Scottsdale Family Vacations
Coming to Town with kids and wondering what to do with them? There are lots of entertaining events, and places to go and see. Some of the attractions are FREE! Check out the list below to make your Scottsdale family vacations a winner.Island of Big Surf - Water, Water everywhere - the best water slides in Arizona - Swimming and other fun water sports at this great spot. 1500 N McClintock, (On McClintock/Hayden Road between McKellips Rd. and Loop 202)Tempe Call 480-947-SURF or 947-7873
Bagdad Copper Mine Tour Off of Highway 97 between Wickenburg and Kingman. 928-633-4107; Founded in 1882 and named for a mining claim. Free tours of the working Cyprus Bagdad Copper Mine. 928-633-3490
Bank One Ball Park
Kids who like baseball will enjoy a tour of the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks! http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.
Castles & Coasters- located at I-17 and Peoria Avenue in Phoenix. Roller Coasters, bumper boats and small rides for kids. Call 602-997-7575
Cave Creek Recreational Park - located in Cave Creek on the east side of Carefree Highway, a few miles west of Cave Creek Road at 37904 N. Cave Creek Parkway. Offers a playground and picnic areas and all degrees of hiking and bicycling trails. Call (623) 465-0431 for information.
Challenger Space Center - 21170 N. 83rd Avenue, Peoria. Your budding astronaut will love the aviation exhibits, space missions and star gazing. Call 623-322-2001
Champlin Fighter Aircraft Museum - located in Mesa 4636 Fighter Aces Drive, Falcon Field Airport, Mesa.(602)830-4540 You and your family will enjoy seeing Thirty-three flyable fighter aircraft from World Wars I and II, Korean War, and Vietnam War. International prop and jet planes and other American Fighter Aces Association and Flying Tigers memorabilia.
Cowtown-AZ 10402 W. Carefree Hwy. Old West Town, Play Paintball (looks painful to me), Shooting Range and Stables. 480-530-6831
Cowboy Adventures - Don Donnelly Stables at Clearwater Ranch 15371 East Ojo Road, Gold Canyon, AZ 85218 - (480)982-7822) Call for directions. The Superstition Mountains are the backdrop for a horseback riding experience at the Don Donnelly Stables. Must be 8 or older. Get a feeling for the days of old with an "Old West" ride that will be matched to your wishes. Go for an hour or more! Great way to experience the olden days here in Arizona.
CrackerJax Family Fun & Sports Park - located in Scottsdale at 16001 N. Scottsdale Road. This complex includes miniature golf courses, a video arcade, bumper boats, driving range, 18 hole putting course and batting cages. Call (480) 998-1700 for more information.
Encanto Park's - Enchanted Island Amusement Park 1202 W. Encanto Blvd. Phoenix 480-254-2020. Family fun on the flying Jenny Carousel or CP Huntington Train.
Fiddlesticks Family Fun - located in the Scottsdale Pavilions at 8800 East Indian Bend Road. Call (480) 951-6060 for more information.
Fountain Park - located in Fountain Hills on Palisades Boulevard. See the world's tallest fountain and bring Frisbees for a round of Frisbee golf, (480) 816-5152.
Golfland - located in Mesa at 155 W. Hampton Avenue. This entertainment center has miniature golf courses, a 15,000-square foot castle with an arcade, pizza parlor, bumper boats and motorized race cars. Call (480) 834-8319 for information.
Jeeper's Playland - located in Mesa at 2726 S. Alma School Road. This indoor entertainment center features rides, a giant soft play area, dress-up area, games and food. Call (480) 820-8300 for information.
Katydid Insect Museum - Located at 5060 W. Bethany Home Road, Suite 7, Glendale. 623-931-0266; See a bearded dragon, plus the most deadly spiders in Arizona also many live and preserved insects. Plus hands-on activities. 11AM – 4:30PM, Mon-Fri. $3.00 ages 12 and older, $2.00 students and seniors, $1.00 ages 5-11, free for ages 4 and under. Coupons for 2-for-1 admission available at the Glendale Visitor’s Center. 623-930-4500.
Lowell Observatory 1400 W. Mars Hill Rd., Flagstaff. 928-774-3358; Worth the trip! Explore the starry skies through the Clark Telescope at this 108-year old museum. Go for day or night programs.$4.00 ages 18 & older, $2.00 ages 5 to 17, $3.50 AAA/senior/student, free for ages 4 and under. A 2-for-1 coupon available online.
Kiwanis Park Recreation Center 6111 S. All America Way Tempe, 480-350-520. An indoor wave pool and water slide, play volleyball, try the tennis courts, they've got it all. Open Year round.
McCormick Stillman Railroad Park - located in Scottsdale at the southeast corner of Scottsdale and Indian Bend roads. This theme-based 30 acre park has miniature train rides, a railroad museum and gift shop, playgrounds, carousel rides and a concession stand, (480) 312-2312.
Out of Africa Wildlife Park - located in Fountain Hills, 2 miles north of Shea Boulevard off Beeline Highway 87. Take an African safari. Call (480) 837-7779 for information.
Phoenix International Raceway - One-mile paved oval track. Be a NASCAR fan November thru April. Midgets, Indy and sports cars. Baseline Road and 115th Avenue near Phoenix
Phoenix International
Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park 4619 E. Washington St., Phoenix. 602-495-0900. National historic landmark built on a 1,000-year old Hohokam dwelling site. 9AM-4:45PM. Mon to Sat., 1-4:45Pm. Sun $2.00 adults, $1.50 seniors, $1.00 children. Free admission on Sundays.
Rawhide Western Town - located in Scottsdale at 23023 N. Scottsdale Road. - Old West Shoot-outs, Wild West Museum, Great shops, Kids love it!
Schnepf Farms 22601 E. Cloud Rd., Queen Creek. 480-987-3333. A petting zoo and train ride. There is a picnic area as well, so you can make a day of it! Fruits and vegetables available for picking.A farm with
 Tortilla Flat, Arizona One Main St., 18 miles northeast of Apache Junction on Hwy.88. 480-984-1776. An historic Old Western town (Pop. 6) with a gift store, ice cream/candy store, restaurant, and saloon and famous chili.
Following are Restaurants, where families with children can feel comfortable and not pay a fortune!
Rustler's Rooste
7777 S Pointe Pkwy W
Phoenix, AZ 85044
602-431-6474
El Paso Bar-B-Que Company
8220 N Hayden Rd # 112
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
480-998-2626
Nonni's Kitchen
4410 N 40th St # 200
Phoenix, AZ 85018
602-977-1800
Streets of New York
9301 E. Shea Blvd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
480-391-1900
Baja Fresh Mexican Grill
16495 N Scottsdale Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
480-609-9800
Blue Burrito Grille
7318 E. Shea Blvd.
Shea Scottsdale East
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
480-951-3151
El Torito
6200 N Scottsdale Rd
Scottsdale, AZ 85253
480-948-8376
Nick's - A great family restaurant. When you just want good food without the hassle! Informal and great. Usually a waiting line, it's worth the wait. I always enjoy the linguine with white clam sauce. Go early about 5:00 or about 7:45 when the crowd thins out ...and bring your own bottle of wine. Located at 13910 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd. on West side going north. Nick told us the other night, he is opening his second restaurant at Pima & Pinnacle Peaks Roads. There will be a nice bar and the same good kitchen, still no reservations. Call 480-314-9445
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