As Phoenix is the largest city in the state of Arizona, the choice of activities on offer for children is endless. There are fun yet educational attractions such as the Science Centre as well as exciting theme parks, a zoo and a number of parks and open spaces where children can use up their excess energy.
Arizona Science Center
This interactive, educational centre is extremely popular among children. It boasts over 300 exhibits which are designed for both learning and entertainment. Topics covered include: computers, geology, human physiology and transportation. There is also a planetarium and a large-screen theatre on-site, which are also immensely popular.
Phone: +1 602 716 2000; website: www.azscience.org
Castles ‘n’ Coasters
Castles ‘n’ Coasters is a small amusement park that offers a number of rides suitable for any age group. Popular rides and attractions include a giant roller coaster, four 18-hole miniature golf courses and numerous other rides. After enjoying the rides, many kids like to explore the shops (especially the toy shops) at the Metrocenter, which can be found next door, which is one of the biggest shopping centres in the state.
Phone: +1 602 997 7575; website: www.castlesncoasters.com
Chase Field
This ballpark, previously called Bank One Ballpark, is home to the Arizona Diamondbacks and is one of the few ballparks in the entire country which has a retractable roof. Other attractions here include a family picnic area and a swimming pool. Kids love the excitement of the park, especially when a home game is being played. Regardless whether you like baseball, you will not fail to get wrapped up in the excitement when someone hits a home run.
Phone: +1 602 462 6000;
website: www.bankoneballpark.com/home/index.asp
Phoenix Zoo
This sizeable zoo is home to over 1,000 animals including many endangered species, all of which live in incredibly large natural enclosures. Other attractions at the zoo include the tropical rainforest exhibit and a petting zoo for children.
Phone: +1 602 273 1341; website: www.phoenixzoo.org
Phoenix is a sprawling mass of cultural exhibits and attractions. There are a number of excellent museums documenting the history of the area as well as offering insights into science and nature. Art galleries are plentiful, with many international works being displayed as well as works by local and national artists. The university’s art gallery profiles the work of many up-and-coming artists. For those interested in religious heritage, there are a number of churches to be found dotted across the city, along with an intricately decorated Buddhist temple.
Arizona Buddhist Temple
This impressively ornate temple can be found in the heart of Phoenix. The temple dates back to the 1930s and was built in a grand Japanese-style. It is the oldest of its kind in the entire state and warmly welcomes all visitors.
Phone: +1 602 278 0036
Arizona State University Art Museum
This is a small gallery that is housed in a stylish and innovative building. The gallery is home to a number of popular temporary exhibitions as well as permanent collections of contemporary and Latin American art, sculptures and prints. The Ceramics Research Center and Gallery can be found across the street and is well worth a visit, as it is home to some stunning ceramic artwork.
Phone: +1 480 965 2787; website: asuartmuseum.asu.edu
Hall of Flame Firefighting Museum
This is the largest firefighting museum in the world and houses an enormous collection of antique equipment and vintage fire trucks, some of which dates back to 1725. The kids will love dressing up in all of the uniforms as well as playing with some of the demonstration equipment.
Phone: +1 602 275 3473; website: www.hallofflame.org
Heard Museum
The Heard Museum in Phoenix is one of the most comprehensive resources on Native American history and culture in the world. Years of research has been put into creating the Native Peoples of the Southwest exhibit as well as the numerous song and dance exhibitions.
Phone: +1 602 252 8848; website: www.heard.org
Mesa Southwest Museum
This museum is one of the most popular in Phoenix. Displays include animated and skeletal dinosaurs, life-like waterfalls, locally filmed movies, old jail cells and imitation mines. There is also a pre-Columbian temple. Phone: +1 480 644 2230
Phoenix Art Museum
This museum opened in 1959 and displays works of art from all corners of the world. Attractions include the modern and contemporary exhibits by members of the Cowboy Artists of America.
