SUNNY SIDE UP Southwest corner of State Route 238 and North Ralston Road As much as locals try to escape the heat during the dog days of summer, thousands of sunflowers relish in the sweltering desert sun just outside town. When June rolls around, people reliably flock to a farming field on Ralston Road just south of Highway 238. After their season, the field loses its golden color for most of the year — so, like the notoriously fickle banana ripening on your windowsill, you’d better time your visit with that fleeting moment of peak-yellow glow. Remember to respect the property owner’s rights by not entering the field, picking or cutting the flowers. Instead, park your car on the roadside, enjoy the scenery from a safe distance and capture those unforgettable photographs.
FREE FALLIN’ 56580 W. Dasher Drive
Ever wanted an aerial view of Maricopa? In the western reaches of Hidden Valley, the sky’s the limit. Skydive Phoenix gives both newcomers and experienced jumpers a place to experience the thrill of skydiving. Newcomers can also take classes to get certified in solo jumping. Anywhere from 10 to 100 people sign up for tandem jumps daily. The facility is open every day weather allows.
A TASTE OF INDIA 51293 W. Teel Road
Did you know there is an ornate Hindu temple with a Maricopa address? The Maha Ganapati Temple of Arizona has been a functioning place of worship in the Thunderbird Farms area since its groundbreaking in 2007. In 2002, the temple was first established in a double-wide trailer inside modern Maricopa city limits. The palatial structure in the desert just outside town took seven years to complete. The temple's exterior showcases four 26-foot-tall towers, or vimanas, decorated with deities. The interior features plenty of traditional Indian artwork on all the shrines, like a 1,400-pound granite statue of the supreme Hindu god Ganesha.
February 2024 | InMaricopa.com
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