We love Boba CuCue in Marana. They now have a second location on the east side, but this one is the perfect location for us. There might be a slight obsession in this house for them, and we tend to get the same thing each time.

From the moment you walk in, you feel like you were transported right to the heart of Japan. With their colorful menu, full of endless drink options, the adorable shopping they have available, to the claw machine games, we truly love everything they have to offer.

I can’t wait to introduce you to this Marana spot, and hopefully help you find your newest boba obsession.

What to Order on the Drink Menu

They have an extensive menu, but each section is mapped out so you are comfortable understanding what it is they offer. Here are a few frontrunners for their drinks menu:

• Milk Tea
• Smash Fruit Tea
• Tornado Smoothies
• Galaxy Boba Drinks
• Brown Sugar Drinks
• Coconut Bubble

You can choose your level of ice and sweetness. It ranges from No to Extra. You can also choose if you’d like to add a topper and what type of boba you would like: crystal, popping, pudding, or jello. Each drink will also let you know if it is vegan-friendly, contains milk, contains gluten, and if honey is included.

What to Order on the Food Menu

They also have an extensive food menu, and we have had the chance to try the steamed dumplings and various bao. The other options they have are:

• Soup Dumplings
• Steamed Dumplings
• Steamed Siu Mei
• Steamed Bao
• Sweet Steamed Bao
• Waffle Pop- the brown sugar option is our favorite

Our Favorites

We have been many times, and I tend to order the same thing each time. But I did branch out and try the Malaysian White Coffee, and that will be my new go-to. My kiddos love the coco-peach bubble with added mango popping boba, and the Pony Milk Bubble. They do have something for everyone.

Games & Shopping

Boba CuCue has claw machines as well as furry friend games as well. Tokens are $5 each and can be purchased at the register. Aside from that, they have souvenirs to purchase like keychains, pens, stickers, and a large assortment of plushies! My son adopted a purple boba tea squishy the first time we came.

They will often have a furry friend hiding somewhere in the shop, and if you find him you earn a prize!

Where to Find Them

Boba CuCue in Marana is located off Cartaro Farms Road across the road from the Walmart Shopping center. It is right next to Salon Kiro and Nana’s Kitchen. I hope you try them out today, and let me know what you ordered so I can try something new next time!

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Welcome to Hello Tucson Living and thanks so much for stopping by! If you have visited this local Tucson spot, I’d love to hear about it. Share your experience on Instagram with the hashtag #hellotucsonliving and tag me @hellotucsonliving so I can follow along and share your photos on my page/stories. Remember to subscribe before you leave to get your FREE Tucson Eats & Treats Guide. I love you guys, and I’ll talk to you soon.

The post Boba CuCue in Marana | Where Flavor Meets Fun appeared first on Hello Tucson Living.

Planning Your Trip to Great Wolf Lodge

This was officially our second time at Great Wolf Lodge in Scottsdale, and we’re hooked. Besides Disneyland, this is my second favorite family vacation spot. They have something for all ages, even the parents, and everything is so simple from booking our trip to heading back home.

I cannot wait to share our most recent trip with you, and hopefully get you excited to book your trip to Great Wolf Lodge.

Package Options

Upon booking your stay at GWL, here are 3 options they have available, to save you the most money and make the most out of your stay:

More Fun For Less

25% off

Save on a 2+ night stay when booking within 90 days of arrival.

Stay Dates: Valid from 08/21/2024 – 11/19/2024

Triple Fun

30% off

Save on a 3+ night stay when booking within 90 days of arrival.

Stay Dates: Valid from 08/21/2024 – 11/19/2024

Early Saver Deal

40% off

Book your stay at least 90 days before arrival.

Stay Dates: Valid from 11/19/2024

Checking In & Getting Your Room Key

When you arrive at the resort, they have a large parking lot, including a covered overhang right by the entrance. They offer the option to hold your luggage until you can check in, since all amenities are available to you once you arrive, even if your room isn’t ready yet.

Once you’ve checked in via the front desk, or available kiosks, you can head up to your room and get settled. Both times we’ve gone, we have booked the suite with separate bunk beds for the kids, which is perfect for us.

They have 2 main room options available:

• Patio- includes 2 queen beds, a sleeper sofa, balcony/patio, 1 full bath, 1 TV, and mini fridge.
• Standard- includes 2 queen beds, a sleeper sofa, 1 full bath, 1 TV, mini fridge, and coffee maker.

They also have handicap-accessible rooms available as well.

