We know you know there are many places to visit with kids in and around Phoenix that will provide a fun day of entertainment for your children. Some of them may include indoor play places or educational venues such as museums and kid-friendly libraries. Many others are ideal for families to enjoy some outdoor activities, where the fun is endless.
We also know that with the many family-friendly attractions in Phoenix, it is hard to find all the information and options in one place, having to look for each place on so many websites and eventually forgetting what you were even looking for!
That’s why we’ve curated this awesome guide featuring the best places for kids in Phoenix with all the information you need! Prepare to have lots of fun!
Must-Visit Family-Friendly Attractions in Phoenix
1
Phoenix Zoo
Phoenix Zoo The largest zoo in the United States. Phoenix will suddenly become Africa, and you will find yourself meters away from Asian elephants, tigers, giraffes, and many other species (the Phoenix zoo is home to over 400 species and more than 3000 animals… so, you get the picture). A day will not be enough to see it all, so you will want to revisit it many times. Or you will love it so much you will go back. Either way, your first visit will not be the last one, especially if you’re always after exciting weekend plans with children.2
Phoenix Art Museum
The Phoenix Art Museum is the largest art museum in the Southwestern U.S. Its permanent collection galleries include works of American, Asian, European, Latin American, Western American, modern, and contemporary art, and fashion design. You can find photography exhibitions as well as a great variety of public programs, including films, lectures, tours, you name it. There’s something for every taste in the Phoenix Art Museum.3
Out of Africa Wildlife Park
If you love animals and are looking for one-of-a-kind outdoor adventures for families, you will love Out of Africa Wildlife Park! It is said that cats don’t like water… It’s not the case for these big felines! Watch how Bengal and Siberian tigers interact with each other, playing and splashing in a large pool. You can interact with different animals and take amazing pictures of hyenas laughing, carnivores feasting, and even touch and hold a giant snake. Instagram will love it. Visit Out of Africa Wildlife Park!4
Uptown Jungle Fun Park
Uptown Jungle is an indoor playground that resembles a city. From trampolines to obstacle and ninja courses, kids will have tons of fun while getting an excellent workout. They can also climb walls, enjoy the super slides, and so much more!5
KTR Indoor Action Sports Center
Among the many active fun things to do with kids you’ll find throughout this page, this place guarantees fun for all the family at an affordable price! At KTR, you will find trampolines, slacklines, ninja warriors, sports, and you will be able to practice some skateboarding, parkour, dance, gymnastics, and several other activities.6
LEGOLAND Discovery Center
Most children’s favorite place: a room full of Lego bricks. With 12 different attractions for kids to enjoy, including rides, 4D movies, a Space Mission attraction, and hundreds of Lego bricks! An amazing choice to spend the day having indoor fun.7
OdySea Aquarium
This is the perfect place for your little explorers to enjoy indoor activities for children and learn about diverse sea life. It combines entertaining, educational, and interactive experiences such as walking underwater, feeding fish, viewing sharks and turtles, and so much more!8
Castles 'N Coasters
If you visit Castles ‘N Coasters and it’s a hot day, make sure to go straight to the Bumper Boats and Splashdown attractions for some cool refreshment! You can also enjoy the park’s other attractions and have a wonderful family time.9
Hurricane Harbor Phoenix
Hurricane Harbor is the best option to get the kids out of the house in the summer. It has more than 30 attractions for all kinds of tastes and ages, too. Kids will have guaranteed fun, and the entire family will cool down and enjoy a summer day at Hurricane Harbor!10
Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park
Meet more than 600 species of animals, enjoy the safari park and aquarium, and take pictures to make memories for a lifetime. You don’t need to go to Africa to meet exotic species and also learn about them; these amazing outdoor adventures for families are right here in Phoenix!11
Butterfly Wonderland
The whole family will love Butterfly Wonderland. An indoor butterfly conservatory (the largest in America) where you will find butterflies, reptiles, fish, birds, and much more! You will enjoy many educational and interactive exhibits until you get to the best part: you will have the chance to walk among thousands of species of butterflies.12
Children's Museum of Phoenix
There are no instructions on how to interact with the exhibits at this museum; it is made especially for kids and their curiosity and imagination. It offers unique exhibits for the kids to have their own experience. A perfect plan when looking for rainy day ideas with kids, it will keep them genuinely entertained!13
Sea Life
Sea turtles, sharks, jellyfish, clownfish, seahorses...find all of these sea animals and more at Sea Life Arizona. Besides being closer to these creatures than ever before, you will get the chance to learn about each of them and discover new things at the daily talks! This venue is one of the most popular family-friendly attractions in Phoenix.14
As You Wish
If you’re looking to spend quality time with your family, in a nice place where everyone can equally have fun and learn or perfect a skill, As You Wish is the right place. Let your inner artist have fun while building family memories and immersing yourself in one of the most creative adventures for families: painting pottery.15
