Wildlife Zoo & Aquarium

       Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium is celebrating another beautiful Arizona spring in the same way that Mother Nature has always marked the return of spring – with the birth of many young animals.       Wildlife Zoo & Aquarium is located on some 95-acres in Litchfield Park, AZ.  It is the fulfillment of Mickey Ollson’s dream that began in the mid-1960 when he started raising exotic birds on his small ranch some 27 miles from downtown Phoenix.  By the mid-1970s Mickey’s interest in conservation of wildlife and wild places of the world’s exotic animals had become a passion and he began to trade some of his exotic birds for exotic mammals. 
    Loveable llamas, deer and wallabies became the first members of his new mammal collection.  When he was offered a small herd of camel and zebra, he realized his ranch was just too small and purchased the first 50-acre plot that is a part of the current zoo.  As he continued to work with exotic animals, his collection grew and grew until he saw his dreams become a reality with the September 1984 opening of the Wildlife World Zoo.
    Today, Mickey Ollson’s Wildlife Zoo & Aquarium lovingly displays over 2,600 animals that represent more than 400 different species.  Nearly 400,000 visitors, including over 75,000 school children, follow the well-designed trails to the many wildlife exhibits.  
    Visitors can also choose to jump aboard the Africa Safari Train or get a “bird’s eye” view of the zoo by taking the treetop Skyride or travel through the park on the Log Flume Ride which brags of having the longest acrylic tunnel in Arizona with a 3-story final water drop.
    In 2008 the first phase of The Wildlife World Zoo’s public aquarium opened.  Aquatic building A, B and C are now complete with Building D scheduled to open in the fall of 2012. 
    Upon completion, this oasis in the Sonoran Desert will feature more than 60 indoor exhibits spread over 33,000 square feet and contain over 135,000 gallons of water.  When combined with the aquarium’s numerous outdoor exhibits, the complex will be home to over 400 species of aquatic birds, reptiles, mammals and fish.  With the recent opening of the new Dillon’s Restaurant, you can dine in front of the aquarium windows as a shark swims by eyeing your delicious KC style barbecue meal.
    Mickey Ollson’s dream has become a very special reality for anyone who loves and enjoys the wonderful variety of the world’s wildlife.   

All photos belong to the Wildlife Zoo & Aquarium...

 

McDowell Mountain Regional Park

     It is time to enjoy the wonderful weather found across the Valley of Sun during the winter months.  The Maricopa County Parks system is a great place to spend some time in and with nature.  Our favorite of all the county parks is McDowell Mountain Regional Park.  Let us encourage that you visit - you will love being in the beautiful Sonoran Desert park!

        McDowell Mountain Regional Park just might be the crown jewel of the grand regional park system of Maricopa County.  Located on the eastern slopes of the McDowell Mountains in the lower Verde River basin, this desert park is a wonderful place to spend a spring day for hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, picnickers and even campers.
    McDowell Mountain Regional Park encompasses 21,099-acres of virgin Sonoran Desert vegetation with wide desert washes and a terrain of small hills and rugged ridges.  Visitors are treated to spectacular views of the Verde River Valley and the many surrounding mountain ranges including Four Peaks and the majestic Superstition Mountains.  Watching a full moon rise over the Superstition Mountains and the Verde River Valley from the park’s picnic area is one great and memorable Arizona experiences.
    McDowell Mountain Park has over 50 miles of multi-use trails.  The trails range in length from the .5 miles Hilltop Trail to the 15.3-mile Pemberton Trail.  For people new to the park, the 3.1-mile North Trail is an ideal trail to first travel to get to know and experience the park’s environment.
    For mountain bike enthusiasts, McDowell Mountain Park is home to 3 loops of competitive tracks totaling 15 miles in length.  The tracks are a mountain biker’s dream with swooping turns, steep inclines, technical descents and rugged, desert terrain.  Difficulty of the three loops is rated from expert to intermediate to average beginner.
    Picnicking is a popular activity at McDowell Mountain Park especially during the springtime in  Arizona.  A family and group camping area as well as RV accommodations are all a part of the outdoor experience that can be enjoyed in the park.  Camping fees do apply; check the park’s website for details.  For horse lovers, a wonderful horse staging area is available for those who want to explo
re the park while sitting in a saddle.
    Springtime also brings out the local rattlesnakes, so keep a sharp eye out for those desert critters that sometime like to sun on the trails. Restrooms and running water are available at the trailheads but be sure to plan to carry plenty of water with you as you get out and discover for yourself this wonderful Maricopa County Park.