On top of deciding the type of room you’ll be needing, they have 8 different room styles to choose from:

• Family Suite- Sleeps 4-6
• Wolf Den Suite- Sleeps 4-6
• Family Wolf Den Suite (This is what we always book)- Sleeps 6-8
• KidCabin Suite- Sleeps 6-7
• Junior Cabin Suite- Sleeps 6-8
• Grizzly Bear Suite- Sleeps 6-8
• Deluxe Wolf Den Suite- Sleeps 8-12
• Deluxe KidCabin Suite- Sleeps 10-13

We didn’t spend a ton of time in our room, between eating, activities, and the waterpark. But depending on how long you are staying and how many people you have, the patio option might be perfect.

Attraction Pass Packages Available

Great Wolf Lodge offers 3 different attraction passes. Each one offers something different, but all three are worth it depending on the length of your stay.

Wolf Pass

Starts at $69.99 per package

Tax not included. Packages are subject to availability. Close-toed, close-heeled shoes and a minimum height are required for some attractions. Please check the attraction’s page for more detailed information.

• One MagiQuest game
• Choice of Vellara Wand, standard Wand Mod, or Magi belt
• One small Great Wolf Lodge Candy Shop candy cup
• One game of bowling at Ten Paw Alley
• One Paw Points game card for Northern Lights Arcade ($10)
• One climb on the Howler’s Peak Ropes Course
• Double climb admission to Rustic Ridge Climbing Wall
• One admission to Moonstone Mine
• One single scoop of ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s
• One round of Howl-in-One Mini Golf

* Close-toe, close-heeled shoes, and a minimum height are required for some attractions. Please check the attraction’s page for more detailed information.

Paw Pass

Starts at $64.99 per package

Tax not included. Packages are subject to availability. Close-toed, close-heeled shoes and a minimum height are required for some attractions. Please check the attraction’s page for more detailed information.

• One MagiQuest game
• Choice of Vellara Wand, standard Wand Mod, or Magi belt
• One small Great Wolf Lodge Candy Shop candy cup
• One single scoop of ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s
• One Paw Points game card for Northern Lights Arcade ($10)
• One pair of Great Wolf swim goggles

* Close-toe, close-heeled shoes, and a minimum height are required for some attractions. Please check the attraction’s page for more detailed information.

Pup Pass

Starts at $49.99 per package

Tax not included. Packages are subject to availability.

• One Build-A-Bear animal (outfit not included)
• One small Great Wolf Lodge Candy Shop candy cup
• One single scoop of ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s
• One Paw Points game card for Northern Lights Arcade ($10)

Adventure Park Activities

Their Adventure Park is the best. They have so many different activities to do while you are staying with them, and all are kid-friendly and safe. We were able to enjoy some time alone while the kids ran off and did their own thing. We had the option to connect the room key to each of our wristbands so the kids could go up if they ever wanted to rest and didn’t need us to unlock the door for them.

Not all activities are included in your package, but you can add-on to make your stay even better.

Adventure Park activities include:

• MagiQuest- This interactive activity takes your kiddos all over, partaking in quests! Magic wands are needed as well as the game. Both can be purchased near the ropes course
• Rustic Ridge Climbing Wall- 4 different levels
• Oliver’s Mining Co.
• Ten Paw Alley- Bowling alley
• Howler’s Peak Ropes Course- In the heart of the adventure park. Don’t forget your closed-toed and backed shoes for this one
• Northern Lights Arcade
• Moonstone Mirror Maze- A really fun maze that has an adventure awaiting you
• Build-A-Bear Workshop
• Howl In One Mini Golf

Waterpark

“With an 80,000-square-feet indoor water park kept at a perfect 84 degrees year-round, your pack can enjoy a world of fun in Scottsdale, near Phoenix, AZ whether you are staying overnight or visiting for just a day“- Great Wolf Lodge

The main reason we come to Great Wolf Lodge! Their indoor waterpark is PACKED with so many different things to do. From the wave pool to the lazy river and outdoor pools, there is something for every age. And not to mention the 7+ waterslides, you will be there all day!

Attractions inside the waterpark:

• Talking Stick Treehouse
• Slap Tail Pond
• Crooked Creek
• River Canyon Run
• Alberta Falls
• Whooping Wallow
• Diamond Back Drop
• Wolf Tail
• Totem Towers
• Cub Paw Pool
• Chinook Cove
• Big Foot Pass
• Northwoods Springs
• Racoon Lagoon

Each activity in the waterpark is better than the last, but make sure you get there early so you can snag seats. There is always seating outside, but keep in mind we do live in AZ, so it will be hot. We usually snag a seat outside, and when we see one inside free up, we move on in.

