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Fun Things to Do With Your Pet Near Goodyear-image

While we are spending more time at home, it is important to take a break from our screens and spend the day with our pets! Whether you and your pet are new to Goodyear, or you are just looking to get out of the house, we have compiled a list of activities for you and your pet to do together near Acero Estrella Commons.    Local Parks It’s always nice taking a stroll with your pet by your side and enjoying some fresh air with beautiful views. Luckily, our community is located near several parks that you and your pet will love: Bullard Wash Park 1.5 miles | 4 minutes away   If you are looking for a park with scenic views of Goodyear, Bullard Wash Park features trees, picnic tables, and walking paths, and is just minutes away from our community.   Roscoe Dog Park 4.1 miles | 8 minutes away   Grab your leash and head over to one of our favorite local dog parks in Goodyear! Roscoe Dog Park offers you and your pet open grass to play and a beautiful view of the Arizona mountains.   Verrado HOA Dog Park 7.3 miles | 9 minutes away   Spend the day playing catch, walking around, and smelling new things just right outside Goodyear. On your way there feel free to grab yourself a coffee from Verrado Coffee Co.    Pet-Friendly Restaurants After a long day at the park with your pet, head over to some of our favorite nearby pet-friendly restaurants:   Sandwich Masterz Dine-in, Takeout, or Delivery | 2 minutes   Devour handcrafted sandwiches to-go from Sandwich Masterz! They offer meat, vegetarian, or vegan options along with your favorite type of bread. Might as well let your pet sneak a bite, too!    Park Cafe  Dine-in or Curbside Pickup | 11 minutes Offers delicious food you can take to go or enjoy in their outdoor seating area with your pet!   Red’s Bar & Grill Dine-in, Takeout, or Delivery | 12 minutes Looking to enjoy a great view, fresh brews, and tasty food? Red’s Bar & Grill offers you just that, and it’s only minutes away from Goodyear.  Shop at a Pet Store Together End the day by rewarding your pet with a treat and maybe a new toy from some of the local pet stores, which are open for in-store shopping and curbside pickup:   Petz Place Dog Food, Pet Supplies Store, and Grooming In-store shopping or Curbside pickup | 3 minute   Only a short walk from our community, head to Petz Place to pick up supplies you need to take care of your pet. Bonus: They offer a number of great services, including grooming!    Petco  In-store shopping, Curbside pickup, or Delivery | 6 minutes   Petco is “where the pets go” to get food and supplies, such as toys, beds, apparel, and pet care services.    PetSmart In-store shopping, Curbside pickup, or Delivery | 10 minutes   PetSmart makes it easy to pick up pet supplies and food. Stop by with your pet, or take advantage of their curbside pickup and delivery options.  This is just a short list of things to do with your pet! Let us know some of your favorite places to go and things to do with your furry friend in the comments below.  

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New Hobbies To Pick Up This Year While Supporting Local Goodyear Businesses-image

Wondering how to make the best of your time at home? Picking up a new hobby and resurfacing some old ones can be just the thing! We put together a resource list that also supports local Goodyear businesses just minutes away from Acero Estrella Commons.  Play with Yarn There are a lot of fun things to make with yarn and not all projects require a lot of time or advanced skills! Whether you are wanting to create a new cozy blanket, cute accessories, or a decorative wall hanging to add to your home, there are several craft shops near Goodyear where you can conveniently pick up your supplies.   Stores :  Michaels   Curbside Pickup, Delivery, or In-Store Shopping | 8 minutes away   Offers you everything you need to create your ideas including art and craft supplies, fabric, yarn, and craft tools.    JOANN Fabrics and Crafts   Curbside Pickup or In-Store Shopping |10 minutes away   Offers you inspiring ideas on their website with their video library where you can learn step-by-step how to make your projects and all the art supplies you need in-store.    Pick Up a New Book It’s always fun to add a new book to your must-read list. Here are some local bookstores with abundant offerings.    Stores:   Barnes and Noble   In-Store or Curbside Pickup | 6 minutes away    Features toys and games, cafe, a variety of book genres and an expanded vinyl section.    Estrella Mountain CC Store Delivery | 11 minutes away   This bookstore provides patrons with textbook materials, school and office supplies, video games, clothing, and a health, beauty, and fitness section.   R Bookmark In-Store Shopping | 20 minutes away    A unique bookstore that allows you to make book trades and rare books to add to your favorite picks.    Learn a New Instrument Playing music is always a fun skill to learn, especially if you are spending most of your time at home. Luckily, there are several music shops located near Goodyear where you can find instruments and music supplies.    Stores:  Music & Arts  In-store Pickup or Curbside Shopping | 4 minutes    Here you will find instruments for sale or rent, lessons, and education services.    Guitar Center This music shop offers a wide selection of instruments for sale and for rent. They also provide instrument repair services.   This is only a shortlist of hobbies and local businesses to access during your free time. Comment below what type of hobbies inspires you most during your free time.  

