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Fun Things to Do in Phoenix with Kids
In the slide show above, you're viewing pictures of fun Phoenix family attractions and activities. On this page, you'll find a list of fun places to go with your children while on your Phoenix, Arizona vacation.
List of Fun Things to Do in Phoenix with Kids
Water parks & indoor activities are best when it's hot...but despite its sizzling reputation, Phoenix has wonderful weather much of the year!
Phoenix offers families fun things to do all year long. But...it's really true that 110-degree days aren't unusual during the summertime. So, the time of year when you plan your vacation to Phoenix will play a big role in which family activities you may enjoy.Phoenix has 6 to 8 months of very good weather. In fact, winter weather in Phoenix, Arizona is surely one of the most pleasant and comfortable climates in all of the USA. Both spring and fall have many agreeable days, as well...and warm, pleasant evenings. So, when you discover that many of the family activities on the list below are out-of-doors, don't be surprised. There are only several months in which the Phoenix weather is as fearsome as you may have heard. The rest of the time, Phoenix is a great location for visiting outdoor family attractions.
Fun Things to Do in Phoenix with kids & teens
List of Phoenix Water Parks
Wet N Wild water park: A brand-new major water park opened in Phoenix last summer! The sad part of this news is that the new Wet N Wild opened on the spot where a favorite older water park had stood for a number of years. Fun-lovers crossed their fingers & waited anxiously to see if the new park would measure up to their expectations. And yes, it did!Wet N Wild brought Phoenix its first "dueling water roller coaster!" Water rollercoasters actually shoot riders UP...an action that's distinctly different than the traditional climb up/slide down thrills for which water parks are known. Wet N Wild's dueling water coaster takes things a step further; you can "race" your friends in side-by-side tubes! Of course, the new Wet N Wild has "regular" water slides, as well...plus a giant bowl ride, a circular "river," water-play areas for kids and a wave pool. Wet N Wild's operating season begins in March and lasts through September. To see the park's operating schedule & find out the details you need to plan your outing, here's the Phoenix Wet N Wild website.
Golfland-Sunsplash (Mesa, AZ): As any visitor can imagine from the park's name, Golfland is a fun place to play miniature golf. In fact, it's a complete family fun center, offering bumper boats, go karts, laser tag and an arcade, as well. For part of the year, Golfland welcomes visitors into its seasonally operated Golfland Slides section and its water-park section called Sunsplash. Between these two areas, you'll enjoy water slides & water-play fun for all ages from toddlers & preschoolers...to teens & adults. Other attractions include an endless river, a wave pool, a kiddie area---and even a water roller coaster, the Master Blaster. To check the park's schedule & get details for planning your visit, here's the Arizona Golfland-Sunsplash website.
Big Surf water park: Big Surf was the original pioneer in water park wave pools...and celebrated its 40th birthday last year. At the end of the season, Golfland/Sunsplash announced that they didn't wish to renew their lease to run Big Surf...and fans of this popular & nostalgic water park paced the floor with anxiety when they heard the news. Would their beloved Big Surf ever open again? The good new is YES; a new company took over the water park's operations and Big Surf has opened this summer. You can get the details you need for planning your fun water park outing on the new Big Surf website. Or, you may view our pictures of the park from last summer on the Big Surf Water Park page of this blog!
Kiwanis Park Wave Pool: If you would prefer an indoor wave pool, there's one in Tempe at the Kiwanis Park Recreation Center. (You don't need to be either a Kiwanis member or a resident of Tempe to enjoy the facilities.) Although you'll miss out on the other features of a water park, a tall spiral slide is available for guests 48" and taller. Quiet-water times are also available for lap-swimmers and families who wish to splash & play with toddlers and young children. Parents should note that kids under age 8 must have an adult within arms reach at all times; and water wings are not allowed. (Life jackets and tubes are available for rent.) For further information, here's the Kiwanis Park wave pool page of the www.Tempe.gov website.