They have towels to borrow for the day, or you can purchase souvenir towels to bring home with you. We love going down all the slides multiple times, but the big four-person one is my favorite.

Dining & Shopping

Great Wolfe Lodge offers a few different options for food while you are there. From tacos to breakfast buffet and burgers, to pizza, there is something for everyone.

And when you download the app, you can order mobile pick-up items, which saves a ton of time. It also lets you know the hours of each location, since some close sooner than others.

Dining options are:

• Campfire Kitchen- Buffet
• Barnwood- Sit down
• Buckets- Burgers & Fries
• Hungry as a Wolf- Pizza
• Timbers Tacos
• The Watering Hole (inside the waterpark)
• Ben & Jerrys
• Dunkin’
• Freshwoods Market

You have a choice to purchase a souvenir refillable cup, which saved us from buying beverages the entire trip. But be warned, no Dr. Pepper. Do with that what you will.

Shopping is another great option during your stay, with everything from souvenirs, to ice cream and donuts, to a candy shop. We love being able to try a bit of everything, and I love that they have complimentary coffee in the mornings. Last trip I bought a souvenir mug and filled it up each time I ran out.

Shopping options are:

• Buckhorn Exchange Gift Shop
• Paddle Bay Outfitters
• MagiQuest Marketplace
• Build A Bear Store
• Candy Shop

Extra Activities

On top of everything else Great Wold Lodge offers, they also have entertainment all day long. Here are a few of the activities they offer:

• Character Appearances
• Arts & Crafts
• Master Magi Ceremony
• Adventures of the Great Wolf Pack
• Hustle & Howl Dance Party
• Adventure Training

There you have it, my post all about Great Wolf Lodge. We truly love visiting every time, and if you haven’t gone yet, this is the perfect time to go. We love that it is so close to Tucson and you can do so many things while you are visiting. I hope you’ll go and take me with you!!

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Welcome to Hello Tucson Living and thanks so much for stopping by! If you have visited this local Tucson spot, I’d love to hear about it. Share your experience on Instagram with the hashtag #hellotucsonliving and tag me @hellotucsonliving so I can follow along and share your photos on my page/stories. Remember to subscribe before you leave to get your FREE Tucson Eats & Treats Guide. I love you guys, and I’ll talk to you soon.

The post Great Wolf Lodge Scottsdale | Ultimate Family Getaway appeared first on Hello Tucson Living.

Each wine tour I take gets better and better. Not only is Arizona Winery Tours an incredible company, but each vineyard you visit also makes you feel like you’ve been transported someplace else.

Did you know some of the best wineries are in Arizona? This was a first for me when I heard about Arizona Winery Tours. I was blown away to learn that Arizona has an incredible wine country. Have you ever taken a wine tour? Let me know down below so we can connect.

About Arizona Winery Tours

Arizona Winery Tours began 7 years ago when the owner Karen couldn’t find anyone to take her to visit local vineyards. There wasn’t anything remotely similar to what she wanted, so she decided to create her own. She started at Sonoran Tasting Tours… and quickly decided to create Arizona Winery Tours, and the rest is history.

They offer an enjoyable and elegant way to experience Arizona’s premier wineries. Guests enjoy charming winery tasting rooms and the beauty of picturesque Arizona wine country.

At each winery, you’ll have the opportunity to sample exquisite wines in friendly tasting room settings. A delicious lunch awaits you at midday. Your relaxing day concludes with complimentary drop-off service and memories that will last a lifetime! 

“Arizona Winery Tours offers private tours. We will help you plan an amazing day out. Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, bachelorette parties, weddings, graduations, actually anything worth celebrating!”

— Arizona Winery Tours

All-Inclusive Wine Tour

On the day of your tour, they will pick you up in one of their large black vans along with the others scheduled to tour that day. Thankfully the vans are spacious enough to accommodate quite a few groups without it feeling too crowded.

Once on board, you will enjoy complimentary snacks and water as we make our way out to wine country. They visit Sonoita, Willcox, and Sedona and have a wide variety of vineyards they work with.

You stay about an hour at each vineyard, and the second is where lunch will be served. It is included with your tour, so make sure and decide what you’d like to have when the email with the choices is sent to you.

After you have visited all three wineries that day, they will drive you back to where they picked you up and you can head home. Groups of 4 or more can choose the exact location they’d like to be picked up. Otherwise, you will coordinate with the driver and meet somewhere in town.

