Things To Do In and Around Phoenix Arizona: Our Family Experience

Welcome to “The Valley Of The Sun” Phoenix, Arizona. 

Known as the capital of Arizona, Phoenix is blessed with year-round warmth and sunshine weather. It is gifted with varied activities that every family can take advantage of, such as comfortable and scenic hotel resorts equipped with elaborate pools and desert gardens, luxurious spas, world-class golf courses, and a southwest-infused fine dining experience. Not to mention the world-class picturesque view that all can witness and experience as they enjoy the travel or journey.

 

 

Our family had visited numerous places in Phoenix, Arizona. I am sure that as you read this write-up, you will be very excited to plan your trip heading to this beautiful place with the rest of your family members! So, what’s in Phoenix, and why is it WORTHY of much admiration and exploration?

 

Hall Of Flame Museum of Firefighting

Location: 6101 E Van Buren St, Phoenix, AZ 85008
The Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting was founded in 1961 by George F. Getz.

It is a non-profit organization that aims to collect, preserve and exhibit historic objects relevant to firefighting, reinforce fire safety education, and recognize the insurmountable recognition of firefighters who died in serving the people.

 

The museum holds more than 130 wheeled pieces of the collection, with about 10,000 other smaller objects on exhibit. As you head inside, a catalog will be given to you as a guide in exploring the six different exhibit galleries.

I am pretty sure that as you head here, you will get to appreciate the contribution of firefighters all over the world. Not to mention, the kids can also learn numerous life lessons (service to the country, heroism, patriotism, etc.) by visiting the Hall of Flame Museum.

Desert Botanical Garden

Location: 1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008
When we visited the Desert Botanical Garden, we were honestly surprised to see how beautiful the place was! 

The Desert Botanical Garden is home to thousands of plant species such as cactus, flowers, and trees from all over the world!

Additionally, we were fortunate enough to learn that there are a lot of activities available in the area. They have the Music in the Garden (Spring Concert Series), Dog Days at the Garden (morning stroll with pets), Flashlight Nights (Enjoying the View of Night Flowers and Plants), and Sonoran Sippin’ (Sunset with Music by Local DJs and Musicians). See? There are plenty of activities to experience!

 

Gold Field Ghost Town

Location: 4650 N Mammoth Mine Rd, Apache Junction, AZ 85119

There are several things that can be done in Gold Field Ghost Town, including a bakery visit, a saloon escapade (bar/tavern), and numerous train and mine tours! The place also holds a museum, corral stables, shooting gallery, among others.

The newest attraction that we got to try as a family was the superstition zipline – a very comfortable ride while witnessing the beauty of the entire town from above!

 

Hole in the Rock | Papago Park

Location: 625 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008

The Hole in the Rock at Papago Park is famous for the picturesque scene it offers. From here, you can see the rest of the park! As the highest point in the area, you get a glimpse of the nearby zoo and all other unique rock formations.

Going here may entail a bit of trailing or hiking, but the scene at the top will indeed pay off your hiking journey.

 

Enchanted Island Amusement Park

Location: 1202 W Encanto Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85007
The Enchanted Island Amusement Park is the perfect-to-go-place for the young ones and the young at heart!

Here, you can find several rides and activities that can be enjoyed by all ages! From Kiddie Carts to Climbing Wall and Parachute Tower, this park has everything reserved just for you! If you are with the kids in traveling, this place will surely be one of their favorites!

 

Encanto Park

Location: 2605 N. 15th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85007
The Encanto Park is one of the public parks in Phoenix. When we went here, some of the activities that we got to enjoy were conducting a picnic session, fishing, swimming, playing golf, and visiting an amusement park.

Yes, this one-stop adventure is definitely a must-see place for every traveler out there. In just one area, you can get to do lots of fun activities.

 

Old Town Scottsdale

Location: 7447 E. Indian School Road #301, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Strolling and walking around the Old Town Scottsdale is superbly satisfying. As you journey, the pedestrian-friendly vibe of the place will lead you to numerous places to visit, such as art galleries, museums, restaurants, as well as retail shops.