Tempe Town Beach Park's Splash Playground: Looking for a super-cheap version of kid's water-play fun? On the north shore of Tempe Town Lake, you'll find a fun...and FREE...park where your kids can play in a large, 1-acre water playland. Bring a sack lunch; there are picnic spots to enjoy overlooking the water. (Note: the park is open year-round, but Splash Playground is only open seasonally.) Here's the Splash Playground section of the Tempe.gov website, where you can get the details.
Family Fun Centers in the Phoenix area
First, here's a list of outdoor family fun parks
You've already noted that one of the city's water parks (Golfland) is also a Family Fun Center. A different family fun center in Phoenix offers the state of Arizona's closest thing to a full-service theme park or amusement park.Castles N Coasters has Arizona's biggest roller coaster. Castles N Coasters also has a tower-drop ride, go karts, bumper boats, a carousel, some kiddie rides and a large game arcade. The Castles N Coasters mini golf courses are lush and beautiful, full of streams, fountains, waterfalls and decorative props (many of them Western USA-themed.) For complete information for planning your outing, here's the www.CastlesNCoasters.com website. Or, if you'd like to view our pictures & read our review of the park, please see the Castles N Coasters Fun Park page of this blog. Crackerjax Family Fun Center (Scottsdale) is another good place to enjoy miniature golf, go karts, bumper boats and arcade games. Unusual activities include a bungy dome, a professional putting course and "Water Wars," among others. Here's the www.Crackerjax.com website where you will discover complete information about attractions, prices and hours. Fiddlesticks Family Fun Center is yet another choice for a good, well-rounded outdoor activity. Like the other family fun centers on this list, you'll find good mini golf courses, go-karts, bumper boats and arcade games. For the complete list of attractions, plus hours & prices, please see the Fiddlesticks website. The Enchanted Island Amusement Park is a cute kiddie ride area within Phoenix's lovely Encanto Park. Most of the kids you see there will be in the under-10 age group. The majority of the rides are really & truly just for kiddies; adults are only allowed to accompany their children on a handful of the rides. Still, it's difficult for parents to get bored in this beautiful setting. And, for fun the entire group can enjoy, you may rent a pedal boat and go for a spin on Encanto Park's lake. Here's the www.EnchantedIsland.com website where you may get details for planning your family outing.
Indoor family fun centersWhen you feel it's too hot for an outdoor activity, don't worry; Phoenix has indoor mini golf and rides available. Most of them attract a younger crowd than the outdoor fun centers. Surely your children age 10 and younger will enjoy them...and perhaps some of your older kids, too. Mini Golf Paradise and Jeepers Amusement Paradise: These are 2 sister-facilities, and both of them feature different types of indoor fun. Mini Golf Paradise in Phoenix offers a cute indoor miniature golf course decorated with a "jungle" theme. The Jeepers Amusement Paradise (in Mesa) has kiddie rides...even a mini roller coaster, carousel and bumper cars. Arcade games and a soft playground complete the fun. For info on both indoor playlands, here's the www.MiniGolfParadise.com website. Toy Town Play Center: Toddlers and preschoolers will enjoy this indoor playland made specifically for the younger age group. Here's the Toy Town website where you may learn more.
