What a stunning addition to the vast array of beautiful park amenities within the city of Apache…read moreJunction. Nestled within the newly built Blossom Rock community, you will find the beautiful Painted Sky Park. Scenic views of the Superstition Mountains in the distance with beautiful walking paths with plants and the relaxing sound of the water fountain. Looking for activities? There are many playgrounds and activity for kids. In addition, there is a catch and release lake so there's even fishing for those who enjoy that. Definitely family fun for everyone, or even those who are just looking for a scenic stroll to get their steps in for the day. Even friendly for your fur friends, so don't forget the doggos! Be sure to check out Apache Junction's newest parks and be on the look out for the various events I am sure the Apache Junction Parks and Recreation will be hosting here.

Painted Sky Park is a beautiful playground with tons of stuff for the kiddos to do! They have…read moremultiple playgrounds for different size kids, 'mini' playgrounds on the sides that include spinning toys and climbing toys. I was thrilled to see that this neighborhood park had restroom facilities with water fountain and water bottle refill station attached! Once this neighborhood grows out, I think they'll need a larger parking lot because this place will be poppin!

I am a frequent visitor to Phoenix and the Phoenix area. Until recently I thought that I knew all…read morethe places to go, but after my last visit I learned that I have a lot to experience still. This realization came about when I realize that I have never been to South Mountain park before! This is the largest municipally managed parked not only in Phoenix area, but in the United States. This park covers over 16,000 acre of desert land. The park covers three mountain ranges that you can learn about in a beautiful visitor center. This park also features more than 50 miles of trails for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback rider. And if you are not a hiker, then you can experience the beauty of the park through a scenic 5.5 mile drive up Summit Road which leads to a peak where you can see Phoenix and beyond. Make sure you plan ahead for your hikes. There are so many trails to explore at different difficulties and start points. Also, the trails are not shaded so start early or pick a cool day. Bring plenty of water too and perhaps a hiking stick. If you need more information, stop in at the visitor center. The visitor center is pretty impressive. The center is very informative on the mountains, the local people, and wildlife. Plus, the gentlemen working the center was super friendly in sharing a wealth of information. He showed me a snake outside the center. Yes, there are snakes in this park- so make sure you look out for them! This amazing park is free! The park entrance is open from 5am to 7pm. Trail hours are 5am-11pm. The visitor center is open Thursday through Sunday 9am-3pm. Note on the fourth Sunday of each month, the park host silent Sunday's where cars are not allowed within the park grounds- check out the park's website for parking on those days. Great experience- I will be back!

We took the whole extended family up through South Mountain Park, and it turned into one of those…read moredays that sticks with you a little longer than expected. We drove up to Dobbins Lookout, and that's where it really hits. Phoenix spreads out in every direction, a grid of life pressed up against open desert, with mountains rising in the distance like they've been quietly watching the whole thing unfold. It's not subtle. It's big, raw, and a little humbling. What makes this place stand out is how much it offers without trying to package itself too neatly. You can hike, bike, ride horseback, or just stay in the car and take the scenic drive. It works for everyone. We had a mix of people, some ready to tackle trails, others perfectly happy just soaking in the views, and nobody felt out of place. The trail system is extensive. You've got everything from easy, walkable paths to longer, more demanding routes like the National Trail, which stretches over 15 miles and cuts through a huge portion of the park. It's the kind of place where you can come back multiple times and still find something new. We did some light hiking, nothing too aggressive, but even then you feel the terrain. It's not forgiving, and that's part of the appeal. The desert has a way of reminding you to pay attention. Loose rock, uneven footing, the occasional reminder that you're sharing the trail with horses. It keeps you honest. Timing matters out here. Go early. Not just to beat the heat, which you absolutely should, but because the light in the morning does something different. It softens the landscape, pulls out color and texture that gets washed out later in the day. By midday, the sun is in full control and it's a different experience entirely. A few practical notes. Bring more water than you think you need. Then add a little more. Wear actual boots, not something you don't mind slipping around in. And keep an eye on the trail, especially on the multi-use sections. You'll know why pretty quickly. What I appreciated most is how accessible it is. You're minutes from the city, and suddenly you're in this wide, open space that feels removed from everything. No overdevelopment, no forced attractions. Just desert, sky, and distance. It's not polished, and it's not trying to be. That's exactly why it works. Five stars without hesitation.

Went for a quick one-mile walk and ended up doing two. It's like Bridge to Terabithia in the heart…read moreof the city: seven ponds, shaded trails, turtles, birds, and a floating boardwalk, all free. The mental health messages along the paths are such a pleasant touch. If you want something more leisurely, you can do an easy walk around the lake. My mom found this helpful, instead of venturing back into the trails. Parking fills up fast, but the library next door has plenty of free spots, and parking there is allowed, so you won't get towed. Bring water!

Being from NYC this is our version of central park. I love the observatory which is open Friday…read moreand Saturday nights sunset till 9pm. It's free but donations are appreciated. They are rib by volunteers. The trails are clean, dogs welcome everywhere, horses in designated areas, camp sites also available to rent which come with bbq grills and pits along with space for tents. Check out their website for the info. This is a great park to take your kids to the playground, go fishing, get your steps in, take your dog food a walk or have a date. Many picture perfect spots which are popular for graduation, wedding, and birthday pics. I even saw a couple get married on the bridge at sunset a quick 5 minute ceremony to not hold up anyone. Parking in a few spots and adjacent to the library for extra parking. 2 bathrooms I've been to are clean and maintained. Water fountains also there.

