Family Fun

Keeping the kids happy and entertained is the key to a successful vacation. But parents won’t suffer any dull moments when following this fun-centric family plan.

Day 1: Phoenix Zoo and horseback rides

• Go wild for more than 1,400 local and exotic animals at the Phoenix Zoo, including up-close encounters with giraffes, stingrays and camels. Don’t forget a swimsuit—kids can splash around in the zoo’s two water playgrounds.

• Give your legs a rest while you soak in Sonoran Desert scenery during a guided horseback ride from companies such as Ponderosa Stables and Corral West Horse Adventures.

Phoenix Zoo

Day 2: Interactive and educational museums

Head downtown for imaginative learning and exploration in Phoenix’s top family-friendly museums:

• The four floors of interactive exhibits at the Arizona Science Center are engaging for all ages. Once you’ve walked through a giant stomach and engineered your own airplane, you can kick back for a planetarium show or big-screen IMAX Theater adventure.

• Little ones up to age 10 can crawl, build and pedal their way through exhibits at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, designed to stimulate the senses and launch the imagination.

• Older children can discover the culture of Southwest American Indian communities at the Heard Museum through hands-on learning and interactive exhibits.

• Start a visit to the Phoenix Art Museum by picking up a scavenger hunt for kids to guide their exploration of the museum's collections. If you're visiting the second weekend of the month, you can get hands-on with themed activities and performances during Free Family Weekends. 

Arizona Science Center

Day 3: Phoenix water park fun

• Thanks to Phoenix’s year-round sunshine, there’s a good chance you’ll catch us during water park season. Slather on some sunscreen and make a splash at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor or Golfland Sunsplash.

• If the weather’s too cool for slides and lazy rivers, submerge yourself in an ocean world at SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium and OdySea Aquarium.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor 

Day 4: Music and ice cream 

• The one-of-a-kind Musical Instrument Museum invites visitors of all ages to explore a global collection of more than 6,600 collected from around 200 of the world’s countries and territories—and try their hand at playing a few. Got a Taylor Swift fan in the family? They’ll love her exhibit in the Artist Gallery.

• Put the cherry on top of your trip—and your sundae—at one of these local spots for frozen treats. With Phoenix's plentiful sunshine, a scoop (or two) of your favorite frozen sweets are never out of season.