Feel The Heat At The Hall Of Flame Fire Museum
It may be hot outside, but itll be scorching at the Hall of Flame Fire Museum!
As the largest firefighting museum in the world, this beloved attraction dives into the history of our first responders as well as commemorates those whove fallen in the line of duty.
The main attraction, however, is the collection of unique fire trucks, some of which date back to the 1700s.
Places To Stay In Phoenix With Kids
One of the top priorities when choosing a hotel for the family vacation is a great pool, and these Phoenix resorts really know how to make a splash.
Pointe Hilton Tapitio Cliffs Resort: Situated in the scenic North Phoenix Preserves, this beautiful Pointe Hilton resort offers spacious two-room suites as their standard accommodations. The Falls Water Village features a 40-foot waterfall, a 138-foot enclosed slide, and expansive pools.
Arizona Grand Resort and Spa: Oasis Water Park, one of the top 10 water parks in the nation, is located at the Arizona Grand Resort and Spa and is exclusively for resort guests. In addition to eight-story water thrill slides, a wave pool, and a flowing river, guests will enjoy luxurious rooms and family-friendly onsite dining.
Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort: This family-friendly resort offers something for everyone with onsite tennis, mini-golf, shopping, and convenient access to mountain trails. The hotel features four acres of water fun in the River Ranch. Here families enjoy water slides, swimming, or coasting along the lazy river.
Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel: The historic Arizona Biltmore has been an Arizona landmark since opening in 1929. Amenities include eight pools, fitness centers, croquet, golf, tennis, and giant lawn chess. Its no wonder this hotel has been frequented by so many celebrities and U.S. presidents.
Children’s Museum Of Phoenix
The Children’s Museum of Phoenix is a slam dunk for families with young children. It’s a favorite attraction for both locals and visitors. The Children’s Museum of Phoenix is located in downtown Phoenix, across the street from the Arizona Science Center. Get a full review of the Children’s Museum of Phoenix from my friend Colleen at TravelMamas.com.
Website: childrensmuseumofphoenix.org
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Pangaea Land Of The Dinosaurs
Become a paleontologist at this interactive dinosaur attraction. Meet more than 50 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs and check out 10 interactive stations, including a fossil dig, an excavation, and a Dino-Kart ride. It’s a must-stop for any adventure-seeking, dinosaur-obsessed kid. Ages 2 and under are free.
Join a workshop or drop in for free time at the Arizona Science Center’s Create maker space. Photo courtesy of the museum
Feel The Thrill Of Indoor Skydiving
Have you always wanted to try skydiving but arent quite ready to commit to jumping out of an airplane ? Thats where iFly Indoor Skydiving comes in.
Open seven days and nights a week, experience the thrill of free falling and somersault through the air without the fear of a faulty parachute. Get your flight suit on and book now!
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See The Stars At Celebrity Theatre
Hosting both side-splitting comedy shows and top-tapping concerts, Celebrity Theater is known across the state for its unmated acoustics and its incredible stage views no matter where youre sitting .
With names like Jim Jeffries and The Monkees making appearances in this small and intimate venue, be sure to grab your tickets online in advance because they sell out in a snap.
Where To Stay In Phoenix
In a city as large as Phoenix, there are a lot of hotel options to choose from. The trick is to stay in a convenient area to the things you want to do when youre there.
The Phoenix metro is a large geographic area. It takes over an hour, without traffic, to drive it from end to end. So, your best bet is to plan out what you want to do, then look to book your hotel.
If you find youre doing things all around the valley, no worries! There are three great areas to stay in: downtown Phoenix, Old Town Scottsdale, and Tempe. Each is close to many popular things to do, and they are mostly near main highways.
Here are the top recommendations for hotels to stay at in the Phoenix area, as well as a resort that I love.
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Carls Damaged Pet Warehouse
Located just outside the Riparian Preserve, you can visit Carls Damaged Pet Warehouse. It is a pasture full of pets ranging from donkeys to goats.
Carl has a bucket of food to feed the animals. You can also bring your own food to feed the animals like apples and carrots. There is no charge to feed the animals.
Rowen and Raven loved visiting and feeding these animals. It is pretty small. We stayed for about 30 minutes each time we visited.
The address for Carls Damaged Pet Warehouse is at the corner of 164th Street and Olny Avenue in Gilbert.
Explore The Apache Trail
Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
A drive on the historic Apache Trail can be scary but also a lot of fun with jaw-dropping views of canyons, geologic formations, and desert flora and fauna.
Stop for lunch at Tortilla Flat, a town with just six inhabitants but an Old West saloon serving sarsaparilla and a country store with prickly pear gelato. Located about 18 miles northeast of the Apache Junction exit to State Route 88, it makes an easy turnaround point for a short excursion.
Alternatively, keep going to milepost 222 and the parking area at the start of Fish Creek Hill for even more breathtaking viewsa perfect place for a picnic.
