Phoenix is naturally beautiful and has wonderful and sunny weather, thus making it the ideal location for many different outdoor recreational activities. Some of the activities you could do are golfing, rock climbing, hiking and even hop on a hot-air balloon! Or if you’re looking to just relax while on vacation, Downtown Phoenix is a fairly hip city and has plenty of attractions. And to top it all off, Phoenix is a family-friendly city, with many places of interests that kids will adore, and might even interest the parents too. So check out what are some of our favourite things you can do in Phoenix!
1. Learn more about music at the Musical Instrument Museum
The Musical Instrument Museum is a must visit for anyone who claims to be a music lover as it hosts the world’s largest collection of musical instruments! There are over 15,000 musical instruments and other associated items, with items from nearly 200 countries, and thus the museum is divided into different galleries. Something that’s unique about this museum is that it has multimedia exhibits that allow you to try out common instruments, such as the flute, to the uncommon Taiwanese lalingedan nose flute. With all the galleries having comprehensive write-ups, you can be sucked into a whole new world!
Musical Instrument Museum
Address: 4725 E Mayo Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85050, USA
Price: from 20 USD (General), 15 USD (Teenagers, ages 13-19), 10 USD (Children, ages 4-12), free-of-charge (Children, ages 3 and under)
Opening Hours: 9am - 5pm (Monday - Sunday), 11am - 5pm (Christmas Day). Closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Website: Musical Instrument Museum
2. Get up close and personal with your favourite animals at the Phoenix Zoo
The Phoenix Zoo is a large zoo that houses 1400 animals, and it also has 4 different themed walking trails - The Arizona Trail, the Africa Trail, the Tropics Trail, and the Children’s Trail. The kids will be delighted to find out that there’s a petting zoo along the Children’s Trail, so they can get up close and personal with the cute animals. This zoo also focuses heavily on conservation, and there are sanctuaries that are dedicated to hosting unsocial and unwanted animals. It’s also well-known because of Ruby the Elephant, the artist extraordinaire, who started to paint after being given her own paints and brushes. With its entertaining main zoo area, and its efforts put into the conservation of endangered animals, your visit there will be educational and worth it.
Phoenix Zoo
Address: 455 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA
Price: from 24.95 USD (Adults, ages 14 and up), 14.95 USD (Children, ages 3-13), free-of-charge (Children, ages 2 and under)
Opening Hours: 9am - 5pm (Also depends on the season.)
Website: Phoenix Zoo
3. Mingle with the locals at the Phoenix Public Market & Cafe
Right in downtown Phoenix is a hip open-air farmers’ market and it’s only open on Saturdays. If you’re vacationing in Phoenix for a while and have access to a kitchen, you can grab some fresh and locally grown produce and prepare some great dishes. Also, next to the farmer’s market is a cute cafe area that’s open daily! Most of the dishes served here are prepared with seasonal ingredients, and most of them are acquired from the neighbouring farmers’ market, so you can be assured that you’re eating some of the best food possible. So if you’re around the area, pop into the casual and contemporary cafe and tuck into a delicious meal.
Phoenix Public Market
Address: 721 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Opening Hours: Only open on Saturdays. 8am - 12pm (May - September), 8am - 1pm (October - April)
Website: Phoenix Public Market
Cafe @ Phoenix Public Market
Address: 14 E Pierce St, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Opening Hours: 7am - 10pm (Monday - Sunday)
Website: Cafe @ Phoenix Public Market
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4. Have a fun time with your family at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix
For parents looking to keep their children entertained, this is the perfect museum for you! It’s a perfect museum for children aged 10 and under, and will surely keep them enthralled and occupied. The Children’s Museum of Phoenix was designed to “help engage the minds, muscles and imaginations of children”, and we promise it’ll do just that. With its many interactive exhibitions that your children can explore at their own leisure, and their iconic and humongous exhibition, “The Climber”, the Children’s Museum of Phoenix is sure to keep your kids smiling for the entire day, and might even be the highlight of their trip.
Children's Museum of Phoenix
Address: 1625 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Price: from 11 USD (Adults), 10 USD (Seniors, ages 62 and up), free-of-charge (Children, ages 1 and under)
Opening Hours: 9am - 4pm (Tuesday - Sunday). Closed on New Year’s Day.
Website: Children’s Museum of Phoenix
5. Experience fantastic art at the Phoenix Art Museum
If you’re in the area, be sure to visit the largest art museum in the whole of the southwestern United States, the Phoenix Art Museum. With 17,000 objects in its permanent collection and many of it coming from different art genres and regions around the world, it’ll definitely capture your attention. Sometimes, there are rotating exhibitions, so you can view something different the next time you stop by. And for parents who are worried that their kids won’t enjoy the museum, not to worry for there are plenty of child-friendly activities they can take part in.
