Families looking for a perfect getaway need look no further than the Phoenix area. We’ve partnered with family travel writer (and Tempe native) Kirsten Maxwell of Kids Are A Trip as she shares her top choices for family fun in the Valley of the Sun.
If Phoenix is on your travel radar, now is the time to visit. Major League Baseball visits every year with their spring training, the city will host the 2017 NCAA Basketball Final Four in April, and the weather can’t be beat. The Phoenix airport is centrally located, so you’re never far from the action once you arrive. Here are some of our favorite spots for family fun in the Valley of the Sun.
Phoenix
Arizona Science Center
The Arizona Science Center has over 300 hands-on activities for families to enjoy. Children can learn about gravity, outer space, and weather patterns in a way they understand. There’s also a an IMAX theater and daily experiments and demonstrations by trained professionals. Daring souls might enjoy the SkyCycle, a bicycle ride on a tight rope high above the museum floor. Kids will want to splash in the water works play area, so expect to get wet!
Musical Instrument Museum
The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) has over 6,500 musical instruments from around the world. Families can enjoy concerts and interactive exhibits that allow children to explore their musical interests. Plan on coming for a couple of hours, but know it’s not uncommon to stay half the day!
Photo: Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau
Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Garden
The Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Garden are adjacent to one another so families could choose to explore both in a day. The Phoenix Zoo is home to over 1,400 animals and has 2.5 miles of walking trails. Try to go early in the morning when animals are most active. The Desert Botanical Garden has unique walking trails to help visitors learn about the fauna of the desert southwest. A new butterfly exhibit will feature hundreds of butterflies and a caterpillar nursery. It’s a wonderful place to introduce children to the unique plants of the desert.
Photo: Visit Phoenix
Tempe
LEGOLAND Discovery Center and SEA LIFE Aquarium
If your kids are Lego fans, they will love the LEGOLAND Discovery Center! There’s a 4D Cinema, Master Builder model workshops, Lego miniature land, and rides. Next door is the SEA LIFE Aquarium with a touch pool, 180 degree Ocean tunnel, and over 250 species of marine life. These attractions are perfect to enjoy together.
Tempe Town Lake
In the heart of downtown Tempe is Town Lake, a man-made reservoir created in a dry area of the Salt River. Here families can explore the five miles of pathways around the lake on foot or on a rented bicycle from the nearby Bicycle Cellar. Kayaks, pedal boats and other watercraft are available to rent at Tempe Boat Rentals. Along the lake is Tempe Beach Park, home to many annual family-friendly festivals and events. The beautiful Tempe Center of the Arts (TCA) is located on the shore of Town Lake. Childsplay, Arizona’s professional theatre company for young audiences, offers performances throughout the year that are a great way to introduce children to the theatre.
Paddleboarding on Tempe Town Lake
Photo: Tempe Tourism Office
Mesa
Nature Center at Usery Mountain Regional Park
If exploring the desert is on your agenda, head to Usery Mountain to learn more. There are over 29 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails, and rangers on hand to answer questions. The center offers unique family friendly programming from fitness hikes and scorpion hunts to toddler cruises and yoga in the desert. Grab a desert scavenger hunt to keep kids entertained while you hike along the trails.
There are many great hiking places in the Phoenix area.
Photo: Visit Mesa
Tonto National Forest
Within 30 minutes of Mesa is Tonto National Forest where the lakes and rivers perfect for all types of water sports. Another option is to try the popular activity of “tubing”, a leisurely float down the Salt River via inner-tube. Families might want to take a cruise on the Desert Belle and try and catch a glimpse of desert bighorn sheep and other native wildlife. Spending the day on the water can be a relaxing way to pass the time in the Valley of the Sun.
Scottsdale
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
If your little one is a train enthusiast, don’t miss the McCormick-Stillman railroad park. Everyone loves riding around the park on the Paradise & Pacific railroad train, a reproduction of a Colorado narrow gauge railroad. The park is also home to the Scottsdale Railroad Museum which features model railroads and life size train cars. Kids will also enjoy the antique carousel and railroad themed playgrounds.
Photo: Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau
Butterfly Wonderland
This is the largest indoor butterfly pavilion in the United States, making it a “must stop” on a trip to the Valley. Butterflies are housed inside a glass atrium that provides them with a tropical rainforest habitat, allowing them to fly free amongst the visitors. Children (and adults) will marvel at their colors and beauty.
Chandler
Rawhide Western Town
Rawhide is an Old West town smack in the middle of the Phoenix suburbs. The town streets are dirt and the store fronts are straight out of Hollywood. Fights break out on the main street occasionally as the Six Gun Theater stages their Wild West shoot outs. Kids can enjoy a hay wagon ride, a petting zoo, or panning for gold. Make a full day of it and grab dinner at the steakhouse before heading home for the evening.
Kirsten Maxwell
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