12 THROUGH JULY 25, 2026
CATS is a mesmerizing, one-of-a-kind theatrical experience that transports audiences into the mysterious world of the Jellicle Cats. Through breathtaking dance, stunning visuals, and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s unforgettable score – including the iconic ballad “Memory” – each cat shares their unique story. CATS is a spellbinding journey of rebirth, acceptance, and the magic of the feline world.
Special thanks to Dr. Keith and Kim Haar
One of my favorite things about putting together an Explore Issue each year is the reminder that you do not have to go far to experience something new.
We spend so much time looking ahead to the next vacation, weekend getaway, or big adventure that we sometimes forget how much there is to discover right in our own backyard. This month’s issue is all about slowing down, getting curious, and exploring the places, businesses, experiences, and hidden gems that make our community so special.
Inside these pages, you will find inspiration for getting out and enjoying the area we get to call home. From local favorites to places you may not have visited yet, we wanted to create an issue that encourages you to see familiar places through a fresh lens and maybe even make a few new memories along the way.
Recently, I had the chance to do some exploring of my own during a family cruise, and while the scenery and destinations were incredible, what stood out to me most was something much simpler: time together. Exploring new places with family, stepping away from routines, and being fully present reminded me that experiences are often less about where you are and more about who you are with.
Coming home made me appreciate our own community even more. It reminded me that adventure does not always require a passport or months of planning. Sometimes it looks like trying a new restaurant, spending a Saturday discovering a local spot, or saying yes to experiences that have been sitting on your list for years.
That is exactly what this issue is about.
I hope these pages inspire you to get out, support local, explore somewhere new, and enjoy everything waiting for you right here in our own backyard.
KIMBERLY BAILEY, PUBLISHER
@PEORIACITYLIFESTYLE
July 2026
PUBLISHER
Kimberly Bailey | kimberly.bailey@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Kylie Strawn-Badger | kylie.strawn@citylifestyle.com
PUBLISHER ASSISTANT
Jessica Witzke | jessica.witzke@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Gretchen Pahia, Kylie Strawn-Badger
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Nichole Eckman, Ben Christensen Photography
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Zach Miller
LAYOUT DESIGNER Rhiannon Coffman
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle
Proverbs 3:5-6 Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com/franchise.
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
Pet parents in the Arrowhead area now have access to around-the-clock emergency veterinary care designed to make emergency visits less stressful. Their team offers direct access to a doctor by phone if you’re unsure whether your pet needs immediate care. If hospitalization is needed, owners are welcome to stay overnight with their pets, and they also provide care for exotic animals. Located at 7720 W Bell Rd, Suite B.
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Next Health is bringing a new approach to wellness and longevity to the West Valley. Their Glendale location offers services including IV Therapy, Cryotherapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, NAD+ Therapy, hormone optimization, wellness testing, and personalized health programs designed to support overall well-being. Congratulations to the Next Health team on their opening and thank you to everyone who joined the celebration. Located at 23423 N 67th Ave, Suite 107, Glendale, AZ 85310.
Congratulations to Store Manager Mark Lindley and his team on the opening of Party City inside Staples in Peoria. This exciting addition brings a wide selection of party essentials to the community, including balloons, decorations, themed supplies, tableware, favors, and more to help make celebrations easy and memorable. Stop by to explore everything Party City at Staples has to offer at 7865 W. Bell Rd., Peoria, AZ 85382.
In a time where travelers are seeking more outdoor adventures without having to travel too far from home, Peoria residents have an amazing vacation experience right in their own backyard at Lake Pleasant. The Scorpion Bay Marina Floating Cabins offer an innovative way to enjoy the lake and outdoors while still experiencing the comforts of a luxury stay.
Traditionally, staying on the lake often means owning your own houseboat or setting up camp along the shoreline of Lake Pleasant. While both options have their appeal, the floating cabins offer a unique alternative that combines the beauty of being on the water with the convenience and comfort of a resortstyle experience.
