Arizona with Kids

Located on Kitt Peak of the Quinlan Mountains in the Arizona-Sonoran Desert about 50 miles outside of Tucson, the Kitt Peak Observatory is an astronomical observatory that rests 6,875 feet above sea level and is home to 24 telescopes.

The observatory has a visitor center that offers numerous programs for the public, including a unique night program that provides an introduction to astronomy, and an advanced observing program that explores professional astronomy. The observatory also occasionally offers astronomy camps and a variety of educational programs for all ages.

Tucson, AZ 85634

Situated on 12 acres at the base of the Superstition Mountains just outside Apache Junction, the Superstition Mountain Museum - Lost Dutchman Museum collects, preserves, and displays artifacts, items, and objects relating to the folklore and history of the area, notably the Lost Dutchman Mine and its founder, Jacob Waltz. The museum features several structures, including a 20-stamp ore crusher, and a quaint chapel known as the “Elvis Chapel,” and the Apacheland Barn houses several western displays, including a vintage parlor studio, a saloon, horse tack and carriages, and a hardware store.

4087 N Apache Trail, Apache Junction, AZ 85119, Phone: 480-983-4888

Experience the beauty of Arizona from the air with an exhilarating hot air balloon ride over the Sonoran Desert. Family-owned and locally operated, Hot Air Expeditions has been providing hot air ballooning experiences in Phoenix and Tuscon for over 28 years. With over 300 days of sunshine a year, Phoenix and Scottsdale are dream locations for hot air balloon rides where guests can enjoy breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, and native animals like jackrabbits, coyotes, and burros. Tuscon trips include a continental champagne breakfast in the desert, a traditional balloonist’s ceremony, and an induction into the ballooning society as a memento of the journey.

702 W Deer Valley Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85027, Phone: 480-502-6999

For Nature Enthusiasts

Located in Goldfield Ghost Town and Mine Tours Inc., Apache Trail Tours s is the oldest tour company in the region and offers a variety of guided tours ranging from Gold Panning and 4 x 4 Adventure Tours, Apache Trail tours and Combination Tours. The Goldfield Ghost Town is a beautifully reconstructed gold mining town that dates back to the late 1800s that dates back to the 1890s and features a history museum, a narrow-gauge train, Old West gunfights, and guided gold-mine tours. Set around the historic Mammoth Gold Mine, the town’s main street is lined with old buildings, including three saloons, a general store, a boarding house, a meat market, a blacksmith’s shop, and a schoolhouse. Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the town and the mine, take a ride on Arizona’s only narrow-gauge train, pan for gold and witness an old west gunfight performed by the famous Goldfield Gunfighters.

4650 N Mammoth Mine Rd, Apache Junction, AZ 85119, Phone: 480-982-7661

The Arizona Museum of Natural History is dedicated to showcasing the natural and cultural history of the Southwestern United States. Established as a small museum in Mesa City Hall in 1977 with an exciting collection of artifacts from around Arizona, the museum has grown into a 74,000 square feet institution with a selection of about 60,000 objects from various genres, including anthropology, art, history and natural history. Signature exhibits include “Dinosaur Mountain” which features life-size, animated dinosaurs, a Columbian Mammoth, and a saber-tooth cat against the backdrop of a continually flowing 50-foot-high indoor waterfall. The museum also features around 10,000 historical photographs and a modern research facility and is the only natural history museum in the greater Phoenix area.

53 N Macdonald Street, Mesa, AZ 85201, Phone: 480-644-2230

For Older Kids

The Arizona Railway Museum was founded in 1983 and is dedicated to showcasing the history and heritage of the railroads of Arizona and the Southwestern United States. The Museum features an extensive collection of railway-based artifacts and objects, including the Southern Pacific Railroad Locomotive No. SP 2562 and the Railroad Steam Wrecking Crane and Tool Car. Visitors to the museum can explore the inside of some of the trains, such as the Santa Fe "Diablo Canyon" Coach Car and the Santa Fe "Plaza Taos" Dome Car's "Lounge Room" which was built in 1950. The Arizona Railway Museum is only open on Saturday and Sundays, and group tours are available for a small fee.

330 E. Ryan Road, Chandler, AZ 85286, Phone: 480-821-1108

Arizona Zipline Adventures offer a unique way to experience the beauty of the Sonoran Desert with exhilarating Zipline EcoTours. Based on the northside of Mt. Lemmon, Arizona Zipline Adventures features Arizona's first and fastest Zipline EcoTour, as well as team-building activities, short hiking trails, gold panning fun, a fully stocked general store, and the Peppersauce Kitchen which serves delicious, seasonal food against a backdrop of spectacular views from an outdoor porch. Tours are led by friendly, professional adventure guides, and all safety equipment is provided.

35406 S Mt Lemmon Rd, Oracle, AZ 85623, Phone: 520-308-9350

For Animal Lovers

The Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center is a wildlife sanctuary and nature center that protects birds and the habitats in which they live. Located on the 600-acre Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area two miles south of downtown Phoenix, the free-admission center was established to protect birds, promote habitat conservation, and foster a culture of conservation through high-quality nature education programs. The nature center is home to Audubon Arizona, the state office of the National Audubon Society, which acts an active voice for the conservation of birds, other wildlife, and their habitats and offers hands-on science programs and environmental stewardship opportunities for visitors of all ages.

3131 S Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85040, Phone: 602-468-6470

Located 60 miles south of Tuscon, the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge is a 117,500-acre reserve that protects and preserves habitats for endangered and threatened fauna and flora. Established in 1995, the reserve is home to more than 58 species of mammals, 325 bird species, and over 50 species of amphibians and reptiles. Habitats in the refuge range from semidesert rolling grasslands, riparian and wetlands along the Arivaca Creek, and mountainous regions to the east and west of the Altar Valley. The refuge also offers a wide range of outdoor and recreational activities, including hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, backcountry hiking, and primitive style camping under the stars.

37257 S Sasabe Rd, Sasabe, AZ 85633, Phone: 520-823-4251