I have been an Arizona Cardinals fan ever since they came to my home state in 1988. I try to never miss a game and am training my kiddos up in Cardinals fandom. We usually watch the games at home and I love to serve up tasty food and drinks to get everyone in game mode. I recently put this punch together in honor of the Arizona Cardinals and their fans. Rise up Red Sea!

This punch is very easy to make,, although it does need some time to sit. It has a unique taste that is sweet and tart with a slightly spicy kick.

Red Sea Party Punch

Ingredients

• Cran-Apple Juice, 32 oz bottle
• 2 liter 7-Up
• 1/3 cup Red Hots candies

Directions

1. Combine the juice and 7-Up in a large pitcher.
2. Slowly mix in the candies letting the foam settle.
3. Refrigerate for at least one hour, stir, and serve.

Note: You can serve the punch immediately over ice but the Red Hots flavor will be weak. The punch tastes better as the candies melt away. 

Check out these other football-inspired recipes below. Be sure to pin, share, and tweet your favorites!

Red Sea Party Punch by Celebrating Family
Bird Gang Sonoran Nachos by Love Bakes Good Cakes
GameDay Cheesecake Bars by Body Rebooted
Healthy Dirty Bird Dip by Dash of Herbs
Purple Potato Salad by The Culinary Compass
Chocolate Blackberry Cheesecake Parfait by Mom’s Messy Miracles
Easy Buffalo Chicken Sliders by Beer Girl Cooks
Quick and Easy Baked Buffalo Chicken Sliders by The Life Jolie
Blackened Steak + Blue Cheese Nachos by Feast + West
Easy Pimiento Cheese Crackers by Family Food on the Table
Chicago-Style Deep Dish Breadsticks by Honey & Birch
Italian Beef by Bread Booze Bacon
Welcome to the Jungle Cocktail by Love & Flour
Bengal Striped Bundt Cake by Foodtastic Mom
Polish Boy Potato Skins by A Mind Full Mom
Sweet and Salty Brownies by The Secret Ingredient Is
Cowboy Cookies by The BakerMama
Cowboy Chili by See Aimee Cook
Green Chili Pulled Pork Poutine by Cake ‘n Knife
Blue and Orange Jello Shot Gummies by Sustaining the Powers
Greek Town Loaded Potato Skins by The Mexitalian
Marbled Scotcharoos by Club Narwhal
Beer Cheese Fondue by Off the Eaten Path
Easy Beer Cheese Soup by Hello Little Home
Chicken Stack Sandwich by Around My Family Table
Bratwurst Sandwiches with Pub Mustard by What A Girl Eats
Game Day Cupcakes by Polka Dotted Blue Jay
Brownie Batter Dip by The Crumby Cupcake
Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes by Two Places at Once
Tomahawk Cooler by Mixplorology
Spicy Jalapeno Popper Cheese Dip with Real Cheese by Simplify, Live, Love
Game Day Snack Tray by Coffee Love Travel
Bacon Mac Cups by West via Midwest
South Beach Punch by 2 Cookin Mamas
Miami Mahi Mahi Sandwich by foodbyjonister
Swedish Meatball Dip with Tater Tot Dunkers by Peanut Blossom
Fruity Dessert Pizza with Peanut Butter Chocolate Glaze by Bucket List Tummy
New England Rum Punch by Order in the Kitchen
Crawfish Etouffee by The Speckled Palate
Cajun Crawfish Fritters with Remoulade Dipping Sauce by For the Love of Food
Reuben Sliders with Homemade Russian Dressing by A Dish of Daily Life
Big Blue Cheese Steak Stromboli by Simple and Savory
Spinach & Artichoke Bites by Lauren’s Kitchen
Herb Pesto Arancini by A Little Gathering
Beluga Lentil Hummus by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Philly Cheesesteak Nachos by And She Cooks
Philly Cheesesteak Cheesecake by Nik Snacks
Game Day Cookie Cups by Me and My Pink Mixer
Primanti Style Sliders by Macheesmo
Pineapple Salsa by Living Well Kitchen
Tex Mex Cream Cheese Wontons with Bacon by Shaws Simple Swaps
Blue Cheese Blitz Dip by Cafe Terra
Chicken Adobo Fries by Brunch-n-Bites
Game Day Candy Bark by Life’s Ambrosia
Chicken Teriyaki Pizza by Loves Food, Loves to Eat
High Seas Sour Cherry Slush by Lizzy is Dizzy
Buffalo Chicken Deviled Eggs by Casa de Crews
Avery Williamson American Cake by Loaves & Dishes
Game Day Sriracha-Honey Nut Mix by An Oregon Cottage
Double-Stuffed Potato Skins by A Simpler Grace
Red Skin Potato Chili Nachos by A Joyfully Mad Kitchen

