the Valley of the Sun and one in Arrowhead, Arizona. One of their house specialties, and my dish of choice, is the Pollo Con Queso – a fried chicken burrito topped with spicy cream cheese and melted cheese.

Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen is a newer find for me. A unique dish, and my husband’s all-time favorite, is the Chicken Poblano. A fresh poblano chile is filled with seasoned chicken, then breaded, cooked until crunchy, and smothered with enchilada sauce and melting cheese. If you’re a tamale fan, you must try Macayo’s green chile tamale! There are numerous Macayo’s locations to choose from throughout Arizona and Nevada.

Rosita’s Fine Mexican Food offers kitschy décor and delectable dishes in Tempe. I used to wait tables here during college and I never tired of the extensive menu. Back then, I even stopped by on my days off to get my fix of chicken enchiladas with zesty red sauce, spinach enchiladas with creamy white cheese, or crispy flautas topped with guacamole.

Do you have a favorite Phoenix area restaurant that should be added to the list? Leave a comment below!

You might also like:

• Beach Day in Zihuatanejo, Mexico

• 4 Phoenix Fun Spots for Kids

• San Diego Zoo’s Best Beasts, Eats, and Treats

• Top 5 Things to Do in San Antonio, Texas