The Floating Cabins provide a wonderful blend of a relaxing environment and the comforts of home while giving guests direct access to all the outdoor experiences Lake Pleasant has to offer. Whether you are planning a family getaway, a staycation with friends, or simply looking to disconnect for a week, the cabins create an experience that feels both adventurous and comfortable.
ARTICLE BY GRETCHEN PAHIA
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCORPION BAY
FLOATING CABINS
There are a few cabin options available depending on your group size and travel style. Guests can choose the loft bungalow, which accommodates up to eight people and provides extra space for gathering and relaxing, or one of the studio-style cabins that comfortably accommodate up to four guests.
Each cabin comes equipped with modern amenities that make lake life feel effortless. Guests can enjoy Wi-Fi, air conditioning, television with YouTube TV, a fully equipped kitchen, comfortable sleeping arrangements, and an integrated sound system. The cabins were designed to create a seamless indoor-outdoor experience, making it easy to spend your days exploring and your evenings relaxing.
One of the standout features is the private deck attached to each cabin. Equipped with a grill for cooking meals outdoors, the decks also provide incredible views of the surrounding Bradshaw Mountains and peaceful mornings right on the water.
Beyond the cabins themselves, several popular attractions are just a short walk away. Guests can enjoy waterfront dining at Scorpion Bay Grill, pick up essentials and snacks at The General Store, or spend the afternoon enjoying Paqua Park Floating Obstacle Course.
For those who love being out on the water, each cabin includes access to personal boat slips nearby, making it easy to head out for a boating adventure. Guests without their own boat can also take advantage of discounted rates when booking from the resort’s rental fleet.
Guests staying in the cabins can also enjoy the use of kayaks and dedicated support from the marina team throughout their visit.
At the end of the day, adventures out at Lake Pleasant are perfect for those seeking a natural experience without giving up the comforts of a hotel or vacation rental. Rather than pitching a tent or renting a houseboat, these floating cabins offer a more elevated way to experience the outdoors.
To learn more about Scorpion Bay Floating Cabins or to book your own lake adventure, visit scorpionbayaz.com/floating-cabins/.
Fun and Adventurous Things to do
ARTICLE BY GRETCHEN PAHIA | PHOTOGRAPHY
BY DISCOVER FLAGSTAFF, FLAGSTAFF
CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
The rising temperatures in the valley during the summer often have people in the valley looking for ways they can escape the heat quickly. For most residents, a quick trip up north is exactly what the doctor ordered, as they search for cooler weather coupled with fun, outdoor activities.
Some people choose Flagstaff as their favorite destination since the temperature levels in Flagstaff are often around 30
degrees lower than those prevailing in the valley. People will find fun-filled weekend experiences as Flagstaff that offer day trips, weekend getaways, or more, for just about every age, giving them a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle many of us feel day to day in the valley.
One of the most do adventures is the Scenic Gondolas at Snowbowl. This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area. While Snowbowl is known more for its ski resort in the winter season, there is still excitement and fun to be found even in the hotter seasons thanks to the beautiful scenery. Visitors can take a ride up the mountain, to experience amazing scenery views from heights of 11,500 feet with a good view of the Grand Canyon.
In addition to its natural beauty, Flagstaff also provides excellent food and craft beer culture that encourages tourists to spend more time exploring the city. The area features more than 200 restaurants, including eight award-winning breweries and four nominees for the James Beard Foundation Award. Most of these cool spots are located within the historic downtown, which is also home to several popular venues like Atria, Shift Kitchen & Bar, Proper Meats + Provisions, and Forêt FLG. With the right combination of great food, craft cocktails, and locally brewed beverages, the city has quickly transformed into a dream for those “foodie” adventurers.
Apart from offering beautiful scenery and a variety of cultures, Flagstaff makes an excellent place to set
up your camp as you visit some of the most unique natural attractions in the Southwest. Even though you may have visited the Grand Canyon National Park, which is just 90 minutes away from Flagstaff, remember there are eight more parks and monuments that you can check out as part of your oneday excursion from Flagstaff. Some of these include Walnut Canyon National Monument, Wupatki National Monument, and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.
