8 Fun Things to do in Phoenix with a Teenager/Kid

Phoenix, Arizona located in the South West of the United States is an absolutely incredible city to visit. There is so much to see, do and eat! It’s a world-class destination and an incredibly beautiful and perfect place for families.

We recently just visited for the first time at the beginning of October and we had the absolute best time and there were so many fun things to do in Phoenix with kids. I’ve gathered a list of some of the most fun things to do in Phoenix with a teenager. I’ve also added some of my favorite places to eat and favorite places to stay in Phoenix.

There are so many fun things to do in Phoenix with a teenager + kids!

Desert Botanical Garden

The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix is a must for adults and kids alike. This is a really great family friendly activity to do when visiting Phoenix. The garden has over 50,000 desert plants on display through out five different themed trails and areas. It has the world’s greatest collection of arid plants from deserts all over the world in this incredible outdoor setting.

The Desert Botanical Garden is especially one of the best things to do in Phoenix with kids because they also have an incredible butterfly garden with butterflies everywhere! My little one was so thrilled and intrigued by the butterflies.

Also, if you love photography, this is an incredible place to take photos of the whole family!

Make sure to visit the nearby Papago Park and The Phoenix Zoo!

Dinner at Different Point of View Restaurant

Different Pointe of View is one of the most amazing restaurants in Phoenix. Not only is it incredible for their food, but also for the epic views over Phoenix. Make sure to come have dinner just before sunset to get some really incredible views.

This restaurant is a bit on the fancier side so you might not want to bring your kids if they get too rambunctious or if you don’t think they can at least stay calm for dinner. However, we brought our 9 month old and they were very catering to him and he loved the food and views too so I still decided to add this restaurant to the best things to do in Phoenix with kids!

The outside of the restaurant is incredible and it feels like you stepped into the Italian Riveria. The restaurant is perched 1800 feet above the city on a mountaintop. The food was so so good and it combines American cuisine with Mediterranean influences.

The service here was also some of the very best we received while in Phoenix. If you are a wine lover, they have an extensive list of wines as well. If wine isn’t your thing, don’t fret. Our server actually made me a delicious mocktail based on things I said I liked! If that’s not great service, I don’t know what is.

Explore Old Town Scottsdale

Old Town Scottsdale is made up of nine walkable neighborhoods and is so much fun to explore in Phoenix with kids. Certain areas feel like old towns from the wild wild west. There is a lot of things to do for the whole family including lots of unique shops, restaurants, art galleries and historic sites dating from the late 1880s. The Old West Charm is really what makes it so unique and makes it a must while visiting Phoenix with kids.

sitting in front of a churn in Old town Scottsdale

This area is also very Instagrammable so you will definitely want to take lots of photos!

Butterfly Wonderland

Butterfly Wonderland is absolutely one of the best things to do in Phoenix with a teenager/kids. Our little guy was laughing and smiling the whole time here. I think it is a great activity for kids of all ages (and adults!) I absolutely loved it here too. Butterfly Wonderland is located at the new Arizona Boardwalk in Scottsdale and it’s a great place to visit with kids as there are many different activities to do.

Butterfly Wonderland is the largest indoor rainforest conservatory in the United States. Have fun walking around with your little ones and discovering over 3000 butterflies from around the world. You will walk through lush tropical plants and flowers as well. They randomly also had some chickens walking around!

It does get very humid in there so make sure to dress accordingly. There is also a brief movie about butterflies beforehand and an area where you can see dozens of cocoons.

After you walk through the conservatory, there is also a small aquarium area which is really fun for kids and a really cute gift shop.

Odysea Aquarium

The Odysea Aquarium is also located at the new Arizona Boardwalk and is a great activity to combine with the Butterfly Wonderland. Odysea Aquarium is also actually the newest aquarium in the country and was recently voted Best Kids Indoor Entertainment in Arizona. It also won an award for America’s Best Restroom! (Trust me, it really is the coolest bathroom ever so make sure to stop in when you arrive).

We have visited aquariums all over the US and this one was very good and actually quite unique so I definitely recommend it! There are over 320 different species including some really adorable sloths and some animals and sea life that you don’t get to see very often. There is also a 3D theater!

Explore Murals in Downtown Phoenix

I had no idea that Phoenix was full of so many incredible murals! If you are a mural lover like me, you will definitely want to spend an afternoon going on your own little mural walking tour. Here are some locations of incredible murals in Phoenix:

“Timeless” mural– An 144-foot mural that changes throughout the day as the sun moves across the sky. Location: 100 N. 1st St. (West Exterior of Renaissance Phoenix Downtown).

Melinda’s Alley- This mural is a tribute to Melinda Curtis, a known character who resided on the alley. Location: 151 N. Central Avenue

1 1/2 Street Mural Project- Located right behind the Churchill, this collaborative mural is the work of 12 local artists! This mural is a must and if you walk around this area you will come across so many other wonderful murals. Location- 901 N. First St.

Fun things to do in Phoenix with a teenager!

Pumpkin Fest at the Princess

If you are visiting Phoenix in the Fall, The Pumpkin Fest at the Princess is a must! We had so much fun taking our baby Hughie to this adorable Fall Harvest festival which is seriously fun for all ages. I know my nieces and nephews would have loved it too!

