Fun Family Attractions in Phoenix
Phoenix, with its sprawling suburbs, is home to thousands of Arizona families.
They come here to take advantage of the warm weather, great schools, and
professional opportunities, and as more and more families move into the area,
Phoenix makes ceaseless efforts to provide a smorgasbord of fun and exciting
activities designed to keep everyone in the family enthralled. Hiking, picnicking,
and camping are obvious winners when it comes to family fun in Arizona, but
Phoenix offers even more to its families. Unique entertainment opportunities like
world class zoos and animal parks, amusement parks, theme parks, and
golf and water parks. There is enough fun here to keep both parents and kids
happily entertained.
Zoos and Wild Life Parks.
There are a number of different wild animal parks and zoos here in the
Phoenix area. Located on 125 acres, inside the 1,000-acre Papago Park,
The Phoenix Zoological Park is home to over 1,400 wild animals. The
Phoenix Zoo is one of the largest privately owned non-profit zoos in the country
and it is open to visitors 364 days a year (the park is closed on Christmas Day) rain or shine.
What makes the Phoenix Zoo so extraordinary is its design. Animals are not caged
here, but rather they are free to roam in expansive sanctuaries, allowing visitor to
view them in their near-natural environments. The zoo is criss-crossed by four
distinctively different trails leading guests to different exhibits representing a variety
of species from various parts of the world. Special exhibits like Monkey Village,
Wallaby Walkabout, and Danger and Deception are designed to educate and
excite park guests.
From Thanksgiving to early January the zoo wraps itself in 2 million lights and
dozens of animated light displays creating one of the nation’s largest light expositions.
“Zoo Lights” is an extraordinary event that has become a holiday tradition for many
Phoenix residents.
If your visit to the Phoenix Zoo leaves you hungry for more, Phoenix also has two
other wildlife parks that specialize in traditionally more exotic animals including lions,
tigers and wolves. The Wildlife World Zoo is an excellent choice if you’re hoping to
get up close and personal with the wildlife.
Desert Botanical Gardens.
Located in Papago Park near the Phoenix Zoo are the Desert Botanical Gardens.
This 50-acre treasure contains 139 endangered and threatened plant species from
around the world. The Desert Botanical Gardens is one of only 44 gardens accredited
by the American Association of Museums and is host to one of the most internationally
recognized and impressive displays of desert plant life in the world. The Gardens see a
quarter of a million visitors pass through their gates each year. You may think that
wandering around, looking at plants, sounds a bit dull, but rest assured, the intense
beauty of the gardens can turn anyone into a horticulture enthusiast.
Rawhide Wild West Town.
For a true taste of the southwest, Rawhide Wild West Town aims to please. This rough
and tough authentic western town escorts its visitors back in time to the days of the old
west complete with gunfights, stunt shows, gold panning, stagecoach rides, shooting galleries,
and even a petting zoo for the little kiddies. Visitors will be impressed by the authenticity of
the surroundings and the costumes. Rawhide also offers a full service steakhouse where
patrons enjoy real western cooking, and you can make your meal even more exciting by
participating in a true sundown cookout.
Rawhide has been a Phoenix attraction for over 35 years and sees more than 600,000 visitors
each year. Rawhide is located just south of Phoenix on the Gila Indian Reservation near the
Wild Horse Pass Casino.
Kids Theme & Amusement Parks.
Kids still need to burn off some energy? Phoenix is home to several water parks including
Big Surf, Golfland Sunsplash, and the newest water park, Waterworld Safari. All three
parks offer a variety of water rides including water slides, inner tube rides, wave pools and river
rides. The parks are open seasonally, usually opening each year in late April or May and closing
in November or December depending on the weather.
If you prefer to keep everyone dry, check out Castles ‘N Coasters in Phoenix or Cracker Jax
in Scottsdale. These amusement parks offer miniature golf, go-cart riding, and assorted rides and
games for everyone in the family to enjoy. If your still not satisfied, milk a cow and take a tour of
a leisurely and historic train ride at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park.
Also see.
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