Flagstaff is also an ideal destination for historians since 2026 marks the centennial of Historic Route 66 Centennial. One of the most famous places on Mother Road, Flagstaff is celebrating this moment by organizing various events throughout the year. Among those events is the premiere screening of the movie “Route 66: The Main Street of America” scheduled to take place from October 10-11 at the historical Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff.
Impressive as Flagstaff’s daytime activities might be, Flagstaff really stands out after the sun goes down. It was exactly 25 years ago when Flagstaff earned the title of the world’s first International Dark Sky City, sparking over 200 dark-sky locations worldwide. Even though it has close to 80,000 people living there, Flagstaff still remains the most populated dark-sky location in the world.
Lowell Observatory, which underwent major renovations in 2024, earned the title of the #1 science museum in America according to Newsweek and among the Time magazine's 100 Greatest Places. The observatory features a planetarium on the roof called Dark Sky Planetarium where you can relax and lounge under the starry sky, visit exhibitions, and even look at the same telescope that discovered Pluto back in 1930.
With all its amazing wonders, great hiking routes, top-notch restaurants, trips to National Parks, and awesome stargazing options, Flagstaff once again shows that it is not only the coolest summer destination in Arizona but also the richest one when it comes to outdoors fun.
ARTICLE BY KYLIE STRAWN-BADGER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN CHRISTENSEN PHOTOGRAPHY
When summer settles into Arizona and triple-digit temperatures become the norm, many locals start searching for an easy escape. While road trips north often get the spotlight, there’s another destination hiding closer to home that delivers the feeling of a full vacation without leaving the Valley.
Less than an hour from Phoenix, Scorpion Bay at Lake Pleasant has become one of Arizona’s favorite warm-weather destinations, offering visitors a unique combination of adventure, relaxation, and lake life all in one place.
For first-time visitors, the experience often begins the moment they arrive at the marina.
There’s an immediate shift that happens stepping onto the docks. The pace slows. The mountain views open up. Suddenly, city traffic and packed schedules feel far away.
A perfect day at Scorpion Bay starts on the water.
Guests can choose their own version of the experience, whether that means renting a pontoon boat with friends, heading out on a private charter complete with a captain, or cruising the lake with music playing and the Arizona landscape stretching in every direction. The setting feels surprisingly removed from everyday life, despite being just outside the city.
Midday is where Scorpion Bay becomes more than just a boating destination.
Groups often anchor in quiet coves to swim and float while others gravitate toward Paqua Park, Lake Pleasant’s floating obstacle course and one of the area’s most talked-about attractions. For guests looking for something more elevated, hot tub boats offer a completely different way to enjoy the lake while taking in the scenery.
That flexibility is part of what makes the destination stand out.
Unlike many lake experiences that revolve around one activity, Scorpion Bay combines recreation, dining, overnight accommodations, and entertainment into one location. Boat and jet ski rentals, floating cabins, charter experiences, and lakefront dining all work together to create something that feels more like a resort experience than a typical marina.
Scorpion Bay officially opened in 2009 and has steadily evolved into one of Arizona’s premier recreational destinations. Today, many visitors describe it as a “floating city,” with hundreds of wet slips and dry storage spaces alongside a growing collection of experiences designed to keep guests coming back.
One of the most memorable moments happens toward the end of the day.
As the sun begins to lower behind the Bradshaw Mountains, the atmosphere shifts again. Golden reflections stretch across the lake while boats slowly make their way back to shore. Guests gather at Scorpion Bay Grill where frozen cocktails, casual lakeside favorites, and panoramic views become part of the experience.
The menu keeps things approachable and perfect for a day on the water, with burgers, tacos, shareable appetizers, and refreshing drinks that feel especially fitting during Arizona summers.
For guests wanting to extend the experience, floating cabins offer an overnight stay unlike anything else nearby. Falling asleep surrounded by water and waking up to lake views creates the feeling of being much farther from home than reality suggests.
Scorpion Bay has also become a destination for celebrations and gatherings. From birthdays and bachelor or bachelorette weekends to corporate outings and anniversary celebrations, the combination of flexible group options and built-in activities makes planning easy.
