How to Visit Phoenix with your Kids – Where to Eat & Play
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Jump To...
- Before You Go
- Getting There
- See a Spring Training Baseball Game
- Desert Botanical Gardens
- McCormick Stillman Railroad Park
- Lost Dutchman State Park
- Phoenix Children’s Museum
- Kid-Friendly Restaurants
Quick Tips
Before You go
- If you plan on going to a Spring Training game (see our guide here), buy tickets in advance—the stadiums are small and seats sell out quickly. Plan your trip and additional activities around the baseball games so you can maximize your time in the area.
- Rent a car. The greater Phoenix area includes many nearby cities, like Scottsdale, Mesa, and Tempe. Be prepared to drive 15 minutes or more to each destination.
- Bring snacks and activities to keep your kiddos entertained while you travel.
What To Pack
- Standard diaper bag essentials
- Sunscreen and hats
- Baby carrier
- Items on our Spring Training packing list
Costs
| base cost | |
|---|---|
| Airfare ($100-$250/person round-trip from Oakland) | |
| Car Rental + gas | |
| Accommodations, Food | |
| Add-Ons | |
| Activities | |
| Spring Training games | |
Getting There
We flew a direct flight via Southwest to Phoenix (PHX) from Oakland (OAK). The flight takes about 2.5 hours. Click here for our guide for airplane travel with kids.
You can also opt to drive from the Bay Area, though it’ll take you about 11 hours to drive the 750 miles one way!
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Things to do with kids in the Phoenix Area
Take your Kids to a Spring Training Baseball Game
- $18-$45/person/game
- 4-8 hours
Before Major League Baseball (MLB) season begins each year, the players gather for Spring Training—one league in Arizona (AZ) for the “Cactus League” and the other in Florida for the “Grapefruit League.”
The Cactus League consists of 15 teams who play across 10 stadiums throughout the Phoenix area. Being both from the San Francisco Bay Area and huge Oakland Athletics (A’s) fans, we decided to take our kiddos to root on the A’s at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, AZ for a few days during the preseason.
Hohokam Stadium is named after the Hohokam tribal community that lived in this area from AD 1 to 1400. They built an irrigation system of 125 miles for farming and to support the community, some of which is still used today! I loved this little stadium—here is what you need to know when planning your visit:
- Arrive at the stadium early to get parking, see the players warm up, and get autographs!
- Consider buying lawn seats to watch the game from the outfield while your kids roll down the hill.
- Be prepared for lots of direct sun and heat. Find places for refuge from the sun.
- Get in line for food early.
- Walk around the stadium for special events and games.
- Play at Stomper’s Kids Zone.
- Go shopping for commemorative Spring Training gear.
Check out our blog post for more tips on visiting Spring Training with your kids at Hohokam Stadium. Go A’s!
Desert Botanical Garden
- $29.95 for adults, $14.95 for kids 3-18, free for ages 2 and under
- 2-4 hours
The Desert Botanical Garden (DGB) is the perfect place to spend a morning in Phoenix. Arrive early while the weather is cool and wander the cacti-filled walkways with your little ones.
The DBG often hosts art exhibits in the gardens where you can find art intermingling with the cacti. When we visited, there was an exhibit featuring an artist who made huge, multicolored animals that were placed throughout the gardens. My daughter loved spying random animals amongst giant cacti while we loved learning more about desert flora.
Bring a stroller, hats, sunscreen, and snacks. If you want to make a day of it, there is a yummy restaurant with outdoor seating located in the gardens! Stop by the desert shop to check out some of their beautiful cactus-themed pieces to bring home or pick up a cute kids’ book like our favorite cactus-themed story Hug Me.
Click here to buy your tickets in advance.
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
- $3 per person per ride. Kids ages 0-2 are free with a paying adult.
- 2-4 hours
You could easily spend half a day at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. The small train takes you on a ride through the park, past the western-themed playground structures and a giant grassy area perfect for running around. Our child’s favorite thing to do was to ride the carousel over and over.
Buy tickets for the train and the carousel at the ticket office. Tickets are $3 per ride for either attraction.
Try to arrive early to avoid the crowds. If you happen to come on a Saturday, make sure to ride the Arboretum Railroad which takes you on a 10-minute ride through the park. We were unable to catch that train but hope to next time.