Tyler Bolken / Flickr
The City of Phoenix and other towns throughout the entire Greater Phoenix metropolitan area often hold free summer sports clinics to introduce kids of all ages to various sports, ranging from common games such as golf, lacrosse, and tennis, to less common activities such as curling, fencing, and BMX bike riding.
The clinics may be multi-week courses or single-day experiences. Many allow kids to test out a new sport without any financial commitment others do charge for participation. Check out the recreation department guide for the various communities to find a program that suits you and your family.
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Spring Training Baseball In Arizona
The Greater Phoenix Area is home to Major League Baseballs Cactus League and Spring Training is a big deal here. Fifteen MLB teams play in the Phoenix area throughout the month of March, and the area features the greatest concentration of professional baseball facilities anywhere in the United States.
Any given day you can find a game to watch, the settings are intimate, and the weather is usually beautiful. What more could you want? If youre thinking about taking the kids, here are tips before you go to a spring training game.
If you miss spring training, dont worry, catch up with the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Even on the warmest summer days, the field stays cool because there is a retractable roof over the stadium. The venue is a great place to catch a ball game.
Watch Nascar At The Phoenix International Raceway
If youre a fan of fast cars and even faster speeds, get your adrenaline pumping at the Phoenix International Raceway! The racetrack is home to NASCAR events all year round.
To really feel like an insider on race day, book in advance for their VIP experience which includes paddock tours, pit lane access, and a gourmet lunch with racing legends like Rusty Wallace and Bobby Labonte.
If thats not enough excitement already, there are also go-karts and hot lap experiences available for those who want to get behind the wheel.
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View Street Art In The Roosevelt Arts District
Street art is big in the downtown area of Phoenix and particularly in the arts district around Roosevelt between 7th Avenue and 7th Street. There are also a number of murals down 7th Street and one of my favorites is the David Bowie mural located at 1755 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85006. Its fun just driving around that area to see them all.
This is my favorite area in town and I cant rave about it enough. Its one of the older parts of Phoenix so youll see a lot of smaller bungalow-style homes and historic neighborhoods.
It doesnt have the polish of areas like youll see in Scottsdale, but thats what makes it fun. And, the people are pretty amazing and interesting.
Here, youll find some of the best restaurants in the city like one of my favorites, Cibo. Youll see a lot of galleries, small boutique shops, and lots of interesting finds. Go to Old Town Scottsdale, but dont skip this area.
Challenge Your Mind In An Escape Room
On days where the desert heat is just too strong, theres no better place to be than an indoor, air-conditioned escape room where you can decipher, once and for all, who the smartest in the group really is!
Always a fun game for youngsters and adults alike, the 60-minute games will challenge your teamwork, creative thinking and problem-solving skills
Choose from a couple of different options in the Phoenix area, some of which also house ax-throwing facilities!
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What Will Your Kids Love About Legoland
Besides the fact that theres literally LEGO everywhere, LEGOLAND has endless amounts of fun attractions that are sure to keep your kids entertained for hours.
Here are some of the highlights:
- MINILAND Made with an astonishing 1 million bricks, MINILAND is a kid-sized interactive city. Youll find iconic Arizona landmarks and buildings in the miniature town, as well as airships swooping above you.
- LEGO 4D Cinema Maybe youre in the mood for a movie? The LEGO 4D Cinema has movies playing all day, complete with wind, rain and snow effects to help bring the shows to life.
- Kingdom Quest In Kingdom Quest, youll climb aboard a chariot as you fight to save a captured princess. Use your laser gun to zap as many trolls and skeletons as you can to free the princess from danger.
- Merlins Apprentice Ride Or perhaps you have dreams of becoming a wizard? On the Merlins Apprentice Ride youll enter Merlins potions chamber. Pedal the enchanted cart as fast as you can to become his next apprentice. The faster you go the more spells youll conjure up.
- LEGO Racers Maybe youre a speed demon? If so, head over to LEGO Racers where youll have a chance to build your own LEGO racing car and test it on the track. The car with the fastest time gets the ultimate bragging rights.
In addition to all the attractions, LEGOLAND also features a cafe and the LEGO Store.
Best Family Activities In Phoenix
When the whole family can participate, outings are even more funand memorable. For some inspiration for things to do that will please the entire brood, check out this list:
Operation City Quest
Families bond when they have to accomplish a task together. And what better task than a scavenger hunt with more than 100 objects to uncover and photograph. Designed for collaboration and players of all ages .
Castles N Coasters
From mild rides to wild thrills, this amusement park has something for just about everyone in the family. And when you all want to enjoy having your two feet on the ground, you can putt around 18 holes of mini golf.
In this landmark building, puppeteers spin stories that address Arizonian themes to educate and engage spectators, young and old.
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Map Of Things To Do With Kids In Phoenix
As you can see, there are so many fun things for kids in Phoenix! From museums to parks, youll have your hands full. If youre looking to move to the Phoenix area, make sure to call Mentors Moving, the best Phoenix moving company. Well get the job done quickly and efficiently!
