Are you headed to Arizona with your family or are a local looking for things to do in phoenix with kids? We are Tucsonans who have visited the Phoenix area lots of times with our kids for mini staycations.
Top 5 Recommendations on Things to Do in Phoenix
- Musical Instrument Museum – Best for grade school kids through adults who can appreciate listening to and checking out various types of musical instruments. All kids will love the chance to play a variety of instruments in the experience galley.
- Odysea Aquarium – Great for all ages with lots of different animals to see beyond just fish. It’s large enough to easily spend several hours inside.
- Spring Training Games – Great way to spend time outdoors during the beautiful spring weather in Arizona. Some stadiums have kid specific spaces and programs, there are 10 spring training facilities in the Phoenix area.
- LEGOLAND Discovery Center and Sea Life Arizona – best for preschool through grade school kids. Both venues are compact and are fun without being overwhelming for little ones.
- Wildlife World Zoo – My kids love that there is animals to see and amusement park rides too.
I’ve grouped the things to do by area. Scrolls down to find things to do in Phoenix with kids, things to do in the East Valley (Scottsdale, Tempe, etc) with kids and things to do in the West Valley (Peoria, Glendale, etc).
Things to do in Phoenix With Kids
Arizona Science Center
The Arizona Science Center is located in downtown Phoenix and offers a variety of permanent and traveling exhibits. Many interactive features to keep kids interested and active. If you are brave don’t miss the sky cycle, you can ride it for an additional fee. The Dorrance Planetarium will reopen in 2025.
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks play at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix. The Diamondbacks have a free kid’s club that gives kids freebies on each visit and free tickets on Sundays. Plus kids can run the bases after every home game on Sundays. Just line up at Gate J started at the top of the 9th inning.
Chase Field has a retractable roof and air conditioning so it’s easy to see games comfortably even during the scorching Phoenix summers. It’s a family friendly activity all season long.
Phoenix Zoo
The Phoenix Zoo is 125 acres with 3,000 animals. It can easily take a full day to experience the entire zoo. Beyond the animal exhibits, it also offers a 25 minute tour on the Safari Cruiser, play areas and splash pads, and a carousel.
Musical Instrument Museum
The MIM is a very unique museum that focuses on musical instruments from technology and cultural displays to artistic and experience galleries. Younger kids will appreciate the experience gallery the most but I recommend still exploring some of the other exhibits as well.
Where to Stay in Phoenix With Kids
We have stayed at a couple of resorts in Phoenix and a couple of midscale hotels downtown.
- Arizona Grand Resort – If you are looking for water fun during the summer heat, check out the Oasis Water park onsite. It includes a wave pool and water slides. This resort is located in South Phoenix.
- Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resorts – This resort is in North Phoenix and has a fun pool for kids.
- Residence Inn Downtown Phoenix and Home2Suites Hilton Phoenix are both located downtown within walking distance of Chase Field.
Things to do in the East Valley With Kids
Odysea Aquarium
The Odysea Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the southwest west with over 70 exhibits, it can easily take several hours to see everything. They also offer special encounters with sloths and penguins.
Arizona Boardwalk
Besides the Odysea Aquarium, you will find several other attractions at the Arizona Boardwalk including Museum of Illusions Scottsdale, Laser + Mirror Maze, Pangea, UFO Experience and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. They also offer free events on many weekends.
Sea Life Arizona & LEGOLAND Discovery Center
Sea Life Arizona and LEGOLAND Discovery Center are located at the Arizona Mills Mall in Tempe. Both are compact venues that allow for a lot of fun without being overwhelmed.
The LEGOLAND Discovery Center has rides, a play area, a 4D movie, MINILAND to explore and lots of LEGO building opportunities. Sea Life Arizona offers a variety of animal exhibits including touching pools, an ocean tunnel you can walk through, sea turtles and much, much more.
