Top 20 Places to Take Kids In and Around Phoenix - 2019
Phoenix's favorite places to take kids for 2019
There are literally hundreds of wonderful places to take your kids in the Phoenix area! Each year, we survey Phoenix parents to find out where they love to take their kids. Below are the Top 20 places plus winners in categories. While you're visiting KidsOutAndAbout, be sure to visit our Everything That's Free page, check out our packed daily calendar, and sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter.
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Children's Museum of Phoenix
The Children’s Museum of Phoenix is a wondrous place of imagination, inspiration, creativity and just plain fun! With three floors of hands-on, interactive exhibits designed for children ages birth to 10, the Museum focuses on learning through play, with emphasis on early childhood education and school-readiness.
Phoenix Zoo
The non-profit Phoenix Zoo is home to more than 1,400 animals including more than 30 different endangered or threatened species from around the world.
My Local Library
Of course, the libraries in the Phoenix area are not really ONE place, but MANY places... but it's important to emphasize how valuable libraries are for family learning and fun. The libraries in our area are wonderful about posting their events to the KidsOutAndAbout calendar so you always can get ideas for free things to do with your kids that celebrate education and imagination. KidsOutAndAbout.com takes this opportunity to salute the wonderful children's librarians who serve our community with such dedication. They're proud that locals voted them #3 in best places to take kids this year!
Party Jungle
Party Jungle is one of the only indoor amusement parks in Phoenix, AZ to offer unlimited all-day use of the attractions for one low price....no time limits. Party Jungle, we strive to create an environment where our guests can feel assured that their Li’l Explorers will have a great time in a completely clean and safe facility. Cleanliness and safety are always our priorities.
Luv 2 Play
Luv 2 Play offers an indoor playground and arcade for children ages 0-12 as well as many great menu options for parents and kids alike!
OdySea Aquarium
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.”
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
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.
Arizona Science Center
Arizona Science Center's mission is to inspire, educate and engage curious minds through science.
Valley Youth Theater
Our mission is helping young people achieve their full potential through meaningful engagement, education and excellence in the performing arts.
Hurricane Harbor Phoenix (Wet 'n' Wild Phoenix)
Hurricane Harbor 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. Adrenaline addicts can enjoy slides like Bahama Blaster – Dueling H2O Coasters – which is the first of its kind in the world, and races guests down two, gravity-defying, tandem slides; or Tornado, which catapults guests through a swirling 45-foot funnel into the eye of the storm and into calmer waters below. The park also features tamer attractions like Splash Island, a multi-level children’s area that full of dumping buckets, kid friendly slides and interactive water cannons; or Hurricane Bay, a 700,000-gallon wave pool that generates 4-foot swells.
Wildlife World Zoo
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.
Musical Instrument Museum
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.
PlayGrounds Fun Zone & Cafe
Our fun zone is a 3,500 square-foot indoor play space where kids’ imaginations can run wild. After being greeted at the check-in station, kids ages 8 and under can explore, climb, crawl and slide with their friends. There is also an area designated for toddlers to do all of the same things on a “toddler scale.” Parents are welcome to join the fun, or enjoy some rest and an iced coffee on one of our comfy couches or chairs.
IDEA Museum
i.d.e.a Museum inspires children of all ages to experience their world differently through art, technology, science, creativity and imagination.
Sea Life Arizona Aquarium
SEA LIFE Arizona transports visitors into the amazing ocean world, providing close encounters with a vast array of creatures including seahorses, sharks, rays, tropical fish and more! To get any closer you would have to get wet!!
Wobble Tots
Arizona's Largest Indoor Playground! Just Over 5,000 sq ft. Arizona's largest indoor playground dedicated to preschool children. We have an area designated for the Tiny ToTs that are 18 months and under so that they can play safely.
Bearizona Wildlife Park
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.
Uptown Alley
Something fun for everyone! Uptown Alley is a 60k sq ft family entertainment venue featuring bowling, an arcade, two-level laser tag, live entertainment, a full-service, Americana cuisine restaurant (Red Embers), an ultra lounge (The Approach) and more.
Arizona Museum of Natural History
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.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona
LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Arizona - it's like you’ve just jumped into the biggest box of LEGO® bricks ever! See your city come to life in mini-land... it's made entirely ofLEGO® bricks! Climb abord and ride Kindom Quest to rescue the princess! Then, build a LEGO® race car with your friends and send it zooming down the test ramp! Get closer to the action in the amazing 4D LEGO® cinema. You'll be amazed at what you'll find at the LEGOLAND® discovery center!
Winners in Special Categories
In the second part of our survey, we asked readers to select their favorites in several categories. Here were their choices.Favorite Place to Have Fun INSIDE
Party JungleParty Jungle is one of the only indoor amusement parks in Phoenix, AZ to offer unlimited all-day use of the attractions for one low price....no time limits. Party Jungle, we strive to create an environment where our guests can feel assured that their Li’l Explorers will have a great time in a completely clean and safe facility. Cleanliness and safety are always our priorities.
Favorite Place to Have Fun OUTSIDE
Phoenix ZooThe non-profit Phoenix Zoo is home to more than 1,400 animals including more than 30 different endangered or threatened species from around the world.
Favorite Performing Arts
Valley Youth TheaterOur mission is helping young people achieve their full potential through meaningful engagement, education and excellence in the performing arts.
Favorite Kid-Friendly Museum
Children's Museum of PhoenixLearning is a joy at the Children's Museum of Phoenix with three floors of hands-on, interactive, educational, and fun exhibits for children ages birth to 10. This is not your typical Museum; here we want you to touch EVERYTHING!
Favorite Nature Center
Desert Botanical GardenDiscover the tranquil vibrancy of desert plants nestled amid the red rocks of the Papago Buttes. Visitors can stroll through five thematic trails to explore the fascinating beauty of the Sonoran Desert, from towering cacti and alluring succulents to brilliant wildflowers and lush trees. Scroll through the Garden's calendar so not to miss festive events and dazzling exhibitions. Delve deeper to learn about desert landscaping, nature art, cooking and wellness and more through the Garden's various adult and children's classes.
Favorite Kid-Friendly Farm
Tolmachoff FarmsTolmachoff Farms is a unique four generation family farm operated in Glendale, Arizona. We grow a large variety of produce and strive to provide you and your family with the ultimate in fresh produce straight from the field to your table. We also offer special events and activities.
Favorite Sports Team
Arizona DiamondbacksMajor League Baseball's 2001 World Series Champions
Favorite Arts Education
As You Wish Pottery Painting PlaceAs You Wish is a great place to flex your creative muscle and have some fun. We provide paints, brushes, expert assistance and anything else you need to let your inner artist out!
Favorite Sports Education
The Little GymThe Little Gym is the world’s premier enrichment and physical development center for children ages 4 months through 12 years. Programs offer children a Springboard to Life’s Adventures by using movement-based learning and imaginative play to help build the confidence and skills needed at each stage of childhood.
