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For Mother’s Day, Toyota lent me the 2017 Corolla 50th Anniversary Edition to attend a wonderful brunch with some other local bloggers and a local PR agency.
We currently own a 2007 Corolla for our family of 5 and was pleasantly surprised at the difference between the two cars – especially when it comes to our big family!
Besides the new upgrades of technology and safety; the 2017 Corolla 50th Anniversary Edition was much spacier than our current Corolla. (Read all the little details and our loves here – 2017 Corolla 50th Anniversary Edition.)
The kids in the back seat had space between each other. Meaning Addy and her car seat (she’s still in a toddler car seat) had space between her and each of her siblings – something we do not currently have in the 2007.
I felt like even the space in the front was roomier than our car and the trunk was bigger too!
Another big thing I noticed is that the seating was higher in the 2017 versus our 2007.
In the 2017, I could look in the rear view mirror and see Addy’s pretty face. In our 2007, I can barely see the top of her head in the rear view mirror.
Even the driver seat felt higher.
With a newfound love of the 2017 Corolla 50th Anniversary Edition, I started thinking where we can drive and thought I would share our favorite places to visit in Arizona!
Canyon Lake Marina – Hubby and I have been camping down there and had a great time, but the kids love to drive down (the route is fun!) and eat at the marina restaurant.
We eat on the deck overlooking the lake and after they eat their food, they get food to feed the ducks and fish from the patio we just ate on! The kids love going down there and beg us to go all the time!
Canyon Lake Marina also has the Dolly Steamboat!
Riparian Preserve – We love loading up in the car with the dog and heading out to Riparian Preserve to walk the trails. The wild life is amazing and it’s great exercise for the entire family.
There is a park to play; you are able to fish in the lake; and on weekends, you can use the telescope!
Veterans Oasis Park – Similar to Riparian Preserve, Veterans Oasis Park has walking trails, fishing, and a park. A great place to spend a day with the family walking, fishing, or just hanging out!
Pollack Tempe Cinema – Summer in Arizona is hot and finding activities for the kids to do can get… difficult to say the least.
Pollack Tempe Cinema is the “cheap” theater. Tickets are $3.50 and on Tuesdays, they are only $2.50.
Sea Life Arizona – It is one of my personal favorite places to be! I love underwater creatures and being at Sea Life is such happiness!
Fun fact: Did you know studies have found that fish can increase self esteem and joy? It’s true! It’s why Sea Life is my happy place!
Phoenix Zoo – It’s a little hot during the summer, but if you can time the weather; it really is such a fun day trip! Our entire family loves the zoo and visits at least twice a year – once for all the animals and once for Zoo Lights in the winter!!
South Mountain – I have done this a million times, but I finally took the kids for their first time and they loved it!
The drive up to the top is fun and you are able to see the entirety of Phoenix which is super neat for the kids to see! (I even saw my first and only real life roadrunner driving up South Mountain!)
The top of the mountain is a great place to just sit and think and look out over the city. It is the neatest thing to experience!
Diamondback Baseball Games – In case you haven’t caught on, we are huge Diamondback fans and the kids get awesome prizes for going to the games!
West Wind Drive-In Movies – We have gone out a few times to the drive in movies to watch a movie! It’s a fun experience for the whole family (pending the weather!)
Bass Pro Shop – The kids like going to see the large fish in the tank and the rainbow trout in the stream. Plus, certain days, the kids can see the fish being fed!
Have you been to Arizona? Where is your favorite place to visit?
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