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Things to Do in Phoenix This Summer

Things To Do Indoors

810 Billiards & Bowling

Whether you want to relax over a quiet game of chess and a glass of wine, enjoy a night of billiards and cocktails, or have a pitcher, some sliders and a few frames of 10-pin, 810 Billiards & Bowling in downtown's Cityscape area has what you need for a fun night. 

50 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix
602-358-7480

Arizona Science Center

Nestled in the Heritage and Science Park, the Arizona Science Center is a unique landmark designed by renowned architect Antoine Predock. The combination of ramps, hallways, galleries and terraces in this 140,000-square-foot building creates an intriguing environment of investigation and discovery. The center invites you to explore four levels of exciting “hands-on” exhibits, a state-of-the-art planetarium and a five-story, giant-screen theater. 

Hours: Daily from 10:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

600 E. Washington St., Phoenix
602-716-2000

Children's Museum of Phoenix

All sorts of hands-on, interactive exhibits are designed to engage the minds, muscles and imaginations of children up to age 10 and the grown-ups who care about them. Climb to new heights in the Climber, navigate your way through Noodle Forest, or build a fort in Building Big. These are just a few of the adventures that await you at the Children's Museum of Phoenix.

215 N. 7th St., Phoenix
602-253-0501

Heard Museum

Home to one of the most extensive collections of American Indian art in the United States, Heard Museum features some 40,000 fine artworks and cultural artifacts, with a focus on tribes of the Southwest. Explore traditional and contemporary works — from Hopi katsina dolls and Navajo textiles to Navajo and Zuni jewelry and Southwestern ceramics from prehistory to the present — throughout spacious exhibit galleries, a contemporary art gallery, the outdoor sculpture gardens, trading post-style shop and more.

Events Include: 

• Maria & Modernism | Through July 28 

• Art and Sole | Through January 5 

• Harry Fonseca: Transformations | Through April 20 

Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 

2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
602-252-8840 

Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) 

Explore interactive galleries and immersive exhibits showcasing more than 8,000 instruments from more than 200 world countries across the globe, as well as collectibles from legendary musicians. MIM is holding socially distanced concerts now as well, so check out our concerts calendar. Engage in the sensory nature of music and how it affects our emotions through state-of-the-art, interactive media that takes visitors on a journey to hear the sounds and observe instruments being played in their original contexts. 

Events Include: 

• Acoustic America: Iconic Guitars, Mandolins, and Banjos | Through September 15

Hours: Open daily, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. 

4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix
480-478-6000 

Phoenix Art Museum

Since it opened in 1959, Phoenix Art Museum has become the largest art museum in the southwestern U.S., providing access to visual arts and educational programs in Arizona. In the past 50 years, millions have visited the museum to view the more than 400 national and international exhibitions it has hosted. These are shown alongside Phoenix Art Museum's collection that has grown to over 17,000 objects of American, Asian, European, Latin American, Western American, modern and contemporary art, photography and fashion design. 

Events Include: 

• Multiple Realities: Experimental Art in the Eastern Bloc, 1960s - 1980s | Through September 15 

• The Power of Pink | Through July 7 

• Barbie®: A Cultural Icon Exhibition| Through July 7 

• Guarding the Art: A Frontline Perspective | Through December 1 

• Laura Aguilar: Nudes in Nature | Through January 5 

• Princely States of the Punjab: Sikh Art and History | Through August 

Hours: Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
602-257-1880

Butterfly Wonderland

America’s largest butterfly pavilion entertains, educates and enchants visitors of all ages with the wonders of one of Mother Nature’s most beloved creatures. This state-of-the-art facility includes the conservatory, where 3,000 butterflies fly freely; Butterfly Emergence Gallery; Tropical Waters of the World exhibit, with a stingray and shark observation pool; Honey Bee Extravaganza; Spineless Giants and Rainforest Reptile exhibit; a 3D theater (reduced showtimes); Butterfly Treasures Gift Shop and a Café (limited offerings). 

Hours: Sunday through Wednesday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. 

9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale 
480-800-3000 

iFLY Indoor Skydiving

iFLY, the world’s largest indoor skydiving operation, delivers the dream of flight to adventure seekers of all ages and abilities. Experience the sensation of skydiving in a safe, comfortable and fun environment – without having to jump out of an airplane. With the help of iFLY certified flight instructors, you'll experience the sensation of free fall — creating conditions that allows you to fly on a smooth cushion of air — and check true human flight off the bucket list. 

