21 Fun & Affordable Ideas in Phoenix with Kids

Arizona Science Center

Located in downtown Phoenix in the Heritage and Science Park, the Arizona Science Center is a world-renowned center and institution of learning for exploration, innovation, and collaboration of the sciences. Established in 1980, the Center has grown to become one of the city’s most popular attractions, welcoming over half a million guests annually. The Center features a variety of hands-on and interactive exhibits, displays, and exploratory experiences spread over 164,000 square feet of space for visitors of all ages, including a fantastic to-the-moon and beyond presentation in the Dorrance Planetarium. The Center also offers a range of educational and community outreach programs, classes and camps, fields trips and immersive shows in the 5-story state-of-the-art IMAX® Theater.

600 E. Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85004, Phone: 602-716-2000

Children’s Museum of Phoenix

The Children’s Museum of Phoenix is a fun-filled wonderland of imagination, inspiration, creativity for children up to the age of 10. Voted as one of the top 10 children’s museums in the country, the Museum is filled with over 300 immersive, hands-on, touch-and-tell and exploratory exhibits, displays and experiences spread over three floors and 48,000 square feet of space in the historic Monroe School Building in downtown Phoenix. Designed to arouse curiosity, engage minds and muscles and encourage discovery, some of the museum’s exhibits include ‘Art Studio- Creative Expression,’ ‘Book Loft,’ ‘Building Big’ and ‘Desert Delights.’ The museum also offers a diverse range of educational programs and classes – from math and science to yoga, art, and yoga.

215 N. 7th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034, Phone: 602-253-0501

i.d.e.a. Museum

The i.d.e.a. Museum is an institution designed to inspire children of all ages to take an interest in the fine arts. Standing for ‘imagination, design, experience, art’ the i.d.e.a. Museum focuses on teaching, interacting and exhibiting the fine arts, along with supporting early learning, nurturing creative thinking and engaging imaginations through design in art, science, and technology. Interactive exhibits include building a new invention on Rigamajig, creating a symphony of music and lights with In Harmony, playing pretend in the ArtVille Vet Clinic, Library, Café, and Garden, building with soft blocks in ArtVille, and acting out stories in ArtVille’s Performing Arts Center, among others.

150 W Pepper Pl, Mesa, AZ 85201, Phone: 480-644-2468

Arizona Museum of Natural History

The Arizona Museum of Natural History is dedicated to showcasing the natural and cultural history of the Southwestern United States. Established as a small museum in Mesa City Hall in 1977 with an interesting collection of artifacts from around Arizona, the museum has grown into a 74,000 square feet institution with a selection of about 60,000 objects from various genres, including anthropology, art, history and natural history. Signature exhibits include “Dinosaur Mountain” which features life-size, animated dinosaurs, a Columbian Mammoth and a saber-tooth cat against the backdrop of a continually flowing 50-foot-high indoor waterfall. The museum also features around 10,000 historical photographs and a modern research facility and is the only natural history museum in the greater Phoenix area.

53 N Macdonald Street, Mesa, AZ 85201, Phone: 480-644-2230

S'edav Va'aki Museum

S'edav Va'aki Museum is an ancient archeological site situated in downtown Phoenix near the Sky Harbor International Airport. Left by the Hohokam culture, the site is the largest preserved archeological site in the city and is a National Historic Landmark and Phoenix Point of Pride. Located on the 1,500-year-old archeological site is S'edav Va'aki Museum, which features a variety of galleries which showcase items and artifacts from the prehistoric Hohokam archeological village site. The museum also houses exhibits on various topics from archeology, southwest cultures, and Arizona history and has an interactive gallery for children to learn about the science of archeology. The site and museum are accessible by the Sky Train and the Light Rail and is open seven days a week October through April.

4619 E. Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034, Phone: 602-495-0901

Valley Youth Theatre

Nestled behind the residence hall of the Downtown Phoenix camp the Valley Youth Theatre (VYT) is a community theatre that produces six mainstage shows each season. The non-profit institution was established in 1989 by Gary Lamble and Hope Ozer to help young people achieve their full potential through education in the performing arts and has launched the careers of many performers who have gone on to become Academy Award nominees such as Emma Stone. The theatre boasts a 30-foot-wide proscenium stage with an orchestra pit, rehearsal studios, scene and costume shops, and dressing rooms, and produces shows for children of all ages.

525 N. 1st St. Phoenix, AZ 85004, Phone: 602-253-8188

Phoenix Art Museum

Founded in 1959, the Phoenix Art Museum has been a favorite institution of modern art and learning for over 55 years and is the largest art museum in the Southwestern United States today. The Museum plays hosts to a variety of permanent collections across a variety of genres, including American, Asian, European and Latin American art, as well as traveling fashion and photography exhibitions. The Museums presents a range of vibrant festivals and live performances, educational programs, and art films throughout the year that aims to enlighten, inspire and stimulate an interest in the arts, and is home to an interactive children’s gallery for future artists. Relax in the beautifully landscaped Dorrance Sculpture Garden, dine at the Museum's fine dining restaurant Palette or shop at the Modern Museum Store.