Nice park. Well maintained with restrooms. Disc golf was fun with longer or shorter distances on…read moremost holes. Also adequate parking and easy access.

I just found out they put up baskets for a brand new 9-hole disc golf course here at Sun Ray Park…read moreso I've been coming on the weekends to play. It's a lovely park and if you go early enough on a Saturday you might just have most of the park to yourself! It's very clean and well maintained, the perfect place to play disc golf, go for a stroll, or ride your bike through.

Amazing Park with a beautiful Monument/Memorial to the Veterans of all Branches including "Space…read moreForce". Very nicely done !!! The Park itself is very beautiful with walking trails (some paved, some not) with a lake in the middle with a paved walkway around it. Fishing is authorized (stocked). The birding opportunities abound as different migrants & local birds are present. The Restrooms are awesome & open at 6am. Definitely a spot to check-out.

A beautiful and peaceful place for our community to enjoy. I love coming here. Thanks for keeping…read moreit up so well.

One of my favorite hikes to access South Mountain. Parking sometimes is at issue. However, you can…read morealways park in the neighborhood and walk to the trails. There are several trails on this mountain. The more intense one off the the left is really good for firing up your hamstrings. You will get good elevation. Safety wise this trail constantly has people here so I know some people will hike this one by themselves. Bring water, and use the restroom. Facilities are only in parking area.

Beautiful and clean place to play with kids great location wonderful crowd and they have great…read moreconcert also

Build a bear has changed over the years. It use to just be about the bears. Now they have branched…read moreout into the licensing deals with movie characters etc... I guess I am old fashion. It was hard just to find the plain bear you can then dress up. I didn't want the tooty frooty bears. I was able to find a decent bear and I bought him an elf outfit with skates. This is my Christmas bear for my 2nd grade classroom. My bear looks adorable. This store has a lot of accessories for boy and girl bears. Everything is set up in an easy system to follow for children and adults. The set up is very customer friendly. Staff was very helpful and kind. You can have birthday parties here too!!! My cats at home love the Christmas Bear.

I had been looking forward to bringing my son here for his birthday because I had heard so many…read morewonderful things about the Build-A-Bear experience. I expected it to be one of those core memory moments for him, but unfortunately, our visit fell short of what I had hoped for. When we walked in, there were three employees in the store. We weren't greeted, and two of the associates immediately headed toward the back. One employee simply said, "Hi," but didn't ask if we needed assistance or explain how the process worked. After a brief awkward pause, I let her know that I was hoping to purchase a Birthday Bear for my son's birthday. She directed us to another associate who had just come from the back, and from that point on, the interaction felt very transactional. I completely understand that retail associates have sales goals, but throughout the experience, the focus seemed to be on upselling every possible accessory rather than creating a memorable experience for a child who was visiting for the very first time. I politely explained that we were just looking for a simple Birthday Bear with a birthday shirt and also mentioned--more than once--that this was my son's first Build-A-Bear experience. I even asked if she could walk us through the process. Unfortunately, there wasn't much guidance or enthusiasm. My son was simply told to step on the pedal to stuff his bear, with very little explanation about what was happening or why. When it came time to choose a heart, he was pointed toward several bins filled with different options. Since he'd never been there before, he had no idea which one to choose. Even after I reminded the associate that it was his first visit, she simply pointed toward one bin instead of explaining the significance of the different hearts or making it feel like the special tradition I'd always heard about. From everything I'd seen online and from friends who have visited other Build-A-Bear locations, the experience is supposed to be interactive, engaging, and full of excitement for the child. Sadly, that wasn't the experience my son received. The associate helping us seemed disengaged, uninterested, and eager to move on to the next task. The bright spot of our visit came at checkout. The associate who rang us up was genuinely kind, welcoming, and engaging with my son. She chatted with him, offered to remove the tags from his new bear, and explained that the Build-A-Bear Cub Condo doubles as a coloring activity at home. That small interaction made a noticeable difference and reminded me of the warm customer service I had expected from the beginning. What made the experience even more disappointing was what happened as we were leaving. Another family walked in, and all three associates immediately became energetic, welcoming, and fully engaged. They greeted them enthusiastically, asked questions, and began walking them through the Build-A-Bear process with the warmth and excitement I had hoped my son would experience. Watching another child receive the magical first visit that my son missed out on was honestly disheartening. We still left with a cute birthday bear that my son loves, and for that I'm grateful. I only wish the experience had matched the magic the brand is known for. Every child deserves to feel special during their first Build-A-Bear visit, especially when they're celebrating a birthday. I truly hope this was just an off day because the concept is wonderful, and I'd love for future families to experience the excitement and care that makes Build-A-Bear so memorable.

Great spot for catching decent sized large mouth bass at catfish. There are 3 ponds in the area…read morewith lots of trees for shade durning the hot summer months. If you like to fish, this is a cool spot!

Some research on local parks led me to ASU Research Park. It's a quaint, quiet park with large…read morelakes, ducks and geese, and a paved path for running or walking. There are doggie bag stations throughout the park, although I did see some signs of irresponsible owners leaving their doggie messes on the grass (C'mon peeps, get it together and pick up after your pooch!). When we went there were a few people fishing (I believe it's catch and release here), some people walking around and people walking their dogs. We took the toddler and she enjoyed walking around, waving to people and pups (AKA "woof woofs") and pointing to the gaggles of geese. As for parking, there's plenty of parking along the street. There are some lots nearby but they are reserved for the businesses next to the park.