FAMILY FUN IN ARIZONA

The Grand Canyon State is the prefect place for a family getaway – for kids, parents and even grandparents! Connect with culture, combine family fun & capture the adventuresome spirit of Arizona. Across the vibrant state there are plenty of options to entice families with limitless excursions and fascinating discoveries. From Wild West towns, museums, outdoor activities and more, the Grand Canyon State has it all – the hard part will be deciding where to start.

We’ve included some highlights below of various family-friendly attractions and activities available – they’re great for the holiday season, March break or even summer vacation!

All the best,
Jennifer McGibbon
AOT – Canada
jennifer@cww.travel

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Photography Copyright © Arizona State Parks

Check out Arizona’s landscapes, habitat and night sky with outdoor adventures perfect for the whole family!
KARTCHNER CAVERNS STATE PARK (near Sierra Vista)
Brilliant colours, the result of natural chemical reactions, plus stalactites, stalagmites and whimsical geologic formations, have been created from hollowed-out limestone rock at Kartchner Caverns. See this stunning “live” limestone cave, which remained undiscovered until 1974, and its wide variety of unique minerals and formations. Tour guides will unveil this fascinating underground landscape during a memorable 1.5-hour tour.

SAN PEDRO VALLEY OBSERVATORY (Sierra Vista)
Celebrate astronomical events at the San Pedro Valley Observatory where visitors will discover a high-quality, educational experience tailored to the individual astronomer. Families can also book a telescope for a family lesson from an astronomer – they tailor the lesson to the family’s needs so it can be as challenging or amateur as needed.

GRAND CANYON FOR KIDS
The Grand Canyon stands at 277 river miles (446km) long, up to 18 miles (29km) wide, and a mile (1.6km) deep, and is decorated with unique combinations of geological colour and erosional forms. The Grand Canyon National Park (and many other of Arizona’s National Parks) offers various kids’ programs to visitors – from educational programs, a Junior Ranger Program and special summer expeditions.

FLAGSTAFF EXTREME ADVENTURE COURSE (Flagstaff)
Flagstaff Extreme is a series of exciting outdoor physical challenges. The Tree Top Adventure course is an elevated obstacle course set in the Ponderosa Pines, securely suspended between the trees at 15 to 60 feet off the ground. Features of course include suspended bridges, swings, slides, nets, ziplines and an aerial surf board.

ARIZONA-SONORAN DESERT MUSEUM (Tucson)
The Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum is actually a zoo featuring the animals found in the Sonoran Desert. Exhibits include rooms full of snakes, a prairie-dog town, enclosures that are home to bighorn sheep and mountain lions, and an aviary full of hummingbirds.

MUSEUMS

Family-friendly museums and tours of historical sites like mines and mining towns offer a great perspective into the history and culture of Arizona – many also offer educational, interactive programs for both kids and adults to enjoy!
HEARD MUSEUM (Phoenix)
Founded in 1929, the Heard Museum is dedicated to the sensitive and accurate portrayal of Native arts and cultures. Hands-on galleries offer interactive fun for children, and kids-at-heart, while many of the museum’s events offer unique cultural learning opportunities for parents and children.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM (Phoenix)
The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) offers a shared experience of the history of musical instruments from around two hundred countries and territories in the world. MIM offers various kids’ activities plus education programs and workshops.

MUSEUM OF NORTHERN ARIZONA (Flagstaff)
The Museum of Northern Arizona is Flagstaff’s premier museum to learn about Native cultures, tribal life, natural sciences and arts from the Colorado Plateau region. The museum offers a variety of Discovery Programs throughout the year for all ages plus a number of Heritage Program Festivals that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the cultures of the Colorado Plateau.

BISBEE MINING & HISTORICAL MUSEUM (Bisbee)
A rural affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum tells about the history of copper mining in Bisbee and the impact of copper in today’s world. Visitors will also learn about the life in Bisbee when it was the largest city between St. Louis and San Francisco.