Lace up your skates and take a spin on the ice at the Alltel Ice Den. The Ice Den is home to several youth and adult amateur hockey leagues and also is open at scheduled times for public skating, learn-to-skate and figure skating classes, and other fun activities.
Enjoy a "floating picnic" with Arizona's Salt River Tubing & Recreation and experience the natural wonders of the Lower Salt River, including wild horses, blue herons and majestic scenic vistas.
Reach new heights at AZ on the Rocks, which provides a safe, comfortable, fun and challenging indoor rock climbing environment for children and adults. The gym includes 14,000 square feet of climbing terrain, over 50 top ropes, lead climbing and a large bouldering (free climbing) area.
Hundreds of fabulous boutiques, souvenir shops, art galleries, Native American jewelry stores and restaurants line the streets of the Downtown Scottsdale Arts, Shopping & Entertainment Districts. The free Scottsdale trolley provides a colorful and convenient way to get around downtown - just park once and let the trolleys do the driving!
Get your motor running! Kids 10 and older can get behind the wheel at F1 Race Factory. F1 offers everything from high-speed European kart racing to rock climbing, billiards and a wide selection of video games.
Visit one of the world's tallest fountains in nearby Fountain Hills. From the center of a 28-acre man-made lake, this magnificent fountain sends a snow-white jet stream of water some 560 feet into the blue desert sky. The lade is surrounded by lush grassy park that includes a children's play area. Bring a picnic lunch (or visit one of the fabulous local restaurants) and enjoy beautiful Fountain Hills!
Learn about Scottsdale's early days at the 1909 Little Red Schoolhouse, now home to the Scottsdale Historical Museum. The museum chronicles the city's history with photographs, artifacts and changing displays.
Experience the Sonoran Desert up-close-and-personal along the pristine hiking trails of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. You can hike on your own or join one of the regular guided hikes offered by the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy.
The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) offers programs and exhibits to help young people discover the world art. The Young @ Art Gallery, located in the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts (immediately adjacent to SMoCA), is devoted to the creative work of children. And, on the first Tuesday of the month (beginning in fall 2006), SMoCA will offer Toddler Tuesdays. Through these tours and gallery activities youngsters ages three to five will learn basic principles of color, texture and shape as they gain confidence and social skills.
Wrap up your evening with dinner and a show at the Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre. Choose one of their dinner packages or just take in one of their wonderful children's theatre productions. Past shows include Annie, Peter Pan, and Charlotte's Web.