1625 N. Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85004, Phone: 602-257-1880

Musical Instrument Museum

The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) is the world’s only global musical instrument museum, featuring more than 15,000 musical instruments and artifacts from around the world. Instruments are displayed in high-end displays that are enhanced by state-of-the-art audio and video technologies that allow visitors to see, hear and observe the instruments being played in their original contexts. Instruments from iconic musicians such as Elvis Presley, John Lennon, and Carlos Santana be viewed at the Artists Gallery, as well as multiple displays for different types of ethnic, folk, and tribal music. The Museum also features an interactive ‘Experience Gallery,’ where visitors can play a variety of instruments from around the world and experience the magic of music themselves.

4725 East Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, AZ 85050, Phone: 480-478-6000

Desert Botanical Garden

Dating back 70 years, the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona has been conserving and protecting Sonoran Desert Plants, as well as desert plants from around the world. Home to more than 50,000 plant displays showcased in beautiful outdoor exhibits, as well as a range of events and presentations throughout the year. Enjoy ‘Dinner on the Desert’, a unique evening where you can savor sumptuous cuisine under the stars as you as bid on distinctive plants, pots and garden art, and unusual and exciting experiences, while ‘Music in the Garden’ promises wonderful starlit music shows in Spring. The Desert Botanical Garden offers a range of tours and activities with knowledgeable guides introduce you and teach you about the incredible diversity of the landscape, as well as continuing education programs on offer, and there are three lovely restaurants in the garden for light snacks and meals.

1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008, Phone: 480-941-1225

Butterfly Wonderland

Butterfly Wonderland is a fantastic, one-of-a-kind family experience for visitors of all ages. Located in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in Scottsdale, Butterfly Wonderland is the largest indoor butterfly pavilion in the United States and offers visitors the opportunity to experience the magical world of butterflies in their natural environment. Butterfly Wonderland features state-of-the-art facilities, including a magnificent glass atrium that provides an ideal tropical rainforest habitat where more than 3,000 butterflies fly freely, interactive nature exhibits for children, a modern 3D movie theater featuring the educational film “Flight of the Butterflies,” a gift shop and a family-friendly café.

9500 E. Via de Ventura Scottsdale, AZ 85256, Phone: 480-800-3000

Heard Museum

Founded in 1929 by Dwight and Maie Heard, the Heard Museum aims to educate and promote greater understanding of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, particularly American Indian tribes and other cultures of the Southwest, focusing on their arts, heritage, and way of life. The Museum uses their extensive range of unrivaled collections, innovative programs, world-class exhibitions, and vibrant festivals to sensitively and accurately portray Native arts and cultures and showcase personal perspectives of this ancient and historical culture. A visit to the Heard Museum includes a journey through 12 exhibition galleries, a beautifully manicured outdoor sculpture garden, a contemporary art gallery, and trading-post style shopping store, a vibrant café and free guided tours.

2301 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004, Phone: 602-252-8840

Phoenix Zoo

Home to roaring Sumatran tigers, awe-inspiring Asian elephants, and towering Savannah giraffes, the Phoenix Zoo is one of the city’s most popular attractions. One of the nation’s largest privately-owned zoos, the animal park features over 1400 animals, including more than 30 different endangered species from around the world, as well as some breeding programs for various species. Fascinating habitats and exhibits include the Africa Trail, which boasts African wild dogs, African lions, white rhino, and Arabian Oryx, while the Tropics Trail is packed with Asian elephants, giant tortoises, iguanas, and ring-tailed lemurs. Enjoy daily animals encounters in the Monkey Village or the Red Barn, get soaked at the Leapin’ Lagoon or experience the wild in 4-D in the state-of-the-art theater.

455 North Galvin Parkway Phoenix, AZ 85008, Phone: 602-286-3800

Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium

The Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium is a 215-acre animal sanctuary and aquarium that specializes in African and South American animals and is home to the state’s most extensive collection of exotic animals. Features at the park include a 15-acre safari park that houses an African lion habitat, a variety of African animals such as spotted hyena, ostrich, springbok, spider monkeys, and warthogs, as well as African birds; Dragon World, which features large ectotherms, such as alligators, crocodile, reticulated pythons, iguanas, and Gila monsters; a baby animal nursery, a Lory parrot feeding exhibit; and an aquarium with fresh and salt-water marine species, including penguins and sea lions. Other attractions in the park include a ridable miniature railway around the park, a historic carousel and merry-go-round, and two children's playgrounds.

16501 W Northern Ave, Litchfield Park, AZ 85340, Phone: 623-935-9453

The McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park

Located in Scottsdale and operated by the city of Scottsdale’s Parks & Recreation Department, The McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is a 40-acre railroad park that features a railroad museum and a variety of amazing exhibits, including a Magma Arizona Railroad locomotive. The 30-acre park boasts several attractions and rides, including the centerpiece Paradise & Pacific Railroad, which was built to replicate a Colorado narrow gauge railroad with three steam locomotives, two diesel engines, an electric engine, several scale model cars, and a 32 x 200 train shed. The park is also home to the beautifully carved and meticulously restored Scottsdale Charros Carousel with 30 horses and two wheelchair chariots. There are also a variety of shops and a museum that explores the history of the railroad in Scottsdale and Arizona.

