Grand Canyon Railway - Polar Express

Why am I talking about the Polar Express train ride in June?  Because you need to buy your tickets in advance to get the tickets!  We waited too late and ended up going the weekend before Thanksgiving.  We still had a blast and were lucky enough that it actually snowed that night, but it was a little early to get into the Christmas spirit.  There are still preferred dates available for the Polar Express!

Before we moved to Yuma, I had friends in different places talking about their experiences with the kids on the Polar Express near them and I was so bummed that we didn't have something like that.  Now that we're in Yuma, we do!  It's about a 5 hour car trip, but it's SOO worth it.


"The Polar Express comes to life when the train departs the Williams Depot for a journey through the dark and quiet wilderness for a special visit to the 'North Pole. Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies while listening to the magical story. Watch the joy on the children's faces when the train arrives at the North Pole, where Santa Claus and his reindeer are waiting! Santa will board The Polar Express and hand each child their own special gift. Make this a family holiday tradition. Call today to make your reservations because space is limited to those who truly believe in the spirit of Christmas!"


Click here for more information.

Best Roadside Strawberry Stand

One of the great things about Yuma is all of the locally grown produce.  Yuma has roadside produce stands all over the place.  But who has the best produce, price, etc?  Well, if it's strawberries you're after, stop by the Strawberry roadside stand on 32nd Street just east of 4E, near the Arizona Marketplace.

They're open 9:30am - 5:30pm every day until the last weekend in March.  

These are the strawberries I picked up this afternoon.  They charge $9 for all these or $20 for a box of strawberries.  I just may have to stock up before they close for the summer and freeze some strawberries!  We love to drink smoothies, so frozen berries work well for us.  If you like to make chocolate covered strawberries, these would be great for that - look how huge most of them are!  Tip for making chocolate covered strawberries: make sure you're strawberries are dry when you dip them and don't put them in the fridge.  You can buy melting chocolate at Walmart (in the wedding/cake section) or at Jo-Ann's.

They also have real tomatoes, chocolate covered strawberries for $1 each, and orange flavored cranberries (which are out of this world!) for $5 a bag.

Thank you to Laurie F. for telling me about this place and to Amie L. for suggesting that I add it to YumaMom because they're that good.  I'd say that makes these strawberries mom approved.

Yuma Conservation Garden - Open Weekends - FREE

The Yuma Conservation Garden is open on weekends November - April and there is no cost to enter.  

Saturdays from 9:00am - 5:00pm

Sundays from 12:00pm - 5:00pm

Enter just west of the Fairgrounds.

We just went last weekend and enjoyed the duck pond, antique farm machinery display, and the tortoise enclosure.  You can bring your own food to feed the ducks or buy some there.  The tortoise, Balloo, had been in hibernation all winter and just recently came out of her home.  She was very active during our visit.  There are benches along the trail and places to picnic.

The Yuma Conservation Garden also has many educational opportunities available to include lesson plans, school/group tours, and materials (microscopes, thermometers & meter sticks).  The YCG is available year-round by appointment for schools or groups.

The Yuma Conservation Garden is located at the northeast corner of Pacific Avenue and Highway 80.  The 28-acre site includes a botanical garden featuring Sonoran desert vegetation, a watershed model, a pond for wild and domestic waterfowl, and a display of antique farm equipment.  

Silver Spur Rodeo

The 2010 Silver Spur Rodeo will take place the 12th, 13th, and 14th of February at the Yuma County Fairgrounds. There will also be a rodeo parade the Saturday morning of the rodeo, starting at 16th Street and 4th Avenue running north and ending in downtown Yuma. After the rodeo, join the rodeo dances Friday and Saturday evenings at the Jaycee Clubhouse.

Feb 12, 2010 - Rodeo Performance, 1:00pm (Senior Citizen's Day)

Feb 13, 2010 - Rodeo Parade, 8:00am

Feb 13, 2010 - Rodeo Performances, 1:00pm & 7:00pm 

(WEAR PINK to show your support for breast cancer awareness)

Feb 14, 2009 - Rodeo Performance, 1:00pm (Military Appreciation Day)

Children 8 and under are free.  $12 per person at the gate or get $2 off by purchasing tickets in advance at Crazy L Feed & Track, Yuma Feed, Lerma's Feed, Parrish's Bar & Grill, or Boot Barn.  Military can purchase their tickets through ITT on base (located inside the new MCX with the Video Corner near the food court) for $8 each.  ITT is open from 9:00am - 8:00pm Monday - Saturday and open 12:00pm - 8:00pm on Sundays.  

Check the Yuma Jaycees website for more information.

Midnight at the Oasis - Classic Car Show

2010 Midnight at the Oasis

Friday, March 5th

Fun Run 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Cruise begins at 4:30pm

Family Night 4:00pm - 11:00pm

Concerts: Hook & Beatlemania

Saturday, March 6th

9:00am - 11:30am Fun Run

11:00am Pinewood Derby

Concerts: Night Ranger & America

Sunday, March 7th

9:00am - 1:00pm

Click here for the full schedule and price of admission.

These fun runs sound really fun!!

Entrants will travel throughout Yuma, stopping at landmarks and sponsors before returning to the Ray Kroc Complex. They will choose a card at each stop and it will be recorded by a Caballeros volunteer. The car that concludes the run with the best Poker hand will be declared the winner. First prize is a free guaranteed entry in the 2011 Midnight at the Oasis Festival and three raffle tickets for a custom classic 1957 Chevrolet. Second place receives three raffle tickets and third place receives two raffle tickets.

To view the cars as they cruise their way to Ray Kroc Complex, parking and viewing is available on both sides of the route on 4th Ave and County 14th St.  There is ample room to park and view on the east side of Ave. B and along the south side of 32nd St. between Ave. B and the canal.  To see the cruise map, click here.

Farmer's Market in the Foothills

A couple of moms just told me that there is a Farmer's Market in the Foothills on Wednesdays.  It can start as early as 8:00am and goes until 2:00/3:00pm in the Gila Mountain United Methodist Church parking lot (Foothills, exit 14 off of I-8 on Frontage Rd).

They have a huge produce stand, bakery items, spices, garlic, fresh pasta, Yuma grown honey, household goods and much more.  I can't wait to check this out!

Open every Wednesday through the end of March.

Colorado River Run / Yuma County Food Bank charity event

The Colorado River Run consists of a 5K, 10K, and a 2-mile walk.

January 31st at West Wetlands Park in Yuma (finishes at Paradise Casino w/ a return shuttle)

On site registration and check-in is available from 6:30am - 7:30am, race starts at 8:00am

This is a microchip-timed event.  A $30 entry fee includes a t-shirt and a dinner ticket for a Jan. 30th dinner at the Quechan Casino Resort.  All proceeds benefit the Yuma County Food Bank.

Farmers Market, Downtown Yuma

Head downtown every Tuesday from 10:00am - 3:00pm December through March for the Yuma Farmer's Market.  You'll find locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables, arts & crafts, and food vendors. 

Located downtown Yuma on Main Street between 2nd & 3rd Street.  Hosted by the Yuma Community Food Bank.

**Remember to bring cash for your purchases.