If you aren’t going to be in Phoenix on May 11, check to see if the coupon will be good for a public garden in your area.

For more information visit – http://www.canadianpicnic.com

Maricopa County celebrating centennial with hiking challenge.

On the second Sunday in October, Amy and I decided to hike the Peralta Trail. No not all of it, but a few miles up near the Freemont Saddle. The trail rises gently to get to the saddle. At the saddle you can take a side trip to a scenic overlook of Weaver’s Needle, visit Geronimo’s Cave or you can go further into the wilderness area. Weaver’s Needle is well know as being near the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine. Find it and you’ll be set for life.

You could spend the rest of your life exploring the Superstition Wilderness and never hike the same trail twice. Dozens of trails lead to the south side of the range and just as many on the north side along the Apache Trail. There’s at least a half dozen trail heads with parking on each side as well.

Consider visiting downtown Glendale with its Glendale Glitters programs on Friday and Saturday evenings (6pm to 10pm), Dec. 3-18.   It will be aglow with 1.5 million sparkling holiday lights, and Murphy Park will be filled with entertainment, arts and crafts, delicious food and horse-drawn carriage rides. Each weekend has a special theme with all kinds of fun for all ages.

Another place to see lights is Zoolights at the Phoenix Zoo.  This runs nightly through January 9, 2011 from 6:00pm to 10:00pm.  Tickets cost $10.00 per person for Sunday through Thursday nights and $12.00 on Friday and Saturday.  There is a discount for Zoo members.  Kids age 2 and younger are free.  Fry’s has discounted tickets for sale.

One of our favorites is Las Noches de las Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden.  Stroll through the garden which is lit by lights and luminarias.  Stop at the many different spots to listen to musical performances.  There is place to get refreshments.  I do recommend that you purchase tickets in advance as some nights sell out.  You can purchase tickets on-line.  This event is mostly attended by adults.  However, if you have a child or teenager who enjoys sitting quietly and listening to music, they will enjoy it too.

Downtown Tempe is hosting the Fantasy of Lights in the Mill Avenue district.   From November 27 to December 10, you can enter their Window Wonderland contest for a chance to win a $250 shopping spree.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a beautiful lights display at the Arizona Temple in Mesa.  This runs from 5:30pm to 10:00 pm daily and is free.   There is usually a half-hour outdoor concert at 7:00 pm.  The Temple is located at 525 E Main St in Mesa.

The VNSA Used Book Sale, Phoenix - February 13 – 14 at the Arizona State Fair Grounds.  This is one of the country’s largest used book sales.  CDs and DVDs are also available.  Proceeds from the sale are used to support three local non-profit charities.

Prospector’s Family Fun Day, Phoenix - February 20 at the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum.  Enjoy gold panning, activities for children, or browse the mineral dealers tables.  Free admission and parking.

Another way to get free admission is to check out a Culture Pass at one of the local libraries.  This program covers a number of museums in the area, plus the Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Garden.

Gilbert used to be the town that was way out there. Past the highways, past the malls, past the paved roads. It was synonymous with ‘Day Trip’. Not today. Now you can get on the Superstition (US 60) or the 202 and get anywhere in Gilbert in minutes. Plus, you have the option of the old downtown, the newer Gilbert Town Square or SanTan Village for shopping and dining.

 You can visit the Raparian Preserve and see an assortment of birds and waterfowl. Go to Freestone Park and ride the train, play softball or workout in the city gym. Explore  the canal trail system on foot or by horseback. You can even learn about Gilbert at  the Gilbert Historical Museum for fun. You can enjoy an evening at the Hale Theatre (pictured above) or playing softball at Big League Dreams.

Gilbert is southeast of Phoenix and Tempe. It borders Chandler and Mesa and being the fastest growing city in Arizona it will soon have over 200,000 residents. There’s not a lot of industry, so much of the employment is office and retail in nature. The city was know as the ‘hay capitol of the world’ in the early part of the 20th century and still has farms and ranches to the south and east.

Or play there. The 10 year old Tempe Town Lake is the centerpiece for sailing, rowing and fishing. But, it also attracks triathletes, runners and folks just out to picnic. The lake and Tempe Beach Park host the Ironman ArizonaTriathlon every November. Other times of the year you can see carnivals, concerts and parties on or around the lake. Tempe has other parks worth checking out too, like Kiwanis Park to the south, Papago Park to the north and 48 parks total. Papago Park is part Tempe and part Phoenix. Either way, you’ll enjoy the hiking, mountaineering, zoo and botanical gardens.

Just to the south of the lake is Mill Avenue, a collection of trendy restaurants, unique boutiques and rowdy bars. Mill is the western boundary of Arizona State University. Pac 10 sports happens on campus year around, plus you can visit over a dozen museums, collections and galleries on campus. All around ASU and Mill Avenue you’ll find shopping, but if you can’t get enough; venture out to Arizona Mills Outlet Mall or Tempe Market Place.

The newest addition to Tempe is the Metro light rail that goes east to Mesa and west to Phoenix. It passes Sun Devil Staduim, Wells Fargo Arena, Mill Ave and heads to Papago Park (short walk) and the A’s spring training home (short walk) and then onto downtown Phoenix, the Diamondbacks and Suns home. Tempe is one of three cities (Phoenix and Scottsdale) that make up the heart of the valley of the sun.