Hours: Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.–7 p.m.

9206 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale
480-712-4359

Mavrix

Mavrix is an entertainment destination featuring 22 bowling lanes, 85 arcade games, a state-of-the-art laser tag arena, billiards, dozens of 4K televisions, and a 5,000-square-foot restaurant and bar that features a chef-curated menu, local beers and craft cocktails. 

Hours: Monday through Thursday, 3–11 p.m.; Friday, 3 p.m.–1 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11a.m.– 1 a.m.

9139 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale
480-291-7500

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament 

Take a journey back in time, and experience an evening of chivalry, revelry, sport and pageantry inside a magnificent 11th century-style castle. Queen Maria Isabella welcomes you to dine with her and her royal court. Always a generous host, she has commanded her royal chefs to cook her favorite meal just for you. Feast on a sumptuous four-course banquet, while medieval Spain comes to life before your eyes. Cheer on your brave knight in a spectacular tournament performance — including majestic horses, authentic jousting and a live sword fight — and may the best knight win. 

Hours: Most shows take place at 4 or 7 p.m. on selects dates (castle opens 75 minutes prior to showtime).

9051 E. Via De Ventura, Scottsdale
480-291-7555

OdySea Aquarium

As the largest aquarium in Arizona, OdySea is home to more than 2 million gallons of water — featuring  370 species — and 65 exhibits, including the world’s only Russian Sturgeon touch exhibit, two stingray touch exhibits and a tide touch pool (some touch exhibits may be closed temporarily). This family friendly, under-the-sea experience also includes interactive activities: SeaTREK underwater walking adventure, walk-about Animal Ambassadors and Q&A sessions with animal care specialists. And don't miss Pip, Polly, and the rest of the African black-footed penguin squad at Penguin Point. 

Advance online reservations (30-minute time slots) are strongly recommended. Find our what else the aquarium is doing to provide a safe environment here. OdySea Aquarium is located at Arizona Boardwalk, which is also home to Pangea: Land of the Dinosaurs and more.

Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.–7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.

9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale
480-291-8000

Wonderspaces

This evolving art show features extraordinary installations from around the world in a casual and safe, 16,000-square foot venue. Wonderspaces partners with artists to deliver experiences to new audiences through touring shows, including the 13 immersive, interactive and conversation-provoking works currently on display in a socially-distanced environment. You'll want to have your camera/phone ready for the one-of-a-kind photo ops throughout these current exhibits. Please note: Individual artwork rotates in every few months, creating an ever-evolving, year-round show. 

Hours: Advance tickets are for entry at a specific date and time. Visitors are welcome to stay as long as they please during operating hours (the average time spent at the show is 90 minutes).

7014 E. Camelback Road, #584, Scottsdale
480-718-2156

Crayola Experience

Dozens of hands-on creative activities and a full day of fun awaits your entire family in Chandler, just a short drive away from Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa. Bigger, brighter and bolder than ever, the colorful adventures of Crayola Experience help kids (and adults) explore art and technology, express their creativity and experience color in a whole new way. 

Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

111 W. Chandler Blvd., Ste. 2154, Chandler
602-581-5370

LEGOLAND Discovery Center

LEGOLAND^® Discovery Center is where families with children ages 3 to 10 can enjoy a world of creativity, color and building fun in the ultimate indoor LEGO playground. With features that include global and local landmarks made from over a million LEGO bricks in MINILAND^® to fun and exciting LEGO themed rides: Kingdom Quest and Merlin's Apprentice. Watch as your favorite LEGO characters come to life in the 4D Cinema. Then get hands-on with the thousands of LEGO bricks in themed build-and-play areas where kids' imaginations can run wild with endless possibilities.

Hours: Monday, Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle, Ste. 135, Tempe
855-450-0558

Main Event Tempe

This 58,000 square-foot center is home to 26 high quality recreational bowling lanes, laser tag, a gravity high ropes course, billiards and shuffleboard tables, a unique selection of over 125 interactive games and a tempting array of quality food and beverage.

