Think of Arizona as America’s natural “amusement park,” where fun and adventure await your family in every corner of the state. Add an engaging selection of Old West towns, dude ranches, mines, lakes, railroads, and other diversions, and the result is a family vacation like no other.
If you’re looking for things to do with kids in Arizona, we have plenty of ideas. Go to the Four Corners and let them stand in four states at once. Enjoy the Junior Ranger program at the Grand Canyon. Or enjoy the state’s many zoos, wildlife parks, and kid-friendly museums, like the Arizona Science Center, the Hall of Flame Fire Museum, and the Pima Air and Space Museum.
Water activities like swimming, boating, rafting, and more are also big hits with the little ones, so make room for a trip to Lake Powell or Lake Mead, or just a ride on Tempe Town Lake, where motorized and non-motorized watercraft cruise the formerly dry riverbed between Tempe and Phoenix.
Find out all the fun things to do in Arizona including jeep tours, old-west fun, family entertainment, and of course, the Grand Canyon.
Grand Canyon for Kids
When planning an Arizona family vacation, you’ll find a variety of attractions to choose from which are great for kids. Like spending time outdoors? Then you might want to visit one of Arizona’s most popular tourist attractions, the Grand Canyon.
Enjoy hiking, mule trips, white water rafting, breathtaking views, and a variety of activities at the Grand Canyon. Sightseeing tours are available. This can make for a spectacular camping vacation. Several campgrounds are available both inside the park and just outside.
Drive to the park on your own or for a real adventure, travel by the Grand Canyon Railway. Located in Williams, visitors can travel to and from the Canyon on historic railroad cars. Different classes of services are available. Be sure to arrive early to enjoy the entertainment before the train departs.
Fun Things to Do in Arizona
A little over two hours away is the extremely scenic, spiritual place of Sedona. Known for its energy vortexes and red mountains, Sedona offers a variety of jeep tours. While parents can enjoy the scenery, kids will love being in an open-air jeep. For a real splurge, try a hot air balloon ride.
Just down the road is Cottonwood. For a night of fun family entertainment, visit the Blazin’ M Ranch to enjoy a re-created Western town complete with chuckwagon dinner, suppertime entertainment, and miniature train rides.
Looking for something leisurely? Lake Havasu is home to the London Bridge. Take part in fishing, canoeing, and a variety of other water activities. Instead of staying in a hotel, you can even rent a houseboat. Jet ski and boat rentals are available.
Things to Do in Phoenix with Kids
The Arizona Science Center has over 300 hands-on displays that kids can enjoy including a planetarium, digital communication, and rock climbing. There’s also an IMAX theater. Escape the heat of the desert and plan a fun-filled family day at Wet’n’Wild, known as the biggest water park in Arizona.
Experience what life was like in the pioneer days at the Pioneer Arizona Living History Village and Museum. Have fun with a safari train, camel rides, giraffe encounters,s and more at the Phoenix Zoo, voted one of the nation’s top five zoos for kids. Just a couple of hours south is Tucson, which has its own fair share of family attractions.
Things to do in Arizona with Kids
A real family gem is Old Tucson Studios. Used in numerous movies, TV shows, and commercials, this Tucson attraction offers trail rides, live performances, and stagecoach rides along with other fun activities. Due to the desert heat, it is only open during certain times of the year.
Sabino Canyon is perfect for families who prefer spending time outdoors. Go hiking, picnicking, and swimming in this picturesque location. Narrated tours are available. Sabino Canyon is located in the Santa Catalina Mountains.
Southern Arizona has its own fair share of great family activities. Bisbee offers a tour of the Queen Mine. Kids will be excited when they board their mine car to go underground to this copper mine. There is lots of Old West fun to be had in Tombstone, dubbed “The town too tough to die.”
Families can relive the infamous shootout at the O.K. Corral. Interested in ghostly happenings? See if the family can photograph any orbs or catch any EVPs at the Birdcage Theater. This has been the site for numerous paranormal investigations. Further information can be found in the article The Ghosts of Tombstone.
When planning an Arizona family vacation, keep in mind the temperature at the time of the year you’re visiting. Summers get very hot and certain activities may not work well with younger children due to the heat. The above showcases only some of the fun things to do in Arizona with kids. Even more fun awaits.