Things To Do With Kids in Phoenix

Arizona Science Center

The Arizona Science Center has more than 300 hands-on exhibits, a five-story IMAX Theater and a state-of-the-art Dorrance Planetarium to entertain and educate all ages. Among its permanent exhibits, the Arizona Science Center features special exhibits that vary every few months.

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

Children’s Museum of Phoenix

This museum is a great option for children as young as infants and as old as 10. The historic Monroe School Building is home to more than 300 play experiences where kids are encouraged to touch everything and explore their imagination. Children can explore the many different exhibits, including the Art Studio, Book Loft, Building Big, Texture Cafe and Noodle Forest.

215 N. Seventh St., Phoenix
602-253-0501

Musical Instrument Museum

This one-of-its-kind museum is a hit with kids and adults alike. In the Experience Gallery, guests can play instruments from around the world and learn how they are made. You can even see instruments from music icons like John Lennon, Taylor Swift and Elvis Presley in the Artist Gallery.

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

Heard Museum

The Heard Museum’s galleries showcase the diverse history, culture and modern art of American Indians of the Southwest. Kids can get creative in the It’s Your Turn: HOME Studio, which encourages cultural understanding through take-home crafts based on museum exhibits.

2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix
602-252-8848

Phoenix Art Museum

The Phoenix Art Museum is the Southwest’s largest art museum and home to 17,000 works from around the world. Start your family visit through the museum’s collections by picking up a Scavenger Hunt guide from the front desk.

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

Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeology Park

Pueblo Grande Museum is incorporated in a 1,500-year-old archaeological site, the largest in Phoenix. A trail takes guests through a prehistoric Hohokam village, featuring an excavated platform mound, ballcourt, and replicated prehistoric houses. Children are able to participate in hands-on activities to learn about the science of archaeology.

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

Arizona Museum of Natural History

Explore Arizona and the Southwest from the creation of the earth 4.5 billion years ago to modern day. See some of the biggest dinosaurs that ever lived in Dinosaur Hall, and pan for gold (or get thrown in jail) in the History Courtyard. 

53 N. Macdonald, Mesa
480-644-2230

i.d.e.a. Museum

The i.d.e.a. Museum’s three main exhibit areas and special galleries encourage kids to explore their imagination through design, science and technology. Toddlers and crawlers up to age five will love the soft sculptures of ArtVille, while older kids can doodle, dance and design in the HUB. 

150 W. Pepper Place, Mesa
480-644-2468

Phoenix Zoo

The Phoenix Zoo offers families the opportunity to see wild animals up-close and personal. Watch as Sumatran tigers roam the savanna, feed towering giraffes at the giraffe encounter and witness Asian elephants play in a watering hole. The zoo also features a monkey village, safari train and stingray bay. Kids can even splash around in the Yakulla Caverns or Leapin’ Lagoon from March-October.

455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix
602-273-1341

OdySea Aquarium

Dive into an underwater world with penguins, otters, sea turtles and a variety of fish from around the globe. The state-of-the-art aquarium features some exciting ways to get up-close with aquatic life, including a submerged escalator that descends through a deep-ocean tank, a Living Sea “carousel” viewing experience and a shark exhibit viewable from the bathrooms.

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

SEA LIFE Arizona

At SEA LIFE Arizona, guests can interact with creatures in touch pools and encounter over 5,000 sea animals, including sharks, rays, seahorses and tropical fish throughout the aquarium. The 360-degree ocean tunnel is an experience unlike any other in the desert.

5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle, Tempe
877-526-3960

Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium

Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium is home to a 15-acre safari park with more than 600 exotic and endangered species and diverse water life in a four-building aquarium. If cute and cuddly is your thing, make sure to stop by the Baby Animal Nursery to see the new resident babies. The park is also filled with fun rides, including a tree-top skyride and safari train.

16501 W. Northern Ave., Litchfield Park
623-935-9453

Out of Africa Wildlife Park

Experience Africa in the heart of Arizona. 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. Hitch a ride on the African Bush Safari Tour to get an inside look at the animals and their habitat with a 40-minute narrated tour.

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

Looking for more water fun? Check out our roundup of the top water parks, lazy rivers and more. 

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Phoenix

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Phoenix features over 30 water slides and attractions including Maximum Velocity, the first and only ride of its kind in the world. This coaster allows guests to race in tandem tubes down two slide tracks with over 830 feet of drops and curves. There are plenty of attractions for younger kids, as well: Wet ‘n’ Wild Jr. features a pint-sized water park designed for kids and their families to play with water toys, splash through spray zones, and slide through various water attractions like the Tiny Typhoon.

