After our Rally week in Tucson, we headed north to the Phoenix area. It’s super hard to find an RV park in this area that isn’t age restricted so we ended up at another KOA - we at least know what to expect for quality!
It was Jackson’s bday soon after we arrived in Apache Junction - Grace picked out some battery powered lights for his bike (and she got some for herself) and they ended up hanging them in their room. Looks like a nightclub in there now!
Gift from us, what will it be?
Polaroid camera that he’s been asking for!
We started the day at the mall on the carousel because
That’s where the movie theater was — went to see Dr. Doolittle
After the movies, we headed to the trampoline park
They love these places!
Practicing with his new camera
Swinging fun
Climbing fun
Jason took the kids to the Arizona Science Center one afternoon
Lots of dinosaur bones and replicas
Shadow/camera fun
Lots of interactive displays
Airplane simulator
Back to the trampoline park
Spider-Man showed up this time
Grace getting a high five
Our KOA had a large, open gravel area perfect for the RC car
Kings on the corner!
Grace making friends
Jason and the kids biking on a boring path one afternoon
Exhausted kids
Jackson and I getting in our steps and starting to social distance
We encouraged the kids to start doing more creative things as COVID started affecting where we could go
Turns out, Jackson loves to draw dragons
The activity room still let people into play pool and ping pong
Literally fell asleep playing Shopkins!
More learning to draw fun
The kids love playing charades
Grace being a chair
Tossing the football
This spot at the KOA was perfect - lots of room, some cool cacti, end of the row!
Dragonwood about to go down! Some how the youngest person here beat us all without any strategy!!
Stretching? Bored? Tired?
The first weekend in Phoenix, we visited Papago Park
There’s a large rock formation to climb called...
The hole in the rock (so clever!)
Some people scale the front of the rock - we took the stairs on the backside
Cool pic to see people standing on top of the rocks!
Hole in the rock!
❤️
Please don’t fall, please don’t fall!
Lots of spots to hang out
Our perch to see Phoenix
Palm trees, cactus, desert, mountains - we really enjoyed our time in this part of Arizona
Downtown Phoenix in the distance
Another perch!
Jason and Jackson did attempt to climb to on top of the rocks but it got pretty steep and they scurried back to us
The second weekend, we had a great surprise for the kids! Not more dinosaurs but horseback riding!!!
Grace has been asking to ride a horse since we took off on this adventure
Jackson wasn’t super excited but once he got on the horse and we start les moving, he didn’t want to get off!
Our guide held onto Grace’s horse the whole time
Trying to appear like a natural while being slightly frightened!
This is BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land and was so amazing
Stopping to look at the view
Superstition Mountains
There’s a hole in the ground - one of many gold mines
After riding horses, we headed over to Goldfield Ghostown
There are gun fight shows on the weekends
And lots of buildings, stores and a restaurant made to appear like an old western town
Exploring the ghost town
Busted!
Huge ice cream cones!
Kids convinced us to go on the zip line
Ready to go!
No fear!
Up, up, up and then we came flying down!
There was a small museum of reptiles, spiders, scoorpions, etc to visit
So pretty 🥴
One of my favorite places we visited in Arizona so far was this state park - it’s on our list to return to stay here (but they’re consistently booked up!)
Jason took the kids hiking here one afternoon
They all loved it!
Hard to capture all the views!
We returned on the weekend to hike again
Chain fruit cholla
Saguaro
Brittle bush (maybe?)
Two people parachuting from the top of the mountain
Break time on the way up
Taking in the view
😂
So many rocks to climb
Jackson only likes to hike if it includes climbing - this was one of his favorite hikes
We kept looking for snakes but never found any! Thankfully!!!
So beautiful
More chain fruit cholla
Fantastic state park and hikes. We’ll be back!!!
