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Best Things to Do in Phoenix & Scottsdale Family Fun, Food & Local Favorites
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items My favorite things to do around Phoenix and Scottsdale; from family-friendly attractions and indoor escapes to restaurants, coffee spots, date-night ideas and local places actually worth checking out. Whether you live here or you’re visiting, these a...
Sections
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Family-Friendly Things to Do
Best Indoor Things to Do When It’s Hot
Restaurants & Food Worth the Trip
Coffee Obsessed!
Date Night & Adults Only Fun!
My Faves You Can't Miss!
Family-Friendly Things to Do
These are some of my favorite places around Phoenix and Scottsdale when you want an outing the kids will actually be excited about. From animals and hands-on play to trains and butterflies, these are great for family days and visiting relatives with ...
This is such a good pick when you have younger kids who need somewhere they can actually touch, climb and explore instead of just looking at exhibits. There’s enough to do that it easily fills an entire day especially with a little snack/lunch spot i...
Childrens Museum of Phoenix
A Phoenix classic for family days, especially when the weather is nice. There’s a lot of walking, but the animal experiences and huge grounds make it one of those places you can keep coming back to.
Phoenix Zoo
This is one of my favorite low-key Scottsdale family outings because kids get trains, a carousel and a huge park without it turning into an expensive all-day production. It’s especially great when you just need an easy weekend activity.
The Railroad Park
Walking through a rainforest surrounded by butterflies is such a cool experience for both kids and adults. It’s also indoors, which makes it an especially good Arizona activity when being outside sounds miserable. One of the coolest experiences I've ...
Butterfly Wonderland
This is one of those attractions that works for almost every age, and it’s completely indoors. The aquarium is big enough to feel like a real outing rather than something you’re finished with in 30 minutes. There's food and drinks halfway through as ...
AZ's Top-Rated & Largest Aquarium: OdySea Aquarium in Scottsdale
This is one of the most impressive museums in the Valley because it works for kids and adults without feeling too little-kid focused. The headphones automatically connect to exhibits as you walk through, and the hands-on instrument gallery makes it m...
MIM
Best Indoor Things to Do When It’s Hot
Because Phoenix summers are no joke, these are the places I’d choose when you want to get out of the house without melting.
This is a great one for kids who love climbing, jumping and Ninja Warrior-style obstacles. I like that it gives high-energy kids a lot more to do than a basic indoor playground. Definitely for older kiddos than toddlers!
Ninja Kidz Action Park - Phoenix
This is such a fun alternative to another trampoline park because the giant indoor slides make it feel completely different. It’s great for kids who need to burn a ton of energy, and the fact that it’s climate-controlled makes it perfect for Phoenix ...
Slick City Scottsdale, AZ
This is way more fun than a basic movie theater because you get comfy recliners and can order food and drinks right to your seat. It’s one of my favorite easy indoor outings when we want to get out of the house without committing to a huge activity.
RoadHouse Cinemas Scottsdale | Dine-In Movie Theater
This is a good pick when the whole family wants something different because you can do arcade games, bowling, food, and drinks all in one place. It’s especially great for older kids who have outgrown little-kid play places but still want something ac...
Dave & Buster's Arcade Restaurant
If you need to escape the heat for a few hours, this is one of the easiest places to make a whole afternoon out of shopping, food, and a movie. There’s everything from everyday stores to major luxury brands, so it feels more like a destination than a...
Scottsdale Fashion Square: Premier Scottsdale Mall
This is honestly an outing even if you don’t need sporting goods. The Ferris wheel, aquarium, games, candy shop, and huge store give kids plenty to look at and do, so it’s a surprisingly good indoor stop when it’s unbearably hot outside.
Chandler SCHEELS
This is a really fun all-in-one option with bowling, arcade games, laser tag, food, and drinks. I like it because it works just as well for a family outing as it does for older kids, teens, or even a casual date night.
Bowlero
If your kids are trampoline obsessed, this is an easy yes. It’s especially good when they desperately need to burn energy but it’s way too hot to send them outside.
Sky Zone Scottsdale, AZ
Restaurants & Food Worth the Trip
The restaurants I’d actually send someone to when they ask, “Where should we eat while we’re here?” From casual local favorites to special-occasion spots.
HULA’S has such a fun tropical atmosphere without feeling gimmicky, and it’s an easy place for food and drinks for a girl's night out. It’s especially good when you want somewhere casual that still feels more fun than a regular neighborhood restauran...
Hula's Modern Tiki
Postino is one of those places that works for almost anything; lunch, happy hour, girl's night or a casual date. The bruschetta boards + bottle of wine combo is chef's kiss! I love the Arcadia location personally but there's plenty to choose from.
Postino Arcadia - Phoenix
This is seriously some of the best deep-dish pizza I’ve tried. The crispy Detroit-style edges are the best part, and this is one of those places I’ll specifically crave instead of just settling for whatever pizza is closest. Hint: best RANCH ever!
Jet's Pizza
This is one of those uniquely Arizona stops that’s way more fun than a normal gas station. Between the barbecue, bakery treats, gift shop, car wash, and huge selection of snacks and drinks, it’s the kind of place you end up wandering around much long...
The Thumb
If you love over-the-top burgers, this is one of those spots that’s worth showing up hungry for. The burgers are creative, messy in the best way, and definitely not your basic fast-food situation. Craft burgers worth the hype!