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
This very budget friendly attraction in Scottsdale. Entrance to the Scottsdale Railroad Museum and Model Railroad Building are free and little kids love watching all the model trains go by. In addition there is a train you can ride around the park (and a Carousel), tickets are only $3 each. Check out our experience here when our boys were little.
Medieval Times
Medieval Times is a little silly but my kids always enjoy it. Check out our experience at Medieval Times.
iFly Indoor Skydiving
If you have any adrenaline fans in your family, then check out iFly Scottsdale. It’s a fun way to experience being suspended in air. Children can fly starting at age 3.
Cactus League Spring Training Games
There are 5 stadiums in the East Valley, including the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick that host the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. You can catch games in February and March at one of 10 stadiums around the Phoenix area. Check out our experience at Talking Stick when our boys were little.
Where to Stay in the East Valley with Kids
There is a wide variety of accommodations options available in the East Valley from resorts to family friendly hotel chains.
- Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort – I’ve stayed here multiple times over the years, it has several pool options including ones with a sandy beach, beach entry and slides. Plus catch and release fishing, a kids program and a great spa for adults. Read more about our experience at the Princess.
- Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort – Also has a really cool pool area with sandy beach entry to the pool and water slide.
- The Westin Kierland Resort – Has a lazy river and Flowrider (surfing).
- Great Wolf Lodge Scottsdale – The indoor waterpark is the biggest draw, there is also bowling, mini golf, ropes course and more fun. Read more about our experience there at Great Wolf.
- Springhill Suites Phoenix Scottsdale – Great location and includes the sofa bed with pull out trundle and free breakfast.
- Holiday Inn Express Old Town Scottsdale – Typical Holiday Inn express with a free breakfast and good location to attractions. We used points to stay here.
Things to do in the West Valley with Kids
Wildlife World Zoo
Wildlife World Zoo is both an aquarium & safari park with Arizona’s largest collection of exotic and endangered animals. With more than 600 separate species, a petting zoo and daily shows, this 80-acre attraction is a full day excursion.
There is also a huge playground and multiple rides at an additional cost. My boys had a blast and would go back in a heartbeat.
Cactus League Spring Training
Even if your family is not into sports, I recommend checking out a Cactus League spring training game. It’s a when in Rome, sort of experience. There are 10 different stadiums in the Phoenix area including the Peoria Sports Complex and Camelback Ranch in Glendale.
We enjoyed a baseball game in Peoria 2 years ago and are itching to go back. They have recently opened up Peoria Cove, an interactive kids zone featuring a 40-foot steel ship mast and sail, a small splash pad, and play structure set. I know my boys will love it!
Westgate Entertainment District
Westgate Entrainment District offers a variety of fun entertainment options like Dave & Busters, AMC Theaters and As You Wish Pottery. Plus lots of dining and shopping.
As You Wish is a pottery painting place that offers a wide variety of projects for you and your children to decorate. There are several locations around Phoenix including one at Westgate.
Where to Stay in Phoenix’s West Valley
Keep in mind that the spring is a usually high season for hotels in Arizona, especially during spring training in March. We typically stay in the East Valley but here are a few hotels options in the West Valley.
- Wigwam Resort – We stayed here during the holidays when the boys were young. You can read about our experience at the Wigwam.
- Holiday Inn Express Suites Phoenix/Glendale
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott Phoenix Glendale
More Things to do in Phoenix With Kids
Beyond the big attractions, there are a lot of regular things to do with kids in Phoenix including bowling, movie theaters, mini golf, pottery painting, trampoline parks, water parks and entertainment venues like Main Event and Dave & Busters,
I recommend checking out POGO Pass to see if any current attractions would work for your visit and what Groupon options are available as well. Both options area. great way to save money and discover to new fun things to do.
Things to do with kids in Phoenix
As you can see there are plenty of things to do with kids in Phoenix’s West Valley. Add in a few activities more central or even head to the East Valley and you can easily spend an entire week in Phoenix.
This post was originally published January 30, 2017.
Leave a Reply