Tempe Family Attractions Encourage Memories With Loved Ones
Tempe is one of the top cities in Arizona for its innovation, culture and youthful vibe. However, families will also find a place to play and explore – and the perfect climate to try new things. From easy hiking trails to exotic animals, the area provides plenty of entertainment for all ages. If it’s time to getaway, check out these Tempe family attractions and start planning a trip today.
Tempe Family Attractions: Where to Play and Have Fun
Papago Park
Families traveling with school-aged kids and adolescents enjoy hiking Papago Park. The park features more than 1,500 acres of trails and attractions. Trails range from short and easy to lengthy and challenging.
One of the most popular trails leads to Hole in the Rock, a butte perfect for photos. Other trails feature a Hokokam ruin and desert landscapes. Additionally, families find most trails are flat with little elevation gain, making it easy to experience the great outdoors.
Tempe Diablo Stadium
Sports fans flock to Tempe Diablo Stadium, which hosts MLB’s Los Angeles Angels spring training. For more than 40 years, the stadium has welcomed fans to cheer and watch baseball.
For more action-packed fun, families should attend other sporting events during vacation. Tempe and nearby cities are home to Arizona State University Tempe Pack-12 events, NBA’s Phoenix Suns, NFL’s Arizona Cardinals, NHL’s Arizona Coyotes, Phoenix Rising in soccer and MLB’s Diamonbacks. Golfers also enjoy access to professional courses.
Sea Life Arizona Aquarium
Explore marine life at Sea Life Arizona Aquarium. More than 10 interactive exhibits encourage families to learn and play together.
See sea turtles, sting rays, fish, jellies and other interesting underwater exhibits. Kids also love the touch tanks, coral and different habitats. When visiting, watch the sharks swimming overhead in the tunnel. In addition, the aquarium also hosts events and live feedings throughout the year.
Big Surf Waterpark
Tempe offers more than 330 days of sunshine a year. That means it’s easy to splash at Big Surf Waterpark. This park not only has a giant wave pool but also features water slides and play areas for younger children. Before visiting, call ahead to verify hours of operation.
Start at Waikiki Beach Wave Pool, home to 2.5 million gallons of water. Then pick some slides. Visitors should note some slides are not appropriate for all ages. For example, Black Hole is a dark, enclosed slide that twists and turns. Tornado Twists enables families to race together, or try the Kilauea Cove slides. Have smaller children? No problem. The park has slides just for them.
LEGOLAND® Discovery Center
When things heat up, chill out at LEGOLAND® Discovery Center. Ranked among the top Tempe family attractions for children, this spot has more than 12 places for kids to play with LEGOs.
The two-story playground encourages families to build, ride and laugh together. While visiting, see Arizona sites made of blocks, meet characters from the movies, build and test creations, try new rides, and watch a 4D movie.
Tempe Town Lake
Tempe Town Lake ranks among the best Tempe family attractions because it offers many fun activities. The lake measures 2 miles and provides a prime spot for water recreation. However, swimming is not permitted.
Visitors are welcome to rent boats and kayaks. For something different, try stand-up paddleboarding or cast a line in the water. Tempe Town Lake is home to trout, bass and catfish, to name a few. When not in the water, guests may ride bikes, jog and admire public art.
Other Family Attractions Near Tempe
Butterfly Wonderland
Located in Scottsdale – about 15 minutes north of Tempe – Butterfly Wonderland operates the largest butterfly conservatory in the state. More than 70 species of butterflies live in the conservatory, as well as koi fish, finches and a couple of chickens.
To see butterflies, head to the emergence gallery where they transform and fly freely. After watching butterflies, check out reptiles in the rain forest. Animals include Asian water dragon, frogs and crocodiles. Other interesting things to see include honey bees, insects and underwater treasures.
Phoenix Zoo
For more wild adventures, visit Phoenix Zoo. The zoo is one of the top attractions in Arizona because it cares for more than 3,000 animals and strives to enhance conservation efforts. In addition, Phoenix Zoo is one of the largest non-profit zoos in the U.S.
Exhibits and outdoor environments welcome all ages. Some residents include lions, eagles, sloth, elephants, coyotes and zebras, to name a few. When not learning about animals, attend a daily activity such an up-close encounters. Phoenix Zoo also offers camel rides and a discovery farm.
Desert Botanical Garden
Desert Botanical Garden also provides a place for families to immerse in outdoor beauty and learn. Nature paths and hiking trails offer stunning views of the area.
The Desert Living Trail enables guests to walk among natural beauty. For blooming wildflowers and cacti, try Maxwell loop trail. After exploring outdoors, stop by the butterfly pavilion and garden gift shop. In addition, Desert Botanical Garden has a restaurant, so families can dine together.
Find more reasons to vacation in Tempe, and learn why families love Arizona.