Whether you’re staying in town or hitting the road this summer, here is a list of fun-filled activities that will keep your kids feeling cool this summer.
Do your kids love to explore the outdoors? Then the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson is the place to be this summer. Your kids will love the incredible creatures the museum has crawling around—nearly all of which are indigenous to the Sonoran Desert. There’s also fossils and plant life to see. 520.883.2702, www.desertmuseum.org.
Pima Air & Space Museum
The Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson is the place for tots who want to grow up to be pilots and astronauts. The museum covers 80 acres of land, which allows it to accommodate more than 250 different aircrafts. Your kids will love climbing around large aircrafts and discovering what comes with each new building (the museum consists of several buildings). This is the third-largest museum in the country and is comprised of military aviation from World War I to Desert Storm. 520.574.0462, www.pimaair.org.
Queen Mine
Ever wonder what it was like working underground in 47-degree temperatures year-round? Bisbee’s Queen Copper Mine tours will allow you and your kids to experience what a day was like for the miners. Each tour group will have the chance to hear true, personal stories from the miners who worked the mine, as they will be conducting the tours. You will also have the chance to enter the changing house, get a mine token, and get outfitted with the miners’ gear. 520.432.2071, www.queenminetour.com.
Montezuma Castle National Monument
Explore the past at Montezuma Castle just north of Phoenix. The national monument stands 100 feet above the Verde Valley in a cliff recess. Your kids will love hearing about the history that lies within the castle in the visitor’s center. A sample of what they might learn: The Sinagua farmers built the five-story, 20-room dwelling in the 12th century. The remarkable cliff dwellings will add excitement to the trip. www.nps.gov/moca.
Alltel Ice Den
Trying to find an inexpensive way for your kids to cool down this summer without going too far from home? Alltel Ice Den in Scottsdale offers daily public skating and skating programs for kids and the rest of the family. Plus, your little hockey enthusiast will love that the Ice Den is home to the Coyotes Amateur Hockey Association. 480.585.7465, www.coyotesice.com.
Grand Slam Kids Summer Camp
From beginning to end, your child’s day will be eventful at the Grand Slam summer camp. The camp, which has been going strong for eight years, offers activities like crafts, games, movies, swimming, martial arts and much more. Your kids’ abilities and imaginations are encouraged in the positive learning and social environment that the camp offers. 480.991.1571, www.scottsdaleresortandathleticclub.com.
Explorers’ Camp
The luxurious Fairmont Scottsdale is partnering up with National Geographic for the very first National Geographic Explorers Camp this summer. Kids will be able to navigate and discover desert creatures using a GPS, explore on a photo safari and have a chance to meet real-life explorers. Make this summer an adventure for you and your kids. 480.585.4848, www.fairmont.com/scottsdale.