Phoenix Art Museum
Address: 1625 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Price: from 18 USD (Adults), 15 USD (Seniors, ages 65 and up), 13 USD (Students with ID), from 9 USD (Children, ages 6-17), free-of-charge (Children, ages 5 and under)
Opening Hours: 10am - 5pm (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday), 10am - 9pm (Wednesday), 12pm - 5pm (Sunday). Closed on Mondays.
Website: Phoenix Art Museum
6. Calling all picky eaters to the Park Street Food Bar & Beer Garden
For any of our foodie readers, this next location will surely be heaven on earth for you as it combines the concept of an urban park and scrumptious food. Located in Downtown Phoenix, this is a cool and unique concept, that will surely be a go-to gathering place for locals and tourists alike. There’s no set menu and features signature dishes of cool chefs and certain food trucks, so you’ll always be surprised whenever you stop by this food bar. So how about gathering some friends, order different dishes and enjoy what the local food scene has to offer!
The Park Street Food Bar
Address: 3 S 2nd St #114, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Opening Hours: 11am - 12am (Sunday - Tuesday), 11am- 2am (Wednesday - Saturday).
Website: The Park Street Food Bar
7. Admire the variety of cacti in the Desert Botanical Garden
You might be thinking, ‘Why visit a botanical garden that’s focused on desert plants when I’m already vacationing in a desert-like city?’. Well, don’t be so hasty and throw this suggestion aside, it’s an attraction that might just charm your socks right off! As mentioned, the main focus of this botanical garden are plants that have adapted to survive in a desert climate, and there aren’t just local plants, there are also foreign ones in their Australian, Baja California and South American collections. Present in the botanical garden are 5 unique trails, so head down 1 or all 5, and you’ll leave being in awe of how these plants adapted and were able to survive through intense heat and adversity.
Desert Botanical Garden
Address: 1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA
Price: from 22 USD (Adults), 20 USD (Seniors, ages 60 and up), 12 USD (Students, ages 13 - 18 or college with ID), 10 USD (Children, ages 3 - 12), free-of-charge (Children, ages 3 and under).
Opening Hours: 9am - 6pm. Closed on public holidays.
Website: Desert Botanical Garden
8. Geek out in the Arizona Science Centre
If you or anyone you’re traveling with loves Science, this is a dream destination for you. The main aim of the Arizona Science Centre is to provide visitors of all ages with experiences that will educate, entertain and would make them want to explore more, and this museum will surely do that. There are intriguing exhibitions that encourage visitors to touch and learn for themselves located on all 4 floors of galleries, so go wild and explore them. Every visitor, regardless of age, has some activities that they can take part in, so no one will ever be left out and can experience the fun of Science and exploration. So what are you waiting for? Get your geek on and come on down!
Arizona Science Centre
Address: 600 E Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Price: from 18 USD (Adults, ages 18 and up), 13 USD (Children, ages 3 - 17), free-of-charge (Children, ages 2 and under).
Opening Hours: 10am - 5pm. Closed on Christmas Day.
Website: Arizona Science Centre
9. Chill out at the Lustre Rooftop Bar
When you’re in the mood for a drink or want to meet up with friends at a hip yet casual spot, check out the Lustre Rooftop Bar. The bar sits on the third floor of the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix, and offers some amazing views of the city skyline and even the South Mountain! If you’re here alone and are in the mood to socialise, you can grab a drink for yourself at the bar. Many of the cocktails are created with locally-sourced ingredients and have a Southwestern twist to them. So how about stopping by and indulging in a unique drink by the pool?
Lustre Rooftop Bar
Address: 2 E Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Opening Hours: 11am - 10pm (Sunday - Thursday), 11am - 12am (Friday - Saturday), 3pm - 6pm (Happy Hour, Monday - Friday)
Website: Lustre Rooftop Bar
10. Educate yourself at the Heard Museum
For tourists who are curious about the history and culture of American Indians, the Heard Museum is definitely a must-visit. They aim to portray the art and culture of American Indians in a sensitive and accurate way, so you’ll be educated while you’re here. Approximately 44,000 items relating to the history and culture of American Indians are hosted in this museum, and they’re all being displayed in their 12 exhibit galleries, so you can take all the time in the world and explore them all. Many of the works showcased in the museum were created by the finest historic and contemporary Native American artists, so you’re sure to have an authentic and educational experience here.
Heard Museum
Address: 2301 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Price: from 18 USD (Adults), 13.50 USD (Seniors, ages 65 and up), 7.50 USD (College students with ID), 7.50 USD (Children, ages 6 - 17), free-of-charge (Children, ages 5 and under. American-Indians).
