The Best Sweet Treats in the West Valley
A list of my favorite local places for your family to visit after a session to keep everything running smoothly.
In my experience as a photographer and family photo sessions, sometimes you have fussy little ones who start having a hard time by the end of the session. Something I’ve found that has been really successful for my clients is to plan a reward for the end of the session. A post session treat can be a strong motivator for little kids and help keep excitement up the whole time.
So here are three great “sweet treat” locations you can take your kids to, right here in the west valley, as a reward after a family session. These suggestions range from a quick drive through, to a spot to sit and enjoy some time with your family while not in front of a camera.
Let me introduce you to Nautical Bowls.
This little shop is new to the west valley and I am already addicted…and so are my children. Anytime I say Nautical Bowls my youngest son says “Mmmmm, yummy.” An official little-kid approved location. If you are not familiar with Nautical Bowls, they serve Acia Bowls, or in normal people terms, a smoothie in a cup. It’s like ice cream, but fruit-based! Their bowls are so delicious and they have a huge variety of flavors. My children’s personal favorite is a Paddle Bowl, which also happens to be one of the most popular bowls. With ingredients like mango, coconut, granola, and strawberries, this is actually a really good healthy alternative ice cream, without tasting like a healthy alternative to ice cream. My personal favorite is the protein bowl; the chocolate peanut butter pieces on top are so good. Another benefit of Nautical Bowls is that they are very allergy aware. If you have food allergies or are sensitive to dairy, gluten, or soy, you are safe to eat here.
They are open 6:30 am – 9:00 pm | 10030 W McDowell Rd, Suite #150, Avondale, AZ | nauticalbowls-phxwv.com 
This is a great little coffee & health shop. They have a drive thru as well as outdoor seating and a whole variety of delicious coffees, smoothies and treats. They serve hot, iced and blended drinks and offer a great selection for kids as well. The last time I was in, one of the girls suggested the Strawnanas smoothie for my kids, and then asked if they loved dinosaurs. She gave each of my boys a little dinosaur toy with their smoothie. As you can imagine this made my kids head over heels for Modern Grind. Not only because the smoothie was delicious, but the extra attention of getting a little toy dinosaur certainly gave an extra win. I definitely recommend Modern Grind as another great option for after a session.
They are open 5:00 am – 7:00 pm Sunday and Monday, 5:00 am-8:00 pm Tuesday-Saturday | 13044 W Rancho Santa Fe Blvd, Avondale, AZ 85392 | moderngrindcoffee.com 
Good old Culvers. We live very close to a Culvers location, so every time we drive by, my older son will announce to us the flavor of the day. Culver’s is a huge win for our family and we go there frequently for special treats. They have options for a small frozen custard all the way up to full meals. If you haven’t tried frozen custard, you’re about to have your life changed; it is delicious, they can make you just about any flavor combination that you want, and they always have a flavor of the day.
As a family photographer, I aim to keep everything quick moving, fun, and interactive for the kids, but sometimes kids (or adults) just get a little fidgety and tired towards the end, so having a reward to look forward to really can help. If you let me know that you’re planning to go out afterward, I can use that during the session to remind the kids and catch some of their excitement. This is one of the best recommendations I can give for families to set yourself up for success in a session.
Before you go, I have a freebee for you – My Top 3 Secrets to a Great Family Session. These are my tried and tested tips for you to get the perfect family photos. Click to Get the 3 Tips for a Great Family Session!
If you are interested in chatting with me about a family session, feel free to click the link below for a consultation call. It is a free time to chat with me and discuss what it would look like to do a family session. I love coming up with creative, custom experiences for families, so click the consultation link below, and I look forward to chatting with you.
This little shop is new to the west valley and I am already addicted…and so are my children. Anytime I say Nautical Bowls my youngest son says “Mmmmm, yummy.” An official little-kid approved location. If you are not familiar with Nautical Bowls, they serve Acia Bowls, or in normal people terms, a smoothie in a cup. It’s like ice cream, but fruit-based! Their bowls are so delicious and they have a huge variety of flavors. My children’s personal favorite is a Paddle Bowl, which also happens to be one of the most popular bowls. With ingredients like mango, coconut, granola, and strawberries, this is actually a really good healthy alternative ice cream, without tasting like a healthy alternative to ice cream. My personal favorite is the protein bowl; the chocolate peanut butter pieces on top are so good. Another benefit of Nautical Bowls is that they are very allergy aware. If you have food allergies or are sensitive to dairy, gluten, or soy, you are safe to eat here.
They are open 6:30 am – 9:00 pm | 10030 W McDowell Rd, Suite #150, Avondale, AZ | nauticalbowls-phxwv.com *Make sure to mention this blog to me during your session and I will give you a card for a free Nautical Bowl*
If coffee is more to your family’s taste, try out the Modern Grind.
This is a great little coffee & health shop. They have a drive thru as well as outdoor seating and a whole variety of delicious coffees, smoothies and treats. They serve hot, iced and blended drinks and offer a great selection for kids as well. The last time I was in, one of the girls suggested the Strawnanas smoothie for my kids, and then asked if they loved dinosaurs. She gave each of my boys a little dinosaur toy with their smoothie. As you can imagine this made my kids head over heels for Modern Grind. Not only because the smoothie was delicious, but the extra attention of getting a little toy dinosaur certainly gave an extra win. I definitely recommend Modern Grind as another great option for after a session.
They are open 5:00 am – 7:00 pm Sunday and Monday, 5:00 am-8:00 pm Tuesday-Saturday | 13044 W Rancho Santa Fe Blvd, Avondale, AZ 85392 | moderngrindcoffee.com *Make sure to mention this blog to me during your session and I will give you a discount card for Modern Grind*
My last recommendation is Culvers.
Good old Culvers. We live very close to a Culvers location, so every time we drive by, my older son will announce to us the flavor of the day. Culver’s is a huge win for our family and we go there frequently for special treats. They have options for a small frozen custard all the way up to full meals. If you haven’t tried frozen custard, you’re about to have your life changed; it is delicious, they can make you just about any flavor combination that you want, and they always have a flavor of the day.
As a family photographer, I aim to keep everything quick moving, fun, and interactive for the kids, but sometimes kids (or adults) just get a little fidgety and tired towards the end, so having a reward to look forward to really can help. If you let me know that you’re planning to go out afterward, I can use that during the session to remind the kids and catch some of their excitement. This is one of the best recommendations I can give for families to set yourself up for success in a session.
Before you go, I have a freebee for you – My Top 3 Secrets to a Great Family Session. These are my tried and tested tips for you to get the perfect family photos. Click to Get the 3 Tips for a Great Family Session!
If you are interested in chatting with me about a family session, feel free to click the link below for a consultation call. It is a free time to chat with me and discuss what it would look like to do a family session. I love coming up with creative, custom experiences for families, so click the consultation link below, and I look forward to chatting with you.
Rosalynn is a passionate family and newborn photographer who focuses on giving families a fun, memorable experience during every session. She offers maternity, in-home newborn, and family photography in a warm and relaxed manner creating a memorable experience for the entire family. Clients love the digital files from their session and the artwork to display in their home.
Rosalynn serves the Phoenix area including:
SURPRISE | GOODYEAR | AVONDALE | VERRADO | BUCKEYE