And summer continues to bring even more reasons to visit.
Seasonal programming includes live music every Saturday at Scorpion Bay Grill, expanded holiday weekend entertainment, sunset cruises, and special events throughout the season, including one of the area’s only public Fourth of July fireworks viewing cruises.
In a state where escaping the heat often means hours in the car, Scorpion Bay proves that sometimes the best getaway is already closer than you think.
A festive layered cocktail perfect for backyard BBQs, Fourth of July celebrations, pool parties, or any summer gathering.
ARTICLE BY KYLIE STRAWN-BADGER
There’s something about a red, white, and blue drink that instantly feels like summer. Maybe it’s the nostalgia of fireworks, backyard dinners, sparklers after sunset, or those long evenings where everyone ends up gathered around the patio talking long after dinner ends. Whatever it is, this frozen cocktail brings all of those moments together in one glass.
This layered frozen cocktail takes inspiration from the classic patriotic snow cone look but gives it an elevated cocktail twist. Bright berry flavors create the red layer, creamy coconut brings the white center, and a vibrant blue tropical layer finishes it off. The result is refreshing, photo-worthy, and surprisingly simple to make.
The secret to getting the layered effect is blending each layer separately and keeping the texture thick enough that the colors stay distinct when poured. It looks impressive but doesn’t require bartending experience. Mason jars add a fun casual touch, but you can also serve these in stemless glasses, margarita glasses, or even clear tumblers for a more elevated presentation.
This recipe works especially well for summer entertaining because you can prep ingredients ahead of time and blend right before serving. Hosting a group? Double or triple the recipe and set up a DIY frozen cocktail station with extra fruit garnishes, festive straws, and cocktail picks.
Whether you're celebrating the Fourth of July, hosting friends by the pool, or simply wanting a fun summer drink to enjoy on a warm evening, this cocktail brings a festive feel without requiring complicated ingredients.
Serve immediately while icy cold and enjoy every colorful sip.
Serves: 2
Red Layer
• 1 cup ice
• 2 oz vodka
• 2 oz strawberry vodka or raspberry vodka
• ½ cup strawberry lemonade
• ¼ cup frozen strawberries
White Layer
• 1 cup ice
• 2 oz coconut rum
• ¼ cup cream of coconut
• ¼ cup coconut water
Blue Layer
• 1 cup ice
• 2 oz blue curaçao
• 1 oz white rum
• ¼ cup lemonade
• Splash of pineapple juice
Garnish
• Festive paper straws
• Mini flags
• Fresh strawberries
Instructions:
1. Make the red layer:Blend all red layer ingredients until thick and slushy. Divide evenly into serving glasses and place in freezer.
2. Make the white layer:Blend white layer ingredients until smooth. Carefully spoon over the red layer.
3. Make the blue layer:Blend blue layer ingredients until icy and thick. Slowly top over the white layer.
4. Garnish and serve:Add festive straws and serve immediately before layers melt together.
Pro Tip
For crisp color separation, freeze each layer for about 3–5 minutes before adding the next. The result is a beautifully stacked frozen cocktail that looks just as good as it tastes.
DISCOVER ARIZONA’S HIDDEN SIDE THROUGH MEMORABLE LAKE EXPERIENCES.
When people picture Arizona, endless desert landscapes and mountain views often come to mind. Water is rarely the first thing people think of. But for Kurtis Flick, founder of AZ Paddle Junkie, Arizona’s lakes and waterways represented something entirely different: an opportunity to slow down, reconnect, and experience the state from a new perspective.
ARTICLE BY KYLIE STRAWN-BADGER PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICHOLE ECKMAN
What began as a personal love for paddleboarding and being outdoors slowly transformed into a business built around helping others discover the same feeling. Rather than creating a traditional rental company, Kurtis envisioned something more experience-driven, where people could leave with more than photos from a day on the water.
“We wanted people to leave with memories, not just photos,” Flick explains, a philosophy that still shapes the business today.
