My childhood environmentalist phase never faded, so visiting Biosphere 2 with my family had me animated like a grade-schooler. Our visit might also have been arranged with the hope that I would inspire my children’s interest in life science. I would love to see them become little earth scientists and early engineers and appreciate along with me the chance to visit a rainforest, an ocean, a savannah, and a coastal fog desert right in the middle of the Oro Valley, near Tucson, Arizona.
There is something satisfying about going with my family to an art gallery. We all leave with a desire to create and the art supplies I have been collecting are rediscovered. My boys typically want to do something active and I usually think of a few standby activities before seeking out cultural exhibits. But there will always be movies to watch, indoor parks with longer summer hours, and we can always fit in some pool time after a short gallery visit.
Tucked away in an unassuming office building in Ocotillo area of Chandler, Arizona, is an art goldmine.
Boys and grumpiness are two things our family knows a bit about. Contrary to popular belief, boys have a lot of emotions and expressions. They can even be dramatic. (Gasp!) Without knowing much about the story, I was excited to see that Finegan Kruckemeyer’s The Grumpiest Boy in the World addressed the emotional self of boys.
Trains fascinate my kids, their cousins, and their friends. We enjoy train toys, books, movies, parks and museums–and The Polar Express is a classic part of our holiday festivities. The adventure and magic that railway travel conveys may be second only to Santa’s sleigh, itself. Train fans like us should add a quick stop at the Arizona Big Train Operators Holiday Open House
That was a long, hot summer! Our active boys have literally been bouncing off the walls. If you are like us, you have been eager to begin some outdoor adventures. As soon as the temperatures dropped, we made a visit to Casa Grande National Monument. Just a short drive from the Phoenix area, it is an easy, part-day outing.