Note: This post is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by the National Football League (NFL) or any of its teams. All opinions and views expressed on our blogs are our own, not that of the NFL and/or any of its 32 teams. Any team names, logos or other symbols referenced are properties of their respective organizations. We are just big fans — and we want to share our love for our teams, the game and the food that brings us all together on game day.

One of my favorite cake recipes is based on a recipe my sister found over on food.com. She told me it was so good she ended up throwing it out her window because she could not stop eating it. Of course, after hearing that story I had to try it for myself. Guess what? This banana cake recipe really is that good.

The recipe below is primarily from the recipe posted over at food.com, but it has a few alterations. I hope you and your family will enjoy it and will not have to throw it out the window.

Best Ever Banana Cake

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups bananas, mashed, ripe
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 3 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Frosting

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 1/2 to 4 cups icing sugar

 Directions

1. Preheat oven to 275° (yes that says 275°)
2. Grease and flour a 9 x 13 pan or two 9 inch rounds.
3. In a small bowl, mix mashed banana with the lemon juice; set aside.
4. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; set aside.
5. In a large bowl, cream 3/4 cup butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
6. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then stir in 2 tsp vanilla.
7. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk and then stir in the banana mixture.
8. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for one hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (See note).
9. Remove from oven and place directly into the freezer for 45 minutes. Do NOT skip this step as it will make the cake very moist.
10. For the frosting, cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth.
11. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla.
12. Add icing sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high speed until frosting is smooth.
13. Cool cake completely and frost.

Note: A few have commented that the cake was still runny after an hour. This may be due to differences in climate, bananas, or even elevation. For me, this temperature and baking time works perfectly.  You may have to experiment to find what works best for you (maybe increasing temp to 300, or cooking longer).

I hope you enjoy this banana cake recipe. Let me know if you try it. Feel free to leave a comment.

I remember going to watch monster trucks battle it out when I was a kid. It was some real rip-roaring excitement and was always fun. Today I enjoy taking my family out to Monster Jam events. Monster Jam is coming to the Phoenix area where I live, but also has many shows planned around the country. Details for the Phoenix event are below, but you can go to the Monster Jam website for a full schedule of events around the country.

Monster Jam in Phoenix

Monster Jam® returns to the State Farm Stadium in Glendale for an action-packed event on Saturday, April 27. Your family will enjoy witnessing an explosive event of demolition, speed, power and unbelievable stunts with the world’s best monster trucks and drivers. In addition to the world-class racing and freestyle competition action, a pit pass will allow you to come to the stadium early to enjoy the Party in the Pits pre-show experience. This event allows fans access to view their favorite trucks up close and meet the star drivers for autographs and photo ops.

Where: State Farm Stadium – 1 Cardinals Drive in Glendale.

When:  Saturday, April 27, 2024:   Party in the Pits from 2:30 PM – 5:30 pm*, main event begins at 7:00 pm.

Featured Trucks/Drivers: Up to date list can be found here.

*Event ticket & Pit Pass required for entry; 

Tickets:

Tickets now on sale – all seats are reserved; Tickets and Pit Passes are available for purchase online at seatgeek.com or in-person at the State Farm Stadium Box Office.