Favorite Vineyards

Here are my top Sonoita and Willcox vineyards, so make sure to mention that you’d like to visit these:

Sonoita Vineyards

• Autumn Sage– This vineyard feels like you’ve stepped right into a Hallmark movie. It is called the ‘Napa Valley of Sonoita’.
• Rune– This location is completely off the grid and feels like you’ve walked into a futuristic vineyard. Make sure you snag a seat outside under their sunshades for the best view of the mountains.
• Callaghan– This is the very first vineyard in the area and has lived up to its reputation. Love Muffin Red is my favorite wine of theirs.

Willcox Vineyards

• Aridus– From the moment you walk in you are greeted with the sounds of a very popular tasting room. They are very knowledgeable about their wines and it is easy to pick up a bottle or two.
• Carlson Creek– This location is new, and you have a beautiful view of their vines. If you visit in the spring/summertime, they are bright green and vibrant!

Book Your Wine Tour Today

Now that I hopefully have your attention and you can’t wait to book your first tour, you can visit their website or call (520) 338-9302 for Tucson and (480) 843-4941 for Sedona. They will make sure you visit three of the best vineyards and keep coming back time and time again to visit them all. Make sure to mention that you read about them in this post and use code KF10 for $10 off!

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FAQ

Let’s stay connected! Join our newsletter for more local Arizona businesses and tips and tricks to enjoy the most of this desert we call home. Plus, I sprinkle in some freebies just for you. Sign me up!

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Welcome to Hello Tucson Living and thanks so much for stopping by! If you have visited this local Tucson spot, I’d love to hear about it. Share your experience on Instagram with the hashtag #hellotucsonliving and tag me @hellotucsonliving so I can follow along and share your photos on my page/stories. Remember to subscribe before you leave to get your FREE Tucson Eats & Treats Guide. I love you guys, and I’ll talk to you soon.

The post Arizona Winery Tours: Wine Tasting Through the Sonoran appeared first on Hello Tucson Living.

When you purchase your admission you receive cups with food for the different animals, coins for the shooting range or the rabbit food, and if you upgraded to the stingray feeding you will receive chips that are good for 1 feeding.

The ranch has been open and operating since 1999. they started with a couple of chairs, a folding table, and a pop-up tent. It is 3 generations of family that run and operate the ranch. Knowing they are a truly family-owned business is so welcoming.

To purchase tickets or for more information on the ranch, visit their website and enjoy all they have to offer.

*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a penny more, BUT I will receive a small commission, which helps keep the blog going and my coffee cup full. Thanks, friends!

Announcement- Summer Hours

The NEW summer hours with feeding and admission are from 8 am to 2 pm, and the last admission is at 1:30 pm. They are open Friday -Monday (closed Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday). Beat the heat and come early. Bring water, a hat, and sunscreen. The monster truck tours will continue to run on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Tours can be booked online or at admission. Book online to ensure you save your spot; tours fill up quickly.

Table of Contents

• Experiences at Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch
• Little Donkeytown
• Parakeet Perch
• Goat Penthouse
• Hole in the Wall Kissing Booth
• Deer & Ostrich Feeding
• Little Henhouse, Sheep Show & Bunnyville
• Lorikeets & Duck Feeding
• Stingray Bay
• Giftshop & Shooting Range
• More Tucson Posts
• FAQ About Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch

Experiences at Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch

When you are ready to start, a man will explain everything to you and give you a good idea of what to expect. It is all laid out in an easy-to-follow trail and you will meet animal after animal. Keep an eye out for Smiley the donkey. She is the superstar of the whole ranch and will give you a beautiful teeth-filled smile! There are also signs pointing and leading you where you need to go. The exhibits you get to visit are:

• Little Donkeytown
• Parakeet Perch
• Goat Penthouse
• Hole in the Wall Kissing Booth
• Ostrich & Deer Feeding
• Little Henhouse, Sheep Show, & Bunnyville
• Lorikeets & Ducks Feeding
• Stingray Bay
• Giftshop & Shooting Range

There are also tortoises if you are lucky enough to see them. When it gets cold, they will hide where the heat lamps are.

Little Donkeytown

The first stop at Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch is Little Donkeytown. You take the pellets of food that came with your admission and feed these adorable mini donkeys. Some are babies and some have been there for quite some time.

If they put their heads on top of the railing, you can try and shoot a pointer into their mouths!

This was a great stop to go to first so if you have younger kids they can get comfortable feeding the animals.

Parakeet Perch

With the food you receive with your paid admission, you get a popsicle stick covered in birdseed. At the Parakeet Perch, you will stick that through the fence and wait as the most beautifully colored Parakeets will come and perch on the stick, nibbling off all the seeds.