This Fall festival included a small pumpkin patch, Jack-o-lantern lawn and lane, a cider orchard, fireworks (weekend nights only), a small hay maze for kids, a carnival with tons of rides for kids, games, adorable photo opps everywhere, yummy food stands, a little haunted spook alley area and even a “Spookeasy” at the Plaza Bar which looked so cool!

They had Halloween themed cocktails in light up cups and they were showing old black and white scary movies in the background.

Bring your kids and dress up in your Halloween costumes or just cute Halloween outfits and be prepared to have a blast!

The Princess also has a really fun festival around Christmas time as well!

Picture spot by a bunch of pumpkins and decor

Swimming at Hotel

No matter what time of year it is, swimming is a must when visiting Phoenix! We traveled there in October and it was PERFECT weather and even great for swimming in the afternoons. Both of the hotels we stayed at had incredible pools and our little guy had so much fun!

Best Places to Eat in Phoenix Arizona

The Churchhill–

Located near downtown Phoenix, The Churchhill is a collective of first-time business owners and entrepreneurs. There are some adorable small local shops and several different eateries including wood fired pizza, Guadalajara cuisine, smoothie bowls, a hamburger joint and bar. There is a courtyard in the middle of all of the restaurants and it is a perfect place to go with a group so everyone can order whatever they want. The space is really cute and there are some lawn games as well. This place is also pet friendly and there is a street of incredible murals right behind it!

Ingo’s Tasty Food-

Ingo’s Tasty Food has 2 different locations in Phoenix. We visited the aesthetic downtown location and loved it. It offers an all day menu including coffee, a full breakfast and pastries, lunch and dinner. We came here for breakfast and it was great. We really loved their banana bread and other pastries, including their hand made pies!

Postino-

Postino Central is a great place to come for lunch. They are known for their selection of wines, colorfully aesthetic bruschetta boards and other tasty sandwiches and salads. Our group tried some of the bruschetta boards, the chicken salad and the grilled cheese and tomato soup and it was all incredibly good.

Gertrude’s-

One of my very favorite restaurants in Phoenix was Gertrude’s. Located at the Desert Botanical Garden, the location is magical. Dining outdoors underneath hanging lights in a desert botanical garden is truly dreamy and the restaurant serves incredibly large farm-to-table delicious meals. (The portions are honestly so big- you can either share or get a doggy bag to go!)

The Beef and potatoes entree at Gertrude’s, one of the best places to eat in Phoenix.

The fried Cauliflower at Gertrude’s was actually sooo good!

Daily Dose Midtown Bar and Grill-

Daily Dose is an absolute must for breakfast. They had one of the best breakfast meals I’ve ever had before. You definitely have to try the made-from-scratch cinnamon roll pancakes! They sounded good, but oh my gosh, they were insanely good! They also have other fun options like breakfast nachos, banana bread french toast and a hangover sandwich.

Frozen Penguins-

Frozen Penguins is also located at the Arizona Boardwalk and is a must for desert lovers! They have a sort of build your own ice-cream sandwich with deliciously fresh and warm cookies made in house and then you get to pick your ice-cream flavor in the middle and then toppings on top!

Center Stage Bar-

We had dinner at Center Stage Bar located at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale and it was great! The menu is small, but the food is very tasty. They put their own twist on “bar food” and I recommend the chicken drummies and the pork grilled cheese. The best part of the restaurant/bar however is the atmosphere. There were cascading fountains and glowing fireplaces creating the most warm and inviting ambiance. They often have live music and the man performing while we were there was very good. It’s a great place for a relaxing, laid back night.

LGO Grocery-

La Grande Orange Grocery and Pizzeria, otherwise known as LGO Grocery is one of the best places to eat in Phoenix! LGO is a general store, wine shop, pizzeria and popular breakfast joint.

Pa’La Downtown-

Pa’La is not just a restaurant, it is an experience. The design of this restaurant is absolutely incredible and is modern meets elegance. The golden booths with chandeliers hanging above is a delight. Our server there was one of the best I have ever had! She was so great at her job and took the time to really explain the menu. Pa’La is really unique in that the menu is changing daily based on the fresh ingredients they get in that day. It’s a fusion restaurant blending Mediterranean and South American food. They talk farm-to-table very seriously and only use a few select organic farms nearby.

Prep and Pastry-

Located in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, Prep and Pastry is a very Instagrammable light and airy adorable cafe. The ingredients are only locally sourced so the food is really high quality. This restaurant is honestly breath taking. The design is incredible from the gorgeous plants to the tile work to the amazing light that comes in from the large windows. Not to mention, I had the pumpkin french toast and it was insanely good!

Best Hotels in Phoenix Az

Hyatt Regency Scottsdale:

We absolutely loved our stay at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale. It’s a 4-star hotel with onsite restaurants, a bar and 10 different pools including an adults-only pool and a waterslide. There is even one pool area that has its own sandy beach. The rooms are very nice, new and comfortable. They are very accommodating of babies and kids as well. This hotel is in a great location in Scottsdale surrounding the Sonoran Desert. This hotel is also right next to a golf course, has its own spa and tennis courts and an incredible events space.

Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs-

Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs is an incredible resort that has 8 different pools, amazing waterfalls right on the property, several different restaurants and an 18-hole golf course. It is up on a hill so you get incredible views of the valley below. Make sure to try their restaurant Different Pointe of View which was one of our favorite in Phoenix.