Arizona
Nature|Wildlife & Farms

Play With Penguins At This Arizona Aquarium For An Absolutely Adorable Adventure

OdySea Aquarium in Scottsdale offers a unique Penguin Encounter where visitors can interact closely with African black-footed penguins.

Published Jun 19, 2019

Written by 

Katie Lawrence

When you visit a zoo, all the animals are typically housed in enclosures that visitors can't enter under any circumstances. However, OdySea Aquarium in Scottsdale is breaking down that barrier with its Penguin Encounter, a unique activity that brings you face-to-face with everyone's favorite arctic critters.

OdySea is the Southwest's single largest aquarium, spanning over 200,000 square feet and holding more than 2 million gallons of water.

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Facebook/OdySea Aquarium

Over 30,000 animals across 500 different species call this incredible space home.

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Out of all 50 exhibits, the penguins are by far the most popular.

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Facebook/OdySea Aquarium

While you can typically only view them through a glass screen, this special exhibit lets visitors come face-to-face with these silly seabirds.

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OdySea Aquarium Website

Get up-close-and-personal with African black-footed penguins to learn all about their behaviors, eating habits, and even how they raise offspring.

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Facebook/OdySea Aquarium

You're also invited to participate in an enrichment program, which includes interactive playtime with the adorable critters!

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OdySea Aquarium Website

You'll want to set aside about 45 minutes for this animal encounter.

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Facebook/OdySea Aquarium

A maximum of eight people can participate at one time, and guests must be eight years or older (children have to be accompanied by a paying adult).

Please wear close-toed shoes and leave hanging jewelry such as necklaces, earrings, watches, and bracelets at home.

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Facebook/OdySea Aquarium

As you can see, penguins are playful creatures - and they just so happen to have a particularly strong affinity for shiny things!

Tickets cost $49.95 per person, not including the cost of general admission; however, OdySea members receive a 10% discount!

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OdySea Aquarium Website

Address: 9500 East Via De Ventura Suite A-100, Scottsdale, AZ 85256

Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Wednesday, Friday, & Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information, visit the OdySea aquarium's website or Facebook page.

Have you ever done the Penguin Encounter at OdySea Aquarium? What's your favorite place in Arizona to get up-close-and-personal with animals? Check out this article to see one of our favorites: You'll Have Loads Of Fun At This Dairy Farm In Arizona With Incredible Ice Cream.

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Nature|Wildlife & Farms

The Audubon Center in Arizona Where You’ll See More Than 200 Bird Species in a Single Afternoon

You don't have to go too far to go birdwatching when you live in the Phoenix Metro area as we have our very own Audubon Center right here in the city.

Published Oct 17, 2024

Written by 

Melissa Mahoney

You don't have to go too far to go birdwatching when you live in the Phoenix Metro area. In fact, we have our very own Audubon center right here in the city! This Audubon Center in Arizona serves as an oasis for over 200 bird species. Perhaps you can spend an afternoon here and see how many you can spot. Just bring your hiking shoes, a pair of binoculars, and maybe a Southwest birding guide for this outdoor adventure.

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Located within the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area in Phoenix lies the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center. Free to visit, this incredible Audubon Center is located at 3131 South Central Avenue.

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The only completely red bird in North America, the strawberry-colored male Summer Tanager is an eye-catching sight against the green leaves of the forest canopy. The mustard-yellow female is harder to spot, though both sexes have a very distinctive chuckling call note. Fairly common during the summer, these birds migrate as far as the middle of South America each winter. All year long they specialize in catching bees and wasps on the wing, somehow avoiding being stung by their catches. Summer Tanagers are medium-sized, chunky songbirds with big bodies and large heads. They have large, thick, blunt-tipped bills. This one was in Spartanburg, SC where they migrate in summer

The Rio Salado Audubon Center is set along the Salt River for 5 miles providing a riparian habitat rich in birds and other wildlife. In fact, over 200 bird species have been spotted throughout the 600-acre wildlife refuge. How many do you think you could spot in a single afternoon?

