Feel free to bring your four-legged friends with you on your next vacation to Arizona! The state is very dog-friendly, with lots of hotels that permit animals, and even spas dedicated to pampering your puppy (that will be the subject of an upcoming entry)! Nearly every city in Arizona has one or several “bark parks” which allow your dog to stretch his or her legs, and some freedom from the leash so they can explore every olfactory nuance of their playground. Here is a small selection of those dog-friendly parks:

The PETsMART Dog Park at Washington Park in Phoenix offers a spacious 2.65 acres in which your dog can frolic. The six-foot high perimeter fencing keeps your dog safe, while the watering station and shady trees keep your dog comfortable. There’s even a separate fenced area especially for small dogs.

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Tenure is a great thing, especially when it equates to four paid weeks of vacation per year. Unfortunately, my husband doesn’t have as much vacation time as I do. Since mine is a “use it or lose it” kind of situation, there are a couple of weeks out of the year that I find myself on vacation while my husband still works.

One such vacation week is coming up in October. I’ve started making tentative plans for how to occupy my time – you know, OTHER than the cleaning and “honey-do” list the vacationing spouse is required to take care of. My ambition is to make myself feel like I’ve been fully entertained for the week for as little money as possible. I want to feel like I’ve actually taken a vacation, not just sit on the couch at home all week trying to avoid spending money.

DAY ONE:

I will dedicate a leisurely hour lounging in the tub, followed by a trip to my local library. I will then take any books I procure to nearby Desert Breeze Park, lay down a blanket (because by that time it’ll be cool enough to stand the sunshine), and read for as long as I want. I might even take a ride on Desert Breeze’s miniature train, if I’m feeling adventurous.

Total Cost of Day One: $2.00 for the mini train ride.

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Photo by simax105

If you’re going to be in Arizona during the July 4th weekend, here are some celebrations that are going on around the state. There’s something going on in virtually every town, but here are ten key events that are sure to please:

Phoenix: Enjoy the 24th Annual Fabulous Phoenix 4th, at Steele Indian School Park. Entertainment (on three stages!) begins at 6:00 p.m., with the fireworks show beginning at 9:20. The event features local entertainment, a cooling misting area, inflatable rides, a Classic Car exhibit, food and beverage vendors, and a water spray zone manned by the Phoenix Fire Department.

Tempe: Check out the 58th annual Tempe 4th of July Festival, taking place in Tempe Beach Park alongside the man-made Tempe Town Lake. The extravagant fireworks show, local food vendors, and live entertainment more than make up for the crowds.
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