Whether you’re looking to share the great outdoors, learn about history at interesting museums or root for your favorite baseball team during Spring Training, Scottsdale, Arizona is your go-to destination. There are so many ways to create cherished memories your kids will long remember. Check out these exciting venues.
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Play at The Arizona Boardwalk
Indoors and out, the Arizona Boardwalk is Scottsdale’s newest entertainment, dining, and shopping destination. Discover the eight fascinating attractions – OdySea Aquarium, Butterfly Wonderland, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Laser + Mirror Maze, Pangaea Land of the Dinosaurs, Museum of Illusions, CyberQuest and the UFO Experience. There truly is something for every interest. I recommend buying a combo pass and saving 20% on multiple venues. The outdoor courtyard offers free events as well. Here is more information about some of the places you’ll enjoy. Check their website for special events.
Catch the Fish at OdySea
OdySea is the largest aquarium in the Southwest and the fourth largest in America, all developed by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Voted Best Family Entertainment for several years in a row, the Aquarium features high-tech, high-entertainment, oceanic adventure with floor-to-ceiling windows.
You can experience aquatic life in lots of fun ways. SeaTREK was way cool, where you descend deep into the water and meet marine life face-to-face, if you dare! The OdySea Voyager takes you on a rotating aquarium experience with sea turtles, sea lions, and sharks. You can even watch the actual feeding. Check out the award-winning bathrooms for even more surprises.
Take Flight at Butterfly Wonderland
What a feeling to walk into Butterfly Wonderland, the largest indoor butterfly conservatory in America and see thousands of butterflies flying freely around you. Get up close and personal with reptiles and amphibians, all in the magic of the rainforest. Be sure to catch the “Flight of the Butterflies” movie about the journey of the monarch butterflies in their immersive 3D theater.
Batter Up
Every February and March, 15 Major League Baseball teams train in Arizona’s Cactus League at ten stadiums throughout the Scottsdale/Phoenix area. It’s the ideal place to watch a baseball game in the casual environs of the desert. Spot your favorite players and cEvery February and March, 15 Major League Baseball teams train in Arizona’s Cactus League at ten stadiums throughout the Scottsdale/Phoenix area.
It’s the ideal place to watch a baseball game in the casual environs of the desert. Spot your favorite players and check out the up-and-comers. Spring training is laid-back. I speak from experience when I tell you it’s more like watching Little League baseball than the major leagues. But that’s what makes it so wonderful. It’s a chance for your kids to see major-leaguers in action without all of the pressure during the regular season. Check out catcusleague.com
Take a Puzzle Ride
Just like the popularity of escape rooms, Scottsdale’s newest attraction is Puzzle Rides, where you hop on a golf cart and work together with your friends, family or coworkers. Can you solve the puzzle within the allotted 75 or 90 minutes? Because you’re outdoors, you pass by local historical sites and admire Scottsdale’s collection of public art. It’s a win-win and lots of fun for the whole family. Choose from a variety of themes like the Pirate Adventure for kids, Ghost Riders, Pub Crawl or Wild West Heist.
Head to Adventure in the Great Outdoors
There’s no limit to what you can do in the Arizona desert. Take your family for a hot air balloon ride, go kayaking in the Salt River and if you’re lucky, catch a glimpse of the wild horses as they graze in the cool waters. Check out REI Co op Experiences for a complete itinerary of guided hikes, kayaking, mountain biking, and more.
The vast Sonoran desert offers exciting off-road discoveries amid the spectacular landscape. Take the kids out into the desert and discover a whole new world of plants and animals. I chose Stellar Adventures Hummer and AV Tours.
They picked us up at our hotel in the H1 Hummer and off we went. Our knowledgeable guide showed us the vegetation, many with medicinal properties as well as pointed out bighorn sheep and jackrabbits. Be on the lookout for the prickly pear cactus, also known for making refreshing margaritas. It was great fun and we learned a great deal about the desert terrain. Choose one of their AV Tours and drive yourself. When the sun goes down, Stellar Adventures also offers a Stargazing Experience and Night Vision Tours.
Shop the Exciting Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall
Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall has it all; shopping, dining, and entertainment. One of the really cool venues is Wonderspaces, a year-round, evolving art show featuring extraordinary artwork from around the world. This interactive, Instagram-friendly series of installations is the first permanent location of the popular art pop-up. Get your iPhones ready for awesome selfies.
Visit the Museums
The spirit of the American West is alive and well at the nation’s best Western Museum. and Smithsonian affiliate. You can explore the outstanding art exhibits, rare Old West artifacts and movie posters that bring Western heritage to life at the Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. Check out the collection of saddles and wonder about the adventures the riders had seen. You’ll get a feel for the culture of cowboys and Native Americans who settled this country. Walking distance of Scottsdale’s numerous art galleries and restaurants.
The Heard Museum, founded in 1929, features Native American art and history. Learn more about the native tribes that settled in the area thousands of years ago.
Discover the Architectural Genius of Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin
In 1937, American architect Frank Lloyd Wright ventured out to the Arizona desert and opened Taliesin West as a school for budding architects. When the students came to learn, they were tasked with building their own accommodations. Wright’s Organic Architecture principles focused on nature and beauty as a shared experience. On the National Register of Historic Places and a National Historic Landmark, the site offers a variety of tours showcasing Wright’s structural and functional designs like the Drafting Room as well as his private living spaces. Show your children the genius of America’s greatest architect.
Relax at the Family-Friendly Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
I’ve been a guest of the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess before, but in the summer they really turn up the heat with family-themed adventure. This year, the theme is “Summer Camp” with a host of activities at their new Camp Chill Zone at the resort. Think gold panning, archery, dive-in movies, mini-golf and field days to bring back the wonderful memories of summer camp for adults and kids alike. Remember making friendship bracelets and other arts and crafts? Check out their Camp Canteen for slushies, ice cream and snacks. Camp runs until September 2, 2024.
In Scottsdale, they really embrace the heat come summer with the theme, “It’s That Hot.” Here you’ll find great deals on hotels starting at $79 per night and resorts starting at $139 per night with seasonal discounts on tee times, spa treatments, hot air balloon rides, and special offers.
For more information go to experiencescottsdale.com and make your plans for your desert escape.
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