My bf and I are escape room enthusiasts (we have done 125+ rooms) and tried both the Jellybean and…read morethe Buried Alive rooms today. Although they weren't all that challenging for us, we still enjoyed them quite a bit. The Jellybean room was very aesthetically pleasing and the theme was whimsical and fun. There were some puzzles (and one lock) in there that we hadn't seen before and we always enjoy when we see something new in a room. I appreciate the way the clues were given and how they kept even that part in theme with the room. This is a good family-friendly room. As for Buried Alive, there is a creepy factor to it but it's not scary. There are some effects in the room that really add to the immersiveness of it. The puzzles were good and were themed to the room as well. However, having just completed the Jellybean room minutes prior, I noticed that there was a similar puzzle in both rooms (an object with letters on it) and that was kinda a letdown. I don't like to see similar puzzles repeated across multiple rooms at the same location. One thing I especially liked about Grande Escape (compared to some other places) is the themes of their rooms. They're different. They're not the typical pirate ship, jail or western room that has been done and redone so many times. So props to them for thinking outside the box. After all, isn't that what is an escape room is about anyways? As for our GM, David (who also happens to be the owner), was great. He was very accommodating to our scheduling request and just an overall personable guy. We also enjoyed talking shop with him while we were there. If you're into escape rooms or even if this is your first time, this place is worth checking out. And for any enthusiasts up in the valley (like we are), drive down and see these guys. You won't be disappointed.

This was our first escape room experience and it was fantastic!!! We had a blast and The owner…read moreDavid is the best... the room we did was buried alive and it was super fun and very challenging! We will DEFINITELY be back!

We visited Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch during spring break with our 6-year-old son and had such a…read moregreat time! My husband and I first visited several years ago and loved it, so we knew it would be a fun place to bring him--and it absolutely was. The animals are so interactive and entertaining. Our favorite experience was with the nectar birds that literally sit on you while they drink. It was such a unique and memorable moment for our son (and honestly for us too!). We also did the monster truck tour, which was fantastic. The guide shared so many interesting facts about ostriches and the ranch itself, and it made the experience even more engaging. It's been really fun to see how much the ranch has grown over the past several years. They've added more experiences and clearly put a lot of care into the place. This spot is truly a treasure and a perfect stop for families looking for something a little different and very memorable. Highly recommend!

I came here today for my fix of cute animal! I have been here so many times and every time I come…read morehere it is such a wonderful experience. Starting from the employees who are so friendly, to the very cute animals and the well organized operation they have for their business. I always go to each of my favorite stations and I visit sometimes twice during my stay. My favorites are the donkeys and the bunnies. I also love that the tortoises have names on their shell. My favorite ninja Turtles was always Raphael so of course I had to go say hi to him while I was there. I highly recommend anybody to come here and you will have a wonderful experience whether you're a child or an adult. My boyfriend and I love to come here for a date day and each time is fantastic.

Gave my five year old nephew a twenty minute pony ride for Christmas.Owner was very friendly and…read morepatient. Yes it was far from Mesa, but it was within my budget and worth the drive to give my nephew a fun time. When they have a special on their trail rides we plan on going.

I board my horse Maui there and she is in wonderful hands!! I feel like it is my second home and…read moreCheryl is so patient teaching me new things! I would recommend to anyone! They have trail rides in the winter, horse riding lessons, boarding, etc :)

This park is very desolate and isolated but located off 2 major Arizona highways.... Highway 84…read morethat turns into 347 and Highway 8 that is located south of Phoenix. Apparently it is 160 acres of walking, hiking and RV camping.... Not too much available but I am sure the nightsky is beautiful as there didnt seem to be much lights throught the park. Unfortunately we didn't see any area for checkin or a station for an employee, no signs other than at the entrance. However according to camping websites you can stay as cheap as $10 a night depending on the camp site size and up to $35 a night that includes 4 RVs and a grill. It appears that there is a maximum of a 14 day stay.

