104 After you sign the waiver and put on your safety gear, you’ll get a crate of things to smash, which you can do by throwing them or hitting them with other objects. There’s also a splatter room if the only thing you want to throw is paint. Either way, a visit to Breakthrough leaves us tired, exhilarated and ready to face the world again. 22222 B E ST I N D O O R G U N R A N G E Scottsdale Gun Club 14860 N. Northsight Blvd., Scottsdale 480-348-1111 scottsdalegunclub.com No membership is required to shoot at Scott- sdale Gun Club’s 32 indoor lanes. Every lane is designed to lessen the sound of gunfire, but earplugs and headphones are available and should be utilized, along with required eye protection. Targets are programmable through a touch screen display and rotate 360 degrees, which is a cool feature not offered at many Valley shooting ranges. All firearms including rifles are welcome in the lanes, but the use of armor-piercing ammunition is verboten. A variety of firearms are available to rent (they have the largest selection in the state), and Scottsdale Gun Club also offers numerous classes on gun use and safety, including classes for concealed carry permits. 22222 B E ST A RCA D E StarFighters Arcade 4840 E. Jasmine St., #102, Mesa 602-513-9532 starfightersarcade.com The Valley’s best retro video game and pinball haven is now its biggest. Earlier this year, StarFighters in Mesa leveled up by doubling in size to 8,000 square feet and upping its roster to more than 100 pinball machines and a comparable number of arcade titles. It now contains the largest game selection in Arizona and has secured its crown as the undisputed champ of local arcades. There are now even more deep cuts from gaming history to be discovered in the nooks and corners of the ’80s-themed arcade, many of which were purchased by co-owners and game collectors Michael Lovato and Steve Thomas. After paying the $11 admission, you can play hard-to-find machines such as Atari Football and Rip Off or work your way through rows of pinball favorites. Lovato and Thomas have more changes planned, including obtaining a beer- and-wine license and adding more neon and vintage toys to accentuate the ’80s vibe of StarFighters. We can’t wait. 22222 B E ST CAS I N O Gila River Resorts & Casinos – Santan Mountain 7101 S. Gilbert Road, Chandler 800-946-4452 playatgila.com/gaming/santan-mountain Gila River Resorts & Casinos’ newest gaming palace, which opened in summer 2023, is full of pleasant surprises even if you don’t hit the jackpot. Notably, its floor-to-ceiling light- adjusting windows and outdoor gardens discard the old model of sensory deprivation while gambling. And keeping with the lighter, brighter theme, it boasts the only white roulette wheel in the United States. If you go to play, you’ll be awed by the state’s largest sportsbook (7,000 square feet, with an impressive 129-foot LED display video wall), over 800 slot machines, poker, blackjack, roulette and more. Not into taking chances? Have dinner at Honey & Vine, serving upscale cuisine in a subtly glam gold-and- aqua ambiance, or grab a craft beer from one of the sportsbook’s 40 taps and watch a game. A must no matter what: Cruise the perimeter walls to peruse the exceptional artwork by Gila River Indian Community members. 22222 B E ST ZO O Phoenix Zoo 455 N. Galvin Parkway 602-286-3800 phoenixzoo.org For the nine months that it’s not oppressively hot, there are few better ways to spend a weekend morning than visiting Phoenix’s best zoo. Grab a map, because with 125 acres dedicated to housing animals from around the world, it’s easy to get lost. Some residents enjoy the crowd more than others — the giraffes, flamingos and squirrel monkeys are easy to spot, but good luck catching a glimpse of the otter. There are regular animal presentations and special events, and kids will love the petting zoo, carousel, splash pad, camel rides … you get the idea. And while membership isn’t cheap — $279 for most families — the zoo does offer early entrance for members, which helps to avoid the crowds of kids and stroller-pushing
