ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER 600 E. Washington St., Phoenix Admission: starts at $22.95 for adults, $16.95 for ages 3-17. Members are free. Explore an entire building full of interactive science exhibits, including the Dorrance DOME, composed of 9,026 panels and 44 million LED lights. Daily shows include Stories of Plant Earth and Astronomy Tour: Arizona. Permanent exhibits include Good Vibrations, where families can ‘get their groove on,’ and Get Charged Up, an exhibit where kids can get hands-on with science. The center also offers monthly events. azscience.org AS YOU WISH POTTERY STUDIO 2000 E. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe Admission: Studio fee is $10. Full price depends on pottery piece ($5-$75). This studio puts the art in party! Guests can pick their piece and decorate however they choose. As You Wish provides paints, supplies, glazing and firing. The studio also offers canvas painting, workshops, classes, special events and DIY projects. asyouwishpottery.com AZ ICE ARCADIA 3853 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix Admission: All skate rentals are $4 plus $11 for everyone 13 and up, $9.50 for 12 and under, $7.50 for over 55 and students with an ID. Veterans and active members of the military skate for $5.50. There’s always something exciting happening on the ice! Escape the heat at AZ Ice Arcadia, where guests will find public skating, lessons, youth hockey league and day camps. The Ice House Tavern provides food, drinks and snacks. azice.com/arcadia BAM KAZAM 8999 Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale Admission: Around $36 per person for up to two hours. Bam Kazam is an interactive adventure that combines elements of an escape room, obstacle course and arcade-style games. Guests are introduced to dozens of themed challenge rooms filled with physical obstacles, puzzles and skill-based missions that teams complete together. One admission ticket provides access to multiple games during a timed session. bamkazam.com BUTTERFLY WONDERLAND 9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale Admission: $33.95 for ages 18+, $23.95 for ages 2-12. Next door to OdySea Aquarium is a chance to learn about the amazing lives of butterflies. Visitors can get up close and personal with the flying beauties and the reptiles and amphibians that coexist with them in the rainforest. There’s also a 3D theater, weekly events, an active beehive, reptile exhibit and other displays on creepy crawlies in the rainforest. butterflywonderland.com CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN Echo Canyon Recreation Center: 4925 E. McDonald Dr., Phoenix A hike up Camelback Mountain may be the outdoor adventure you’ve been looking for. The trails are open from sunrise to sunset, but we’d recommend getting there early in the summertime. Bobby’s Rock Trail is perfect for a pleasant stroll up the mountain, while hikers can find more difficult paths on the Echo Canyon Summit and Cholla Trails (6131 E. Cholla Lane, Phoenix). Dogs are not allowed on the trails. phoenix.gov/parks CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF PHOENIX 215 N. 7th St., Phoenix Admission: $19 per person, $18 for ages 62+. Free for members and children under the age of one. This museum focuses on learning through play, emphasizing early childhood education and school readiness. The museum has 48,000 square feet of hands-on, interactive exhibits, tricycle rides, Noodle Forest and day camps designed for kids ten and under. childrensmuseumofphoenix.org CLUVILLE 9500 E. Vía de Ventura, Scottsdale Admission: $39.95 per player. The ultimate kids’ escape room experience, Cluville offers four distinct escape rooms (Alien Invasion, Old Wizard, Secret Potion and Detective Agency) designed to encourage children to unplug technology and interact with challenges that foster connection and creativity. Perfect for ages 6 to 14, each room caters to different interests that help kids solve mysteries, make memories and feel accomplished. cluville.us DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN 1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix General admission: $32.95 per person, $14.95 for ages 3-17. Along with a plethora of events, there’s always something going on at Desert Botanical Garden. Guests can walk along five different trails while admiring the flora and fauna of our environment. Check out the Cactus Clubhouse for kids or the Spring Butterfly exhibit, and when you get hungry, there are a couple of restaurants on the grounds to choose from. dbg.org ENCHANTED ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK 1202 W. Encanto Blvd., Phoenix Admission is free, with single ride tickets starting at $6.25 and an all-day ride pass for $28.50. This city park features nine rides along with a variety of other attractions targeted at children ages 1-10 – it’s indoors, so think ideal location for summer birthday parties. It is also home to