Four Peaks

Great picnic areas

Weavers Needle in the Superstition Mountains 

Hiking Trails

Camping available

Children playground

Campgrounds

Restrooms

 

What To Do With Holiday Visitors?

    As sure as “mistletoe and holly” now decorate our homes, this season also brings us another annual sign of winter – our out-of-town family and friends arriving for some Arizona sunshine.  Just look at the weather map across this great nation and it is easy to see why our homes are a favorite destination.  Now the big decision – what close to Anthem can you do with them once they have arrived?
    Here is a listing of some of our favorite destinations that can be completed in a single day from Anthem.  With the exception of the “wine tour” all are appropriate for the whole family to enjoy.

For those who love animals…
    The Phoenix Zoo is exceptional!  But there are three other outstanding zoos/parks near Anthem that can delight and educate us all about the amazing animals with whom we share the earth.  The Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium, www.wildlifeworld.com/, in the northwest Valley specializes in getting you up close and personal to the animals.  The newly opened Butterfly Wonderland, www.butterflywonderland.com/, in north Scottsdale is a delight for anyone fascinated by these most beautiful and delicate of nature’s creatures.  And the Out of Africa Wildlife Park, www.outofafricapark.com/, near Cottonwood can be a daylong thrill as park visitors ride the zip-lines above the animals.  
    And if you just want to spend a lazy day fishin’, the AZ Game & Fish Urban Fishing Program, www.azgfd.gov/h_f/urban_fishing.shtml, in downtown Phoenix is a great way to spend a warm winter day fishin’ in the sunshine! 

   
For those who enjoy the arts…
    Museums dedicated to the arts make for a wonderful way to spend a winter day.  The Desert Caballeros Western Museum, www.westernmuseum.org/, in nearby Wickenburg is a world-class museum dedicated to western art.  Another unique museum of western art is the Basha Gallery of Western & Native American Art, www.bashas.com/OurCommunity/BashasArtGallery.aspx, located in the corporate headquarters of the Bashas’ Grocery in Chandler.  The art collection found here is fabulous even though the museum’s location is not typical for an art museum.
    The Musical Instrument Museum, www.mim.org, in north Phoenix has become world-famous in the short 3 years that it has been open.  And, if your guests enjoy street art, the Roosevelt Row Art District, www.rooseveltrow.org/about/roosevelt-row-arts-district/, will give any visitor a great way to explore the central part of Phoenix while discovering the alleys and small business walls covered with impressive, murals of urban street art.
   
For those who want to hike and/or mountain bike…
    Central Arizona is ideal for hiking/biking during the cool winter months.  Spur Cross, www.maricopa.gov/parks/spur_cross/, in nearby Cave Creek has an interesting series of trails through the desert environment.
    Maricopa County Parks, www.maricopa.gov/parks/, all offer great places to spend a day hiking in the Sonoran Desert.  We are lucky that Cave Creek Regional Park is only a ½ hour drive away, but the trailheads of McDowell Mountain and White Tank Regional Parks are within a 2-hour drive.   
    The hiking trails found in the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve, www.scottsdaleaz.gov/preserve/trailheads, are second to none and all of those trailheads are less than an hours drive from Anthem.
    If your guests are interested in some real Arizona history, the moderate, 4.8 round-trip hike to Weavers Needle, www.alltrails.com/trail/us/arizona/peralta-trail, in the Superstition Mountains is a classic outing that can be completed within a day.
    The red-rock trails of Sedona are less than 2-hours away and this link, www.greatsedonahikes.com/, will give you and your guests all the information needed to pick a red-rock trail.  Be sure to check out the weather forecast before hiking during the winter in Sedona. 