Watching them fight over who gets to sit on the stick is the funniest thing to watch.

Are you a bird fan? I wasn’t before coming here! Now I can’t wait to go back and see them again.

Goat Penthouse

Goats are known for climbing to high points on mountains, and that is where they prefer to eat! With the penthouse, you put your food into the container and then use a pulley system to wheel it up to the goats.

They excitedly await the food to drop into their feeder and are just as eager to watch you do it again and again!

And don’t worry, they are safely secured so no goats are harmed!

Hole in the Wall Kissing Booth

You are in for a real treat with the handsome goats at the Hole in the Wall Kissing booth. If you are brave enough, take a long piece of pellet food and stick it between your lips.

The goats are more than happy to take it from you and give you a sweet, slobbery kiss as thanks for the food! Have you ever kissed a goat?

Deer & Ostrich Feeding

Next, head over to the deer feeding. These animals are so calm and gentle.

But they got full fast because some didn’t want food at all. But mostly came over for the pets and scratches.

There were so many signs on the Ostrich fence that said “Not responsible for accidents” and “Ostriches bite”. You simply place the pellets into a plastic tub that leads to the other side for them so there is less chance of you getting pecked!

If you are brave, you can put some food on your hand and place it flat in front of them to have them eat from you. Would you be brave enough?

Little Henhouse, Sheep Show & Bunnyville

In your feeding cups, you get 3 coins to feed either the chickens, bunnies, or the ducks. You can either hand-feed the chickens or place them in their containers for them to eat out of.

The bunnies were so sweet and soft. But don’t get your fingers in their mouths or they will nibble on you!

The sheep were so beautiful and fluffy and just stared at you until you fed them some food!

Lorikeets & Duck Feeding

Lorikeets were my absolute favorite. You get a cup of nectar with your admission and they tell you that they will take the lid off themselves.

What I did not expect is just how many would fly ON to you to get that food. At one point I had 5 or six. But these birds were so beautiful and very loud!

If you don’t have a cup, they want nothing to do with you! This exhibit is what helped with my bird phobia and I didn’t want to leave!

The ducks were right outside and you could either hand-feed them or leave them right by the water and they will help themselves.

Stingray Bay

If you choose to upgrade your admission to add the stingray exhibit to it, you get to feed them and if they let you, pet their backs. Spoiler, they are very slippery!

When you walk up, they hand you a small cup of food and instruct you to hold it between two of your fingers like a piece of spaghetti. Simply put your hand under the water and they will come to you.

I promise it does not hurt one bit. It feels like a slow vacuum as they come to suck it off your hand. They do not have any teeth, so that is how they get the food into their mouths. It is the strangest feeling.

Giftshop & Shooting Range

Last but not least is their gift shop and shooting range. They have so many amazing items to choose from including stuffed animals, coffee mugs, and more. But what was the neatest thing there was hollowed-out Ostrich eggs!

The shooting range takes tokens, which you can get at the front desk. Have fun in the Wild Wild West as you try and shoot at targets. But watch out for the gator who will generously spray you with a stream of water if you aren’t paying attention!

We had such an incredible time at Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch and we can’t wait to go back! My favorite exhibit was the Lorikeets! Have you been? If so, what was yours? Let me know down below and we’ll connect.

If you go and visit them, make sure to let them know I sent you. You are going to have a great time. Take time to truly enjoy Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Farm: Fine-Feathered Family Fun.

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FAQ About Rooster Cogburn

Where are they located?

They are located 26 miles north of Tucson on I-10 exit 219. Turn left off the freeway and turn left on E, Peak Lane, before the state park entrance, just after the freeway entrance. 1 mile to the end of the road

How much is admission?

$15 with stingray included or $12 without. That is for ages 6 and over. Age 5 and under are free. You can purchase food for your 5 and under kiddos for $6. Tokens for additional food and the shooting range are $1 each.

Is it all outdoors?

The majority of the ranch is outdoors. That is where 99% of the animals are. Inside is where you’ll find the stingray exhibit, gift shop, and shooting range.

Do they require masks?

They do not require it since the majority of the location is outdoors, but they recommend it indoors.

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Welcome to Hello Tucson Living and thanks so much for stopping by! If you have visited this local Tucson spot, I’d love to hear about it. Share your experience on Instagram with the hashtag #hellotucsonliving and tag me @hellotucsonliving so I can follow along and share your photos on my page/stories. Remember to subscribe before you leave to get your FREE Tucson Eats & Treats Guide. I love you guys, and I’ll talk to you soon.

The post Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Farm: Fine-Feathered Family Fun appeared first on Hello Tucson Living.