Arizona’s oldest continuously operated carousel. Guests can also check out the pedal boats (starting at $26) that wind through 7.5 acres of scenic waterways. enchantedisland.com FAIRMONT SCOTTSDALE PRINCESS DAY CAMP 7575 E. Princess Dr., Scottsdale Kids ages 6-12 can check out the Princess Day Camp, where activities like lagoon fishing, scavenger hunts, gold panning, sand castle building, swimming, and rubber duck races abound. Campers receive a t-shirt, backpack and water bottle. Lunch and snacks are included each day, and these camps are available until July 24. Cost is $600 per week with discounts for added weeks. scottsdaleprincess.com GREAT WOLF LODGE 7333 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale Admission: $40 for a half-day pass, $50 for a full day. If the heat is too much, head to the Valley’s indoor water park at Great Wolf Lodge. Folks can enjoy the 84-degree park and over 50 different activities: swimming pools, basketball hoops, floating lily pads, slides, a lazy river, hot tubs and a kid’s play place are just a few of the amenities. greatwolf.com HALL OF FLAME FIRE MUSEUM 6101 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix Admission: $19 for adults, $15 for ages 6-17, $10 for ages 3-5. This museum houses various fully restored fire apparatus from 1725 to 1969. There are multiple exhibits at the near-acre facility, including a gallery dedicated to the history of wildland firefighting in the United States and a 9-11 exhibit. The museum also offers tours. hallofflame.org HARKINS SUMMER MOVIE FUN If you’re willing to wake up early, you can go to the movies this summer for super cheap. Harkins Summer Movie Fun lets kids 12 and under enjoy a movie a week for eight weeks for $1 per film. You can buy single-day tickets or season tickets. Adult tickets are the same price, but an adult and child have to go together. Check online to find out which theaters are participating. harkinstheatres.com HEARD MUSEUM 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix Admission: $26 for adults, $10 for ages 6-17 and college students with ID. Heard Museum boasts 12 exhibition galleries, free guided tours, outdoor sculpture gardens, a café, a contemporary art gallery, trading-post style shopping, and more. The Heard also hosts special events, like the Indian Fair and Market, family movie nights, and First Fridays. heard.org IFLY INDOOR SKYDIVING 9206 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale Admission: The two-flight super saver package starts at $84 per person; Bobby’s Rock Trail is perfect for a pleasant Cool Stuff TO DO 48 SUMMER ’26

different rates and group packages are available. Have you ever wanted to try skydiving, but jumping out of a plane isn’t your thing? Now, you can fly without actually being in the sky. Trained instructors will show you the proper techniques and give you the gear you need for an excellent experience – and you can also take home a flight certificate as a keepsake. iflyworld.com LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTER 5000 Arizona Mills Cir., Tempe Admission starts at $22.99. You don’t have to drive to California to enjoy the fun of Legoland – there’s one right in your backyard. The Legoland Discovery Center has two rides, ten build-and- play zones, exhibits, a 4D cinema, a Lego store, a factory tour and creative workshops; if you book the Legoland and Sea Life (right next door) package, you can get a discount on tickets. legolanddiscoverycenter.com MAIN EVENT ENTERTAINMENT 8545 S. Emerald Dr., Tempe Admission: Starts around $25 per person depending on activity and package rates. If you’re looking for a place with a bit of variety and a lot of fun, Main Event might just be it. This establishment has 26 bowling lanes, arcade games, mini-golf, laser tag, a human crane (bringing the classic game to life!), karaoke and challenge rooms. There’s also bowling leagues for the grown-ups and a full-service restaurant when it’s time to grub. mainevent.com MAVRIX 9139 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale Admission: Starts at $20 depending on the activity/package. Eat-Drink- Bowl-Game is the motto at Mavrix. They’ve got 22 bowling lanes, over 80 arcade games, laser tag and billiards, and a full-service restaurant and patio area for fresh air after gaming. Monday-Thursday, guests can enjoy unlimited bowling, billiards and laser tag for $23 per person. mavrix.com MCCORMICK-STILLMAN RAILROAD PARK 7301 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale Admission: Entrance to the park is free. Rides are $3 each or $12 for an all- day wristband. McCormick- Stillman Park has been open since 1975 and has become a well-loved spot for children and adults to enjoy. Not only is there an actual train ride, there’s also a carousel, a train history museum and a park for kids – plus, if you get hungry, you can visit Hartley’s General Store for an ice cream cone! therailroadpark.com MEDIEVAL TIMES 9051 E. Vía de