Golf and spa are probably the two words most associated with a Scottsdale, Arizona vacation. And while they certainly do these fine leisure pursuits well, we were delighted to discover on a recent trip just how much the region offered their younger visitors.
MIM – Musical Instrument Museum
What a surprise to find this truly world-class museum on the edge of the desert. Not only does the 190,000-square-foot facility house over 14,000 stringed, percussion and horned instruments from over 200 countries, it also uses technology to maximize the visitor’s experience. A personal wireless unit picks up the audio on the over 300 video screens enabling each person to listen to the beat of their own music, whether it’s Cajun fiddle, Andean pan-pipes, the drums of Africa or hip-hop. After appreciating both the commonality and diversity of the world’s music, you can try it for yourself in the Experience Gallery.
“It’s every kid’s favourite,” says Alan DiPerna, the museum’s spokesperson. And sure enough, in a nanosecond the kids in our group are plucking harps, striking gongs, strumming guitars and making music of all kinds. Even the adults can’t resist the instruments’ lure.
Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlour & Restaurant
“Don’t be afraid to order something with lots of calories, Daddy, we’ll eat it.” That’s the caption on the Family Circus cartoon by Bill Keane displayed on the wall of Scottsdale’s most popular ice-cream parlour. The cartoonist, who lives nearby, drops by on occasion and has frequently featured the eatery in his comic strips. It’s easy to see (and taste) why. The nostalgic pink décor and the menu filled with classic like Rocky Road Ice-cream Bowls, Old-fashioned Camelback Sodas and Root Beer Floats take you back in time.
Garden Flashlight Tour at the Desert Botanical Gardens
The desert may appear lifeless under the strong mid-day sun, but at night it’s a whole different world. Cacti bloom and animals emerge in the moonlight. The night tour at the Desert Botanical Gardens lets you experience this phenomena first hand. Armed with flashlights, visitors make their way around the trails, stopping at different stations to learn more about the plants and wildlife of the region. Highlights for kids include making native crafts and getting up close to desert inhabitants like snakes, tarantulas and scorpions. The volunteers are extremely knowledgeable and happy to answer questions. Tours take place Thursday and Saturday evenings from May through August at 7 pm.
Other attractions worth taking the kids to include the Arizona Science Center, where they can ride a sky-cycle high above the exhibits, make their way through a giant stomach complete with sounds and smell and learn about the night sky in the state-of –the-art planetarium. At the Phoenix Zoo, young visitors can monkey around in North America’s only walk-through monkey exhibit and cool off in the ‘sprayground’. The McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is the ideal site for a picnic with train rides, an antique carousel, an arboretum and playgrounds.
Hanging out by the Pool
Scottsdale’s renowned resorts offer deep discounts during the summer, with specials and programs that cater specifically to families.
At the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, the Sonoran Splash pool complex is a big hit for kids with its two, 200-foot waterslides. The Bobcat Billy’s Clubhouse has supervised programs with special daily themed events starting with ‘Mad Scientist Mondays’ and ending with ‘Fishing Fridays’ as well as kids’ favourites like swimming and ice cream. Family tennis lessons, dive-in movies by the pool and restaurant playrooms are other fun options.
The Westin Kierland Resort has popular family features including a lazy river, waterslides and a cruise-ship-inspired menu of activities from watermelon-eating contests and smores by the campfire to kids cooking lessons and zoo presentations with live critters. The Kid’s club offers supervised programming including a Digital Kids Camp, where budding filmmakers can get inspired producing movies and experimenting with special effects.
With activities like these there’s no guilt in leaving the darlings for a few hours to enjoy some of Scottsdale’s more adult recreation.
Golf or spa anyone?
Find out more about these attractions and others at www.scottsdalecvb.com and www.visitphoenix.com
Get kids excited about your family’s travels at www.justkidstravel.com -A travel planning website for kids.