8 indoor destinations in metro Phoenix the whole family will love

Learn more about these eight family-friendly indoor destinations in metro Phoenix, from the Musical Instrument Museum to the Medieval Times.

The weather is sweltering and will be for a few more months until it finally lets up for a while. If you’re searching for indoor destinations that are perfect for families, we’ve got you covered. From museums galore to a sprawling indoor area that features paintball, airsoft, and laser tag in downtown Phoenix, here are eight family-friendly indoor destinations in metro Phoenix. Enjoy some quality family time in the cool AC at these places.

1. Musical Instrument Museum

Location: 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. in Phoenix

Cost: General tickets cost $20

Photo courtesy of the Musical Instrument Museum.

The Musical Instrument Museum (M.I.M.) houses more than 6,800 musical instruments, and it claims to be the only museum of its kind in the world. You can see instruments played by iconic musicians like Elvis Presley, Joan Baez, the Carter Family, and Johnny Cash.

Upstairs, check out instruments from all over the world. The Experience Gallery features a variety of instruments that adults and kids can “play.” This includes a Peruvian harp, a West African djembe, and a Javanese gamelan.

The MIM also has programs and classes tailored for kids ages 0 to 10, while kids in grades six to twelve can be junior museum guides. Check this calendar to learn more about this programming. This includes MIMkids Mini Music Makers intended for children ages 0 to 4. During class, children learn how to make music and explore music through song and dance. One class costs $12, and four classes cost $40. 

2. Party Jungle

Location: 12046 N. 32nd Street in Phoenix

Perfect for: Kids ages two to 10.

Admission price: $19.95

Party Jungle really lives up to its name. It features five carnival rides, mini golf, an indoor jungle gym, and laser tag for kids age 5 and older. Kids can play arcade games like Skeeball and ride on trains. Socks are required in the jungle gym.

3. Children’s Museum of Phoenix

Location: 215 N. Seventh Street in downtown Phoenix

Cost: General admission tickets cost $17 per person; babies ages one to younger receive free admission

The building that houses the Children’s Museum of Phoenix is a striking place that’s outfitted with columns. Inside, parents and children ages birth to 10, can find three levels of exhibits designed to engage them in a variety of ways.

A few highlights include the Noodle Forest, which features pool noodles suspended from the ceiling; The Market, a mock grocery store where kids can pick out produce and check out; and BlockMania!, an area where kids can play with, you guessed it, blocks.

4. Arizona Science Center

Location: 600 E. Washington Street in downtown Phoenix

Cost: Adult tickets cost $29.95; Children (3 to 17) tickets cost $19.95

Photo courtesy of Arizona Science Center.

The name of the Arizona Science Center’s name says it all: This downtown museum is all about science. Specifically, kids can learn more about science from more than 300 exhibits. Examples include the Forces of Nature exhibit where kids can learn about natural disasters, volcanoes, and the Earth in general. The All About Me gallery features plenty of exhibits that are all about the human body. The Evans Family SkyCycle gives kids a chance to learn more about gravity by riding a bike on a cable that’s suspended 15 feet in the air.

Expect to unearth plenty of interesting bits of information about yourself and the world all around you if you visit.

Of note: The Arizona Science Center is closed from Aug. 26 to 30. 

5. i.d.e.a. Museum

Location: 150 W. Pepper Place in downtown Mesa

Cost: $10 per person; babies who are age 1 or younger receive free admission

Mesa’s i.d.e.a. Museum is designed to foster creativity among its young visitors and their parents. Part of the museum is called ArtVille, and it’s intended for kids ages four and younger. ArtVille is intended to help kids use their imaginations.

Here, youngsters can read in the library; pretend to order, prepare, and make healthy meals at the ArtVille Café; create art; enter an RV and imagine they’re on the road; and explore a farm where kids can play in a barn with a few farm animals. The Hub of the museum invites children to be creative. For example, they can play with puppets in a theater, draw at the animation station, or use a magnetic wall to create shapes.

When to visit: Opening Sept. 29 is the interactive exhibit, “Luminous: The Art of Light.” As the name suggests, guests can expect to interact with light in creative ways. One example is a bioluminescent room that’s lit up with bright colors.

6. American Paintball Coliseum

Location: 2915 E. Washington St. in Phoenix

Cost: Prices start at $20 per person 

Located in Phoenix, the American Paintball Coliseum offers paintball (naturally), airsoft, laser tag, and axe throwing. One of the best parts about this place? The paintball field is all indoors so you can play even on the most sweltering of days. It also claims to be the largest one in Phoenix.

Airsoft are BB guns, and they’re recommended for kids ages 10 and older. The laser tag area is 11,000 square feet and features urban art from local artists and a post-apocalyptic theme including plenty of downed buildings, cars, and boats. Laser tag is recommended for those ages six and older. Axe throwing is recommended for kids ages 10 and older, but younger children can participate if the lane manager approves. 

7. Medieval Times

Location: 9051 E. Via de Ventura in Scottsdale

Cost: Dinner costs $67.95 for adults and $40.95 for children

The Medieval Times serves up dinner and a show that’s modeled after entertainment from the Medieval era. Diners can watch knights engaging in swordplay and jousting on horses in a stadium-like setting while they also enjoy dinner. Knights are all decked out in colorful, traditional Medieval attire.

One great summer-time perk? The entire castle is air-conditioned.

8. OdySea Aquarium

Location: 9500 E. Via De Ventura, Ste. A-100 in Scottsdale

Cost: Adult (ages 13 and up) tickets cost $46.95; Child (ages 2 to 12) tickets cost $36.95

Scottsdale’s OdySea Aquarium is home to 6,000 animals that are in more than 70 exhibits. The aquarium is a staggering 200,000 square feet. Some of the animals you can expect to see include sea lions, sharks, sea turtles, and groupers. These four animals are displayed in what claims to be the world’s only rotating aquarium experience. You also can watch penguins slide on their bellies into the water. Trust us—it’s adorable.

Need to know: The last entry is 60 minutes before closing. You also don’t want to miss the bathroom here. (Yes, the bathroom.) You can see sharks swimming behind the glass near the sinks!

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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