Family Activities - Phoenix,AZ

Go to library and look in Raising Arizona Magazine for the community calender or any other magazine. You can also go to getout. In front of library there is a newspaper get out for ideas. the library is a great source. They have a quarterly event calendar as well. I took my kids (with a wagon) to scottsdale art festival. Thursday night art walks in downtown fun too. Take wagon!!!! kids get tired before we do. When it gets cooler, take wagon for night walks around your neighborhood. Check out borders book store too. They use to have family reading time. Try the Scottsdale railroad park too. the farris wheel and train are a great hit. they have a great playground too. In the evening they usually have concerts under the stars as well as scottsdale civic center.
there is a restraunt at the end of the one of the airports where you can watch airplanes. In the library there is a book called What'll we do Museaum or zoo that lists all the childrens museaums, theatre, music, and dance in phoenix area. Batanical gardens in fall Luminary walk is cool too.
Hope this helps. If you need more ideas, let me know.

The zoo's are always fun and the Phx Zoo has a water play area. Also, there are several splash pads throughout the valley. Don't know what part of the valley you are in but Westgate has a splash pad where the water shoots out of the ground and kids can play and get wet and stay cool and they have lounge chairs and shade all around the area. Kierland Commons in Scottsdale also has a similar water/play area.

The library and Barnes and Noble do storytime every week. Just get online for times.

The malls have indoor play areas since it is too hot to be at the parks. Also, Arizona Mills has an indoor merry-go-round.

Hope this helps.

L.

Hello!

Well, there is the PHX Zoo, of course, as well as the Wild Life park in the West valley. The PHX Zoo has water play area that will probably work for the 1-year old.

We like this too when it is cooler:
Railroad park (http://www.therailroadpark.com/visitor.html),
7301 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85250, Entry is free, rail and carousel tickets cost $1.00 Each - Discount Ticket books are available and contain 12 tickets for $10. Tickets and ticket books are non-refundable, but never expire. Bring a picknick and you are all set :)

There are also event announcements at "showup.com" for family/kids activities and free events.

Hope this helps!
D.

There are many parks in the Phoenix area that have splash pads that you can use free of charge. There is a small one, that's rarely crowded located off Baseline, and 35th Ave, closer to Vineyard and 33rd or so. I take my kids there a few times a month. I'm all about low-cost/no-cost outings. I'll take the kids to the library to read books or over to the Campus for Compassion Animal shelter to see the dogs and cats. I also have a zoo membership, so when we do go to the zoo, we pick and choose what we're going to see. That way, if the kids only see the giraffe and elephants and want to go home, it's not a big deal or a waste of an admission ticket.