Why You Should Visit Phoenix With Kids

Adults flock to Phoenix for the 365 days a year that the golf courses are open.  It’s not just a playground for the grown ups though. To those of us in the PNW it’s a quick and inexpensive flight from Bellingham Airport, so when we need to see the sun, there’s no reason not to travel to Phoenix with kids.

Phoenix is not a walking city, in fact, it is actually a sprawling collection of valley cities (Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Surprise, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Avondale and a half dozen others.) It’s also not a transit city, you’ll need to rent a car to get around.  Many of the big hotels are destinations unto themselves with attractions like waterslides built right in.

Phoenix Zoo is home to more than 3,000 animals, with nearly 400 species represented including more than 30 different endangered or threatened species from around the world.

 

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Bugs. BIG BUGS! October 27 – April 28 ???????

A post shared by Phoenix Zoo (@phoenixzoo) on Oct 25, 2018 at 10:33am PDT

Arizona Science Center‘s mission is to inspire, educate and engage curious minds through science.

Learning is pure fun at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix with three floors of hands-on, interactive, educational, and fun exhibits for children up to 10 years old. This is not your typical Museum; here they want you to touch EVERYTHING!

Goldfield Ghost Town – Walk down Main Street, explore the many shops and historic buildings. Tour the historic Mammoth Gold Mine and visit the Goldfield Museum. Pan for gold then take a ride on Arizona’s only narrow gauge train. You’ll also get to witness an old west gun fight performed by the famous Goldfield Gunfighters! Spend a fun filled day, rich in wild west history!

Bearizona Wildlife Park allows visitors to drive into “the wilderness” and witness herd and pack life from the safety and comfort of a private vehicle.

 

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“Oh you don’t have any treats? I’ll be on my way then…” #bearizona #bearizonawildlifepark #bzwild #whitebison #bustour

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Scottsdale’s McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is the most unique park of its kind in the country. The 30 acre park’s centerpiece is the Paradise & Pacific Railroad, a fully functional 15 gauge railroad with scale steam and diesel locomotives and riding stock. No trip to the park is complete without a ride on the 1950-vintage Allan Hershell carousel or a visit to the Scottsdale Railroad Museum.

What could be cooler than an indoor, 3-story mountain complete with a waterfall and simulated flash flood? Dinosaurs, of course! The Arizona Museum of Natural History has all this and more. Get out of the Arizona heat and spend a day at the coolest place in Greater Phoenix.

Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium is home to Arizona’s largest collection of exotic animals with more than 600 species. The Aquarium features over 75 indoor exhibits including stingrays you can feed, penguins, otters, and sharks plus rides & a petting zoo.

i.d.e.a Museum inspires children of all ages to experience their world differently through art, technology, science, creativity and imagination.

OdySea Aquarium offers an entertaining, interactive, and educational experience for guests of all ages by combining theme-park-style amusement with highly engaging presentations of aquatic life like no other in the industry. The facility includes a 3D theater, SeaTREK™ underwater ocean walking, and a one-of-a-kind voyage through the “Living Sea.”

Wet ‘n’ Wild Phoenix is Arizona’s biggest ‘n’ best water park. Located on Pinnacle Peak Road, off I-17, the park is the largest in the state featuring more than 30 exhilarating attractions for families and thrill seekers alike.

At Dave & Buster’s you can play hundreds of the hottest new arcade games in our Million Dollar Midway and win tickets for epic prizes.

From the thrilling sky–high roller coasters and exciting water rides, to the exotic countries of the world class miniature golf course and enchantment of an old fashioned carousel, there’s magic and new adventures waiting for you and your family at Castles N’ Coasters.

The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) enriches our world by collecting, preserving, and making accessible an astonishing variety of musical instruments and performance videos from every country in the world. MIM offers guests a welcoming and fun experience, incomparable interactive technology, dynamic programming, and exceptional musical performances.

Arizona Railway Museum – We are open every Saturday and Sunday from Labor Day to Memorial Day. Typically visitors have access to 8 passenger cars, 1 caboose, and the SP 2-8-0 steam locomotive.