Things to do in Phoenix with kids

[undercoverbrother]

So we are off to Phoenix at the end of April.

I am looking for suggestions for things to do/see with kids (B 7, G 9). I checked and the 'yotes are home so we will catch a game, but would love some other ideas or to hear other experiences.

[kaotik]

I'd suggest the Widlife World Zoo & Aquarium. It's got lots of different animals and the kids loved it.

http://www.wildlifeworld.com/

[troutman]

I am there right now with my kids (11 and 9).

Obviously you want a hotel with an outdoor pool.

We liked the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. The Wet n Wild waterpark was very good in NW area.

Spring training will be over but check out the Scottsdale Minor baseball team - great stadium.

Arizona Mills has IMAX and Rainforest Cafe.

Tucson has the impressive Arizona Sonora Desert Museum.

Laser Tag and mini-golf in Mesa.

Bouw has good advice about hikes in the area.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by troutman

I am there right now with my kids (11 and 9).

Obviously you want a hotel with an outdoor pool.

.

yeah the condo has a pool

[bc-chris]

my wife and i went to phoenix 2 years ago - a really fun trip!!!

you might want to check out the grand canyon - i don't know if your kids would get the awesomeness of it, but it sure blew me away!

we also climbed a local 'mountain' - i think it was camelback mountain. it's a fun climb and not crazy difficult. the views from the summit are pretty sweet....



http://www.summitpost.org/camelback-mountain/151297


my wife dragged me to the outlet stores. i was done in about 30 minutes. 5 hours later we left! ha!

http://www.outletsanthem.com/

she signed up for something thru the webpage before we left which got us a card that gave us a discount on anything we bought there.

have fun - i know we had a blast and will go back at some point in the future

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by bc-chris

my wife and i went to phoenix 2 years ago - a really fun trip!!!

you might want to check out the grand canyon - i don't know if your kids would get the awesomeness of it, but it sure blew me away!

we also climbed a local 'mountain' - i think it was camelback mountain. it's a fun climb and not crazy difficult. the views from the summit are pretty sweet....



http://www.summitpost.org/camelback-mountain/151297


my wife dragged me to the outlet stores. i was done in about 30 minutes. 5 hours later we left! ha!

http://www.outletsanthem.com/

she signed up for something thru the webpage before we left which got us a card that gave us a discount on anything we bought there.

have fun - i know we had a blast and will go back at some point in the future

how far the the grand canyon

[MRCboicgy]

Not to de-rail the OP, but also appreciated would be some tips for being there in the dead of summer - not necessarily with kids.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

how far the the grand canyon

372 km, or 4-5 hour drive. Possible for a day trip but you won't get to stay long. Better to go over-night.

[simmonjam1]

Tombstone is about 2 hrs away. I thought that was a pretty cool place to visit.

[Kybosh]

You could drive to Old Tucson Studios. Your kids will love the wild west stuff and you'll love annoying everyone around you by re-enacting the Three Amigos.

[tvp2003]

We went to the Phoenix Zoo -- can't say I remember it being spectacular or anything but something the kids might like.

Originally Posted by bc-chris

my wife dragged me to the outlet stores. i was done in about 30 minutes. 5 hours later we left! ha!

http://www.outletsanthem.com/

she signed up for something thru the webpage before we left which got us a card that gave us a discount on anything we bought there.

have fun - i know we had a blast and will go back at some point in the future

There is a new outlet mall opening in April -- it's in Chandler so it might be closer than Anthem, depending on where you're staying: http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=105 Sign up for the VIP club to get extra coupons.

[bc-chris]

Originally Posted by troutman

372 km, or 4-5 hour drive. Possible for a day trip but you won't get to stay long. Better to go over-night.

agreed - it was a looooooong day... we left early in the morning and were there around 11am. we stayed for probably 6 or 7 hours and then headed back.

i would definitely go back again, but would look at staying somewhere a lot closer for a day or two (i think sedona's about half way between phoenix and the grand canyon... and is another pretty cool place to visit)

if you choose to go - it's cold up there... it's was close to 30C in phoenix but at the grand canyon there was crazy wind and snow!

Originally Posted by tvp2003

There is a new outlet mall opening in April -- it's in Chandler so it might be closer than Anthem, depending on where you're staying: http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=105 Sign up for the VIP club to get extra coupons.

crap! 2 different outlet malls to go to on our next trip!

[Shin Pad]

I am down here in Phoenix right now as well. Sedona is really nice to visit - kind of like Banff in the dessert. Last year, we stayed there overnight on our way to the Grand Canyon. By the time you get there near the end of April, it should be nice at the Grand Canyon. We were there at the beginning of April last year, and it was shorts and T shirt weather.

[The Goon]

Originally Posted by MRCboicgy

Not to de-rail the OP, but also appreciated would be some tips for being there in the dead of summer - not necessarily with kids.

Keep a bottle of water with you at all times and stick your head under every mister you see.

[Nage Waza]

This will sound strange, but I have done the Frank Loyd Wright tour while in Phoenix. I really enjoyed it. The kids probably won't.

Otherwise, you are in a part of the world where the landscape couldn't be more different than Calgary. Research the assorted nature hikes that are aimed at children.

[gargamel]

In-N-Out Burger has a few Phoenix locations.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Nage Waza

Otherwise, you are in a part of the world where the landscape couldn't be more different than Calgary. Research the assorted nature hikes that are aimed at children.

We will be hitting some hikes. We used the national parks website when we were down on Moab this summer, it classifies hikes for etc, elderly etc.

In N Out is a must, as is Hebrew Nationals

[Kipper is King]

Go hiking around Sedona. The rock formations around there make it feel like you're on another planet! (Check out Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock) Also, it's a shorter drive from Phoenix than the Grand Canyon. If you do go into Sedona itself, be aware there is only one official tourist information office. The rest reeeally want you to buy real estate! :-)

I should add that much of the "hiking" around there is actually just short walks. It shouldn't be too intensive for younger kids.

[JBR]

Lost dog trail in North Scottsdale and Squaw Peak are easier hikes for the kids than Camelback

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by MRCboicgy

Not to de-rail the OP, but also appreciated would be some tips for being there in the dead of summer - not necessarily with kids.

Stay at a resort! I stayed at one in Scottsdale for $89 a night and it was super nice.

Also, Diamondbacks. Scottsdale would be great, too. But not on Mondays since I think a lot of the shops are closed on Mondays in the summer.