Follow Monster Jam on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Subscribe to the YouTube Channel.

Information specific to the Glendale event.

In a world of remakes, sequels, and reimaginings, it can sometimes be difficult to get excited about new movie releases. I admit that I only begrudgingly attended a media screening of the new The Little Mermaid. I am a longtime fan of Disney’s version of this classic tale, but I am also pretty loyal to characters and beloved stories. I am always a little reluctant to sit though someone’s reimagining of a story I already love. But I am so glad I did!

Much of the movie is exactly the same as the animated version. There are familiar songs and characters and new songs your children will love. However, the translation from animation to live action via CGI is not always seamless, and some of the CGI is just okay, particularly the early underwater scenes. But some of the CGI is beautiful and I thoroughly enjoyed “Under the Sea.”

This movie also has a lot of diversity, which sometimes seems forced. For example, I love the diversity of the people in the movie overall, but it is a little confusing how Triton and his wife had such diversity among their daughters. Perhaps they were adopted or had a blended family? I only address this since it has been brought up so much on the internet.

Even though I know this tale well, the storytelling was so good that I was in suspense at certain critical points in the movie. Eric’s story is more developed than we usually see, and I found that interesting as well. Halle Bailey is endearing as Ariel, and what a prince Jonah Hauer-King makes! I think most people will just love Melissa McCarthy as Ursula (well, as much as one can love Ursula). There is also a lot of humor, particularly during the “Kiss the Girl” scene.

This movie has no sexual content, profanity, or anything families might object to (unless you think mermaids are immodest). I highly recommend it to families.

Rating: PG for action/peril and some scary images.

Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Directed by:
Rob Marshall

Cast:
Halle Bailey
Jonah Hauer-King
Melissa McCarthy

Social:
#thelittlemermaid
IG – @disneylittlemermaid
Twitter – @LittleMermaid
FB – @DisneytheLittleMermaid

Disclaimer: I attended a media screening of this movie to facilitate the review. All opinions are mine.

If you have read my past reviews, you know the Highlander is at home on the highway and on a dirt road. The SUV drives comfortably and is as smooth as my Camry. That is actually what I really love about the Highlander; it is an SUV, but it drives like a car.  Plus, the spacious cabin makes family travel more relaxing and fun. The Hybrid model also keeps travel affordable with a combined 35 MPG. Of course, Toyota’s famous reliability helps families travel with confidence.

Last time I drove the Highlander Hybrid, we took it into the wilderness for some camping. This time, we opted for a more suburban adventure. We visited a local museum, checked out some new construction, and dropped in for some boba.

This particular Highlander Hybrid’s color is “Cement” and I thought is was perfect for the city. Here it is in front of a new warehouse in our sprawling metroplex. If you keep scrolling, you will see the Highlander in my desert suburb as well. It simply looks good in any surrounding.

The 2022 Highlander Hybrid has some exciting features including Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ and the Star Safety System which includes Electronically Controlled Braking, Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control (TRAC), ABS, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist, and Smart Stop Technology®. Another amazing benefit of the 2022 Highlander Hybrid is that it comes with a separate hybrid-component warranty that provides eight years (or 100,000 miles) of coverage. That is pretty impressive.

The museum we visited has an old jail and my daughter had fun posing for this picture. Luckily for her, the Highlander Hybrid has a roomy interior and she did not feel penned up on the ride home.

Here is a picture from the Toyota site of the Highlander’s interior. It is quite comfortable and stylish, as you can see.

Our final stop with the Highlander Hybrid was our favorite boba shop. It was the perfect ending to our Highlander adventure. Speaking of drinks, did you know the Highlander has 14 cup/bottle holders?

It is always hard to give the Toyotas back, but we have so much fun putting “Let’s go places” into practice. Check out the Highlander Hybrid today!

Disclaimer: I drove a Toyota Highlander to facilitate this review.

