Visiting Phoenix with 6yo and 7yo - ideas?

Parent Cafe
1

We’re spending a few days in Phoenix as a base to do a day trip to see the Grand Canyon. Would love any recommendations for things to do with our two boys (ages 6 & 7). 6yo is a soccer nut. 7yo has Aspergers so we avoid places that are mainly about rides, or that are sensory-overload-y. Crowds are OK. His favorite museum is the Air and Space Museum in DC and he loves archeology. Both boys are big readers so charming indie bookshops or cool cafes where we could indulge in some local fare and relax with books especially welcome.

Any other ideas - should we plan to visit Tempe? - welcome.

Thanks!

2

I recommend a couple of attractions near Tucson: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, the Pima Air and Space Museum and the “boneyard”!

3

Would Old Tucson studios be too ride-y for your Aspie son? It is not a typical amuzent park with coasters etc. Check this link: old cars, wagons, and steam engines!

http://oldtucson.com/visit-ots/rides-games/

4

Thanks for the suggestions.

5

Tombstone is near Tucson too.

6

Do you like hiking? Picacho Peak park has a few trails very doable for athletic kiddos:

http://azstateparks.com/Parks/PIPE/

December is a good time for hiking in the desert because of cooler temperatures, and as a bonus, the rattlers and scorpions are nowhere to be seen. :slight_smile:

7

In Mesa (15-20 miles from downtown Phoenix) is the Arizona Museum of Natural History. All my kids love that one, as small kids and even now in their teens. Dinosaur bones, an old jail, native american stuff, and more–really fun! We were there a couple months ago. Near that is the Museum for Youth which is more art focused and hands on, and good for elementary age kids.

The Phoenix Zoo is very nice. There’s a new tiger exhibit and a baby orangutan, lots of other cool things. It takes half a day to see the whole thing. Nearby is Hole in the Rock-a short hike to a geographical feature thats a favorite photo spot for visitors. Also in that same vicinity is Tempe Town Lake (and Tempe Centre for the Arts often has shows for kids), and a firefighter museum called Hall of Flame. Also the Arizona Science Center is popular with kids–that’s in downtown Phoenix.

The Gilbert Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch is great for wandering around, bird watching, has a play area, and a mock archaeological dig. Also a nice observatory for stargazing that is open weekend evenings on a donation basis and manned by the astronomy club.

Outdoor things are great in Phoenix in winter. Lots of good easy hikes.

For stargazing the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff is great on a clear evening.

For a charming Indie bookstore, maybe Changing Hands in Tempe.

I can think of a few more ideas if you’d like.

8

If you are staying in Phoenix…do you really want to drive to Tucson? It’s not all that far, but you will be doing plenty of other driving…and there is lots to do in the greater Phoenix area.

9

I hesitated to recommend Tucson at first, but we did it - and the Flagstaff/Grand Canyon drive in 3 days - and really liked seeing both gigantic Saguaros and snow in this short period of time; it was a fantastic experience. Science museums are everywhere. The amazing desert is unique.

10

I completely forgot about the night sky being an attraction! Weather report calls for at least a few perfectly clear nights. My kids have never seen a full starry sky. Never.

11

For stars, if it’s clear and you’re in Flagstaff at night, Lowell observatory is really great. Down in the valley the Gilbert Riparian observatory is very nice too. If you are there at the right weekend the astronomy club also brings out all their telescopes once a month and the public can look through them and see all kinds of things. Very family friendly.

between Phoenix and Flagstaff on I-17 is Montezuma Castle National Monument, also an interesting and not terribly time consuming side trip.

Lost Dutchman State park for scenic hiking and nearby Goldfield Gost Town. We’ve hiked in lost Dutchman but haven’t personally been to Goldfield.

McCormick railroad park in Scottsdale is fun for kids, especially combined with a visit to the Sugar Bowl for ice cream.

12

There are some great hikes and scenery around Sedona if you’ll be passing through there. We haven’t been in years, and I here it’s gotten very crowded, but we liked it with and without kids. Slide rock was great fun when out kids were young, but we took them in the summer. If you do go, Cathedral Rock was a fun hike. I remember being a little scared, but there was a family with young kids, ad I figured if they could do it I could do it.
Also, I would say meteor crater is NOT worth the trip, just in case you see something about it and are debating.

13

In Phoenix the arizona science center is kid-oriented with hands-on exhibits. We used to take D a lot when she was that age. There’s also a cool butterfly place; I think it claims to be largest indoor butterfly exhibit in the US.

If you can stand a drive to Tucson there’s Karchner Caverns which is an underground cave system with a very cool backstory.

And of course there’s the standby stuff others have mentioned - the zoo and botanical gardens, and plenty of trails and mountains to hike.

If you’ll share which part of town you’re staying in I might be able to recommend cafes and restaurants.

http://butterflywonderland.com
http://azstateparks.com/Parks/KACA/

14

@anomander We’re staying at the sheraton grand phoenix which is near the convention center.

