admin Phoenix is a great place to raise kids, especially once you know where to take them when it’s 112°F.
Updated October 2026. Rules and fees change; confirm with the official source linked in each section.
Animals
- Phoenix Zoo in Papago Park, plus ZooLights in winter
- OdySea Aquarium and Butterfly Wonderland in Scottsdale
- Wildlife World Zoo in Litchfield Park
- Sea Life Arizona in Tempe
Learning
- Arizona Science Center downtown
- Children’s Museum of Phoenix
- i.d.e.a. Museum in Mesa
- Musical Instrument Museum (kids can play instruments in the experience gallery)
- Arizona Museum of Natural History in Mesa (dinosaurs!)
Outdoors
- McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale: train rides and a carousel
- Free city splash pads across the Valley
- Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch in Gilbert for birding and easy walks
- Hole-in-the-Rock for an easy first “hike”
- Tempe Town Lake for paddleboats and bike paths
Summer indoor escapes
- Ice skating, trampoline parks, bowling and climbing gyms
- Library summer reading programs
- Summer movie and kids-bowl-free programs
- A cooler weekend in Flagstaff or Prescott
Related: Schools Guide · Best Places to Live for Families · Events this weekend.
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