ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥

This story was created by #ThisIsÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in 2023, updated in 2025 and underwritten byÌý.ÌýThank you for supporting theÌýlocal organizationsÌýthat support us!Ìý

Some questions we see online a lot: what restaurants will my picky 6-year-old like? Are there any kid-friendly hikes around town? What can I do with my teen on weekends?

We hear you loud and clear. From indoor playgrounds to restaurants that specialize in chicken tendies and over-the-top milkshakes,Ìýwe compiled a big ol' guide to kid-friendly things to do and eat in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.

Things to do with the littles

These attractions maybe aren't fit for your teen, but are definitely worth it for your 7-year-old.

• — This indoor playground is a kid's dream. Designed for kiddos ages 6 months to 13 years old, Wild Katz, ,Ìýhas slides, net courses, tree forts and climbing walls.Ìý
• Ìý— Known for parkour, this indoor playground, ,Ìýhas a slew of classes, teams, camps and open play options for infants, kids and even adults. There are Nerf battles, climbing walls and more.
• Ìý— This museum, designed for kids up to age 10, has interactive exhibits that teach subjects like electricity, the body and public safety. The main location is at , but a smaller location sits inside Tohono Chul, .
• Ìý— The JCC has an indoor play area for the center's members and their guests, ages 2-11. Find the J atÌý.
• Ìý— From crafts to puzzles to toys, this experience is geared toward infants to pre-teens. This is a drop-off center, allowing parents to have a couple hours to themselves. Timeless Play has two locations:Ìý ²¹²Ô»åÌý.

Things to do outdoors with the whole family

Enjoy the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ sunshine with the whole family. Explore wildlife, history and even fairies.

• Ìý— From elephants to squirrel monkeys, learn all about animals at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s zoo, which also has a shaded playground called World of Play. The zoo, ,Ìýhosts seasonal events for the holidays, plus frequent workshops for kids who want to be a zookeeper when they grow up.
• Ìý— Here's where you take the family for a true slice of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, including the flora and fauna that call the Sonoran Desert home. The museum, ,Ìýalso has an indoor playground called Packrat Playhouse and a stingray touch pool.
• Ìý— Take a half-mile guided tour through this east-side cave, ,Ìýwhere you'll learn about the cave's history and geology.Ìý
• Ìý— This local fantasy park at Ìýhas been around for 100 years. It's where you can find fairies, a wizard's tower and other fairytale-like attractions.Ìý
• Mini golf — Check out ²¹²Ô»åÌýÌýfor mini golf, bumper boats and go-karts. Funtasticks also has an outdoor water park!
• Mount LemmonÌý— Take a drive up the mountain for scenic views, colorful leaves in fall and maybe even snow in winter. There's a that runs even when it's not snowing, homemade fudge at the and lots of .

Things to do indoors with the whole family

Sometimes you want to stay out of the sun and bask in the A/C.

• Trampoline parks — These are fun for kids and adults alike. Check outÌý,ÌýÌý²¹²Ô»å .
• Ìý— I spent days upon days at Skate Country, ,Ìýas a kid. It's ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s only roller rink! If you don't want to skate with the adults, there are sessions specifically for toddlers and families.Ìý
• Cat loungesÌý— Fans of cats, these ones are for you. Spend time at , , and , , surrounded by dozens of kitties.
• Ìý— Bring the kiddos to This n' That, ,Ìýfor all kinds of crafts, including slime-making, a splatter room and a make-your-own-plushie workshop.Ìý
• Ìý— This improv studio, ,Ìýhas weekly family-friendly shows, plus classes for adults and teens!Ìý
• MuseumsÌý— ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is home to a lot of museums. Presidio Museum, Ignite Sign Art, Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium, Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Transportation Museum and the Pima Air & Space Museum might be right up your alley. See our big list of museumsÌý.
• Arcades and bowlingÌý— This is a packed category. From to to , there are lots of options for arcades and bowling. (The Peter Piper at Ìýeven has a trampoline zone!)
• Indoor rock climbingÌý— Spend an afternoon going indoor rock climbing at gyms like and . Both have youth teams!

Free things to do

You don't have to break the budget every time you go on a family outing. Here are free activities fit for the family.

• Children's Museum ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, ,Ìýoffers free admission every .ÌýThe museum is also known to host lots of other events throughout the year that often include free admission.Ìý
• Every of the month, the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Museum of Art, , hosts a pay-what-you-wish day that often features activities like crafts, performances and family yoga.Ìý
• Get a taste of the Old West by taking a walk through Trail Dust Town, . While attractions cost money, the mini town sometimes hosts special events throughout the year, such as the free Ìýin December that feature snow and visits with Santa.
• The frequently hosts free events from performances to classes to story times.
• Every first Saturday of the month, Valley of the Moon, ,Ìýopens its doors for free, usually with some kind of theme or planned activity.Ìý
• Each summer (and sometimes in other seasons), the parks and recreation departments with and host free outdoor family-friendly movies. Cox Communications usually does the same in Reid Park. Also check 's showtimes, as they host Loft Kids Fest in the summer and random free screenings throughout the rest of the year.
• Make a visit to the , , where there's a zine area for kids and a writing residency program for K-12 students.
• When all else fails, a trip to your nearest park or Ìýmight do the trick.Ìý

Back to homepage

Keep reading with a digital access subscription.

Kid-friendly hikes and bike rides

If you're itching to get the family out of the house to spend an afternoon submerged in our glorious nature, here are a few hikes and bike rides fit for the kiddos.