7301 E Indian Bend Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85250

Enchanted Island Amusement Park at Encanto Park

The Enchanted Island Amusement Park at Encanto Park is a family-friendly vintage theme park with a cartoony medieval theme that features themed rides, arcade games, a historic carousel, pedal boats on the lake, a train ride and a splash pad for hot summer days. Situated in the heart of Phoenix’s picturesque Encanto Park, the park also features a variety of fun activities for all ages, such as bumper boats, a tiny coaster, a choo-choo train, paddle boats and canoes, urban fishing, picnicking, and the water-themed Castle Clash, with targets, water guns, and water cannons.

1202 W Encanto Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85007, Phone: 602-254-1200

Goldfield Ghost Town

The Goldfield Ghost Town is a beautifully reconstructed gold mining town that dates back to the late 1800s that dates back to the 1890s and features a history museum, a narrow-gauge train, Old West gunfights, and guided gold-mine tours. Set around the historic Mammoth Gold Mine, the town’s main street is lined with old buildings, including three saloons, a general store, a boarding house, a meat market, a blacksmith’s shop, and a schoolhouse. Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the town and the mine, take a ride on Arizona’s only narrow-gauge train, pan for gold and witness an old west gunfight performed by the famous Goldfield Gunfighters.

4650 N Mammoth Mine Rd, Apache Junction, AZ 85119, Phone: 480-983-0333

Out of Africa Wildlife Park

Out of Africa Wildlife Park is a wildlife park in Camp Verde, Arizona that provides an opportunity for visitors to see exotic animals from all over the world in natural, spacious habitats. The park was established by Dean Harrison to create to provide a sanctuary for wild animals in their natural habitats, promote conservation awareness and action, practice exemplary animal care, and vide and inspire the public about the wonderful world of wildlife through education and learning experiences. The park features an array of experiences from up-close animal encounters, feeding times, animals shows, zip-line runs, behind-the-scenes tours, animal rescue, and campouts. Out of Africa Wildlife Park is open daily, year-round.

3505 W State Route 260, Camp Verde, AZ 86322, Phone: 928-567-2840

SEA LIFE Arizona

Located at the Arizona Mills in Tempe, SEA LIFE Arizona is a 26,000-square foot interactive aquarium that is home to thousands of aquatic and marine creatures in a variety of habitats. The family-friendly park features state-of-the-art attractions such as a 360° ocean tunnel where visitors can see sharks, rays and turtles glide past and over them, an interactive scavenger hunt, and several interactive touch pools where sea creatures can be touched. The first-of-its-kind, outdoor Colorado River Adventure attraction allows kids to twist, turn and control the water path of the Colorado River from the Rocky Mountains to the Sea of Cortez and learn how land-locked desert cities affect the ocean.

5000 S Arizona Mills Cir #145, Tempe, AZ 85285, Phone: 855-450-0559

Wet ‘n’ Wild Phoenix

One of seven water parks operating under the Wet'n'Wild global brand, Wet ‘n’ Wild Phoenix is a family-friendly water park that features more than 30 thrilling themed rides, slides and attractions for visitors of all ages, including the world’s first Maximum Velocity – Dueling H2O Coasters. Other signature rides include Monsoon Bay, where visitors ride four-foot high swells in a tube; Desert Racers, which takes visitors into an enclosed tube on a racing mat before looping into a six-lane downhill speedway; and Mammoth Falls, which drops 57 feet and take riders on a vertical drop before shooting up a wall, then falling back to experience weightlessness. Barefootin' Bay is a 4,700 square-foot interactive play structure and splash pool for kids. Food concessions include the Point Break Café, Sharky's Subs & Subs, Surfer's Sweets & Ice Cream, and several foods and beverage carts.

4243 W Pinnacle Peak Rd, Glendale, AZ 85310, Phone: 623-201-2000

The Teapot

The Teapot is a charming coffee and pastry shop set in a beautifully restored 1906 cottage in the Roosevelt neighborhood of downtown Phoenix that features a lovely front and back garden for families with children. The quaint eatery serves simple, healthy foods with a British twist for breakfast and lunch Thursday through Sunday from May through September and offers freshly brewed coffee, imported loose leaf, and bag tea and other hot drinks, along with freshly baked pastries, and other sweet treats. The historic property is ideal for private functions and parties and has a lovely back garden in which children can safely play.

818 N 5th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85003, Phone: 623-522-6027

Cerreta Candy Company

The Cerreta Candy Company is a classic sweet shop that produces and sells a variety of traditional candy and sweets, along with assortments for gifts and celebrations. Founded more than 40 years ago, Cerreta Candy Company is a family-owned and operated company that produces thousands of pieces of candy a day and sells them in their store on West Glendale Avenue in Phoenix. Using traditional recipes passed down through the generations, sweets, and treats include barks, brittles, and toffee, fudge, chocolate bars, nuts, sugar-free chocolates, gift baskets, and specialized gifts.

5345 W Glendale Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301, Phone: 623-930-9000