Indoor Fun Center and PizzaLike any other large city in the USA, Phoenix has its share of pizza-and-play restaurants. The most widely recognized chain, no matter from which state you may be visiting, is...Chuck E Cheese: Making regular visits to this perennial favorite is an established custom in many households with kids. Eating pizza, watching the Chuck E Cheese shows, playing arcade games, and collecting tickets for prizes are all part of the fun. Here's the www.ChuckECheese.com website, where you may look up the Arizona locations of this restaurant close to where you're staying. Peter Piper Pizza: You're possibly familiar with the multi-state chain, Peter Piper Pizza, as well. If not, then Peter Piper is where you'll want to head if you've got tweens or teens. It's got the games & the ticket-spewing...without the "kiddie" decorations and shows. Here's the www.PeterPiperPizza.com website, where you may find a location that's convenient for your family. Amazing Jake's Pizza Buffet (in Mesa) is another chain that out-of-state visitors might recognize. A pizza buffet purchase is required for all who enter...but the food is secondary; it's the large indoor family fun center that's the attraction. There are large-size attractions here, even a mini roller coaster and an indoor go-kart track. Kiddie rides, indoor mini golf, and a climbing wall are other attractions. To view the complete list of things to do and get prices, here's the Mesa, AZ Amazing Jake's section of the AmazingJakes.com website. Makutu's Island (Chandler) is a locally owned establishment. The tropically-themed interior features faux trees which are actually playgrounds for climbing and sliding...and adults are allowed into the play structures with their kids. A game arcade is also a feature. Admission is charged. Here's the www.MakutusIsland.com website where you'll find further information.
Phoenix Zoos and Aquariums
The Phoenix Zoo: The metro area's largest zoo is The Phoenix Zoo. You'll see most of your favorite animals here along with kid-friendly features such as playgrounds, a farm animal petting area and carousel. Taking the Safari Train guided tour is a good way to save your feet in this large zoo...and you'll learn more about the animals you're viewing, as well. To discover other zoo features, prices and hours, here's the Phoenix Zoo website.Wildlife World Zoo: Not every metro area has more than one zoo...but Phoenix does. Located in the western suburb of Litchfield Park, this privately-owned zoo offers a different set of charms. Kids will enjoy that the petting zoo here still allows them to feed the animals. The biggest event at Wildlife World recently has been the opening of a large 3-building aquarium--Arizona's largest. For more info, please see the www.WildlifeWorld.com website. Sea Life Aquarium: The brand-new Phoenix Sea Life Aquarium has opened at the Arizona Mills Mall! The Sea Life Aquarium is focused on giving a very child-friendly experience that will leave all of your family members mesmerized---even the smallest toddlers! Along with the fish and other marine plants & animals, you'll to find play structures, port holes, a "quiz trail," crawl-in viewing windows and other fun, kid-pleasing features. To see our pictures of the new Arizona Sea Life Aquarium, please visit the Arizona Mills Mall page of this blog. And to get all the details you need to plan your family's enjoyable outing, here's the Sea Life Aquarium website.
Best things to do with kids in Phoenix, Arizona
Museums that are fun & kid-friendly
Arizona Science Center, IMAX Theater and Dorrance Planetarium: This large science museum is child-focused and extremely popular. You'll often find a crowd, and it will be full of busy kids exploring and taking advantage of the many interactive exhibits here. Exhibits are interesting, colorful and well-done. Permanent exhibitions and temporary attractions are both housed here, so you may make multiple visits and still see different things. Both the IMAX and the planetarium presentations are excellent. Here's the Arizona Science Center's website where you may get prices, hours and info about current exhibits.Children's Museum of Phoenix: Located in a former school building, these hallowed halls of learning are still teaching youngsters...although in a more playful & interactive way. For current info including hours and prices, you'll want to visit the Children's Museum of Phoenix website. Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum: What was it like to be one of the pioneer settlers of Arizona? Kids and adults alike will enjoy finding out at this village where the clock seems to have stopped in the 1800's, and period-clad "pioneers" answer your questions about the days of yore. Here's the Pioneer Living History Museum website for further information. Deer Valley Rock Art Center: Native American rock paintings and etchings here in the Southwest USA fascinate both children and adults alike. This interpretive museum is located on an actual site of ancient rock drawings. You can walk on a path to see the actual drawings (best view is in the afternoon) then you can view the indoor museum to get a better understanding of them. Here's the Deer Valley Rock Art website where you'll find the details for planning a visit. Challenger Space Center: Yes, you can find out about past history and events in Arizona...but you can also find out about exciting modern-day topics like space exploration. At the Challenger Space Center, you can learn about life on a space station. There are limited tour hours, so be sure to visit the Challenger Space Center website to find out when you may visit.
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