#celebratingtoyota

As a history teacher, I am always a little skeptical when I watch movies based on real events. Hollywood has a bit of a reputation for taking historical events and putting a good-sized fictional spin on them. The Woman King is no different, as it tells a fictionalized story from the time of the Kingdom of Dahomey. However, there is great value in the story of these fierce woman being told. There are many online resources you can use if you would like to learn more about the Agojie women. Many of the characters in the movie are based on real people, the Agojie were real, as were the places and kingdoms in the movie. There is much creative license taken in this film, but the overall story is historical.

The Woman King showcases Viola Davis as Nanisca, the head of the Agojie warriors. Viola Davis and the other women in this movie give fantastic performances that connect you with their characters. The costuming and cinemaphotography is also excellent. I do suggest seeing this movie in theaters for the full experience. I also suggest that we remember to enjoy the story in its historical context.

Here is the movie’s official synopsis:

The Woman King is the remarkable story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen. Inspired by true events, The Woman King follows the emotionally epic journey of General Nanisca (Oscar®-winner Viola Davis) as she trains the next generation of recruits and readies them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life. Some things are worth fighting for…

Family-Friendliness

Rated PG-13, The Woman King is definitely not an appropriate option for younger members of your family. My 15-year old daughter enjoyed the movie, but she agrees with me that this is not a movie for kids younger than high school age. While there is no gratuitous sexual content, there are brief flashbacks to a character’s rape and some sexual harassment. There are also scenes showing people being sold into slavery (by Europeans and Africans), as well as extensive battle violence.

Agojie warriors in the late 1800s.

This movie would be a great fit for a ladies night out or date night, and will certainly make for good discussion. However, leave the pre-teens at home.

Rating: PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, some disturbing material, thematic content, brief language and partial nudity.

Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes

Directed by:
Gina Prince-Bythewood

Cast:
Viola Davis
Thuso Mbedu
Lashana Lynch
Sheila Atim
Hero Fiennes Tiffin
John Boyega

Disclaimer: I attended a media screening of this movie to facilitate the review. All opinions are mine.

I once read an article that argued MCU’s Thor had replaced “the man of steel” as the movie superhero who embodies the human spirit, confidence, fun, and connection with common people. I found the argument compelling, especially given that other superhero’s somber and grim presence in his latest movies. Thor definitely has a way of making audiences cheer, laugh, and even swoon. While Thor: Love and Thunder delivers more of the same, there are some notable differences.

First, we see a depressed “Fat Thor” taking action to move forward in life. However, Thor misses the mark and ends up finding healing where he might not have expected. Thor is not the only character facing life-changing circumstances, so there are scenes of sadness and despair. There were moments where I felt Thor: Love and Thunder was out of sync with the spirit of past Thor movies. However, the Asgardian spirit returned by film’s end (even with no big, impressive Thor fight scene).

Despite the sadder elements of the storyline, Thor: Love and Thunder has the comedic relief you expect from a Thor movie. However, I found some of the comedy cheesy, which matched the backdrop of several scenes. Some jokes went on for too long (do not even get me started on the goats).

I saw Thor: Love and Thunder in Imax which is usually amazing. However, I found this movie to be a little too colorful and visually complicated. In fact, there is a black and white scene that was particularly beautiful, and I could not decide if it was visually stunning because it was a break from all the color, or due to its own artistry.

Here is the movie’s official synopsis:

Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Love and Thunder” finds the God of Thunder on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced – a search for self-discovery. But Thor’s retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher, who seeks the extinction of the gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie, Korg, and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster, who – to Thor’s surprise – inexplicably wields his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late.

This is a Marvel movie that I will likely not watch again, and there are several I have seen many times. It just felt like too much story, garishness, and gimmickry stuffed into two hours.

Family-Friendliness

Thor: Love and Thunder includes roughly 10-11 uses of the s-word, along with a handful of other profanities. There are also some scary elements such as kidnappings of children and a character with stage four cancer. If children have dealt with cancer in their family, this may be difficult for them to watch.

