Seattle’s winters have already got me dreaming of blue skies and natural warmth. With its southwestern charm, sunshine, and saguaro cactus, Phoenix, Arizona, is the perfect escape for a rain-laden Pacific Northwesterner like me! As a native-born Arizonan and a frequent visitor to the Phoenix area, I’ve had decades to perfect my desert escape. Read on for my tips to make the most of your family vacation to Phoenix.
Getting there
The best time to visit Phoenix is between October and April since summer temperatures consistently exceed 100 degrees. Even in the middle of winter, visitors can expect to enjoy pleasant temperatures and a respite from the rain.
Flying is the quickest and cheapest way to get to Phoenix. There are multiple daily direct flights between Sea-Tac Airport and Phoenix year-round. Alaska Airlines also operates seasonal flights between Everett’s Paine Field and Phoenix.
After landing, take the quick 15-minute drive from the airport to Luci’s at the Orchard for some nourishment. This quintessential Arizonan cafe offers a full menu of kid-friendly fare (along with fresh-squeezed juices and espresso for any travel-weary adults), a marketplace, and a splash pad.
Where to stay
Phoenix offers a wide range of accommodations suitable for families including hotels, vacation rental properties, and resorts.
A wide array of hotels at different price points are also available throughout the Phoenix metro area. A few great options that meet my trifecta criteria of “location-pool-value” (I’m looking at you, free breakfast!) are the Courtyard Phoenix Downtown, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Phoenix Downtown North, and the Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Happy Valley.
When our family travels, we almost always opt for vacation rental properties where we can spread out and have a bit more privacy. Using websites or apps like Vrbo, Vacasa, and Airbnb can help narrow down results to find the right accommodations in the right location for your family. I always like to filter my results in Phoenix to find places that offer a pool (make sure there’s a pool fence if you’re traveling with non-swimmers), air conditioning (definitely a requirement in Phoenix), and dedicated free parking if you plan on having a rental car.
If you’re looking for a more luxe experience, many family-friendly resorts are within easy reach. The Arizona Grand Resort and Spa, JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, and the Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort are great family options. Boasting family-friendly amenities like family suites and on-site restaurants and activities, families will enjoy their home away from home.
One of the biggest draws of these resorts is their waterpark-esque pool complexes that include features like water slides, lazy rivers, cabanas, and poolside food and beverage service.
Traveler tip: Even if you aren’t staying at one of the big fancy resorts, you can still visit and take advantage of their amenities with a resort pass. For example, you can purchase a “pool time only” day pass to the Hilton Phoenix Tapatio Cliffs Resort for $35, then spend the day swimming, sliding, and sipping by the pools!
Where to play
Phoenix Zoo
Kids of all ages (and their grown-ups!) will enjoy visiting the animals at Phoenix Zoo. Visitors can get up close with animals from around the world in exhibits like the Africa Trail (lions and giraffes, oh my!) and the Tropics Trail (fancy a visit with an elephant or a rhino?). Visit the Arizona Trail to observe desert-native animals such as coyotes, javelina, and fascinating reptiles and amphibians. The zoo’s Children’s Trail also includes a petting zoo and one of my personal favorites, a two-toed sloth.
Papago Park
After getting your fill of zoo animals, drive from the zoo’s parking lot to Papago Park. Featuring beautiful sandstone buttes and primarily flat trails, this park is a great place to explore and get some last wiggles out before heading back to your accommodation’s pool (to get more wiggles out). Make sure to visit the “Hole In The Rock” hike (don’t worry if you’re short on time, it’s only half a mile round-trip!). This quick jaunt to a natural opening in the red rock butte offers stunning views of the Phoenix skyline.
Desert Botanical Garden
Located in Papago Park, the Desert Botanical Garden is a beautiful place to explore and learn about native desert plants. Wandering the garden’s trails offers close-up views of native flowers, plants, and cacti (or, as we train our children from a young age: “Owie-trees”). There is also a seasonal butterfly pavilion where researchers can study the relationship between plants and these beautiful pollinators.
Mariners Spring Training
If you’ve ever wanted to watch your hometown baseball team play in the desert sun, this is your chance! From late February through March, you can catch Mariners games daily during their spring training season in Peoria, Arizona (about 30 minutes from Phoenix). Tickets and more information can be found on the Mariners spring training website.
Hikes in and around Phoenix
Hiking is a great way to get out and explore an area. Bonus: it’s a mostly free activity for all ages. Dozens of hikes are available in the Phoenix area, and using an app or website like AllTrails is a great way to find what’s available nearby. Two popular preserves that include miles of hiking trails are the Phoenix Mountain Preserve and the Phoenix Sonoran Desert Preserve. Just make sure to bring the essentials for desert hiking when you embark. Bring plenty of extra water, sunscreen, hats and/or sunglasses, and a basic first aid kit (just in case anyone gets the idea to touch an “owie tree” (cacti) out in the desert).
Museums
Several family-friendly museums in Phoenix offer great places to explore and learn. The Children’s Museum of Phoenix features a massive indoor climbing structure and exhibits to foster imagination, creativity, and fun. The Arizona Science Center has permanent exhibits where visitors can learn about space, landforms, and human bodies. There is also a large-format movie theater and an outdoor bubble lab, which are my kids’ favorite.
After your visit to one of these museums, make the 10-minute drive to treat yourself to a gourmet homemade ice pop at AZ Pops. This is not your ordinary popsicle shop, and everyone in your family is sure to find a flavor to enjoy from their rotating menu, which includes dozens of unique flavors, such as Caramel Cookies and Cream, Prickly Pear, and Horchata.
Wild West Frontier Town
If you want to get a taste of the old Wild West while you’re in Arizona, head 45 minutes north of Phoenix to Frontier Town in Cave Creek. Stroll through this authentic replica town straight out of the 1800s, and bring your fully-charged camera for old-fashioned photo-ops. Spend some time shopping in the little town, and if you time it right, you might even be able to catch a rodeo or a Wild West parade. If you get peckish, head across the street to El Encanto Mexican restaurant, where your kids can wait for their meal and feed ducks in the restaurant’s central duck pond.
Medieval Times
Admittedly, this has nothing to do with Arizona, but Medieval Times is one of our kids’ favorite destinations when we visit Phoenix. And really, who wouldn’t enjoy the novelty of watching a live performance that involves royalty, horses, AND jousting knights while eating a scrumptious meal with your bare hands? Purchase tickets online ahead of time to guarantee your reservation and save some money off the “at the door” price.
Medieval Times in Phoenix is always a stop for the kids.
Day trips from Phoenix
If you have extra time in your Arizona schedule, consider leaving Phoenix for a day (or more!) to explore the area.
The famous Red Rocks of Sedona are just a 2-hour drive from Phoenix. An outdoor-lovers paradise with hiking trails, ATV and Jeep tours, water sports, and hot air balloon flights, you’re sure to make lasting memories in Sedona.
If you have a few days to spare, consider driving up to Grand Canyon National Park (about 3.5 hours from Phoenix). Witness one of the world’s deepest canyons and explore all that this beautiful national park has to offer.
Dream up your own desert escape and, with these tips, make it a reality! Phoenix is a quick trip from Seattle and the perfect place to make new memories with your family.
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