Family
Children's Museum of Phoenix
Three floors of climb-on everything for the under-10 crowd. Go at open, leave before the meltdown.
Downtown Phoenix
$Indoors
Family Day
Plans that hold up with a stroller, a teenager, and a nap schedule.
August · Survive It
Late August in Phoenix is an indoor sport. Everything below is cooled, shaded, or scheduled after sundown.
Family
OdySea Aquarium
The rotating SeaTREK carousel is the whole reason. Freezing cold inside, which is the point in August.
Salt River
$$Indoors
Family
Butterfly Wonderland
A humid glass atrium full of butterflies. Weirdly calming for everyone, not just the kids.
Salt River
$$Indoors
Family
Arizona Science Center
Planetarium, giant screen, and enough hands-on floors to burn a whole 110-degree afternoon.
Heritage Square
$$Indoors
Eat
Pizzeria Bianco
The pizza that put Phoenix on the national map. Still the answer for out-of-towners.
Heritage Square
$$Indoor + out
Eat
Cocina Madrigal
Chef Leo's modern Mexican — the mole is the reason, the margaritas are the excuse.
South Phoenix
$$Indoors
Eat
The Churchill
Shipping-container courtyard of small local kitchens and a shaded bar. Everybody finds something.
Roosevelt Row
$Indoor + out
Eat
La Santisima
Gourmet tacos and a salsa bar people plan their route around.
Coronado
$Indoors
Eat
Doughbird
Rotisserie chicken and pizza — the peace treaty for a table that can't agree.
Biltmore
$Indoor + out
Do
D-backs at Chase Field
The roof closes, the AC roars, and $4 hot dog nights make this the cheapest good time in August.
Downtown PhoenixAug 20 – Sep 27
$$Indoors
Date to confirm
Do
Topgolf Riverwalk
Misted bays, bad swings, good queso. Works for a birthday or a Tuesday.
Scottsdale Riverwalk
$$Indoor + out
Do
Phoenix Mercury
The end of the WNBA season is the loudest Footprint Center gets all summer.
Downtown PhoenixAug 20 – Sep 20
$$Indoors
Date to confirm