If the name Phoenix reminds you of the mythical bird rising from the ashes, you know something already about the sixth largest city in the United States. In 1870, a prospector reopened the irrigation canals of the Hohokam people, abandoned centuries before. This led to the establishment of a new town, and the name "Phoenix" was an appropriate suggestion that stuck.

These days, Phoenix is a well-organized city with plenty of great museums, parks, and other activities for the whole family. They don't call it the Valley of the Sun for nothing -- though summer temperatures can be brutal, there is low humidity and over 300 days of sunshine per year, guaranteed! Nearby Scottsdale is incredibly scenic and offers families a wealth of outdoor recreation and fun activities.

Great Fun for the Kids

(Toddler to Age 8)

Phoenix Zoo
455 North Galvin Parkway
Phoenix, AZ 85008
602/273-1341  
The Phoenix Zoo features thematic trails that take visitors everywhere from Arizona to the Tropics, encountering mountain lions, bighorn sheep, cheetahs, rhinos, orangutans and many other species along the way. The really fun Leapin' Lagoon area opens in the summer with water spraygrounds, a climbing wall, and a lake complete with canoes and family-sized rafts. 

Rawhide Western Town and Steakhouse 
5700 West North Loop Road
Chandler, AZ 85226
480/502-5600 or 800/527-1880
Mosey on down for some rootin' tootin' fun at this old west playland. Shows, games, rides, attractions, shopping -- all with a western theme provide hours of enjoyment. When your stomach begins to rumble, head to the Rawhide Steakhouse for western fare and live music or on select Saturdays Sundown Cookouts are great for some delicious BBQ under the stars. 
  
Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting
6101 East Buren Street
Phoenix, AZ 85008
602/275-3473 
Among the five exhibit galleries in this museum are the National Firefighting Hall of Heroes, a fire engine for boarding and picture-taking, and a fire safety area with hands-on activities. In a post 9-11 world, this is a particularly interesting look at America's heroes.

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
7301 East Indian Bend Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85250
480/312-2312 
All aboard, all aboard! For little kids (and lots of their fathers) who love to ride trains, this is the place. Climb aboard "The Paradise and Pacific Railroad," ride the restored Charros Carousel, view historical exhibits and enjoy picnic and playground areas. And a perk for the youngsters and their parents: children under 3 ride for free with a paying adult.

Fun for Older Kids 

(Up to Age 18)

Arizona Science Center
600 East Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004
602/716-2000 
With over 300 interactive exhibits, a planetarium, a five-story giant screen theater, and live demonstrations, this educational museum provides plenty to keep kids occupied. Exhibits include All About You, exploring the human mind and body, and the Fab Lab, where kids get to do fun physics experiments with balls, marbles and paper airplanes while exploring three basic forces: gravity, friction, and magnetism. A real rainy-day treat.

Heritage Square
115 North Smith Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004
602/262-5071
The attractively laid out Heritage Square features several restored houses from the Victorian Era. Visitors can tour the Rosson House, built in 1895, or stop by the Arizona Doll and Toy Museum. There is also a Victorian tearoom for a respite from the heat, and a pizzeria for a quick lunch.  Also, if you feel like seeking out other things to do while you explore this area, look out for the orange-shirt-wearing Copper Square Ambassadors.  You can't miss them; they roam the streets daily (6:30am-11pm Monday through Friday; 8am-11pm Saturday and Sunday) wearing a big button that says: Ask Me!  There to provide answers to your questions, recommend a great restaurant or give you helpful information, you can also find the Ambassadors at the Free Information Center (602/495-1500; ASU Downtown Center, 541 E. Van Buren Suite 2-B).

Phoenix Art Museum
1625 North Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85004
602/257-1222
One of the largest general visual arts museums in the Southwest got even bigger in November 2006, when its $42 million renovation, expansion and new sculpture garden premiered for the public. This museum features such exhibits as decorative arts, costumes, and fine arts from its American collection (historic, modern and contemporary items) to masterworks from a European collection that will fascinate your teens. Especially for kids, the Artworks gallery provides hands-on activities, creatively stocked "KidPacks" for check-out at the admissions desk, and audioguides designed with family listeners in mind. Both younger kids and teens also have their own artsy activities and workshops scheduled, such as PhxArtKids Days. Check the museum's website for details on other special family and kid promotions.

Desert Botanical Garden
1201 North Galvin Parkway
Phoenix, AZ 85008
480/941-1225 
This 50-acre botanical garden, nestled in the red buttes of Papago Park in Phoenix, is the largest collection of desert plants in the world with some neat cacti and also houses 139 rare and endangered species of plant life from all over the globe. This is definitely a "hands-off" place for the little ones. However, the Desert Discovery Trail offers interactive signs and guidebooks to help identify plants and kids can choose from a variety of workshops, classes and group tours. Late closing hours (usually 8pm) and lighted trails allow nighttime desert strolls.

Taliesin West
12621 Frank Llyod Wright Boulevard
Scottsdale, AZ 85261
480/860-2700
In 1937, internationally renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright came to Scottsdale to build his winter camp, Taliesin West. Creating a new form of desert architecture, Wright's influence is still on display throughout the city’s resorts and spas, churches and homes. In summer and through the end of October, Taliesin West hosts Night Lights on the Desert, a guided tour which treats visitors to the magical view of Wright's desert masterpiece lit from within.    Special-for-kids is the Creative Architecture for Juniors which provides an overview of the importance of architecture in daily life; the role of an architect; and how math, science, and shapes, colors and patterns of nature were used by Wright. Adults can participate in the tour as long as they are accompanied by their child.