Christian Bale plays a very convincing and scary villain known as Gorr the God Butcher, who seeks revenge against all gods. The gods are portrayed as distant, selfish, hedonistic, and shallow, much along the lines of the gods of Greek mythology. If you are a family of faith, be prepared to talk about the differences between your God and these gods.

For families wishing to avoid non-traditional or sexual content, we see Thor naked from behind, Valkyrie’s bisexual status is no longer under wraps, Korg discusses his two dads, and Zeus repeatedly mentions a planned orgy.

Rating: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, language, some suggestive material and partial nudity

Scene after the credits? Yes, two. Be sure to stay for the second extra scene.

Disclaimer: I attended a media screening of this movie to facilitate the review. All opinions are mine.

Facebook: @Thor

Twitter: @ThorOfficial

Instagram: @ThorOfficial

Hashtag: #ThorLoveAndThunder

Goldfield Ghost Town – Located just a few miles past Apache Junction on SR-88, Goldfield Ghost Town was built on the site of the old Goldfield Mill and the area is teeming with history. You can hear about and see some of this history on the train ride. You can also take a mine tour, see a gunfight, visit a reptile exhibit, pan for gold, and even ride a horse. You can also treat yourself to everything from an ice cream cone to a juicy steak. This is truly a wonderful family destination. The town is open daily from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Admission is free but there are charges for some of the attractions.

Rawhide – Rawhide has been around for a long time and it has a great reputation. This western town includes live action stunt shows, a petting zoo, a stagecoach, gold panning, and a mechanical bull. There are also restaurants and special events. Rawhide’s schedule and hours vary so visit the Web site for details. Rawhide is located off I-10 in Chandler near Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino.

Rustler’s Rooste – This is a restaurant but I included it in this list because of its fun and family-friendly Old West atmosphere. Rustler’s Rooste is a steakhouse with a cowboy flair. You can eat rattlesnake, dance in the sawdust to a live band, visit with a real live longhorn, and take a few trips down their famous tin slide.  There is even steak on the kid’s menu and cotton candy at the end of your meal. Rustler’s Rooste is located off of I-10 and Baseline at 8383 S. 48th Street and is open from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm daily.

Tombstone – Located three hours south of the Valley, Tombstone is the historic Old West town where the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral took place. Tombstone is worth the drive. Your family will love seeing the town where Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday once roamed. Visit the Boot Hill Cemetery, the Tombstone Courthouse, watch a gunfight, and visit the museums and galleries. Bring your most comfortable boots because there is a lot to see!

Pioneer Living History Museum – When I was a kid, this place was called Pioneer Arizona and it was my favorite field trip destination. Pioneer Living History Museum consists of old buildings that form a little reconstructed western town like what might have been found during Arizona’s territorial period. There is a church, a blacksmith, a school, an opera house, and so much more.

Before I watched Top Gun: Maverick I wondered how a sequel based so many years after the original could possibly tell a compelling story that made any sense. However, I was excited to attend an early screening because I was hopeful. The atmosphere in the theater was electric as the movie started, especially when the opening was identical to the original movie’s opening. I knew we were in for a nostalgic ride. What I did not expect is that Top Gun: Maverick would smash the sequel mold that so often results in a huge disappointment for fans.

Top Gun: Maverick is true to the original, connects to the original, but tells a new and exciting story that you could enjoy even if you had not seen the first movie. Additionally, it has a bit of movie magic that so many films have completely lacked for too many years. There are no political messages, no weak attempts at virtue signaling, and no awkward scenes of adult content. This movie is a thrilling, edge of you seat ride that will have you cheering in the end.

One thing I really appreciated was that Top Gun: Maverick has scenes with futuristic fighter jets, present-day planes, plus the older planes we all remember from the original movie. This is film that embraces it past, focuses on the current story, and extends its legacy. The audience I saw the movie with applauded several times and clearly enjoyed the film. Personally, I though this movie was better than the original.