Founded with the belief that outdoor recreation should feel approachable and accessible, AZ Paddle Junkie was built to welcome everyone, from firsttime paddleboarders to experienced adventurers. The company offers rentals, lessons, guided excursions, and curated experiences centered around Arizona’s lakes, helping guests feel confident and excited from the moment they arrive.
Operating primarily at Lake Pleasant, the company quickly found that what they were creating went beyond outdoor activities.
According to Flick, “Arizona looks completely different when you experience it from the water,” and that realization has become one of the most rewarding parts of growing the business.
Guests who paddle out often describe feeling removed from everyday distractions despite staying close to home. The desert backdrop reflects across calm water, creating a setting that feels unexpected for Arizona and making each outing feel like an escape without requiring extensive travel plans.
As the company expanded, another unexpected mission emerged: creating connection.
Experiences such as group paddles and community gatherings began attracting guests who returned again and again, not simply for the activity but for the atmosphere. Friends were made, traditions formed, and time outside became something people intentionally prioritized.
For Flick, that community aspect became one of the most meaningful parts of the company’s evolution.
“We’re not trying to create another thing people check off their list,” he says. “We want them to actually experience where they are.”
That mentality shows up in every part of the experience. Staff members guide guests through the process, remove intimidation around trying something new, and encourage people to disconnect from busy schedules and spend time outdoors.
Today, AZ Paddle Junkie continues growing as more people discover that Arizona offers more than desert adventures alone. At its core, the company remains rooted in the same mission that started it all: helping people create meaningful experiences through adventure, connection, and time outside.
As Flick puts it, “If we can get people outside, off their phones, and making memories together, then we’ve done what we set out to do.”
Sometimes the best way to experience Arizona is not by heading farther away, but by stepping onto the water and seeing it from a completely different angle. Ready to trade screens for sunshine and experience Arizona from the water? AZ Paddle Junkie invites you to get outside and create memories that last long after the boards are back on shore. Learn more and plan your next adventure at AZPaddleJunkie.com.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY
KYLIE STRAWN-BADGER
Float above Arizona’s breathtaking landscapes and discover a bucketlist experience where adventure meets peaceful luxury.
The desert has a way of making everything feel larger than life. The horizon stretches endlessly, the mountains glow at sunrise, and the quiet feels almost impossible to find in everyday life. Yet floating thousands of feet above it all, that sense of stillness becomes something entirely different.
For more than four decades, Rainbow Ryders has been creating those unforgettable moments in the sky.
What began in 1983 as a dream fueled by passion and adventure has transformed into one of the Southwest’s most iconic experiences. Founded by the late Scott Appelman with a single two-passenger balloon operating out of his garage in New Mexico, Rainbow Ryders was built on the belief that work could feel more like freedom. Today, the company welcomes more than 45,000 passengers annually and operates one of the largest hot air balloon fleets in the region.
Arizona proved to be the perfect place for expansion. With year-round sunshine, wide-open desert landscapes, and ideal flying conditions, the Valley offers a setting that feels designed for ballooning. Early mornings become something magical as the sky slowly changes color and the Sonoran Desert awakens below.
The experience begins before takeoff. Guests travel to the launch site as the balloon slowly comes to life, expanding into a vibrant display against the desert backdrop. There is excitement in the air, but also a surprising calm.
Unlike helicopters or high-speed adventures, hot air ballooning feels almost suspended in time. There is no engine noise competing for attention. Instead, passengers drift with the wind, taking in unobstructed views of towering saguaros, native wildlife, and distant mountain ranges stretching across the horizon.
Each flight tells a different story. Over the years, Rainbow Ryders has hosted milestone birthdays, proposals, weddings, family celebrations, and meaningful first flights. Every journey becomes personal, creating memories that extend far beyond the landing.
After approximately an hour in the sky, guests return to earth for a traditional balloonist’s toast and light refreshments, a fitting end to an experience rooted in both adventure and tradition.
For travelers seeking something elevated, literally and figuratively, Rainbow Ryders offers more than a scenic ride. It delivers a rare opportunity to slow down, look outward, and experience Arizona from an entirely new perspective.
ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE
Winnipeg in the winter, and a 17-year-old waits 45 minutes in the cold for Keanu Reeves. Her fingers are numb. She is not there for an autograph. She is there to ask him to appear in her audition tape for MuchMusic, Canada’s MTV. When he finally agrees, she writes her number on a gum wrapper with a borrowed lip liner.
He calls days later.
That 17-year-old was Jen Cohen — fitness expert, host of the Habits & Hustle podcast, and best-selling author. She has built a career on the premise her frostbitten afternoon proved. She calls the practice the 10% Target: 10 attempts at whatever you want most in life.
The premise is simple. Most people never make one attempt. Almost nobody makes two. The math works in favor of the person who keeps going.
The top-rated Habits & Hustle podcast has logged hundreds of conversations with high performers and the people who study what the body does to the mind. Her TEDx talk, The Secret to Getting Anything You Want in Life, has traveled widely inside Fortune 500 sales-training rooms. On the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Cohen sits down to share the working rules that are the foundation of her latest book, Bigger, Better, Bolder.
“You have to be the CEO of your own life.”
FEATURING JEN COHEN
Discover the full 10% Target Mindset framework.
1 2
The door opens, or another door does. The unmade attempt and the refused one leave you in the same place — except one of them teaches you something.
Cohen frames her habits as a wager: How do I stack the deck so I win more than I lose? The workout happens first, and the food decisions follow. The email follow-up gets sent, and the answer arrives. The choices compound in a single direction.
3
No one is born with it. The people who look disciplined are running a routine they have rehearsed long enough that it no longer feels like effort. The reps are the skill. Miss them, and the skill fades, the same as any other.
4
Confidence does not arrive by repeating the word. It arrives after the body has done the thing — the workout finished, the cold walk endured, the email sent. The mind takes its cues from what the body proves it can do. Talk follows action, not the other way around.
5
The first decision sets the slope of the rest. Skip the Monday workout, and the rest of the week tends to follow. Hold the line on Monday, and the slope tilts the other way.
JULY 1ST - 25TH
Arizona Broadway Theatre | 7701 W. Paradise Lane
Based on T.S. Eliot's whimsical poetry, Cats transports audiences into the mysterious world of the Jellicle cats on the night of the Jellicle Ball. Through extraordinary dance, acrobatics, and unforgettable music, each cat reveals their unique personality and story, all hoping to be chosen for a journey to the Heaviside Layer and a new life.
JULY 2ND
Fred Astaire Dance Studios | 8978 W Union Hills Dr #106 | 4:30 PM
ome cook out and let loose with us this Independence Day weekend! This party is the perfect time to dance up a storm and celebrate summer with our awesome dance community here at the studio.
JULY 4TH
All-American Festival
Main Stadium at Peoria Sports Complex | 16101 N. 83rd Ave. | 5:00 PM
Celebrate America 250 at Peoria’s 2026 All-American Festival, honoring 250 years since the Declaration of Independence with family fun, live entertainment, local food vendors, and a spectacular Fourth of July fireworks finale.
JULY 4TH
Live Music at Lake Pleasant
Scorpion Bay | 10970 W, Peninsula Blvd
Catch singer-songwriter Charles Harper performing patriotic and popular hits for a 4th of July celebration at Scorpion Bay Marina.
JULY 15TH
Phoenix Legacy Foundation Fundraiser
Park West Shopping Center | 9784 West Northern Avenue, Suite 1235 3:00 PM
We would like to cordially invite you, your family, your friends, your clients, your team members, and your contacts to attend a Fundraiser at Handel’s at the Park West Shopping Center to support Phoenix Legacy Foundation.
JULY 18TH-19TH
Morgan Wallen
State Farm Stadium | 1 Cardinals Dr Country superstar Morgan Wallen is bringing his I’m The Problem Tour to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ
JULY 25TH
Christmas in July at Desert West Night Market
Peoria Sports Complex | 16101 N 83rd Ave | 6:00 PM
This holiday-themed summer market features over 120 vendors, food trucks, a live DJ, a full bar, water splash pads, and photos with Santa.