Lost Dutchman State Park
- $7 per vehicle
- 3-6 hours
The Lost Dutchman State Park is located in the Superstition Mountain Range, about a 45 drive from Phoenix. You can’t miss the tall, towering mountains hovering over the Sonoran Desert and saguaros.
We brought our two kids here early one spring morning based on a recommendation from friends to take a stroll through the Native Plant Trail (0.2 mile) which has the “Watch Me Grow” saguaro, allowing you to see how (slowly) a saguaro cactus grows with a growth chart.
The small visitor center has a lot of great information, like who the lost Dutchman was, and great activities for kids.
There is little shade anywhere in the park, so we recommend bringing hats, sunscreen, and water. Also, plan a picnic in a shaded picnic area if you have time.
Children’s Museum of Phoenix
- 2-4 hours
The Children’s Museum of Phoenix is a great indoor space to bring your kid on a hot or rainy day in Phoenix. Right after you enter the space your child will immediately be in awe of the giant climbing structure big enough for a grown up to accompany them.
The second floor had a tot room for kids under three, an art room, and even a pretend play room with a grocery and restaurant station.
I recommend you pack snacks to refuel your kiddo after some playtime, and arriving early to avoid the crowds.
Where to Eat
Ollie Vaughns was the first cafe that popped up on my “kid-friendly restaurants in Phoenix” google search and I am so glad I listened.
Not only was the food amazing, but the service was quick and friendly, and majority of other cafe-goers were families with young kids as well.
Arizona Wilderness Brewery has everything you need—delicious beer, a huge open-air restaurant with a lot of outdoor seating (great for kids), and amazing food.
We visited their brew-pub in Gilbert (about 20 minutes outside of Phoenix). The kids’ favorites were the red pepper hummus plate ($6.99), poutine ($10.49), and the beet and apple salad ($10.49). We thoroughly enjoyed the Desert Yeast Project saisons.
O.H.S.O. stands for Outrageous Homebrewer’s Social Outpost. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, with lots of space to roam around. We were definitely not the only families there eating dinner at 5:30pm with a toddler!
Check out their beer-braised short ribs ($22) and the delicious hummus ($12) or pretzels & dips ($11) as an appetizer. The kid’s menu is very reasonable too ($7). My partner’s favorite beer here was the Campy (hazy IPA) while mine was the Popcycle Blonde (fruity beer).
I loved everything about Luci’s at the Orchard.
Order your food and drinks at the counter inside and find a seat in their spacious outdoor patio, complete with heat lamps and fancy chandeliers for lighting.
We enjoyed pizza, sangria and beer while our kids colored and danced in the ample space between tables. Check out the menu.
Although there were signs with a list of rules asking parents to watch their kids and not to run, the overall vibe of the place was very kid-friendly. Almost everyone ordering dinner the warm spring night we visited had a kid in tow, and many were families of color.
I hope to go back during the daytime to experience the free splash pad.
We mistakenly went to Berry Devine for breakfast, to my toddler’s delight, but would recommend this spot as a “healthy” dessert destination.
All of their bowls taste like soft served ice cream and come with yummy toppings (honey, granola, coconut, just to name a few) and range from $8 for a small to $13 for a large.
Located on the Luci’s at the Orchard patio, Splurge Ice Cream & Candy Shop is the perfect sweet treat after a delicious dinner.
We tried their homemade gelato in a cone ($5). Even though a single scoop of gelato in a cone is the same price as a scoop in a cup, they would not give me cone on top of my cup of ice cream. Why can’t I have both a cup and a cone? I like to split the ice cream between the two, give my kid a smaller scoop, and keep a little on the side for me or as back up if the cone ends up on the floor.
Despite the serving style debate, we enjoyed the scoop of mint chip and blood orange gelato.
Final Thoughts
Every trip has its highlights, surprises, and lessons learned along the way. Whether you’re exploring a new city, relaxing in nature, or discovering local attractions, the memories you create together are what make the experience truly special.
Traveling with kids may require a little extra planning and flexibility, but seeing a destination through their eyes often makes the journey even more rewarding. From favorite activities to unexpected moments, every adventure becomes part of your family’s story.
No matter where your travels take you next, embrace the experience, enjoy the small moments, and make time for the things that matter most—being together and creating lasting memories.
Have you visited this destination? What was your favorite part of the trip? Share in the comments below.
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