Last Updated on May 8, 2026 by Adrienne
The Phoenix-Scottsdale area is one of my favorite US cities to visit with young kids. In the winter months, the mild weather is a welcome escape for us northerners, and there are plenty of family-friendly attractions to fill 3-4 days. Here’s how we went spent our long weekend in Phoenix-Scottsdale.
Things to Do in Phoenix-Scottsdale with Kids
Desert Botanical Garden
We spent our first morning in Phoenix at the Desert Botanical Garden. It’s a beautiful place, and was a great way to get introduced to the local plant life and see some awe-inspiring cacti. They run educational programs for kids (included with admission) and also have some small playground-like areas for kids to burn off energy.
I will say that the admission fee here is pretty steep (including for kids, which decreases the value if you have a big family) and this probably isn’t the place to take a toddler who insists on running around, because the odds of them colliding with a cactus would be pretty high.
DBG is part of the American Horticultural Society, so if you have a membership at a different AHS institution you’ll get reciprocal benefits here (our family + grandparents membership at the Chicago Botanic Garden got us two free adult tickets at DBG).
Papago Park and Hole in the Rock Hike
I wanted to do a hike in Arizona, but we needed something preschooler-friendly that wasn’t too long or difficult. The Hole in the Rock hike in Papago Park (right across the street from the Desert Botanical Garden) was the perfect fit.
The trail is less than a quarter-mile each way starting from the parking lot, so although it’s pretty steep it’s still a good hike for little kids and you get interesting views of the red rock formations. From the top you have nice views of the cities below, and you’ll see cacti and other interesting desert plants as you climb.
Arizona Science Center
We once again took advantage of our ASTC membership to visit a great science museum for free. The Arizona Science Center isn’t as big as some museums we’ve visited, but there was plenty to keep us occupied for several hours, including a cool exhibit on brain waves, a stomach slide (complete with farting noises) and a live show about digestion. As you can probably imagine, the latter two were especially popular with the preschool set 🙂
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
This train-themed city park in Scottsdale is a great place to take toddlers and preschoolers. The McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park has a fun Wild West playground and a railroad museum, plus a carousel and train ride for a small fee (as of 2026, it’s $3 for everyone over the age of 2).
Where to Eat in Phoenix-Scottsdale
Blanco Cocina and Cantina
Our favorite meal in the greater Phoenix area was at Blanco Cocina and Cantina. We loved the Caesar salad and homemade tortilla chips, but the highlight of the meal was the “Tucson style chimichanga” which was without a doubt the best (and biggest) chimichanga I’ve ever had.
Diego Pops
We were still craving Mexican food, so the next night we headed to Diego Pops, which bills itself as offering modern twists on Mexican classics. They have a great happy hour with food and drink specials every night before 6 p.m. We enjoyed chips and gauc, fried plantains, and a quesadilla but my favorite dish was the street corn queso, which was absolutely incredible.
Snooze an A.M. Eatery
This was my first time trying Snooze, a national chain that started in the Denver area, but has spread across the western US. They’re known for their pancakes, especially their pancake flights and the creative pancake-of-the-week. I had the weekly pancake, a S’mores pancake covered in chocolate drizzle and graham cracker crumb toppings. It tasted even better than it looks.
Culinary Dropout
We had dinner one night at Culinary Dropout in Scottsdale. The ambiance on their outdoor patio was great, and I enjoyed their signature fried chicken, which came with mashed potatoes and a biscuit.
Scoop and Joy
If you’re traveling to the Phoenix-Scottsdale area with kids, don’t miss Scoop & Joy. While the ice cream (from Lappert’s Hawaii) is good, what makes this place so unique is that they decorate the ice cream with animal faces, which is sure to delight any little one. Just make sure you say yes when they ask if you want a surprise!
In-N-Out
This chain isn’t unique to Arizona or even the southwest, but my former-Californian heart can’t visit a city with In-N-Out and not go once. Phoenix has several locations in the metro area, and it was as good as I remembered.
A Great Hotel for Families in Scottsdale
We stayed at the Kimpton Miralina Resort & Villas (formerly known as the Scottsdale Plaza Resort and Villas) and were very happy with it. Family-friendly suites are offered for a very reasonable price and the layout where you have private entry to your own casita is very convenient. Many rooms come with private patios that have views of the mountains.
The pool area is beautiful, and is heated to 80+ degrees year-round which meant we were able to take a quick dip in January, much to the delight of our 4 year old.
The location is great as well, just around the corner from McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park and an easy trip into Phoenix.
The Kimpton Miralina is a preferred partner of my travel agency, so if you book through me I can add perks, including $100 in property credits, daily breakfast for 2 and a complimentary room upgrade (pending availability). Reach out to me at adrienne.miller@fora.travel to learn more or book your trip.
Tips to Make the Most of a Long Weekend in Phoenix-Scottsdale
- You’ll want to rent a car. The greater Phoenix area is sprawling and it’s not easy to get around on public transit.
- The air in Arizona is dry, even in the winter when it does occasionally rain. Drink lots of water and you may want to consider bringing a portable humidifier if your kids are sensitive to dry air.
- When is the right time to go? November-April is considered peak season with correspondingly higher prices. Summer weather is incredibly hot (temperatures normally top 100 from June-September) but could be the right time of year if you’re budget-conscious and mainly looking to hang out at a resort with a pool. Winter is mild compared to most of the US but you can’t count on swimming weather from December to February. I think Phoenix would be a great destination for a March/April spring break.
- Where to stay? Most of the resorts are in Scottsdale, which is very spread out. Staying in the southern part of Scottsdale near Phoenix (as we did at Scottsdale Plaza Resort) will put you in a good position for seeing the major attractions in both cities. Scottsdale extends way up into the McDowell Mountains and it would be time-consuming to get into Phoenix from there (although you’d probably have beautiful views, so this could be a good choice for a trip where you mostly want to chill at the resort).
Have you been to Phoenix-Scottsdale with kids? What would you add to my list?
Looking for more US cities that make great long weekend destinations for families with little kids? Check out my recaps of our trips to Oklahoma City, Madison, Cincinnati and Atlanta.
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