camping

We took our kids camping for the first time last summer. It was awesome. We forgot a matchbook but eventually struck a flame on the emergency flare in the car. We built a fire and attempted to cook our tinfoil dinners before it started raining. We ate (our slightly underdone) beef patties and potatoes out of the back of the car, sheltered by the umbrella of our hatchback (using our hands, because we forgot silverware, too), then ran to the tent where we listened to the rain come down all night. Like I say, it was awesome. Truly.

From Sierra Vista, take Hwy 92 S and turn up Carr Canyon Road 

(At The Mesquite Tree Restaurant)

Were you around when our town was on fire? Hello!

We camped at the Reef Townsite 

(which calls for a $10 fee dropped into the forest service box).

Pitch your tent, roast some marshmallows, and take your kids exploring!

bountiful baskets

Bountiful Baskets is a food co-op that buys local produce in bulk. Contribute $15 for a regular basket of 50% fruit 50% veggies, or $25 for an organic basket.

This week, I got romaine lettuce, new potatoes, tomatoes, asparagus, coconut, broccoli, strawberries, bananas, mini pears, cantaloupe, and bread*! It's a great way to support local growers and try new foods: you never really know what you're going to get.

Order online here between Mon & Tues (every other week, as of now) for a 9:30am Saturday pickup in the front of Imagine Charter School (1000 E Willcox Dr).

*You can tack on 5 loaves of delicious wheat bread for $10.

san pedro

I'm about to let you in on Sierra Vista's best-kept secret: The San Pedro River.

Coming from Sierra Vista, drive east on Fry Blvd (hwy 90) toward Bisbee. You'll pass Moson Rd. Keep going. Just before you hit the line of thriving cottonwoods that mark the river's path, take a right (it's marked: San Pedro Riparian).

Park in front of the San Pedro House (an old-school homestead place, converted into a fantastic bookstore that highlights local interests--including a great kid's section).

Walk down toward the river (bring your jogging stroller for the littlest ones--it's a bit of a walk). Around monsoon time, the river is raging and it's fun to see it from a distance. But in calmer months, we take the path down to the river and throw in rocks, explore the paths, etc.

Our dog loves this place, too. And it's never crowded.

If you're not in the mood to go all the way down to the river, stroll around the house. They've got labeled foliage and a few shady Ramadas. And the biggest tree my daughters have ever seen.
This site is a bird-watcher's dream. I bought my oldest daughter a foldout of local birds and we try to identify the ones that flock to the feeders around the house.

Check the schedule at the Friends of the San Pedro River. They've always got great events going. Last fall, we saw a bald eagle and held a snake and took a Clydesdale wagon ride!

blake foundation playgroup

The Sierra Vista Easter Seals Blake Foundation sponsors a free play group for children from birth to age 5. They've got a room filled with toys and books and a playground out back shaded by trees. It's a great way to interact with other mom and dads!

Playgroup is on either Tues or Thurs (you can only go once a week) from 10-11:30. The schedule runs about like this:
10:00- inside play
10:45- craft
11:00- outside play
11:20- snack & song

Call 520.452.9784 and navigate the answering machine to leave a message for the playgroup director. State the date you want to come, how old your child(ren) is/are, and leave a call-back number. They'll only call you back if that day is UNAVAILABLE. I think they let in up to 12 kids; I've never been turned away--even when I call the day before! Kind of a complicated system, but a great resource!

Located at: 1939 Frontage Rd # A, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 (playgroup entrance is around the back of the strip mall).

swimming lessons

Far and away, my favorite thing about Sierra Vista is Karen Eaton. Ok, she's a person, not a thing, but still. She's my favorite.

Karen's Aquatics is a small swimming school, open from May through September. You can pick up a registration form on the front door of 5004 Calle Cumbre (off of Snyder). Or call 520.458.7214 for fees and schedules.

$75/session (10 classes) may seem steep compared to the Cove's $35/session (8 classes), but Karen's is basically the equivalent of private swim lessons. She's a fantastic teacher, who taught my daughter to swim (arms, legs, breathe under water, jump into the pool, back float) by age 3! Here's a video of her first summer swimming. You know, so I can brag:

swimming lessons from Lacy on Vimeo.