Lowell Observatory
The Lowell Observatory offers both daytime and nighttime viewing, tours of the campus, and two famous telescopes: the Clark Refracting Telescope and the Pluto Discovery Telescope. Explore the galaxy with the interactive exhibits and more!16
Kiwanis Wave Pool Phoenix
Not only can you enjoy the indoor wave pool with climate-controlled water, but you can also have fun in the double spiral water slide and six lap lanes. Enjoy a day at Kiwanis Wave Pool with the entire family!17
The Rush Fun Park
Looking for indoor activities for children? This is it! The Rush Fun Park is an indoor trampoline park where kids will have a lot of fun and will exercise at the same time by jumping non-stop! You will find climbing walls, super slides, a little kids zone, flying hoops, a dodgeball course, and, of course, trampolines to practice flips and touch the sky!18
Arizona Museum of Natural History
As one of the most educational and family-friendly attractions, the premier natural history museum in Arizona is a place for family fun and learning. A flash flood cascading down a mountain inside a museum and a real territorial jail experience are among the many things you can see and do at the museum. Exhibits for all ages and something new to discover every time. Kids will love it, and parents too!19
Playgrounds Dart Zone
This special playground offers Arrow Tag, Dodge Ball courts, and Arizona’s largest Nerf. It’s perfect to burn some energy when kids can’t play outdoors. In case you were looking for a place to celebrate a birthday party this winter, Playgrounds Dart Zone also offers party packages!20
Golfland Sunsplash
This water park offers something for the whole family! Amazing water slides, a wave pool, and even miniature golf and other attractions for those who don’t want to get wet. Your family will have a great time at Golfland Sunsplash, definitely one of the best places for kids in Phoenix.21
Pangaea
Calling all young lovers of dinosaurs to enjoy some learning indoor activities for children. This educational center is home to many interactive exhibits, animatronic dinosaurs, and recreations of prehistoric habitats. After enjoying family-friendly activities and educational rides, you can have dinner with the family and talk about everything you learned!22
Urban Air Trampoline Park
Urban Air is so much more than a trampoline park. Experience the Sky Rider Coaster, the ropes and Warrior courses, climb walls, have fun with the foam pit, and, seriously, so much more! Discover it yourself! There’s so much to do, one time won’t be enough. Fortunately, it’s open all week, so you can add it to your list of ideas for weekend plans with children or maybe visit on a random Monday!23
MIM
From musical performances and interactive technology to experiencing the different instruments’ sounds, the Musical Instrument Museum is a must-visit place. You will see more than 7,000 instruments from around the world, including those from Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, among others. If you and your little ones are music lovers, this is one of the most educational and fun things to do with kids in Phoenix.24
Scottsdale Gymnastics & Trampoline
Scottsdale Gymnastics & Trampoline offers many different classes for children older than 18 months. The Open Gym gives you the chance to visit it whenever you want. There’s always something at Scottsdale Gymnastics & Trampoline!25
Enchanted Island
Enchanted Island offers a great variety of family-friendly attractions in Phoenix, but if you’re feeling hot, the best option will be to go on the bumper boats or the splash zone to cool down. If you want something calmer, the whole family can enjoy the Pedal Boats and Canoes!26
Hall of Flame
At the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting and the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes, your family will learn about fire history with many national and international exhibits from countries like England, Japan, Austria, France, and Germany. This Hall of Flame is one of those gems for families in Phoenix you won’t want to miss. Besides, you will also see some fire apparatus, equipment, uniforms, and much more!27
Goldfield Ghost Town & Mine Tours
Enjoy the excitement of Arizona’s wild west by visiting Goldfield Ghost Town. From Main Street to many historic buildings and shops, you will feel like you’re living in the 1890s. Plan a visit to Goldfield Ghost Town and have guaranteed fun with the whole family!28
Sky Zone
Voted the number one ‘’out of the box’’ workout, Sky Zone offers fun things to do with kids and great indoor entertainment: Freestyle jump, a dodgeball course, a Warrior course, a huge foam pit, and much more! Fitness is fun at Sky Zone.29
The Phoenix Theatre Company
With programming that spans all generations, the Phoenix Theatre Company is an excellent idea for a winter day. Look for a play you want to see with your child and spend a nice family day out. You can finish your day dining at the Theatre restaurant, which has kid-friendly menus!30
SWIMkids USA
Your kids can either enjoy the free pool or take some swim classes with really good teachers who also offer gymnastics training. With their many indoor activities for children, your kids will have a blast, make new friends, and train their bodies with physical activity!31
Arizona Science Center
Arizona Science Center offers exhibits of different types, such as how the human body works, the science of flight, and even interactive exhibits to experience what it’s like to be in the middle of a natural disaster. The Dorrance Planetarium is a must-see!32