Cave Creek Trailrides
Cave Creek Recreation Area on 32nd Street North
Cave Creek, AZ 85327
877/942-6700 or 623/742-6700
Guided trailrides through the Sonoran Desert are offered to families with children at least 6-years-old. Gentle horses and knowledgeable guides combine to present pioneer life, ranching and mining activities, and desert flora and fauna. Choose between 1, 1½, 2, or 3 hour rides.

Salt River Tubing
Power Road and Usery Pass Road
Mesa, AZ 85207
480/984-3305 
Cool off on mountain-stream waters by tubing down the Lower Salt River rapids in Tonto National Forest. Families are welcome, but children must be 8-years-old and at least 4 feet tall (both of these requirements must be met; there are NO exceptions). Choose between 2, 3 and 5-hour trips which depart summer weekends through September.

Castles 'n Coasters
9445 Metro Parkway East
Phoenix, AZ 85051
602/997-7575
Castles 'n Coasters is a good old-fashioned amusement park, complete with carousel, log flume, roller coasters, bumper cars (and bumper boats!), a huge arcade and miniature golf. Open year-round.

Fun for the Family 

Heard Museum
2301 North Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85004
602/252-8848
The collections in the renowned Heard Museum emphasize Southwest cultures and Native American fine art from throughout North America. The museum, one of those must-see places that your kids really will enjoy, contains over 35,000 artifacts and works of art. Start at the hands-on "Every Picture Tells a Story" gallery where selected objects will reveal their artistic merit through clever use of new media, then you're on your own! Native American art demonstrations geared for families, and music and dance performances introduced by informative museum staff, often occur on weekends. Don't miss the amazing collection of Katsina Dolls (the real American Dolls). The Heard Museum also has smaller exhibit halls in Scottsdale and Surprise, Arizona; check the website for more details on these additional locations.

Grand Canyon Fly Over Tour 
Grand Canyon Airport, off of Highway 64 
866/2-FLY-GCA
If you're too short on time to visit the state's best known attraction on the ground, you can spend an incredible hour touring beautiful Arizona by air. This fleet of 19-passenger, picture-window-style aircraft runs tours all day from Grand Canyon National Park Airport, flying over the Zuni Corridor, Painted Desert, Navajo Reservation, Kaibab National Forests, and North Rim. Located approximately 4 hours north of Phoenix at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Pueblo Grande Museum and Archeological Park
4619 East Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85034
602/495-0901 or 877/7096-4408
Here, visitors can walk through 1,500 year-old Hohokam village ruins, including irrigation canals, a ceremonial platform and a very interesting ball-court. Also along the Ruin Trail are full-sized replicas of Hohokam houses that help bring the place to life. The exhibit hall explores the lifestyle of the Hohokam people who lived in Arizona from the first century to 1450 AD.

Papago Park
625 North Galvin Pkwy
Phoenix, AZ 85008
602/261-8318
This 1,200-acre park includes the Urban Wildlife Nature Trail and many other hiking trails, picnic sites, fishing lagoons, bike paths and a golf course. Plan on the whole day, because visiting the Phoenix Zoo, the Desert Botanical Garden and the Hall of Flame is easy from here -- each is either within or close to the park.

Desert Storm Hummer Tours
8668 East Shea Blvd. (Rock Bottom Restaurant -- main pick up location)
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
866/374-8637 or 480/922-0020
Voted one of America's Top 100 Adventures by National Geographic Magazine, this is certainly an unusual activity. Hummer through the vast Sonoran Desert in a 4X4, enter a scenic boulder canyon and view fascinating wildlife.  Tour run four hours - daytime and evening tours available. 

Pinnacle Peak Patio Steakhouse
10426 East Jamax Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85262
480/615-1113 (day) or 480/585-1599 (evening)
When they say casual dining, they mean it -- anyone wearing a necktie will have it cut off and nailed to the rafters. Steak, chicken and ribs are grilled up; portions are large and entertainment and dancing round out the evening.  Kids love it too, and they will enjoy watching the dangling neckties.

Depending on the time of year of your visit, your family might enjoy taking in one of the local sports teams, including the 2001 World Series Champs, the Diamondbacks!

Chase Field 
401 East Jefferson Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004
602/462-6500 or 888/777-4664
This new ballpark (opened in March 1998) is home to the 2001 World Champion Arizona Diamondbacks for Spring Training games and the baseball season. An air-conditioned arena, Chase Field is a great escape from the desert heat and tours are offered year-round three times a day Monday-Saturday and also before Friday and Saturday night games. Call for ticket and tour information. 

US Airways Center 
201 East Jefferson Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004
602/379-7800
Formerly the America West Arena, this is the home of the Phoenix Mercury (WNBA), Suns (NBA), Coyotes (NHL) and various concerts.

Search for even more information on Phoenix/Scottsdale by visiting www.phoenixcvb.com (877/Call-PHX) and www.scottsdalecvb.com (480/421-1004).