PV Burger Company
This is such a great local pick for really good burgers, fries, and Arizona-made beer in a laid-back atmosphere. I love that it feels distinctly local, and it’s the kind of place that works just as well for a casual date as it does for meeting up wit...
AZW Beer
This is such a fun Phoenix classic when you want Mexican food with a lively, colorful atmosphere instead of somewhere too polished or trendy. The big patio, margaritas, and old-school Arizona feel make it especially great for casual dinners with frie...
Aunt Chilada's
Coffee Obsessed!
My favorite local coffee spots for when a basic drive-thru just won’t cut it. These are the places I’d recommend for a really good latte, a fun seasonal drink, or just a coffee stop that feels worth going out of your way for.
I especially love the Roastery location because there’s so much seating downstairs and a nice, cozy area upstairs with a patio. It’s a great place to bring a laptop and get some work done or catch up with a friend. The coffee and grub are excellent! ...
Press Coffee Roasters | The Roastery | Phoenix Arizona Cafe & Roastery
This is one for people who genuinely care about the coffee itself, not just a cute cup and pretty café. It feels much more specialty-coffee focused and is a great choice when you want something really well made and unique.
Moxie Coffee Co.
This place is worth visiting for the experience alone because they do fun themed menus and completely commit to the details (aka. Harry Potter themed and Star Wars themed). The coffee is good too, so it doesn’t feel like one of those places that’s on...
The Coffee Builders
Lola has that cozy neighborhood coffee-shop feel that makes you want to hang out instead of grabbing your drink and leaving. It’s a great downtown stop for meeting a friend or sitting with your laptop for awhile.
Lola Coffee Bar
This is one of my Scottsdale coffee picks when I want something local instead of another big chain. It has that smaller neighborhood-coffee-shop feel that makes it worth remembering. This one's for the girly girls who love IG aesthetics but won't sac...
Light Heart Coffee
I had to include Dutch Bros because it's my favorite chain with easy grab-and-go snacks but you gotta get my order: the Nitro Cold Brew with oat milk and a caraml drizzle. It’s smooth, strong and coffee-forward without turning into a giant sugary des...
Dutch Bros Coffee | Phoenix, AZ
Date Night & Adults Only Fun!
For the nights when you want to get out, dress up a little, and do something that feels more memorable than dinner at the same old spot. These are my picks for fun date nights, unique experiences, great food, drinks, and places that bring amazing vib...
This is one of the coolest date-night experiences in Phoenix because you’re sitting inside an incredibly detailed train car while the ‘scenery’ moves outside the windows. It feels much more like an experience than simply going somewhere for cocktails...
Platform 18 | Immersive Train Bar in Phoenix with Craft Cocktails
UnderTow makes you feel like you’ve stepped inside the hull of an old ship, complete with incredibly detailed theming and tropical cocktails. This is where I’d take someone visiting Phoenix when I want to show them something they definitely don’t hav...
UnderTow | Immersive Tiki Cocktail Bar in Phoenix & Gilbert, AZ
This is a great pick when you actually want to dress up and make dinner feel like an occasion. The dark, dramatic atmosphere makes it feel much more special than your typical steakhouse date night. If you're ok with taxidermy, this is a must. The foo...
Wren and Wolf
Hidden inside Wren & Wolf, this is such a fun after-dinner or date-night experience. The phone-free rule makes it feel even more intimate because you’re actually sitting together enjoying the drinks and atmosphere instead of the distraction. The ...
Best Cocktail Bar Phoenix
If martinis, live music and a glamorous night-out atmosphere sound like your thing, put this one on the list. It has that hidden lounge feeling that makes grabbing a drink feel like a movie set. The vibe alone is worth the parking fee but the drinks ...
Filthy Martini Bar
This is the splurge date-night choice when you want steak, dramatic décor and a full special-occasion dinner. Pairing dinner here with the hidden Filthy martini bar afterward makes for a really fun complete night out. Bucket list for sure!
Cleaverman
My Faves You Can't Miss!
These are the Phoenix and Scottsdale spots I personally think are too good to leave off the list. Some are popular, some are more under-the-radar, but they’re all places I would be sad if you didn't try at least once!
You absolutely do not have to be good at golf to have fun here. It’s such an easy group activity because you can play games, eat, hang out, and compete a little without anyone taking it too seriously. Such a cool vibe!
Topgolf Scottsdale | Golf, Dining, Sports Bar & Events
This is one of those experiences that sounds a little cheesy until you go—and then everyone gets completely into it. The horses, jousting, cheering for your knight, and eating dinner inside a castle make it such a memorable family night.
Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
If you want a full family staycation without worrying about the Arizona heat, the huge indoor water park makes this one hard to beat. There are enough extra activities inside that kids can stay entertained well beyond the pool. Day passes available t...
Indoor Water Park & Resort in Scottsdale, AZ | Great Wolf Lodge
This is such a cute family outing, especially if your kids love trains. The little railroad winds through Anthem Community Park, over the lake and through a tunnel, and you can easily make a whole morning of it with the huge playground and splash pad...
Daisy Mountain Railroad
This is such a fun throwback movie spot because the theater is packed with movie memorabilia and has that old-school local feel you don’t get at the big chains. It’s also a great budget-friendly option for a family movie day. Right now, tickets are a...
Pollack Tempe Cinemas
This is such a fun group activity because it literally feels like you stepped onto a game show set. You compete in different challenges with lights, music and a host, and it’s one of those outings where everyone ends up laughing way more than expecte...
The Best Game Show Experience in Phoenix (Scottsdale)