How do you rate such a great place? Five stars just isn't enough. Our group was with John…read more Amazing person and an amazing instructor. We learned exactly what was expected of us and he took care of our fears early on. We were all so excited as we felt the wind and flew in the air. It was such an exceptional experience that we're already planning our next trip. Loved it!!

My 12 year old wanted indoor skydiving for her Christmas present so that's what she got! She was…read morenervous but the instructor Paco was awesome and so helpful. She loved every second of it and can't wait to go back. All of the staff we encountered was incredibly friendly. It was a cold morning so the air in the tunnel was freezing. I'd recommend wearing layers if it's a cold day. The whole experience took about 30 minutes for a first time flyer. Highly recommend this place.

I did my first tandem jump at Skydive Arizona a few weeks ago, and I never thought I'd actually…read moreskydive because I've always been terrified. My siblings and I were gifted it, so we went and I tried to act calm, but my siblings videos definitely says otherwise. The whole experience was great from start to finish. The place is really nice and well set up, and everyone was so kind. My instructor, Johnathan, was amazing, he could tell I was scared and really helped calm me down. Even other staff were giving me fist bumps and helping me to be at ease. I definitely screamed (sorry Johnathan ), but I always felt safe from start to finish and taken care of. Honestly, it was such a good experience that I already booked another jump to try again and be a little braver. If you're nervous like me, they really take care of you here!! And Johnathan is awesome!!

Was stress free experience. Friendly and made you feel at ease. Made you just want to jump out of…read morethat good running airplane with no care in the world because they would take care of you.

This was my first ever competitive racing competition since high school track. I was excited to be…read moredoing a race where I get a bib number! A few of my friends signed up and encouraged me to sign up as well, then a Groupon came up so I had no more excuses. First of all, the thing that stood out the most to me is just how well organized this event was. From the email notifications, the flow of getting in, starting the run, cleaning up, exiting, all was well designed and I couldn't think of how they could have done it any better! Next up is the challenge of the race. I must add that the fact that I even made it out to the race is amazing because I was running a fever leading up to the dash and if it weren't for the Advil I would have still had a fever race time. I'm in pretty good shape since my girl and I do Camelback a couple times a week but this was a hard race! The 14 obstacles take so much out of you, then you have to keep running after. I wonder how more people don't get hurt on some of them but I guess everyone knows what they are getting into. A few other notes, Warrior Dash teamed up with Green Sneakers so you can donate your mud covered shoes at the end. The giant pile of shoes makes a great photo-op when you stand on top. You also get so many giveaways which is super awesome! I got a hella comfy shirt, a warrior dash hat, a well deserved metal, a free beer at the end. I felt like I got more than my money worth and if it even cost more than the full price I paid I would still go! Here are some protips for first timers for next year: 1. Don't leave your phone in your car, bring it with you so you can take pictures before and after the race, just check it in (their check in system is awesome!) 2. Leave a change of clothes in the car for after the event. Check in a pair of flip flops with your phone/ID so you can change into that right after the race and toss your shoes into the donate pile. 3. Bring you ID so you can get your wristband for your free beer. 4. Bring towels/bags to put your muddy clothes in and put on the seats if you don't end up changing out of those muddy shorts. 5. Take some time and plan out an awesome costume that you can run in. We weren't super creative but our group of 4 dressed up and had a blast! One last thing.... Best costume, this guy dressed up with a black tank top, black pants and a fully functioning boom box which he bungee corded to himself going over obstacles. We stayed pace with him most the race and he was bumping awesome 80's rock. See you next year warrior dash!