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Local Breweries Near Goodyear-image

Calling all craft brewery fans! If you are looking for something to do close by , Acero Estrella Commons is located near several breweries in Phoenix. Whether or not you are ordering carry-out, curbside pickup, or dining in, why not spend your weekend sipping on some tasty local beers! Here is a list of breweries up to 16 minutes away from our community .  Saddle Mountain Brewery   Open for dine-in, carry out, and curbside pickup | 0.4 miles away | 2 minutes   Just a couple of minutes away, enjoy freshly brewed beer at Saddle Mountain Brewery in Goodyear. Saddle Mountain Brewery was voted as the best of 2020 West Valley places to enjoy great food and drinks. At this brewing company, you will discover a wide variety of beer styles from Pale Ales, I.P.A’s, Imperials to Belgian Wit brews.  8-Bit Aleworks   Open for dine-in, curbside pickup, and delivery | 5 miles away | 9 minutes   8-Bit Aleworks offers you a unique place to enjoy a beer with video games and high-quality brews, located in Avondale, Arizona. This brewing company is all about the finer details by bringing a community of gamers and lovers of craft beer together with their relaxed environment and game soundtracks playing in the background. 8-Bit Aleworks also focuses on creating small-batch, large-flavored beers that use natural ingredients and satisfies any craft beer lover’s tastes. Here you will find a variety of aromas and beer styles with outdoor seating, curbside, or delivery options.   State 48 Funk House Brewery    Open for dine-in and takeout | 13.8 miles away | 16 minutes   Get your funk on with State 48 Brewery, which consists of 4 different breweries in Phoenix. Each tap house features its own beer styles paired with delicious food. State 48 Funk House Brewery is the closest location to our community, located in Glendale, Arizona. This brewing company offers a unique place to taste craft beer with fun games, a beer garden, onsite brewing with dine-in or takeout options.    Of course, this is only a small selection of breweries just right outside our community that are open. Feel free to share your favorite local breweries or try some beer styles at the breweries above! Before you go make sure to visit each brewery's website to check out COVID guidelines, then sit back and relax with a glass of fresh beer from wherever you choose. Cheers!  

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Creative Ways to Celebrate The New Year At Home-image

New Year’s Eve is looking a lot different this year with many of us celebrating at home in a COVID-friendly way, but that doesn’t mean your 2021 holiday can't be celebratory! Get ready to put your party hat on, we have a list of fun ideas you can do in the comfort of your own home to celebrate the New Year.  Take Some Photos DIY photo booths are always a blast, and you can get as creative as you want! Putting together your own photo booth is pretty simple too, all you need is some fun streamers, gold wrapping paper, and props! Head to your local Michaels or easily get Amazon’s 2021 photo booth prop kit delivered to your home!  Have a Theme Whether you want to have a classic black, white, and metallic theme or staying cozy in your pajamas, party it up your way! Whichever you choose, you're going to be staying up until midnight sipping on drinks, enjoying delicious snacks, and enjoying your in-person or virtual celebration!    DIY Cocktails What better way to celebrate the holiday than with some fancy cocktails!  Add a little more fun at home by mixing up this delicious cherry bomb fizz recipe.   Ingredients: 1 Cherry ½ ounce maraschino liqueur  Sparkling wine   Directions:  First, drop the cherry into the champagne flute, then top with maraschino liqueur and sparkling wine.   Bring out the Games Settle in for a cozy night of board games with your bubble! Or if you are celebrating virtually, there are plenty of fun games like Quiplash, Cards Against Humanity, or Clue you can easily play online! See more game ideas here .    Hopefully, 2021 will bring brighter days our way that are worth celebrating. Don’t forget to write down your 2021 resolutions and wishes, and comment below on how you are celebrating! Cheers and Happy New Year!  