IDEA Museum
The IDEA Museum welcomes children of all ages and inspires them to experience their creativity and imagination through art, science, and technology. The exhibitions and hands-on activities for children focus on engaging families, nurturing creative thinking, and supporting early learning.33
Elevate Goodyear Trampoline Park
Kids can spend the day jumping on the wall-to-wall trampolines, dunking like a pro in the basketball hoops, or becoming a ninja at the ninja course! The park also features a dodgeball court, a toddler area, walls kids can climb or bounce on, and much more! If you were looking for rainy day ideas with kids, this is the place to go.34
Boyce Thompson Arboretum
Visit the oldest and largest Arizona botanical garden and take thousands of pictures with colorful gardens as a background. This ‘’Arizona oasis’’ offers great outdoor adventures for families and has nearly three miles of paths and trails for you to enjoy the views of amazing desert plants.35
Desert Foothills Library
At Desert Foothills Library, you’ll find a variety of books and plenty of indoor activities for children, organized by age—and so much more. The library hosts weekly storytime, which features books, fingerplays, songs, rhymes, and more!36
Phoenix Center for the Arts
If you are in the mood for a cool art exhibition, a performance, or maybe for learning something new, Phoenix Center for the Arts is the place to visit! It offers a wide variety of classes like dance, photography, ceramics, and many more art-related lessons.37
Jake's Unlimited
Both family and friends can enjoy this indoor amusement park with super fun video games, rides, laser tags, and bowling! Guests will have unlimited access to the buffet, and pizza will be delivered to you! If you feel like your weekend plans with the kids always take you to the same old venues, this is a great way to switch things up!38
Mesa Arts Center
You will find a variety of events throughout the year, and also the Mesa Art Center Museum, where you can enjoy amazing collections of art, art workshops for all ages, and more! Learning and enjoying art sounds like a good plan to spend the cold winter and a great solution if you are looking for rainy day ideas with kids.39
Skateland Chandler
Your little ones will love spending the day skating with friends and family at Skateland Chandler! You can also enjoy live DJ music, a huge arcade, and visit the cafe if you feel hungry!40
Papago Park
Beautiful scenery awaits you at Papago Park. If you want outdoor adventures for families and recreation, this is the right place to visit! Visit the iconic Hole-in-the-Rock or spend some time by the fishing lagoons. You will create beautiful memories here, don’t forget your camera!41
K1 Speed
K1 Speed offers a great experience for families and kids. It features fast electric go karts, a professional track, safety barriers, an arcade, and an on-site eatery. If you choose to spend a day at K1 Speed, you won’t be sorry.42
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools
The facility features a year-round, indoor, 90-degree pool, comfortable chairs in the viewing area, flexible class schedules, super-friendly and professional instructors, and more! It’s one of the most fun things to do with kids, especially for those who can’t wait to learn how to swim!43
Giggles
You’re looking for rainy day ideas because you may have already tried everything to entertain your kids. Well, Giggles is the place you’ve been looking for. This indoor playground offers all kinds of games and activities for your children to engage in while making new friends. It is designed for ages 9 months to 6 years old.44
Gravity Extreme Zone
One of the favorites among family-friendly attractions in Phoenix is Gravity Extreme Zone, a trampoline park that offers thrilling activities for everyone. This place also offers summer camps, STEM field trips, and more. It is also a great birthday venue to celebrate your child’s special day.45
Kids Empire
The more fun the playground, the happier the kids—and as parents, that’s all we want. Kids Empire offers some of the most exciting indoor activities for children, including The Maze, its major attraction.46
Altitude Trampoline Park
Your child is a high-energy one and let’s face it, you love some adventure yourself. Luckily for both of you, this trampoline park offers fun and excitement for the whole family. Pay a visit and you’ll always remember it as one of the most fun things to do with kids in Phoenix!47
The Little Gym of Litchfield Park
From as young as 4 months to 12 years old, The Little Gym invites children to join programs in gymnastics, sports prep, dance, and more. They also offer camps and serve as a great venue to celebrate your kiddo’s next birthday party.48
Southwest Wildlife Conservation
Wild outdoor adventures for families may be closer than you think. Visit Southwest Wildlife Conservation, a sanctuary for native wild animals that have been injured or abandoned, and are inneed of rehabilitation and care. In this sanctuary, you’ll get to see black bears, gray wolves, mountain lions, and other speciesExploring Phoenix with your family is one of the easiest things to do, thanks to our comprehensive Kid City Guide, where you’ll find kids’ entertainment of all kinds and awesome things to do – regardless of the season!
From apple picking to hiking or even relaxing at the many picnic spots, the options are endless and ideal for creating unforgettable memories with your kids.
Besides, family events abound year-round, so be sure to keep updated on our website (or even better, subscribe today) and check out everything Phoenix has to offer throughout the year.