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Pueblo El Mirage RV and Golf Resort
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Pueblo El Mirage RV and Golf Resort
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Perry Mack photos
Pueblo El Mirage RV and Golf Resort
Story & photos by Perry Mack
When Snowbird & RV Travelers think of the Salt River Valley, the locations that come to mind are east of Phoenix including Scottsdale, Tempe and Mesa. However we recently stayed in El Mirage, AZ, affording us the opportunity to explore the west side of the valley. It is a half hour drive northwest of Phoenix, sandwiched between Surprise and Sun City, AZ on the Agua Fria River.
El Mirage is a small, up and coming city of 32,000 people, which has been, and continues to undergo a process of renewal. All the desirable amenities are here at a more affordable price than the east side of the valley.
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White Tank Regional Park
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White Tank Regional Park
It is a very convenient location for outdoor activities. A 20-minute drive directly west is White Tank Regional Park. This 30,000-acre ‘park’ is the largest in Maricopa County and provides a plethora of outdoor activities including camping (40 serviced sites), day picnics, horseback riding (bring your own horse), hiking and mountain biking. The rugged ridge of mountains rise to 4000 ft. Flash floods from torrential rains have scoured out depressions, or tanks, in the white granite giving the park its name.
You can participate in a number of organized events including sunrise hikes and night mountain bike rides, family movie nights, archaeology walks and photography workshops. Trails are plentiful, well marked and can provide exceptional views of the Salt River Valley. They are also rated according to their difficulty so you can stay within your comfort/safety zone.
It’s $6 US per vehicle for day use and there are discount coupon books available or an annual season pass to all parks for $85 US.
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Wildlife World Zoo
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Wildlife World Zoo
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Wildlife World Zoo
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Wildlife World Zoo
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Wildlife World Zoo
A trip to the east valley is incomplete without visiting the Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium, a 16 min drive southwest of El Mirage, AZ. Be prepared for a very full day and a great deal of walking, as there is an incredible amount to see. The 95-acre (38 ha) zoo and aquarium is home to more than 600 species of animals.
My favourite is the 15-acre Safari Park, where animals like lions, cheetahs, warthogs, hyenas and giraffes have large open habitats to roam. It is also one of the few opportunities you’ll have to see a white rhinoceros or a white lion.
The zoo also includes a small mammal exhibit, kangaroos, and everyone’s favourite – the baby animal nursery. Reptiles are well represented with exotic displays of turtles, snakes, lizards, iguanas and the world’s rarest reptile – the all white albino alligator.
The aquarium encompasses four buildings and is home to hundreds of fish, rays, turtles, crocodiles, reef invertebrates and reptiles as well as a few sea lions, which put on educational demonstrations.
For a few extra dollars you can feed sea lions, giraffes, stingrays, birds and let your kids loose in the petting zoo. Kids will also enjoy the carousel, flume and train rides, and everyone (unless you have a fear of heights) will enjoy the Skyride - a chairlift that crosses the entire park through the treetops.
The entry fee for adults is $32 US for the entire facility (discounts for groups, seniors and kids) or an annual unlimited visit membership for $100. They also offer an after 5pm aquarium visit for $17 for adults.
We stayed at Pueblo El Mirage RV and Golf Resort. This gated 55+ Roberts Resort encompasses 310 acres, housing a pool, tennis courts, clubhouse, fitness centre and an 18-hole golf course designed by Fuzzy Zoeller. On site, a full activity schedule of entertainment, activities, hobbies, sports, games, arts and crafts will keep anyone with enough energy fully occupied throughout the winter. Easily one of the most comprehensive I’ve ever seen.
Accommodations include everything from full service RV sites to luxury manufactured homes, with virtually every category available to rent or own. RV sites are 40’x55’ and will accommodate up to 45’ motorcoaches. Minimum length for travel trailers and 5th wheels is 26’.
In addition, you are minutes from Phoenix and everything a metropolitan region has to offer including spring training baseball camps, art galleries, museums, restaurants and shopping.
The only other notable pro/con, which affects the west side of the valley, is the nearby Luke Air Force base. Many people love to watch the fighter jets do flybys a few times a day. It is quite impressive to drive closer to the base and watch the planes take off and land. If you’re not used to it, the noise may put you off initially, but after several days you won’t notice it so much. However, if tranquility and solitude are your main objectives I would suggest you look in the south part of the valley closer to Casa Grande.
- White Tank Regional Park - 20304 W White Tank Mountain Rd, Waddell, AZ, 602-506-3011, www.maricopa.gov/parks/white_tank/
- Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium - 16501 W. Northern Ave., Litchfield Park, AZ 85340, 623-935-WILD (9453), www.wildlifeworld.com