Temperatures are slowly starting to drop, leaves are beginning to change up north and everywhere you look are pumpkin patches, fall festivals, haunted houses, and Halloween costumes and decorations. Autumn has officially arrived in Arizona and we want to share Ladybug’s favorite places to celebrate Pumpkin Patch Season this fall. Most of these locations are open on weekends throughout October, but be sure to check the website for each to know the hours, cost and details before you go! MacDonald’s Ranch MacDonald’sContinue Reading

October is Pumpkin Patch season 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 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 some of our best tips for visiting pumpkin patches here in the Sonoran Desert.Continue Reading

Grand Canyon Railway - summer

There is something special about trains. Their size, power, and the ability to take us from one destination to another, sometimes through impassable wilderness, is awe-inspiring. Folks originally settled in Arizona by riding the rails, 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 our favorite train rides in the Arizona, both big and small. The Grand Canyon Railroad The granddaddy ofContinue Reading

One of our favorite activities to do with our family is hiking and, as Arizonans in Phoenix, we hike mainly in the desert. Desert hiking is a great way to get outside into nature, breathe in some fresh air, enjoy the sunshine, learn about the world around us, and step away from the pressures of daily life. In Phoenix, we are very blessed to have one of the best urban park systems in the country. Maricopa County Parks and Recreation is madeContinue Reading

Anyone who cares for young children should be aware of the potential dangers and possible tragedies of drowning. Here are some safety tips from the experts and local resources for you to help you keep your kids safe around water, as the weather warms up and pools become more attractive to children everywhere.Continue Reading

Water is a scarce resource in the desert, so we don’t typically imagine Arizona to be a place where you can find high-quality aquariums. Fortunately for Sonoran Desert dwellers, that perception is wrong. Arizona is home to a number of world-class aquariums, including the largest in the southwest. Summer is a perfect time to escape the desert heat and find an oasis of water and sea life in one of the many aquariums in our state. Here is a list of aquariumsContinue Reading

The summer months are coming soon and parents all over the Valley are scrambling to find ideas for ways to keep their kids busy or provide weekly childcare while they are out of school. One solution many parents take advantage of is summer camp. Here are some tips for finding the right summer camp for your kids this year. Why Summer Camp is Important Camp is a place where kids are allowed to safely roam and play in a way the oftenContinue Reading

At this time of the year, we stop to reflect on all the things that make us thankful. A roof over our head when so many are homeless, food in our stomachs when so many go hungry, and the love of friends and family when so many are alone. As parents, it’s so important to pass on our values to our children, and help them understand why we should be thankful for what we have, even when life has difficulties. There areContinue Reading

[Published in the November 2017 edition of the North Tatum Times} One of our favorite things to do as a family when the weather cools off is to visit the zoo. Any zoo. Every zoo. It’s a great way to get outside, enjoy the weather and see nature and wildlife in action. Arizona has some outstanding zoos wildlife parks. Each of these places has something unique to offer – they are all much more than just a zoo. And all of them areContinue Reading