Phone: +1 602 257 1222; website: www.phxart.org
Phoenix Museum of History
This is the city’s local history museum which can be found next to Heritage Square. The museum documents local historical events through fascinating displays and exhibits, allowing visitors to catch a glimpse into what it would have been like to live in 19th century Phoenix.
Phone: +1 602 253 2734; website: www.pmoh.org
Pioneer Living History Village
This popular attraction gives visitors the chance to travel back to when Arizona was still in its early development stage. It is a recreated village that features costumed craftspeople, traditional homes and shops, ruins and an impressive Civil War re-enactment. Phone: +1 623 465 1052; website: www.pioneer-arizona.com.
St Mary's Basilica
St Mary's Basilica is situated in the centre of Phoenix and is a particularly stunning church, which was built in the late 19th century. It is also a very important basilica as it is the area's oldest Roman Catholic Church and was once visited by Pope John Paul II. Phone: +1 602 252 7651
All Southwestern dishes can be traced back to Phoenix, with many secret recipes being handed down through generations. There are literally hundreds of first-class restaurants to choose from in Phoenix, catering to all tastes and budgets. International restaurants include: Italian, Persian, Salvadorian, Mexican and Vietnamese.
The cowboy steakhouse restaurants and countless ice cream parlours are particularly popular in the city, as they offer excellent food at reasonable prices. Resort restaurants serve up excellent fare, but can be pricey and are therefore only really an option for those not travelling on a budget.
For those looking to dine in style, there are many trendy cafés across the city catering to the chic 20-somethings who want to see and be seen. Or you if you want something cheap and cheerful, head to the university area, where you will find fast food, vegetarian delights, delis and snack shops offering meals at a fraction of the cost of many other places.
Local specialities draw upon the traditions of American Indians, Spanish colonists and Mexicans. Food is often spicy and sauces are plentiful. Chili con carne is a popular dish, as is chicken casserole and black bean salsa.
With Phoenix located in the middle of the desert, it can get extremely hot during the day. Luckily, Phoenix's is home to a number of air-conditioned malls, allowing you to shop in comfort. Scottsdale and Biltmore are the main shopping districts in Phoenix, with the upscale Biltmore Fashion Park housing several designer outlets.
Scottsdale boasts numerous shopping malls which are home to high street fashion stores as well as electronic shops, jewellers and department stores. If you prefer smaller, more unique shops, there are a number of smaller boutiques and independent stores.
Phoenix is popular with anyone looking to indulge in a spot of retail therapy. You can purchase practically anything in the city, ranging from clothing to household goods and from Native American Art to local handicrafts.
Phoenix offers lovers of the outdoors a number of different options. The city is brimming with parks and outdoor spaces, where a number of different events take place and sporting meets are held. There is a vast number of hiking trails allowing trekking enthusiasts the chance to get back to nature. There are also climbing opportunities and skiing options, although these are seasonal.
Hiking
Camelback Mountain is popular with climbers and hikers, and the trail to the top has become a Phoenix institution. Many hikers can be seen every day making there way up to the top of the hill. You can hike at your own pace, taking time to take in the stunning scenery and wildlife.
Rock Climbing
Lookout Mountain can be found in North Phoenix and offers climbers the chance to enjoy a short, basalt cliff with a selection of moderate to challenging routes. You will only need a single rope and a small rack of quickdraws to participate in a climb. The area offers amazing views across the valley and is usually pretty quiet, as it is not on the main tourist strip.
Skiing
There are many places within just a few hours drive of Phoenix where you can satisfy any urge to ski that you might have. Skiing here is a lot cheaper than elsewhere in the US and offers slopes to suit all levels of experience. Arizona Snowbowl has five ski lifts and 32 runs, with the longest being just less than four kilometres.
South Mountain Park
This is one of the largest municipal parks in the world and offers countless hiking trails, breathtaking vistas, a bike park and children’s playgrounds. The park is especially popular during spring, when wild flowers blossom as far as the eye can see and families and couples can often be seen enjoying a picnic.