• is home to 14 trails, plus an electric shuttle that will give you a narrated tour of the area. The main road is paved and walkable for kids. A popular site is Sabino Dam, especially when the water is running, and it's about 2½ miles roundtrip from the visitor center. showsÌýdifficulty levels of other trails in Sabino Canyon.
• If you drive as far east on Broadway as possible, you'll hit the in Saguaro National Park. The Mica View Trail is mostly flat and walkable for kiddos.
• has 15 trails inside 880 acres ofÌýdesertÌýbeauty. Pima County ranks the trails easy to intermediate.Ìý
• Dubbed an outdoor classroom, Ìýhas self-guided tours through it's 2½ miles of pathways. Almost 1,000 feet of theÌýpathways are concrete.
• The in Catalina State Park is a 2.3-mile mostly flat loop with some stairs about halfway through.Ìý
• Hike through our tall saguaro friends along the ,Ìýmost of which is flat and smooth, though the pathway turns rockier the farther in you hike.
• If you want to take an easy walk or bike ride, Ìýis a 137-mile paved loop through ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ with plenty of stops to get on or off. It's closed to cars!
• For mountain biking, has several trails good for beginners and kids.

Restaurants for even the pickiest of eaters

As a kid, I was the pickiest of picky eaters. Many of the restaurants below not only have kid-friendly menu items, but also play areas and other perks.

• Ìý— What's more kid-friendly than milkshakes, pizza, a mini arcade, quarter-machine amusement rides and a table cloth that's actually a giant piece of paper stocked with crayons? Find this retro diner at .
• Ìý— This locally-owned food court at Ìýis home to several eateries serving pizza, tacos and burgers. There's a small arcade, too.
• Ìý— Home to the best chicken tendies in town. Find Coop at
• Ìý— Spaghetti, pizza and chicken tenders are featured on the kids' menu here, plus the restaurant can shape aÌýÌýfor kids' birthday parties. You can also order a big slice and they'llÌýÌýso they can slice it themselves. Find Dominick's atÌý.
• Ìý— Find American fare at this far-east-side restaurant, ,Ìýcomplete with outdoor yard games like giant Connect 4.Ìý
• Ìý— Giant cookies and pizza by the slice amid views of our favorite mountain. Find Mt. Lemmon Cookie Cabin at in Summerhaven.
• Ìý— This historic steakhouse at Ìýhas a kids' menu that includes 6-ounce prime rib or sirloin, ribs, barbecue chicken and shrimp.Ìý
• Ìý— If you wear a necktie to this steakhouse tucked inside Western attraction Trail Dust Down, ,Ìýstaff will cut it off. Beware!
• Ìý— Get a seat near one of the giant windows and hope a critter runs by. The kids' menu, appropriately dubbed "Little Saguaros," features cheeseburgers, chicken tenders, quesadillas, buttered noodles and a grilled cheese for $7. Find Saguaro Corners at .
• Ìý— I think I developed my love for refried beans because of frequent family trips to La Parrilla as a kid. The kids' menu has flautas, tacos, quesadillas and even chicken nuggets. La Parrilla has three locations in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
• Ìý— This east-side Chinese restaurant at Ìýhas a kids' menu with five chicken options and one beef.
• Ìý— Find both breakfast and lunch/dinner options on this kids' menu that includes burritos, tacos, quesadillas and a grilled cheese. Find Poco & Mom's at .
• Ìý— While Noodies, ,Ìýdoesn't have a designated kids' menu, the pasta is customizable and there's a small area for kiddos to play and read.
• Ìý— This casual build-your-own pasta shop at Ìýhas a kids' area with blocks, books and toys.

Shops for babies, kids and teens

From toys to clothing, here are a few stores for your kiddos.

• Ìý— Find all kinds of toys and books at this midtown shop, .
• Ìý— This shop carries new and gently-used clothing for kids. Find the shop at .Ìý
• Ìý— Find clothing, toys, pacifiers, toys and more for babies at this boutique located at
• Ìý— This online shop is home to desert-themed clothing, accessories and toys for babies and kids.
• Ìý— Find all kinds of kids' books at this children's bookstore located at
• Ìý— This comic shop at Ìýhas been around for two decades. Beyond the comic books, you can also find games and vinyl. Find more comic book stores !
• Ìý— If your kiddo is a fan of LEGO, this is where to go. Find all things LEGO here, both new and used. Find the shop atÌý.
• Ìý— Here's where to go for K-pop and anime items, from plushies to figurines. Find Kira Kira at .
• Ìý— This K-pop shop brings Korean music, snacks and beauty items to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. Find it atÌý.
• — The newest shop on this list, this store buys and sells gently used kids' clothing, toys and other items. Find it at .

Random tidbits

• Ìýhas a huge roster of classes for all ages, from dance to pottery. Beyond parks and rec, tons of studios around town offer classes and extracurriculars ranging from music and dance to sports teams and martial arts.Ìý
• We include kid-friendly events on our weekly lists — sign up for our newsletter to get the list sent directly to your inbox every Wednesday! Here are some big annual events that are good for kids: ,Ìý, ,Ìý, , Ìý²¹²Ô»å theÌý.

Reward your days and discount your nights with Checking PLUS from Hughes Federal Credit Union.

. Save on pet insurance, identity theft restoration, personal services, discounts on entertainment, home improvement and plan your next trip with your own travel concierge. Explore the savings and possibilities with Checking PLUS. VisitÌý.