8545 S. Emerald Dr., Tempe
480-753-1200

SEA LIFE Arizona

Discover thousands of amazing creatures and walk through the 360-degree ocean tunnel. SEA LIFE Arizona is built for kids with child-level viewing bubbles and an interactive scavenger hunt. 

Hours: Monday through Friday and Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle, Ste. 145, Tempe
855-450-0559

Things To Do Outdoors

Desert Botanical Garden 

Stroll the winding paths of this 140-acre venue that showcases the world's finest collection of arid plants — from towering saguaros to delicate blooms — from deserts of the world, all in one unique, outdoor setting. The garden has more than 50,000 desert plants on display throughout five thematic trails that illustrate such topics as conservation, desert living, desert wildflowers and plants and people of the Sonoran Desert.

Events Include:

• The Metro Phoenix Saguaro Census 2024 | May 1-31 

• The Four Seasons by Ballet Arizona | May 15-June 1 

• Music in the Garden | May 10, 17, 24, 31 

• Yoga in the Garden | May 12, 19, 26 

• Morning Tai Chi Classes | May 21, 28 

• Flashlight Nights | June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, July 20, 27, Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, and Sept. 7 

• Sonoran Sippin’ | June 21, July 19, Aug. 16, Sept. 20 

Hours: Open daily, 7 a.m.–8 p.m.

1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix
480-941-1225 

Japanese Friendship Garden

Tucked away on the edge of downtown sits a 3.5-acre oasis. Named Ro Ho En — Ro is Japanese for heron, Ho means Phoenix bird, and En is garden. The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix is a joint project of the City of Phoenix and our Sister City Himeji, Japan. 

Part of the garden’s vision is to provide a place of beauty and tranquility as an escape from the everyday pressures of life, for meditation and relaxation and to enrich and restore the body, mind and spirit. Stroll the grounds on a self-guided tour. Check out the unique landscaping, waterfalls, Koi ponds and tea house (closed until further notice). 

Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 5–8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m.–12 p.m. and 5–8 p.m. 

1125 N. Third Ave., Phoenix
602-274-8700 

Phoenix Zoo

Featuring over 3,000 animals, including Bornean orangutans, Asian elephants, Sumatran tigers, Komodo dragons, Masai giraffes and many more, the Phoenix Zoo has been a Phoenix mainstay since 1962. Alongside animals, there are outdoor cafés, shops, lush gardens, water landscapes and exciting up-close animal encounters like Stingray Bay, Giraffe Encounter and Monkey Village. Due to the summer heat, the zoo opens and closes at earlier hours. 

Hours: Open daily, 7 a.m.–2 p.m.

455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix
602-286-3833

S'edav Va'aki Museum (formerly Pueblo Grande Museum)

S'edav Va'aki Museum (formerly Pueblo Grande Museum) is an archaeological site once inhabited by the Hohokam culture, just east of downtown Phoenix, next to Sky Harbor International Airport. It's a National Historic Landmark and Phoenix Point of Pride accessible by the Sky Train and the Valley Metro Rail. Part of the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department since 1929, it's the largest preserved archaeological site in Phoenix. Though the indoor galleries are closed, there is a fully accessible 2/3 mile trail that takes you through a prehistoric Hohokam archaeological site with a platform mound, ball court, and replicated houses.

Events Include:

• Sending Their Ancestors Home Exhibit | June 22 

• What’s In Our Name | Through Summer 2024 

Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m.

4619 E. Washington St., Phoenix
602-495-0901

Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium

Home to Arizona's largest collection of exotic animals with 600 different species, visitors can feed giraffes, parrots and stingrays, see wildlife on the Log Flume ride, African Safari Train, Australian Boat Ride, Wildlife Skyride, or exotic Merry-Go-Round. 

Hours: Open daily, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. (zoo) and 9 a.m.–7 p.m. (aquarium)

16501 W. Northern Ave., Litchfield Park
623-935-WILD

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Open since 1929, Boyce Thompson Arboretum is one the best spots to explore desert plants. About an hour outside of Phoenix, it is the oldest and largest botanical garden in the state, with more than 2,600 species of plants from across the world. 