Opening Hours: 9.30am - 5pm (Monday - Saturday), 11am - 5pm (Sunday). Closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
Website: Heard Museum
11. Watch an indie film at Filmbar
If you’re in the mood to watch a movie, head over to FilmBar for a cool cinema experience. One of the unique things about FilmBar is that it’s a combination of cinema and bar, have you even heard of that before? It’s also considered to be a ‘microcinema’, which means it’s a compact cinema that can hold a limited amount of people, so you can be ensured that you’ll have a quiet movie night. The films screened by FilmBar aren’t big, Hollywood blockbusters, but are instead hard-to-find cult classics or local independent films. And even if you’re not planning on catching a film, feel free to just relax and unwind at the bar where you can have a drink of your choice.
FilmBar
Address: 815 N 2nd St, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Price: from 9 USD
Opening Hours: 5pm - 12am (Monday), 4.45pm - 12am (Tuesday & Thursday), 4.30pm - 12am (Wednesday), 5pm - 2am (Friday), 4pm - 2am (Saturday), 3pm - 12am (Sunday)
Website: FilmBar
12. Feel like you're on top of the world on the Float Balloon Tours
For an unparalleled view of Phoenix and the deserts that surround the city, you’ve come to the right place. Phoenix has a great climate for hot-air ballooning, so hop on board this tour and have a blast that will be ingrained in your memories forever. For most of the tours, an experienced tour guide will accompany you and explain everything to you and answer any of your questions. You’ll even be having a meal made on the spot by a professional chef when you land, so you’ll have something to look forward to. Right at the end of everything, you’ll receive photographs of your tour to take home and show off to everyone.
Float Balloon Tours
Address: 320 W. Lone Cactus Drive Ste. 10, Phoenix, AZ 85027
Price: Varies depending on the package you choose.
Website: Float Balloon Tours
13. Keep fit and strong at the Papago Park
Hiking is always a must-do activity when you’re in Phoenix, and while some of them might be strenuous, the ones in Papago Park are relatively simple and is perfect for the entire family! Besides hiking, there are also other outdoor recreational activities you can take part in like fishing or working out at the exercise corner. Papago Park also has two iconic attractions. The first attraction is the Hole-In-The-Rock, which is easily accessible via a simple hike, and through that hole, you can admire the gorgeous views of Downtown Phoenix. While the second attraction is Hunt’s Tomb, a white pyramid that is visible from almost every part of the park, and is where Governor George Wiley Paul Hunt, Arizona’s first governor, and his family are entombed.
Papago Park
Address: 625 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA
Price: Free-of-charge.
Opening Hours: 6am - 7pm (Gated roadways and parking areas east of Galvin Park), 6am - 11pm (Trails)
Website: Papago Park
14. Cry out 'giddy up' at the Ponderosa Stables
You can’t help but think of the classic chase scene between a sheriff and the outlaw when you see people riding on horses and leaving behind large sand clouds in Phoenix’s desert. With this tour, you can somewhat recreate that experience. At the Ponderosa Stables, you can go on several tours, all while riding on a horse. You can choose between several different tours, and some of them offer food at the end of the ride, or just ride through miles of scenic Phoenix trails. The tour is quiet and breathtaking, and you’ll even have an experienced guide to educate you and answer any questions you might have. Most importantly, even if you’re not an experienced rider, you can take part in this tour!
Arizona Horses at Ponderosa Stables
Address: 10215 South Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85042
Price: Depends on the trail, how long you’re riding for, or if you choose speciality rides.
Opening Hours: 9am - 8pm. Closed on Sundays.
Website: Arizona Horses at Ponderosa Stables
15. Taste the best craft beer on the Phoenix Brewery Tour
While they’re not as well-known as other towns or cities in the United States, Phoenix has always had an active brewery scene. However, on this cool Phoenix Brewery Tour, you can discover the delicious craft bars being produced in the glorious city of Phoenix. This is a safe way to explore the brewery scene in Phoenix as you’ll be visiting sites handpicked by the tour guides. In about 3 hours, you’ll be visiting 3 different breweries, so you can learn about the process of making beers, and taste some of the freshest and best craft beer the city has to offer. At the end of the tour, you’ll be given a complimentary tour T-shirt and a souvenir pint glass so you’ll remember your tour for a long time.
Phoenix Brewery Tour
Meeting Point: Angels Trumpet Alehouse, 810 N 2nd St, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Price: from 79 USD, 575 USD (Private tour).
Timings Available: 10.30am, 2.30pm or 6pm.
Duration: around 2.5 - 3 hours required.
Website: Phoenix Brewery Tour
Phenomenal Phoenix!
Phoenix seems like a perfect city, as it encompasses nature, culture and a hip downtown scene with ease. It has just about everything that will attract any tourists from every walk of life. So if you can’t choose what to do when you’re vacationing in Phoenix, how about choosing some of our favourite places of interest and just have some fun!
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