Not to mention, waiting for the night-time is also one of the town’s highlights – a time where everyone enjoys the exciting and vibrant nightlife!

 

Tempe Town Lake

Location: 100 E Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe, AZ 85281
The kids and adults alike enjoyed our visit to Tempe Town Lake. Some of the activities we tried include fishing, kayaking, jogging, picnicking, rowing, and even sailing!

These year-round activities serve as air-breather for those who would like to spend some quality time with their loved ones away from the busy city. The beauty of nature, along with the peaceful vibe of the lake, makes everything so serene and comfortable.

 

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park

Location: 7301 E Indian Bend Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85250
The McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is another amusement park that can be enjoyed by everyone regardless of preference and of age.

One of the main highlights of the place is the 1950-vintage Allan Herschell carousel and all other rides. Along with these, museum visits, playgrounds, parks, and a variety of shops are also conveniently available for you to fully enjoy your visit.

 

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor  (formerly wet n wild)

Location: 4243 W. Pinnacle Peak Road, Glendale, AZ 85310
If you’ve had enough of the usual amusement parks you’ve visited before, then heading to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor will definitely excite you.

The rides here tend to be more fun and exciting due to the fact that it involves water – and, of course, getting wet while riding the rides! They have kids, thrill and family rides, amazing dining experience, night events, and varied shops.

 

K1 Speed Phoenix

Location: 2425 S 21st St, Phoenix, AZ 85034
Our family was very excited to see and experience electric indoor go kart racing. We haven’t experienced any racing activity before, and thinking about joining in one made us very happy and excited.

Lo and behold, it was definitely one of the most adrenaline-rushing activities we’ve experienced. After that, we enjoyed our sumptuous snacks offered by the place’s restaurant. We also got to play some board games while resting.

 

Bowling at AMF Union Hills

Location: 3424 W Union Hills Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85027
We tried bowling before in another state we visited. But when we heard that Phoenix also has another bowling alley available, we did not want to miss the chance of visiting it and playing!

To make it even exciting, the place has different areas to visit – the bowling alley (best for beginners), the professional bowling alley, an arcade (for the kids), and a sports bar. Yup, we got to enjoy playing while munching some food and drinking our favorite juice.

 

Watch Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball Game at Chase Field and at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick

Location: 401 E Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85004 / 7555 N Pima Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
These baseball parks and stadiums are the perfect places for the Arizona Diamondback Baseball Game. As one of the top sports in the country, we all enjoyed watching and cheering for the team.

We bought our tickets ahead of time, went to the stadium ahead of time, bought some snacks, and ultimately enjoyed the game to the fullest!

 

Watch Phoenix Suns Basketball Game at Phoenix Suns Arena

Location: 201 E Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Since we tried almost any activity available in Phoenix, we did not miss visiting the Phoenix Suns Arena, where we got to watch the Phoenix Suns play basketball.

We were all very happy to have witnessed how amazing the game looks in person. Mind you, the place tends to be a bit crowded. So, I suggest that you buy your tickets ahead of time and come to the venue as early as you could.

 

 Here are my final tips for you to enjoy your experience in Phoenix as much as we did (or even more!)

First, plan your itinerary ahead of time. Make sure to download local maps ahead of time and encircle all the places which you want to include in your trip. This will help you be strategic in preparing your route.

Second, be spontaneous. At times, some events in some places may not be possible due to weather conditions and all other possible factors. In this case, you need to think of an alternative spot or hub to visit. This will help you save a lot of time and effort.

Third, read information about the place. Some of these places may require some information and restrictions based on the situation. Look for health declaration announcements or information so that you will know what materials to bring (masks, shields, vaccination booklet, etc.)

Fourth, don’t forget to bring your camera with you! As you go around, take photos of the view and if yourself. Someday, you’ll see your photos, and it will help you remember how much fun you’ve had during your visit to Phoenix.

 

Lastly, prepare yourself physically. It means that you need to have 100% energy as you travel here in order for you to fully enjoy the experience!

So, my family and I hope that this list of the ins and outs of Phoenix, Arizona helped you visualize and eventually plan your trip here. I wish you all the best and fun that Phoenix has to offer. Good luck!