Families can be assured that there are no sex scenes, although intimacy is implied in at least one scene. There is some profanity including one f-word (which I do not remember hearing), about 20 s-words, and other more minor profanity. There are several drinking scenes and some shirtless men playing football on a beach. As I always say, know your child to determine if the movie is appropriate for your family. The movie is rated PG-13, which is probably right about where it belongs. I would say for kids who are okay with very intense scenes, that age could go lower, although many families will not appreciate the language.

Here is the movie’s official synopsis:

After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. When he finds himself training a detachment of TOPGUN graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster,” the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka “Goose”.

Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it.

Details

Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense action, and some strong language.  

Runtime: 131 minutes

Website

#topgun

I attended a media screening of this movie to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own.

As an Arizona native I have a love for the desert that just comes naturally. But there is something inside of me that loves greenery, water, colorful flowers, and shade. I cannot always hop in the car and drive up north so  I am comforted by the fact that just 30 minutes east of Apache Junction lies Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park which boasts the best of the desert as well as many non-native plants.

Summer’s hot weather often causes us to shy away from outdoor activities but I would encourage you to take a trip out to Boyce Thompson Arboretum this summer. I recently took my kiddos out to take part in the Learn Your Lizards Guided Walk and it turned out to be a fantastic family experience. This walk is offered several times throughout the summer and it starts at 8 am, well before the day gets too hot. The walk is pretty casual with guides who really know their stuff. Over the course of about 1.5- 2 hours you will make your way through the majority of the park. The last part of our walk was in the cool  shade of the trees that line the Queen Creek, including some beautiful eucalyptus trees.

Here is our group checking out some tree lizards in the bushes (yes tree lizards can be found outside of trees). While we were looking at the lizards, our guide told us all about that particular type of lizard, its habitat, and diet.  Below you can see two lizards who were drawn to the laser pointer our guide was using to point out lizards to the group. The kids really loved how they scurried around trying to catch the little green light.

Of course, the main draw of Boyce Thompson Arboretum is the plant life. All along the lizard walk our guides pointed out interesting and beautiful plant life and even a few animals. There was a rattlesnake on our tour, tucked under some rocks just off the path. The guides took what could have been a scary experience to the city dwellers in our group and turned it into a teachable moment. The guides talked about rattlesnake safety and used the snake  as an example of why we should always stay on the trail. The guides also added excitement to the lizard walk by occasionally pulling strange creatures from their pockets to share with the group including a chuckwalla, a horny toad, and a snake.

After the fun of the lizard walk, we stayed in the park another hour and so and explored on our own. We found some amazing succulents and cacti inside of the Cactus Garden home. There were some pretty cactus plants, unusual succulents and some down right strange looking plants. This beauty was my favorite.

During our time in the park, we saw a countless number of birds, flowers, squirrels, and trees. Here is just a sampling.

My favorite part of the arboretum is under the canopy of the Eucalyptus Forest. It is cool under those silvery blue tree tops and the breeze creates a beautiful song. Be sure to stop here in the park and listen to the birds singing.

Take your family out to visit Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park this summer. It is worth getting up early and taking a drive.  Here are 10 tips to make your trip better:

1. Bring lots of water, a hat, and sunscreen but leave your phone in the car.
2. Bring a real camera because you will see beautiful things.
3. Get a park map when you enter. You will need it.
4. Plan to sit quietly in the Hummingbird-Butterfly Garden for a short time.
5. Spend some time in the Children’s Garden.
6. Walk though the Herb Garden with your children and gently touch and smell the plants. Talk to your children about how these herbs are used in the foods they eat.
7. Walk on the suspension bridge. Your kids will love this!
8. If you are able, take the time to walk the .45 mile high trail. It is beautiful and gives you a bird’s eye view of the creek.
9. Pack a picnic lunch. The park has a large picnic area with 30 tables and several barbeque grills. Using the picnic area is free with paid admission but you have to ask for an access coin to get into that parking lot.
10. If picnicking isn’t your style, Superior is just a few miles east of the arboretum and there are a few restaurants there (but beware of the speed cameras as you enter the city! Drive safely).