Top 20 Places to Take Kids In and Around Phoenix - 2022
Phoenix's favorite places to take kids for 2022
Every May and June, thousands of local parents, grandparents, and caregivers weigh in on their favorite local places to take kids. Typically, we showcase the Top 20 winners... but this year, in honor of KidsOutAndAbout.com's 21st birthday (we originally launched in June of 2001), we bring you the Phoenix area's
TOP 21 Places to Take Kids!
Of course, there are literally hundreds of wonderful places to take your kids in our area, not just this year's winners! 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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1. Children's Museum of Phoenix
The Children’s Museum of Phoenix is a wonderland of fun with both indoor and outdoor interactive exhibits and experiences to engage the minds, muscles and imaginations or children and the grown-ups who care about them. Designed for children ages birth to 10, here you can ride a trike, discover the Noodle Forest, climb to new heights in the Climber, go shopping in the child-sized Market, water the Garden and so much more. Come play today!
2. Phoenix Zoo
The Phoenix Zoo is one of the largest non-profit zoos in the United States, caring for more than 3,000 animals, with nearly 400 species represented, including many threatened or endangered species.
3. Arizona Science Center
Arizona Science Center's mission is to inspire, educate and engage curious minds through science. With over 300 hands-on exhibits, a state-of-the-art planetarium and a five-story giant screen theater, there’s something for everyone in the family!
5. 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.
6. 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.
8. Valley Youth Theatre
We inspire young people to be the best they can be through a wide variety of performing arts opportunities. For 33 years, we've been a safe place where young people from all backgrounds learn and grow as individuals, perfomers and leaders through our education programs, community outreach initiatives and on-stage experiences.
13. Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium, & Safari Park
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.
14. 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.
15. Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
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.
18. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals compete in the National Football League as a member of the National Football Conference West division, and play their home games at State Farm Stadium in the northwestern suburb of Glendale.
19. 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 to the list of best places to take kids this year!
20. SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium
SEA LIFE is the world’s largest family of aquariums and includes SEA LIFE Aquariums in North America including SEA LIFE Arizona, Carlsbad, Charlotte-Concord, Dallas/Fort Worth, Kansas City, Mall of America, Michigan, New Jersey (opening soon), Orlando, and San Antonio (opening soon). From its origins in 1979 in Oban, Scotland, SEA LIFE now provides immersive marine experiences in nearly 50 locations in 17 countries around the world. We aim share our passion for the creatures of the oceans and to make our guests fall in love with them.
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.
Top Sports Educator: Hubbard Family Swim School
We build smiles, confidence and success in the water! Come visit one of our four Arizona Valley locations in Phoenix, Peoria, Goodyear and Mesa, AZ. See why Hubbard Family Swim School has an international reputation for our teaching techniques. Classes for students 8 weeks through 12 years.
Top STEM Educator: Arizona Science Center
Arizona Science Center's mission is to inspire, educate and engage curious minds through science. With over 300 hands-on exhibits, a state-of-the-art planetarium and a five-story giant screen theater, there’s something for everyone in the family!
