Queen Creek is a short drive from many wonderful places that Arizona has to offer. In under an hour, you will find yourself in Scottsdale swimming with fish, stingrays and sharks at the aquarium or cruising Canyon Lake on a steamboat in Tortilla Flats. In under two hours you can be rustling in the fall leaves in Payson or soaring high on the zip lines in Tucson! Here are a few day adventures worth the drive. 

OdySea Aquarium® offers an entertaining, interactive, and educational experience for guests of all ages by combining theme-park-style amusement with highly engaging presentations of aquatic life. 

Butterfly Wonderland transports guests of all ages to the rainforest by immersing them in the world of butterflies and other rainforest animals. Learn about Monarch migration in a captivating 3D movie, observe live chrysalis as they emerge naturally into beautiful butterflies, spend ample time strolling through the conservatory with the butterflies, get up close to unique reptiles that inhabit rainforests across the world, and even indulge in edible insects! 

Nestled in the heart of the Superstition Mountains lies the spectacular Canyon Lake, home of the Dolly Steamboat. Continuing a tradition of cruising since 1925, the Dolly Steamboat now cruises the secluded inner waterways of this beautiful lake. 

Tortilla Flat is an authentic remnant of an old west town, nestled in the midst of the Tonto National Forest, in the Superstition Mountain Range. Tortilla Flat started out as a stagecoach stop in 1904 and neither fire nor flood has been able to take away this historic stop along the Historic Apache Trail. www.tortillaflataz.com

Payson Fall Colors  

During the fall months, Mother Nature ushers in cooler temperatures and breathtaking views along the majestic Mogollon Rim Country. Arizona’s mild climate and almost-guaranteed sunny days make viewing fall foliage ideal. This is a great opportunity for valley residents to grab a jacket and your hiking boots and head up the hill for stunning autumn color along with awesome sunsets. Check out the below places for optimal “fall colors.” The best time to see the colors change here in Payson is mid to late October. www.paysonrimcountry.com

The trail conditions in the Rim Country can range from easy to very difficult. A trailing experience can include anything from the fulfilling opposition of steep grades and heavy brush, to the exciting discovery of spectacular scenic views and peaceful seclusion from the pressures and congestion of society. 

Arizona Zipline Adventures 

Join us for a Zipline EcoTour to experience the Sonoran Desert from a new perspective. Allow yourself to expand your horizons and try something new with with our dynamic professional adventure guides! The Zipline EcoTour includes a ride on five zip lines. 

Featuring about 400 historic aircraft, from a Wright Flyer to a 787 Dreamliner. Sitting on 80 acres the museum opened its doors to the public in May of 1976. Over the past 40 years, the museum has grown immensely and today encompasses six indoor exhibit hangars (three dedicated to WWII).