We had the good fortune of connecting with Lindsay Valerio and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lindsay, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When my oldest daughter was 1, I was always looking for things her and I could do together. I’d spend hours on google and had the idea to put all the kid-friendly activities on one website and the idea for kidizona.com was born! A friend of mine encouraged me to post my adventures on social media and now the website and socials are some of the most popular resources for families in the area!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I try to offer helpful and thorough information to parents and caregivers looking for activities for kids. It helps that I’m my own demographic so I try to include what parents like me want to know before visiting! I hope that my brand represents fun and helps people find ways to connect as a family!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well here in Arizona, it depends on the heat! I love the Phoenix Zoo, we’ve been members for years. I’d also probably take them to downtown Chandler and Gilbert for some great restaurants. If we needed a break from the heat and they had their kids with them, I’d probably take them to a trampoline park or an indoor gaming center. It’s an incredible place to raise kids – there’s so much to do!

I’d point them to the website (kidizona.con) and say take your pick! Visitors can browse it by activity type, area or city and see what’s available! I also try to add helpful tips for making the most out of a visit!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I couldn’t have done it without my husband’s support…he’s had to endure SO many “research” outings. My parents and family members have been so encouraging and such great cheerleaders of mine. And of course my kids are the main inspiration for all of this! I’m so proud of them for always being willing to try new things with me so we can share them with the kidizona community! 

Website: kidizona.com

Instagram: Instagram.com/kidizona

Facebook: Facebook.com/kidizona

Image Credits
Family Photo courtesy Paola Andrea Photography.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutArizona is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.