15

Second the Phoenix Zoo and Papago park, next to each other. The Desert Botanical Garden is right there as well for educational exhibits on different desert habitats, fantastic cactus displays, and room to roam. Downtown Tempe as well as Scottsdale are a 10 minute drive away. Old Town Scottsdale has a pedestrian area to wander with fountains and little walkways that my kids enjoyed when they were little, with cowboy sculptures, as well as galleries and shops. My favorite shop as a kid was Mexican Imports on Brown Ave. Many things there to appeal to all ages. AZ 88 is a rather fun, if pricey place to eat, also on the mall. Also in the area is one of the more reliable Mexican restaurants, Los Olivos.

For archaeology, this: https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/arts-culture-history/pueblo-grande

If anyone is interested in music, the Musical Instrument Museum is fantastic, but yours might be a bit young. North Scottsdale.

Second Lost Dutchman Trail for hiking, but it is a trek from Tempe and Scottsdale, much less Phoenix. But the desert is beautiful in that direction. The trail goes up a canyon, and rewards with an incredible view at the top, but that is a longer hike.

The Palo Solari studios, Cosanti can help all of you think of creative to house people, in north Phoenix/Paradise Valley. While driving north, Arcosanti is just off the highway and has tours as well as lunch. https://arcosanti.org/visit_us

Also on the way north, are Montezuma’s Castle, Sedona with Slide Rock and or Red Rock Crossing State Park, the drive up Oak Creek Canyon, and Jerome. Just walking on the red rocks is fun for kids. Drive up to Airport Mesa for hikes and great views over Sedona.

Museum of Northern AZ in Flagstaff is great for history of the peoples of the area. North from Flagstaff, there is a loop that includes Sunset Crater and Wupatki National Monument. Grand Canyon Caverns is a cave to visit a bit off the road returning from the Grand Canyon. Have fun. There is a lifetime worth of exploration in AZ.

16

When I first visited the Grand Canyon back in the 1970’s we stayed somewhere inside the park and went to a night lecture, outside, on constellations led by a park ranger. It was utterly magical! It was so clear that we could see Andromeda, the next closest galaxy. I’m not sure if the park still does these talks but it’s worth looking into.

Also, when are you going? My D3 goes to college in Prescott and she says its gotten colder earlier this year. They’ve had snow a few times already. Flagstaff has more precipitation than most of Arizona so it may not have the clearest skies. One reason why the star show was so good at the Grand Canyon is that there is very little “light pollution”.

17

I don’t know that particular part of Phoenix too well, but I think you’re close to the science center at least. Also nearby should be Pizzeria Bianco, which a NY times reviewer called the best pizza in the US. It’s a minimalist thin crust Italian style pizza, if that’s your thing.

For cafes one of my favorite’s downtown is Lux. It can be a bit tricky to find since the door is in back but it’s a very cool and happening place for locals. They have nice food menu including pastries as well as hot cooked-to-order meals. It’s big and easy to hang out (i.e. no pressure to leave quickly) but can get crowded. Next door Bianco has a little sandwich/lunch shop (ok but not too impressive imho). Anyway Lux is a fun alternative to a hotel restaurant breakfast http://www.luxcoffee.com

If your kids like boba / bubble tea you can try Sno Ice. They have Taiwanese-style shaved snow. Although it doesn’t really measure up to the real thing or what you can find in LA, it’ll be plenty of fun for kids to try out http://www.snohice.com

Just a little further up the street is the Biltmore Fashion Park, a pretty nice but upscale outdoor mall. There used to be a huge Borders bookstore there, but sadly it’s closed. From your hotel you could run up Central Ave and stop at Lux for breakfast. Then continue North on Central, hang a right on Camelback and go to the Biltmore mall. Then retrace your steps and stop at Sno right on Central on your way back to to the hotel. Or just continue heading East on Camelback and that’ll get you to both Fashion Square mall and Old Town Scottsdale.

If you’re going to make a trip to Old Town Scottsdale, you might want to check out the Farmer’s Market there on Saturday mornings. And if your family is into big breakfasts, you can check the Breakfast Club restaurant at the same time, which has great waffles. http://www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com/pageScottsdaleOldtown/ScottsdaleOTsat.htm

Oh another place to check out is Phoenix Public Market, which is both a farmer’s market and a casual restaurant. It shouldn’t be too far from your hotel. http://www.phxpublicmarket.com

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Near Phoenix: https://www.glendaleaz.com/glitters/

19

Just a few observations after many trips to Phoenix/Sottsdale with children that age:

  1. Prepare for your children to be underwhelmed. Zoo recommendations/hiking and fun child-oriented museums are perfect; but they may be too young to appreciate the majesty of Sedona unless they like the fun of the Pink Jeep tour.

  2. My feeling is that the Grand Canyon is better appreciated by children who are slightly older. Also found it somewhat anxiety-provoking to keep an eye on everyone without fencing over the steep drops.

  3. When traveling with my children when they were that age I found it best to do the “educational” component of the day in the morning and then let them have fun in the pool or outdoor sports in the afternoon.

20

Desert Botanical Garden could be fun. You are outside and the kids can see from very cool cacti.