Hi… we’ll be in Phoenix next week visiting the in-laws. I expect we can fill plenty of time splashing in the pool & lounging in the sun, but I’d appreciate suggestions for a few things to do. Museums, other attractions, day-trips, etc. We’ll have an 8 year old boy in tow.
Thanks for any ideas.
Wes
Hi… we’ll be in Phoenix next week visiting the in-laws. I expect we can fill plenty of time splashing in the pool & lounging in the sun, but I’d appreciate suggestions for a few things to do. Museums, other attractions, day-trips, etc. We’ll have an 8 year old boy in tow.
Thanks for any ideas.
Wes
Depends on where you are staying. There’s Castles and Coasters, Golf N Stuff, the Science Museum, Fiddlesticks. Grand Canyon is a bit more than a day trip, but can be done. Tons of the usual theaters and bowling alleys, etc.
John
We were in Scottsdale last spring. One of my daughters was 9.
We hiked Pinnacle Peak, and went horseback riding.
Taliesin West was a much bigger hit with my 9-year-old than I’d have ever guessed.
I have renters in my condo in scottsdale who were asking me about a wild life zoo around there where you drive to the animals. I never heard of it because when I am there, all I care about are th elovely trails around me and the chipotle 2 blocks away:-) Horseback riding was also on their list for their 3 kids… jeep tours too?
The wildlife park that Marisol was referring to is probably Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Camp Verde. It is about a 90 minute drive north of Phoenix, but a worthy day trip. We went with our 2 year old, and our friends’ 3 & 6 year olds, in December and had a fun time. Not cheap. http://www.outofafricapark.com/
You could also hike (climb) Camelback Mountain in the middle of town, which is a good workout and has great views of the Valley of the Sun. Or if you prefer more moderate hikes or trail runs, there are many trails around town, depending on where you are staying. Let me know if you want more details on hiking/running/MTB trails. Also, you can drive up to the top of South Mountain and get good views of the Valley, and the kid may like that.
The Arizona Science Center downtown is also fun and educational - the 8 year old will probably love it. http://www.azscience.org/
2nd the Camelback hike for your family. Great photo op at the top and plenty of challenge for the little one. Day trip to Tuscon to see the Desert Museum is also fun
Rawhide. They also have the best steaks in the west - restaurant opens at 5:00.
Also forgot, there is a decent zoo and a desert botanical garden that are both nice. You could do them both in a day.
John
The zoo is good fun as are the botanical gardens. Science museum isn’t bad and they often get the travelling shows.
Camelback, Squaw Peak and Pinnacle Peak are all nice hikes.
Rawhide.
I disagree with this. I thought Rawhide was a tourist trap, and I felt ripped off there.
They also have the best steaks in the west
I rarely use pink, but you should have indicated somehow that you were being sarcastical…you were being sarcastical, right?
The food was okay, but it wasn’t remarkable, IMO.
Rawhide.
I disagree with this. I thought Rawhide was a tourist trap, and I felt ripped off there.
They also have the best steaks in the west
I rarely use pink, but you should have indicated somehow that you were being sarcastical…you were being sarcastical, right?
The food was okay, but it wasn’t remarkable, IMO.
Some of the best steaks (IMHO) in the Valley are at a restaurant called “The Keg”. They also have fresh made Bernaise sauce with them, oh, serious yum!
John
Eight might be a bit young, but there is the F1 Race Factory, which has quarter midget go-carts. Tons of fun, but as I said, 8 might be a touch young.
Rawhide is a tourist trap, but they have an 8 year old kid.
Also, if you not had the Cowboy Steak then you are missing out on the best steak in Arizona.
There’s a place called Wildlife World Zoo at 303 and Northern (south & west of Phoenix). I’ve been by there several times, but never stopped. On weekends, the parking lot is pretty packed, and I’ve heard some good comments about it. A pretty long drive from Scottsdale, however.
We took our then 6-year old to Rawhide a couple of years ago, and she loved it. She’s a tomboy, and was really into the shoot-out reenactment, and she liked the camel ride, too (how many midwestern kids can say they have ridden on a camel?). Rawhide is without a doubt a tourist trap, but the kind that younger kids absolutely love.
Taliesin was lost on her, but our 15 year old appreciated it.
We have done the Grand Canyon in a day, and it’s not too bad. If you leave at a 8:00–9:00am, you can spend an hour or two sightseeing there, eat dinner in Flagstff on the way back, and get back to Phoenix by 11:00pm or so. Not enough time to really explore the place, but you can get some good views in, and at least impress upon your kid the magnitude and beauty of the place. A lot of the drive there is pretty scenic, too.
By all means take a drive out into the desert somewhere and check out how strange the landscape can be–especially for someone from the midwest. My favorite place is highway 74 by Pleasant Lake–all kinds of terrain and tons of Saguaro cacti. My wife still comments on how it seemed like we were on a different planet.
If you go out that way, take 74 west to Grand Ave / US 60 and visit Wickenburg. A little bit touristy, but pretty genuine. Anita’s Cocina there has the best Mexican food in Phoenix. It’s an honest-to-goodnes mom & pop restaurant with great food. http://www.azoutdoorsman.com/webs/anita/