Trekking through mud, jumping over fire, hurdling over cars and tires... what better way to spend…read moreyour Sunday afternoon! This was my first Warrior Dash event and it was AWESOME! 10+ of my classmates did the race and had a blast! A friend and I dressed up in tiger costumes and by the end, I lost my ears, tail, and sweated off my face paint... It is one of my favorite events here! At the end, you can trade in the chip they give you (tracks your time) for a free beer. They give you a free medal, shirt, and warrior hat. All of which is awesome!!! If you think you can't do it, think again. You've got people of all ages and people in costume doing the race! Also, at each station there's workers watching you in case of injury. The only thing I'd change about it is they need to make the after race a place for people to chill and hang out more. More food stands would be a plus. Tip: Grab the Groupon like we did, only cost $30!

An amazing hike! Start early, bring gloves, lunch/snacks, and water!…read more My friends and I hiked to the peak via the Sunset trail, taking the loop back down the Hunter trail (7.1 mi). The first part of the hike is very easy, just out in the open. Though, once you start climbing you are climbing! The gardening gloves we brought helped us feel more secure, so that we didn't lose our grip. Honestly, the pictures made it look more scary than doing it, but if you are afraid of heights do take caution. The cables felt very secure and I felt safe the whole time. The top is very rewarding! There are a lot of bees though, so I wouldn't recommend hanging out there too long. We ended up having our lunch at on of the campsite benches in the shade at the end of the Hunter trail, which was very nice. The last part of the hike is walking on the road, but we didn't mind it after the steep and rocky decline. The bathrooms in the park are incredibly nice for a state park and there were also water bottle fillers. This was a great hike and the Park is also very well-maintained!

I checked out Picacho Peak State Park, not to be confused with Pikachu, on a Saturday afternoon…read more Located between Phoenix and Tuscon, Picacho was a hike unlike any I've done before. After arriving, you have to pay a $10 entrance fee per person to hike (a bit annoying for a state park but o well). You're given a pamphlet about the park and then it's time for what you came for. We did Hunter's Trail and there was a good amount of parking close to the start of the trail. It's a difficult trail on Alltrails and for good reason. There are parts of the hike where it's so narrow that only one person can go through at the time. There are other parts of the hike where there are steep inclines. And not only that. You'll have to climb using the cables that have been attached to the rock formations. Pro tip: bring gloves. That also means you have to be careful on the way down as you're going down on a decline. Which will be hard on your knees. It's all worth it though, because once you climb the mountain, you'll have breathtaking views of the park. And you'll be so high up that you can see both Tucson and Phoenix in the distance. All in all, if you go at a decent pace, the hike will take you 3-4 hours. There's at least one other trail. And you can also camp in the state park. Last but not least, there's a little museum in the visitor's center. And plenty of facilities. You'll get quite the workout!

This particular area in and around the town of Gila bend has so many sites of both ancient and…read morerecent cultural interests. Although considered a Hohokam rock art site, This area is on the extreme western edge of the Hohokam cultural area. East of the area, petroglyphs take on more typical Hohokam characteristics, while petroglyphs farther west take on more Patayan characteristics. Found here and in nearby areas of the Gila River are petroglyphs of Archaic origin. The whole area along the Colorado and Gila River has.large amount of indigenous culture from cultural markings to ruins. In terms of more recent Western pioneer involvement this area bears the inscriptions of historic passers-by. Juan Bautista de Anza passed near here during his 1775-1776 expedition, followed by the Mormon Battalion in the 1840s, the Butterfield Overland Mail, and countless numbers of pioneers. During World War II, General George Patton used this area as headquarters for tank training. There's also the Oatman pioneer cemetery. There is little protection for the area from vandals and there is some push to make the area on National Monument.

Sometimes I wonder what is that sign from the side of the road, stating Painted Rock Petroglyph…read morealong the I-8 freeway going into Gila Bend. At this time, I was curious and checked it out. To get there, just follow the sign. The road is paved but entering the Painted Rock Petroglyph it will be dirt. The entrance fee is $3 and there is a box to pay to get in. It is on an honor system. Along the area, there are desert camping amenities and camping overnight is $8. The Painted Rock Petroglyph Site is magnificent on how the first people who habitat the land recorded their living. There are more recent carvings from people who passed through the site and there are informational plaques around that tell the history of the area.