Hours: Open daily, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

37615 E. Arboretum Way, Superior
520-689-2723

Lowell Observatory

Open your mind to awe and wonder under the famously dark skies of Flagstaff, Arizona, the world's first International Dark Sky City. Look up from anywhere in the city to see more stars than you can count. For the best views, head to Mars Hill and the grounds of 125-year-old Lowell Observatory. This is where Pluto was discovered in 1930, an event you can relive during one of the observatory's many guided tours. On clear nights, gaze at the moon, planets or deep-sky objects through the giant Clark refractor, built in 1896. 

Hours: Wednesday through Monday, 6–8:30 p.m.

1400 W. Mars Hill Road, Flagstaff
928-774-3358

Bike or Ride on a Guided Tour

Whether you're in the mood to explore the Sonoran Desert on an ATV, mountain bike, segway, or horse, you'll find what you're looking for. There are plenty of tour guides to show you the most beautiful areas in our state — including some of the spots with cooler temps. 

Find tours for bikes, ATVs and more here.

Take Flight in a Hot Air Balloon

Up, up and away! Check one off the bucket list with as you soar over the Sonoran Desert in the basket of a hot air balloon with Hot Air Expeditions or Rainbow Ryders. This gentle ride offers a bird’s-eye view of coyote and jackrabbit paths, and looks out over the mountains that surround the city from breathtaking heights. Check each operator's cleaning practices/procedures and seasonal coupons via the links above.

Hours: Sunrise flights available year-round; sunset flights available November through February/March.

Locations vary by operator.

Shop A Local Farmers Market

Local farmers markets remain key players in Phoenix's farm-to-table movement. Thanks to year-round sunshine and growing seasons, residents and visitors can shop for farm-fresh goods any time of year. And, just in time for fall, we’re highlighting the best farmers markets in Phoenix for safely picking up local fruits and veggies, bread, coffee beans, cheeses, treats, and a wide variety of other locally made products. 

Hours: Most markets operate on Saturday mornings (with a few exceptions). 

Locate a market near you.

Sports

Arizona Diamondbacks

Miss the Chase Field vibes? You can go catch the Diamondbacks play in downtown Phoenix all summer long. Diehards know the summer heat hits different in Chase Field, thanks to the retractable roof, and for those lucky few, access to the Chase Field pool. 

Chase Field
401 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix

Phoenix Rising FC

Phoenix's soccer franchise has a brand spanking new field to play on in Wild Horse Pass. The season lasts all summer long, and the matches are played in the evening, so no need to worry about finding a shady spot. 

Wild Horse Pass Stadium
19615 S. 48th St., Chandler

Phoenix Mercury

This summer marks the WNBA's 26th season and, as one of the league's original eight franchises, the Phoenix Mercury invite you to celebrate with them. Join Diana Taurasi  and Skylar Diggins-Smith on their quest for the franchise's fourth championship.

Footprint Center
201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix

Things To Do By Vehicle

Bearizona Wildlife Park, Williams

If you're up for a drive on the wild side, and maybe some cooler temps among the Ponderosa pines, Bearizona is where it's at. About 170 miles north of Phoenix, this wildlife park invites guests to observe North American animals — including Black bears, elk, wolves, bison — in their natural environment along a scenic, 3-mile drive. Visitors are also welcome to stroll along winding forest walkways for an up-close look at the antics of bobcats, bear cubs, javelinas and more at Fort Bearizona. 

Hours: Open daily, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. 

1500 E. Route 66, Williams
928-635-2289

Out of Africa Wildlife Park, Camp Verde

Experience Africa — via Safari Tour vehicles — right  in the heart of Arizona. At Out of Africa, the Tiger Splash gives you the chance to see Bengal and Siberian tigers interact in a predator-and-play relationship, romping and splashing in a large pool. The Giant Snake Show teaches kids about various giant snakes and guests can even touch and hold some of the largest species. While this attraction isn't entirely in your own vehicle, the scenic hour-and-a-half drive from downtown Phoenix is. And we highly recommend hitching a ride on the African Bush Safari (a 40-minute narrated tour) for a look at the animals inside their habitat.

Hours: Open 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m. daily. 

3505 W. Camp Verde Bridgeport Highway, Camp Verde
928-567-2840

Take a Scenic Drive

These intra-city road trips allow you to travel from point A to point Beautiful, and you don't ever have to leave your air-conditioned car. Some of the best scenic drives in Arizona are right here, including Dobbins Lookout, the Apache Trail and Wrigley Mansion.

Learn about local scenic drives.