The Farm at South Mountain

After hearing all the hype for years, I couldn't wait to take an out-of-town guest to lunch at The Farm.We were both really disappointed to find pre-packaged salads in standard combinations. Nothing looked especially fresh, and the only "local" products I was aware of there were the items they were selling from local businesses. Our salads were OK, but nothing special that you couldn't find in any airport cafe. For the price I expected A LOT more.

Arizona Science Center

The Arizona Science Center has hands-on exhibits about everything from the human body to how robots work in space. There is a planetarium and an IMAX theater as well. Kids and adults will enjoy learning about all the different ways that science affects our lives.

Madison Avenue International Salon

Madison Avenue has very tranquil, soothing day spa facilities. The moment you enter the spa area you'll feel stress start to fade away.

Their estheticians and massage therapists are all very qualified and I have had nothing but good experiences there. The prices are a little steep, but the atmosphere leaves nothing to be desired.

Dunn-Edwards Paint & Wllcvrngs

We used Dunn Edwards paints for our entire interior. They provide fantastic coverage, and although they are more expensive than some other paints, you only need to use one coat in most instances. They also offer a great discount to AAA members, which helps to make it more reasonable.

Paul's Car Care

My air conditioning recently went out. After getting an outrageous quote from the dealership I decided to call around. When I called Paul's Car Care, the price was $700 less and they could get the job done in half the time!

They stood by their estimate and had my car ready to go within 48 hours. I will use them in the future for any car repairs I have.

Brite Smile

Brite Smile offers a special technique that whitens your teeth in 1 hour. The process is simple: they paint a solution on your teeth, which is activated by a special light they shine on your mouth. You sit there for an hour watching your little TV, and at the end your teeth are white(ish).

I did not see anywhere near the results I was expecting. For $500 it seemed that there should be some very visible results, however, my teeth look barely whiter than before the treatment. I would not recommend the process if you are looking for drastic results.

Cool Cuts 4 Kids

Cool Cuts is fun for kids because they offer video games and movies at every station, and kids can watch movies or play trains while you wait. Be prepared to wait, too, because it's usually quite busy here.

However, we've never had a stylist there who did a very good job on my boys' crazy unruly hair. The stylists are usually inexperienced and don't stay at the salon long. At $14 for a kids haircut, I expect a little more.

If it's a first haircut, I'd recommend going here because it takes a lot of the scariness away and they take pictures and make it special. For older kids, I think they can get a better cut somewhere else.

Thomas N. Giacobbi, DDS

The staff and dentists at Chandler Dental Health are great. Their office offers the latest technology and the customer service is wonderful. Dr. Grace makes everyone feel at ease and comfortable, which gets her an A+ from me!

Mrs White's Golden Rule Cafe

Mrs White's offers the best soul food in the Southwest. The pork chops, black-eyed peas, yams, and cabbage are just the best anywhere. There are celebrity signatures all over the restaurant that show just how loyal a following this hole-in-the-wall has.

The service is slow and they only take cash, so be prepared for a long lunch when you go. They are only open on weekdays for lunch.

PROS: Great food
CONS: Slow service

Arizona Nut House

The Arizona Nut House is a fun place to visit if you're heading down to Tucson. They carry all sorts of nuts, most of them grown in the local area. Choose from jalapeno roasted, chocolate covered, praline coated or many, many other delicious varieties of your favorite nut. The prices are steep, but the nuts are fantastic.

They also sell Southwestern decor and Arizona souvenirs, along with sodas and ice cream. It's a nice rest stop if you're on the road, and worth stopping for.