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Arizona Is Getting A Brand New Adventure Park With Rides And Attractions For All Ages

Mattel Adventure Park, the first-ever amusement park by Mattel, is set to open in Glendale, Arizona, offering a variety of indoor and outdoor attractions for all ages.

Updated Feb 10, 2024

Written by 

Katie Lawrence

Families with children (and anyone else looking to unleash their inner child) have much to look forward to. Mattel Adventure Park - the company's first-ever amusement park - is coming to Arizona soon, and it will offer an immersive experience sure to enchant all ages.

Both kids and kids at heart should get excited, as a brand-new adventure park is slated to open this year in Glendale.

Aerial view of a cityscape with a stadium, commercial buildings, and green fields under a clear blue sky.
dszc / iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

In partnership with Crystal Lagoons Island Resort, Mattel Adventure Park will feature branded attractions for all ages, from Hot Wheels go-karts to a treasure hunt with Thomas & Friends to a rooftop bar at the full-sized Barbie Beach House.

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A colorful, modern beach house with pink accents, palm trees, and ocean views, featuring a large "Barbie Beach House" sign.
Mattel Adventure Park

It's the perfect time for a Glendale Barbie theme park, don't you think?

Indoor and outdoor attractions will be offered, making the park an ideal destination for rainy days and/or those scorching Arizona summers. From whipping and whirling on a roller coaster to relaxing in an air-conditioned adventure theater, the opportunities for fun are endless.

Colorful amusement park at dusk, featuring shops, a roller coaster, and palm trees reflected in the water.
Dustin Michie / Google Reviews

The park will also feature several themed party areas, so kids can celebrate birthdays and other special occasions with all of their favorite characters.

Construction site with heavy machinery, building structures, and a mountainous backdrop under a cloudy sky.
Mattel Adventure Park

Keep an eye on the development of the Mattel Adventure Park in Arizona with its live construction cam.

Another new development, VAI Resort, is in the works right next to the park. This 60-acre entertainment spot is scheduled to open in 2024 and will feature a hotel, a six-acre swimming lagoon, concerts, 100,000 square feet of high-end retail shopping, and more.

A vibrant resort with a large pool, palm trees, and people enjoying the sunny beach atmosphere under a blue sky.
VAI Resort / Google Reviews

For more information about the park and to stay up-to-date with the construction process, please visit the official Mattel Adventure Park website.

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Map showing the location of Crystal Lagoons Island Resort, near various shops and parks in the area.
Google Maps

Are you excited to see the new Mattel Adventure Park open in 2024? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

If you know of any other amusement parks in Arizona worth visiting, don't forget to nominate them for a chance to see them featured in an upcoming article!

For something a bit different, check out our previous article to learn about a park in Glendale where you can see over 40 peacocks roam free.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/arizona/animals-roam-free-park-az/

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Experiences|Attractions

The Man-Made Wonder in Arizona Is the Definition of a Hidden Gem

Visiting the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park, a serene and unique man-made wonder in Arizona, is quite an extraordinary experience.

Published Oct 7, 2024

Written by 

Melissa Mahoney

While we have covered natural wonders aplenty throughout Arizona, there are numerous man-made wonders here that are just as jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring. Sure, there's no place quite like the Grand Canyon, our most famous natural wonder that also happens to be one of the world's seven natural wonders. However, visiting some of our man-made wonders including the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park, a serene attraction in Sedona and a unique man-made wonder in Arizona, is quite an extraordinary experience.

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Surrounded by Sedona's red rocks is one of the most unique man-made wonders in Arizona located in the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park. This park is a place of peace and serenity where visitors can spend time praying or meditating and taking in the unbelievable views Sedona is known for.

A pink stupa surrounded by prayer flags, set against a backdrop of mountains and blue sky.
Amitabha Stupa and Prayer Flags with Distant Red Rock Landscape in Peace Park, Sedona Arizona
A colorful stupa with prayer flags against a backdrop of red rock formations and a cloudy sky.
Prayer Flags at Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park
A colorful stupa adorned with prayer flags against a clear blue sky.
ARIZONA-Sedona-Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park

Have you ever spent time at Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park, a unique man-made wonder in Arizona? Let us know. For location information, visit the official website of the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park.

Whether you're visiting Sedona for the first or the hundredth time, taking a tour is a fantastic way to get better acquainted with all the town has to offer. Take a look at the Half-day Sedona Sightseeing Tour which will take you to the Chapel of the Holy Cross (one of my favorite spots), Tlaquepaque Arts Center, and the Peace Park, and make a reservation today.

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Experiences|Attractions

This Roadside Stop Along Route 66 in Arizona Is the Epitome of Americana

For those traveling along Route 66, Jack Rabbit Trading Post is a must-stop roadside attraction.

Published Sep 20, 2024

Written by 

Melissa Mahoney

There are many things that are strictly American. There’s music like country, bluegrass, and folk, attending baseball and football games, foods such as hot dogs and apple pie, and cowboys, all of which are deeply rooted in our culture. And then there are road trips. The Great American Road Trip on which we travel great distances in search of adventure and to explore our gorgeous landscapes, states, and National and State parks. While one Great American Road Trip may involve driving cross-country, coast-to-coast like I did in my early 20s when I moved from Rhode Island to California, there’s one iconic route that also falls under that category.

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If you haven’t yet guessed which iconic road I’m talking about, it’s Route 66. This route first opened to car traffic in 1926. The road began in Chicago, Illinois, and ended in Santa Monica, California, routing through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona along the way.

jack rabbit trading post arizona
Owaki/Kulla/The Image Bank via Getty Images

While once a major highway, Route 66 is now a road less traveled. It’s also quite nostalgic given the vast number of retro diners, motels, and roadside attractions along the way.

I’ve traveled along portions of Route 66 in Arizona, and it never fails to amaze me. I thoroughly enjoy stopping at roadside attractions that are truly a piece of Americana like Jack Rabbit Trading Post in Joseph City.

A large gray rabbit statue sits on a concrete platform, surrounded by a wooden fence and a rural landscape.
Bill Eichelberger/Flickr CC BY-NC 2.0

For those traveling along this iconic highway-turned-byway, Jack Rabbit Trading Post is a must-stop roadside attraction. It was first opened in 1949 by Jim Taylor who had a huge black rabbit statue that became quite a hit to road trip adventurers. It was a perfect photo op that still remains today. Another photo op here? The iconic “HERE IT IS” sign is painted bright yellow with an image of the black rabbit on it.

When you pop inside this trading post, you’ll find a vast inventory of Arizona and Route 66 souvenirs including t-shirts, jewelry, novelty items, and treats like cactus lollipops that can only be found in Arizona.

For a dose of nostalgia, you can’t miss stopping at Jack Rabbit Trading Post. Just look for the sign on Route 66 and you know you’ve arrived at a true piece of Americana.

Jack Rabbit Trading Post is located at 3386 U.S. Rt. 66 in Joseph City, Arizona. To learn more, visit the official Jack Rabbit Trading Post website along with its Facebook page.

Getting your kicks on Route 66 anytime soon? Take a look at our Ultimate Road Trip Packing List for all the things you’ll need on the drive.

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