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Beautiful Hiking Spots Near Goodyear-image

The holidays are upon us. Whether you work from home, you're on an extended holiday break, or you want to get an early start on your New Year's Resolution, head outside to get some fresh air and enjoy some beautiful views of Phoenix. There are several local hikes that are open year-round and would be perfect for a day hike. So get ready to lace up your hiking shoes, here are some of our favorite trails near Goodyear.   Estrella Mountain Regional Park  8.6 miles away/19 min   Located in Goodyear, Estrella Mountain Regional Park offers you beautiful scenery that includes 16 moderate trails that showcase pristine desert, mountains, and large wetlands! Explore the numerous trails the mountain has to offer, like the 2.3-mile Quail and Baseline Trail Loop, or the 6.4-mile Rainbow Valley to Toothaker Loop Trail, the best-rated Estrella Mountain hikes on AllTrails. It’s only about a nineteen-minute drive from our community and while there is an entry fee, the incredible views make it all worth it.   Echo Canyon Trailhead 31 miles away/35 min   Approximately a thirty-minute drive away from our community, Echo Canyon Trail is another great option to add to your bucket list and totally worth the drive! It features beautiful scenery and is a part of Camelback Mountain. Take a seat and snack on sandwiches under the open sky and get a good workout.  Mesquite Canyon Trail  16.9 miles away/27 min   Pack your snacks and bring your furry friend to enjoy this moderate hike located near Goodyear. Only a twenty-seven-minute drive from our community, this trail offers you a beautiful 8-mile loop hike with amazing views and wildlife sightings.    Of course, this is only a small selection of hikes out of the many wonderful hikes within driving distance of Goodyear! Feel free to return to your own local favorite hikes, or try somewhere new, and celebrate the holiday season outside. Let us know in the comments which Arizona hikes are on your bucket list!    

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Fun and Creative DIY Winter Holiday Gifts to Make at Home.-image

Make gift-giving a little more special this year and save money by setting aside time to create gifts to give your loved ones during the holiday season. If you are looking for some fun and unique gifts to make, we’ve put together a list of really simple DIY gift ideas for you to do in the comfort of your own home.     Lavender Soap Lavender soap is the perfect DIY gift to give your loved ones! It is easy to make and smells delicious.  Supplies:   3 two-pound blocks of soap base  Soap molds or metal muffin tins Lavender essential oil Soap colorant Microwavable glass bowl Metal stirring spoon Dinner knife Small gift bags Gift tags Baker’s twine Directions: First, cut the soap blocks into small chunks with a regular dinner knife. Make half a block at a time. Then put 1-pound batches of soap pieces in the microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and essential oil into the bowl of soap base. Then, stir in drops of blue and red dyes to create that lavender color. Next, pour the liquid soap into mold trays, and let cool for 20-30 mins in the fridge. After the soap is cooled, take them out and set them on a paper towel, divide them up into a set of two, and package them in gift bags and tie to finish. Now you have beautiful soaps to give your loved ones as holiday gifts!  Clay Bowls   Clay makes the holiday season a little easier because they make the perfect handmade gift and don't take a lot of time! Whether you are adding them to a gift basket or making them for fun, be a little creative and turn them into a festive DIY project!  Supplies: Oven-bake clay Acrylic craft paint Stiff toothbrush Craft Knife Ruler Clay Blending Tool  Variety of small glass bowls Rolling pin Sheet Pan Baking Parchment Directions:     Prepare your clay and make it into a ball then flatten and roll your clay with a rolling pin on parchment paper. Make sure the clay pieces are ¼ inches thick. Next, place a glass bowl of your choosing upside down on the clay and trace around the edge with your clay knife to create the base. Then, use a ruler to cut strips long enough to wrap around the base to create sides. Wrap the side piece around the base then blend and smooth the clay together with the blender tool or your fingers until there are no gaps. Preheat the oven according to the clay package directions, then place the bowls on parchment paper on a sheet pan and bake according. After the pieces are done and cooled from the oven, paint with the color of your choosing by dipping a brush into the paint and flicking the paint onto clay pieces with your thumb or tap brush directly for bigger spots. Lastly, use twine to add a gift tag and make this cute DIY gift a little more special.    Peppermint Candy Cane Sugar Scrub This easy festive DIY  sugar scrub recipe makes the perfect gift to add to a home remedy gift basket.  Supplies:   1 cup of sugar ½ cup of coconut oil 10 drops peppermint extract   ¼ tsp Beet Root Powder   Directions: Mix sugar, coconut oil, and peppermint in a small bowl. Next, divide the mixture into two different bowls and leave one bowl as is. In the other bowl, mix the beetroot powder. Layer the two colors in a container of your choice. Now you or your loved ones can enjoy a festive sugar scrub!    Leave a comment below to show off your DIY holiday gift, and enjoy your holiday season!    

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