Ventura, Scottsdale Admission: $77 for adults, $47 for kids. Transport yourself to long ago at Medieval Times. Guests will get up close and personal with the queen and her royal staff while enjoying a four-course meal. But that’s not even the best part: guests can watch as the brave knights battle it out with jousting, weaponry, and a falconry and horse show. medievaltimes.com MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix Admission: $20 for general admission, $15 for ages 13-19, and $10 for 4-12. The Musical Instrument Museum displays more than 6,500 instruments collected from 200 countries. Guests experience the instruments through audio and video technologies, allowing visitors to see, hear and observe the instruments being played. If you’re looking for hands-on, guests can play instruments from around the world in the Experience Gallery. mim.org OCTANE RACEWAY 9119 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale Admission starts at $26 for one race and $8 for the required annual pass. If go-karts are your jam, this is the place to be. Octane’s 1/3-mile track is the only full-time indoor/ outdoor track in the United States: each lap begins indoors and then winds through an outdoor section of the course before returning inside. There’s also a VR option, axe throwing, and a restaurant. octaneraceway.com OASIS WATER PARK 8000 S. Arizona Grand E, Phoenix Admission: $55 for adults and $50 for children. What better way to cool off on a hot summer day than splashing around in one of the many pools at Oasis Water Park? The day pass to the Arizona Grand Resort and Spa’s water park includes access to the eight-story Slide Canyon Tower, 950-foot lazy river, activity pool and giant wave pool. arizonagrandresort.com PHOENIX ZOO 455 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix Admission: $40 for adults and $30 for children. Free for children two and under. It’s a classic summer activity for the whole family. The Phoenix Zoo is home to over 1,400 animals, including 30 endangered or threatened species. Some occupants you can run into include lions, flamingos, zebras, giraffes, warthogs, coyotes, monkeys, and the super cute black-tailed prairie dogs. phoenixzoo.org POPSTROKE 9245 E. Hummingbird Lane, Scottsdale Admission: $35 for adults and $22 for kids. PopStroke is mini-golf – but elevated. There are two mini-golf courses – designed by Tiger Woods – that use an app to keep score. There is also an outdoor gaming area with corn hole and ping pong, playground, on-site restaurant (with signature milkshakes!), rooftop bar and jumbo LED TVs. popstroke.com S’EDAV VA’AKI MUSEUM 4619 E. Washington St., Phoenix Admission: $13 for adults and $6 for children 6-17. For thousands of years, the Hohokam people lived throughout Phoenix, shaping the landscape with irrigation canals and agricultural fields. Visitors can explore the archaeological site’s platform mound, ball court, canals and replicas of ancient homes along a 2/3-mile trail highlighting this history. There are also exhibits and a museum store. phoenix.gov SLICK CITY ACTION PARK 9189 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale Admission: $40, including sock purchase, for ages 4 and up (120 minutes). The highlight of Slick City is its collection of indoor slides – race, slip, slide and launch yourself to new heights with the Fast Lane, Mega Launch, Big Wave and more. There are air courts, play areas for youngers and Acrobat Alley, which features swings and ziplines, plus a food court for when you get hungry. Oh, and grown-ups? They offer nights just for you, too. slickcity.com SUNSHINE SUNFLOWER STUDIO 700 W. Campbell Ave., Phoenix Admission: depends on the project! Sunshine Sunflower offers various art projects for ages five and up. Choose from hands-on ceramics, wheel throwing, paint parties, jewelry design and more. Sunshine Sunflower offers classes, birthday parties, open studio time slots and summer camps. sunshinesunflower.com TEMPE TOWN LAKE 80 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe This man-made lake offers a variety of fun, outdoor entertainment options for the whole family. From fishing to kayaking, paddle boarding and more, Tempe Town Lake allows those with their own equipment to enjoy the lake free of charge. Also, new visitors can take lessons in a variety of on the water adventures at the marina. tempe.gov WONDERSPACES 7014 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale Admission: $28 for adults and $18 for kids. Wonderspaces is an immersive art experience featuring rotating interactive installations by artists from around the world. Located inside Fashion Square, the gallery invites visitors to explore large-scale works that blend light, sound and digital technology, encouraging guests to engage directly with contemporary art. Exhibits change regularly, offering new experiences throughout the year. arizona.wonderspaces.com Cool Stuff TO DO fly without actually Trained instructors 49 SUMMER ’26