The Rio Salado landscape is a mix of wetlands, mesquite bosque, and forests filled with cottonwoods and willows. Birds love it here and so will you! During your visit, you may be able to spot an Anna's Hummingbird flittering around, a great blue heron wading in the river, or a greater roadrunner dashing across a trail.

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A shot of a road runner travelling through the desert.

While there are 5 miles of trails to enjoy, you may also want to participate in one of the Rio Salado Audubon Center's Free Guided Bird Walks. These informative hikes are held on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. and are a great way for people of all ages to learn about bird species found right here in Phoenix.

As someone who has worked at an Audubon Center for a number of years on the East Coast, I know how serious birdwatching can be. And I assure you, the Rio Salado Audubon Center is one of the best places for birding in Phoenix. Have you ever visited this Audubon Center in Arizona and, if so, did you go birdwatching? How many and which bird species did you spot? We would love to hear from you!

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Alan Vernon / Moment Collection via Getty Images

For additional information such as location, directions, and hours of operation, visit the Rio Salado Audubon Center web page. Keep in mind that the center itself is closed on Sundays and Mondays and on most holidays. However, the property around the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area is open 7 days a week throughout the year from dawn until 7 p.m. or dusk.

Would you like ideas for more outdoor adventures in Arizona? Take a look at the top hiking trails in Arizona, and download the AllTrails+ app as your guide.

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Nature|Wildlife & Farms

The Best Apple Cider in Arizona Comes From This Family-Owned Farm

Mortimer Farms is perfect for a fall day trip and some of the best apple cider in Arizona.

Published Sep 11, 2024

Written by 

Melissa Mahoney

Why are the three months of fall the best part of the year? Well, at least that's how it is for me. As a New Englander-turned-desert-dweller, I used to think that fall fun only occurred where I grew up. After all, New England is the fall foliage capital of the U.S., right? Well, when I found out that fall is also a big deal here in Arizona, I fell in love with the state just a little bit more! Just like where my childhood roots are, there are farms, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, apples, apple cider donuts, apple cider, and other fall treats to be had in the Grand Canyon State. And if you're on the hunt for the best apple cider in Arizona, I suggest you visit Mortimer Farms.

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exterior of mortimer farms in arizona with a john deere tractor in foreground
Mortimer Farms/Google Reviews

Visiting a farm during the fall should be a requirement because there's no other place to really enjoy the season in such a fun way! Mortimer Farms is one of those farms that's perfect for a fall day trip in Arizona.

Located in Dewey, this family-owned farm offers seasonal events including its annual Pumpkin Fest & Corn Maze which runs from late September through late October. During this time, you can have fun watching pig races and a tractor parade, participating in a Friday night barn dance, picking out pumpkins from the pumpkin patch, meeting farm animals, going on a hayride, and so much more.

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Mortimer Farms/Facebook

You'll also find plenty of food options between all the food trucks and farm-fresh fall goodies like pies, apple cider donuts, and apple cider. In fact, you can watch an apple cider press demo at the fall festival to see how it's made right here at Mortimer Farms!

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adrianabeckova90 / 500px via Getty Images

Of course, you won't be able to resist taking home a half gallon or so of apple cider. Countless customers rave about how incredibly fresh and tasty Mortimer Farms' cider is whether you drink it hot or cold.

Another recommendation is the apple cider donuts if they're available. No one can resist an apple cider donut, especially one that's made fresh on a farm.

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Mortimer Farms/Facebook

Where have you had the best apple cider in Arizona? Is it Mortimer Farms in Dewey? For location, events, and pick-your-own information, visit the Mortimer Farms website and give its Facebook page a follow for updates on all the family-friendly farm fun!

Are you ready to explore the Grand Canyon State in the fall? Take a look at all the incredible fall destinations in Arizona. If hiking is on your list of things to do this fall, download the AllTrails+ app to find hiking trails near you.

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