4243 W. Pinnacle Peak Road., Glendale
623-201-2000

Golfland Sunsplash

The Sunsplash water park features a wavepool, a lazy river, rock slides, a toddler play pool, and seven thrilling attractions. When you are done soaking up the rays and getting soaked, head to Golfland to enjoy bumper boats, laser tag, miniature golf, and choose from over 200 games at the arcade.

155 W. Hampton Ave., Mesa
480-834-8319

Great Wolf Lodge 

This resort also offers both an indoor water park and dry land fun for the whole family. Enjoy mini-golf, an arcade, ropes course, Build-A-Bear Workshop, rock climbing wall, Oliver's Mining Company, MagiQuest interactive game, eight dining options including Dunkin Donuts and the only Ben & Jerry's store in Phoenix/Scottsdale, and more all under one roof.

7333 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale
480-948-9653

Desert Botanical Garden

The Desert Botanical Garden is the world’s largest collection of desert plants, on display throughout five thematic trails to demonstrate conservation, beautiful desert wildflowers, desert living, and the flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert. Guests can also enjoy exhibitions and shows that vary every few months.

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

Enchanted Island Amusement Park at Encanto Park

Named as one of the Top 12 Best City Parks in America by Forbes, Encanto Park offers families nine rides and a variety of popular attractions geared towards kids aged one to ten. Guests can enjoy the historic Encanto carousel, bumper boats, splash zone, kiddie cars, pedal boats, and mini-coaster. Enchanted Island also has the C.P. Huntington Train, which takes its guests on a seven-minute tour of the island.

1202 W. Encanto Blvd., Phoenix
602-254-1200

Butterfly Wonderland

Thousands of butterflies from around the world fly freely around a magnificent rain forest environment. Experience a monarch butterfly’s journey in the 3D theater, watch wings unfold before your eyes during metamorphosis in the Butterfly Emergence Gallery, and stroll through a 10,000-square-foot atrium as butterflies take rest on your shoulder.

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

Crayola Experience

Dozens of hands-on creative activities and a full day of fun awaits families. Bigger, brighter and bolder than ever, the colorful adventures of Crayola Experience help kids and adults alike explore art and technology, express their creativity and experience color in a whole new way.

3111 W. Chandler Blvd., Ste. 2154, Chandler
602-581-5370

Goldfield Ghost Town

Take a trip back into the 1800s when gold mining and gun fighting was the norm. Goldfield Ghost Town is Phoenix’s only authentic ghost town that offers guests the chance to learn about the past and enjoy some great entertainment. Witness an Old West gun fight performed by the Goldfield Gunfighters, pan for gold, and take a ride on Arizona’s only narrow gauge train. You can even take an underground guided tour through the mines or a jeep tour across the scenic Apache Trail.

465 N. Mammoth Mine Road., Apache Junction
480-983-0333

iFly Indoor Skydiving

With iFLY, people of all ages and abilities can experience the sensation of skydiving in a safe, comfortable and fun environment – without having to jump out of an airplane. Each indoor skydiving facility replicates the sensation of freefall, creating conditions that allow people to fly on a smooth cushion of air.

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

LEGOLAND Discovery Center

If you’ve got a LEGO architect, bring them to this massive indoor playground to run wild among massive LEGO reproductions of global landmarks, enjoy rides and get creative with thousands of bricks.

5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle, Tempe
877-526-3960

Main Event Tempe

This all-out fun zone 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

Mavrix

Mavrix is an entertainment destination featuring 22 bowling lanes, 85 arcade games, a state of the art laser tag arena, billiards tables, dozens of 4K televisions and more.

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

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park

Kids will love a spin around the park on the Paradise and Pacific Railroad, or picking a pony on the beautifully carved and restored Scottsdale Charro Carousel. The park also displays railroad engines, a baggage car from 1914, a machine shop, and the 10,000-square-foot Model Railroad Building filled with artifacts.

7301 E. Indian Bend Road., Scottsdale
480-312-2312

Medieval Times

Experience an evening of chivalry, revelry, sport and pageantry inside our magnificent 11th century style castle. Feast on a sumptuous four-course banquet served by serfs and wenches while cheering on your brave knight to victory. Witness a spectacular performance of Medieval tournament games, authentic jousting and exciting sword fights.

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

Octane Raceway

Get the family out on the track and go head to head. Octane Raceway features a 1/3 mile indoor/outdoor track, 45+ mph karts, Velocity VR, Brickyard Bar & Grill, mini-bowling, arcade and more. 

9119 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale
602-302-7223