86 FUN & GAMES SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 | WWW.BESTOFPHOENIX2025.C0M | BEST OF PHOENIX 2025 greens and a large chipping area. Staff is friendly and helpful, too, and the gorgeous Sivlik Grill, with its impressive patio, is a must-do before or after a round. e e e B E S T D R I V I N G R A N G E CORONADO GOLF COURSE AND LIGHTED DRIVING RANGE 2829 N. MILLER ROAD, SCOTTSDALE 480-947-8364 CORONADOGOLFSCOTTSDALE.COM If Topgolf is a Scottsdale nightclub, then the driving range at Coronado Golf Course is a quiet neighborhood bar. Tucked into a south Scottsdale neighborhood, Coronado is a low-key, unpretentious golf facility that offers a nine-hole course; putting and chip- ping greens; and dozens of bays for prac- ticing your swing. Prices are affordable — just $12.50 for a bucket of 120 balls — and if you don’t have your own clubs, you can borrow a wood or two for your session. Folks of all skill levels practice here, from young guys we swear are training for the PGA to toddlers just learning how to swing a club. We recom- mend coming during happy hour, when that 120-ball bucket drops to $10.50 and cans of beer can be enjoyed for a mere $2. e e e B E S T G O - K A R T S ANDRETTI INDOOR KARTING & GAMES 6263 N. 99TH AVE., GLENDALE 623-299-7529 1712 S. COOPER ROAD, CHANDLER 623-303-7223 ANDRETTIKARTING.COM If a go-kart facility bearing the legendary racing name Andretti had turned out to be a bust, we would have been awfully disap- pointed. Fortunately, the two Valley locations of Andretti Indoor Karting & Games are our favorite places to hit the track. Each location has almost 100,000 square feet of fun in ice- cold air conditioning. Ride around Andretti’s multi-level lighted track in electric Superkarts like you’re playing real-life “Super Mario Kart,” then eat and drink your face off at the on-site restaurant and bar. The fun doesn’t end there, though; each location boasts over 100 arcade games, virtual reality stations, racing simulators, a laser tag arena with two floors, duckpin bowling and a 7-D theater. e e e B E S T P L A C E T O M E E T A C A PY B A R A WILDLIFE WORLD ZOO 16501 W. NORTHERN AVE., LITCHFIELD PARK 623-935-9453 WILDLIFEWORLD.COM For some fans of “Flow,” the heartfelt Latvian animated hit that won an Oscar this year for Best Animated Feature, the movie’s real star wasn’t its gray feline protagonist. Instead, it was the mellow capybara, whose zen vibes quietly stole almost every scene. The charac- ter’s laid-back nature wasn’t dramatic license: These oversized rodents from Central and South America are naturally chill. You can see for yourself at Wildlife World Zoo, where patrons can hang with Chewy and BB8, two of its resident capybaras. The 20-minute experi- ence allows you to pet the animals (spoiler: It’s like stroking a coconut), feed them veggies or learn fun facts (case in point: They’re both named after “Star Wars” characters). And if you’re lucky, you may get a special treat: a glimpse of Ahsoka, the baby Chewy and BB8 welcomed in early September. The cost is $69 per person, plus regular zoo admission, which is cheaper than other local capybara encoun- ters. Plus, it’s worth it to get up close with these gentle giants. So just go with the flow. e e e B E S T P L A C E T O E N C O U N T E R A N A L P A C A CACTUS HILLS ALPACA FARM 40406 N. SIXTH AVE. 503-997-8120 CACTUSHILLSALPACAS.COM For animals native to the Andes, alpacas have made themselves right at home in Arizona. More than a dozen small farms operate around our state, including seven in the Valley, raising and breeding the four-legged fluffballs for their fur and offering public encounters. And yet, plenty of locals still don’t know spit about alpacas, often confusing them for llamas. (Both are cousins of the camel, but alpacas are cuter, chiller and have thicker coats.) Cactus Hills Alpaca Farm owner Nichole Baumgartner is happy to enlighten you on the differences. During the cooler months, she leads tours of her family’s farm, letting visitors mingle with the herd. For $100, groups of up to 10 people can feed, pet and walk the alpacas on a leash during an hour-long session, as well as pose for as many photos as the furry divas can stand. It’s comparable to other local farms (so you aren’t getting fleeced on the cost) and Baumgartner is as friendly and funny as her herd.