For those who like a little wine & a little history…
    Arizona’s Verde Valley Wine Trail, www.vvwinetrail.com/, is only 1½ hour away.  The tasting rooms are open most days.  Other daylong Verde Valley outings could include visiting the historic ghost town of Jerome, www.azjerome.com/jerome/, riding on the Verde Canyon Railroad, www,verdecanyonrr.com/, out of Clarkdale, or visiting the Native American ruins of Tuzigoot, Montezuma Castle & Well National Monuments, www.usparkinfo.com/State/az.html.
For those just wanting to taking a drive…

    Maybe all your winter visitors only want to spend most of their days just riding in the car.  A drive up the Apache Trail, www.arizona-leisure.com/apache-trail.html, from Apache Junction to Roosevelt Lake is an Arizona classic outing and will leave your guests talking about this adventure for years to come. From Roosevelt Lake you can return to the Valley by way of Globe and paved highways.
    A partial drive up the Apache Trail will bring your guest to the Dolly Steamboat, www.dollysteamboat.com/, where they can enjoy a scenic cruise on Canyon Lake and then catching a late lunch at nearby Tortilla Flats, www.tortillaflataz.com/. 
    Another great daylong outing is to discover and photograph “Rocky”, Arizona’s loveable roadside amphibian.  Located just 1½ miles north of Congress, AZ and across Highway 89, www.usroute89.com/us-route-89-roadside-diversions-rocky-the-frog, from the Arrowhead Bar and Grill, this 16 foot, 60 ton green, rock frog landmark has been thrilling travelers since 1928.

     So when those out-of-town guests show up this year, get out and enjoy the many and varied day-long adventures close to Anthem.  They are guaranteed to make their trip this year to Arizona one they will always remember!      

#1 & #2 – Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium
#4 – Out of Africa Wildlife Park
#10 – Musical Instrument Museum
#18 – Verde Canyon Railroad

All the rest of the pictures belong to us!  Happy Holidays!

Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium

Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium

Butterfly Wonderland

Out of Africa, Cottonwood, Az

Urban lake near downtown Phoenix

Desert Caballeros Museum, Wickenburg, AZ

Basha Museum

Basha Museum

Musical Instrument Museum

Urban Mural Project

Urban Mural Project

Weavers Needle

Verde Valley Wine Tasking Trail

Verde Canyon Railroad

Dolly tours Canyon Lake

The famous Apache Trail

Famous Fish Creek Hill

Rocky!

Of Monarch Butterflies and Elepahant Seals

     We just completed a nine day journey over to the Pismo Beach area of California to photograph monarch butterflies and elephant seals for future Live Science stories.  Here are some of our favorite pictures of our December 2014 journey.

The pier at Pismo Beach, CA

A camera mistake turns into a unique Christmas Tree

The over-wintering Monarch Butterflies of Pismo Beach, CA

The Pismo clam as a turkey

The Pismo clam as Rudolph

Autumn leaves of Pismo Beach

A real poinsettia

The cliffs of Pismo Beach, CA

 More Pismo Beach cliffs

Virgin of Guadalupe in Guadalupe, CA

Elephant Seals just north of San Simeon, CA

Young males practicing the fighting technique

That's a face we could all love

Practicing that beachmaster roar

Most interesting face

View from the Cambria Shore Inn, Cambria, CA

The boardwalk along the ocean

Moonstone Beach, Cambria, CA

Moonstone Beach, Cambria, CA

Gypsy explores the succulent garden