Touch-A-Truck in Glendale

 Are you looking for a fun, free activity for your family? If so, the Glendale Parks and Recreation “Touch a Truck” event is a great option. Last November, the Parks and Recreation Department hosted its annual Touch a Truck event for kids. Parking was a breeze, there were plenty of vehicles to see, and lines for the more "exciting" trucks (such as a helicopter and a trash truck) moved reasonably quickly.

The event was held in a large parking lot and featured a variety of vehicles such as fire trucks, police cars, military vehicles, construction equipment, and more. Kids had the chance to get up close and personal with these vehicles, ask questions of the operators, and take photos. They can honk horns, turn on sirens, and check out all of their favorite vehicles - such an awesome opportunity. One of the best parts of the event was that it was completely free for families. There were also plenty of activities for kids to enjoy, such as face painting, photo ops with Smokey the Bear, and a DJ playing kid friendly music. Local businesses also had booths set up, offering snacks and other goodies. Overall, the event was a huge success. Kids had a great time learning about the different vehicles and interacting with their operators. It was also a great opportunity for families to spend time together without spending money. It was a great reminder that there are plenty of free activities available in Glendale, especially during the holidays. If you’re looking for a fun and free activity for your family, be sure to check out the Glendale Parks and Recreation “Touch a Truck” event. It’s a great way for kids to learn about different vehicles and have a great time in the process. We will definitely attend if Glendale hosts this event again next year.

Giggles in Glendale

We went to Giggles in Glendale to try out another indoor playground in the area. It was a surprisingly large facility with a large variety of equipment, including an American Gladiators style obstacle course and a giant trampoline structure. So far this is easily the best value I have found for an indoor playground facility, and we will be VERY LIKELY to return. 

Giggles has locations in both Glendale and Chandler.

 Initial reaction - the surrounding neighborhood is rough, but if you've been paying attention in the Phoenix area for the last year or two, its to be expected. Lots of homeless folks are loitering in the plaza and the surrounding parks, so be sure to lock your doors and say a firm, but polite "No" to any panhandlers. Once inside the facility, it is safe and bright and very comfortable. 

 You are greeted at the front desk by a helpful staff member, where you are able to sign in and pay the EXTREMELY reasonable $11.97 for all day play. Not per hour, but for however long you'd like to stay that day. They have cubbies for you to place your belongings, and food and beverages are only allowed in the specified area just behind the front desk. I appreciate their attempts to keep the play place nice and clean for everyone. 

 Socks are required for both adults and children, with grippy socks required for little ones, and adults are able to wear grippy or regular socks. As of September 2022, their pricing is as follows:

• $11 per child, $9 for each additional sibling
• Playcards available for reduced rates (never expire)
• 6 days for $46
• 12 days for $86

They are open from 9am to 6pm Sunday through Thursday, and 9am to 8pm Friday and Saturday.

To say that I was impressed with this place would be an understatement. They had such a large variety of activities for the kids, and it was at such a reasonable price. Various activities included (but were not limited to):

• Music section on a mini stage with pianos and drums
• Dual racing cars
• gigantic wooden structure with ramps, ropes, tire swings, slides, climbing walls and hideouts
• Reading tree house with hammocks
• Play house with a kitchen
• Play garden area with carrots are other items to "dig up"
• Dress up section with a large number of costumes
• "Workout" area resembling gym equipment in adorable miniature
• Tons of different cars, motorcycles, ice cream trucks and other rideable items
• Camping / Picnic area
• Mini grocery store and bakery
• Trampoline structure with 3 huge trampoline runs
• Gladiator style obstacle course

Not only was the facility clean, but the staff periodically went around to straighten up and sanitize toys, ensuring a safe experience for everyone. It had excellent line of sight from one end of the facility to the other, meaning you can easily take a seat on a bench or the very cushy carpeting, and see your child no matter where they are in the facility. My absolute favorite aspect of this indoor playground is that it is restricted to children 6 and under, which mean no bigger kids were in "the baby area" putting my son at risk.

Highlights

• Clean facility
• Very affordable to play all day, and play packages are very reasonable
• Concentrates on the 6 and under crowd to ensure the little ones don't get hurt

Final Verdict

I will absolutely be back with my son, and will likely purchase one of the play cards to save even more on their already reasonable rates. I will likely check out the Chandler location (the playcard is valid at both locations!) to see if they have different toys, but have no issue going back to the Glendale location for future visits.