Jesse Lovan
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Tips For First Time Arizona Visitors
When spending the day outside in Phoenix, wear sunscreen , bring sunglasses, wear a hat, drink plenty of water, and bring lip balm, it is always hotter than you think.
I hope you enjoyed my suggestions for fun family activities in the Phoenix area. I may live in Dallas, but Phoenix will always be my home.
If youre looking for more things to do in Arizona, dont miss our favorite things to do in Northern Arizona with teens and the best adventures to have in Tucson!
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Where Is Phoenix Arizona
Phoenix is situated in the south-central portion of Arizona along the Salt River Valley. The city sits about halfway between Flagstaff and Tucson . The sprawling metropolis, also known as Phoenix Metro, is home to some 5 million residents.
The Phoenix attractions on our list are located both in Phoenix proper and in the suburbs beyond the city. We provide a helpful Phoenix map of sights at the end of the article.
To help you best plan your trip, we also recommend things to do near Phoenix, AZ that can be reached on a day trip.
Explore Underwater Wonders At Sea Life
Ready to sea a whole new world? Escape the heat of the desert for a couple of hours and set foot inside the enormous underwater wonderland that is the SEA LIFE Aquarium Arizona.
Spend a day with Mochi, the 7-foot long zebra shark or relax with the pair of chilled-out desert tortoises!
With tickets starting at $16 , its a family-friendly activity thats hard to beat!
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Spend A Day On The Apache Trail
With many historic landmarks along the rugged mountain route, this stunning trail is dubbed as Americas oldest highway, and is a site sure to please!
Land and water tours are available that reach into the heart of the Sonoran, Canyon Lake and the abandoned Goldfields town. Therell be no shortage of photo ops.
Kayak The Stunning Salt River
On those sizzling summer days, cool off with a couple of hours on the water and enjoy some of Arizonas most beautiful scenery.
Check out Tonto National Forest from the rapids of the Salt River, often frequented by wild horses grabbing a drink. Try your hand at paddleboarding in the picturesque Saguaro Lake or go tubing for a chilled out adventure!
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Visit The Critters At The Phoenix Zoo And The Desert Botanical Gardens
If you have little ones, the Phoenix Zoo is almost a guaranteed hit. Big kids love it, too! Even if you dont necessarily consider yourself a lover of botany, you will be amazed by the gorgeous desert plants and beautifully landscaped walkways throughout the Desert Botanical Gardens. Best of all, both of these activities are pretty budget-friendly when you buy a season pass, allowing you to go as many times as you like and even enjoy park pass holder perks. Underrated.
Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve
Go back in time and view one of the largest collections of prehistoric petroglyphs in the Valley of the Sun. An easy walk leads down a path to view the clearly marked petroglyphs . Enjoy the free audio tour along the trail to get better context about the preserve.
Cool off with a dip in a City of Phoenix pool. Photo courtesy of the city
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Cool Off At A Wet Deck Party At The W Scottsdale Hotel
This might come as a shock, but would you believe Arizona only has one chilled pool? Yep, and its found right here at W Scottsdale Hotel.
This not-to-be-missed summer party is a lot like those in Las Vegas, but on a much smaller scale and with an Arizona twist. The three different pool decks are transformed into one big dance club, complete with live music, signature cocktails, DJs and occasional celebrity appearances.
For partygoers, its an absolute must.
Back In Time At The Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum
Any history buffs in the house?
This 90-acre, open-air history museum dishes up fascinating insights into how Arizonas first pioneers lived, showcasing close to 30 interactive and encompassing structures that dive into different areas of the residents former daily life.
Besides the reconstructed houses the small farm, the stunt shows, and the weekend musical performances manage to successfully entertain visitors of all ages.
Hot tip: the telephone history exhibit is a must-see.
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Take A Pink Jeep Adventure Tour
To get a close up view of the desert, consider going off road in a Pink Jeep Tour. The nearest location is in Sedona, two hours away, but the tour is worth it. Imagine having an exciting ride through Red Rock country, learning about the outback, the areas history, and enjoying the views. Its a perfect day out for families.
Work On Your Golf Swing
With an endless summer, its easy to see why Phoenix is a golfers paradise. But the prime golf weather in Arizona is actually during the winter, when the desert cools off from the scorching summer heat. For the competitive golfer, courses throughout the Phoenix area host plenty of amateur competitions throughout the year. If youd rather catch a glimpse of the pros at work, The Phoenix Open, part of the PGA Tour, is also held in Phoenix annually.
In the many suburbs of the Phoenix Metro Area, you can find over 200 golf courses offering beautiful views of the desert landscape. Though golf can be an expensive sport, not all of the golf courses in the area are wildly expensive. Encanto Golf Course, Estrella Mountain, and many others offer discounted rates to tee off.
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