Tours & Attractions - Scottsdale, Arizona



1. Downtown Scottsdale

City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 4343 N. Scottsdale Rd.


2. Taliesin West

City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd.

3. Cookie Company

City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (602) 254-2151
Address: 7020 E. 2nd St.

Description: An affiliate of Phoenix Theatre, the Cookie Company built a stellar reputation for taking old stage favorites and putting a modern spin on them. The theater, made up primarily of adult actors, enjoyed its 30th season in 2011. Performances of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Unstoppable Me! included free activities for the kids an hour prior to curtain. The theater is aptly named—audiences chomp on cookies and milk after each performance during a meet-the-actors reception. Admission is around $15. Call the box office for updated prices.

4. Jester’Z Improv Comedy

City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 423-0120
Address: 7117 E. McDowell Rd.
Insider Pick:

Description: Jester’z improvisational theater is funny enough for adults but clean enough for kids. Its shows steer clear of raw language and crude situations. Alcohol and smoking are prohibited on the premises. Performances are fast paced and interactive, and members of the audience yell out suggestions for scenes, games, and exercises. The 90-minute shows are scheduled every Fri and Sat at 8 and 10 p.m. All tickets cost $12 except the 6 p.m. Sat show ($10). Reservations required. If your kids get an itch for show business after the show, sign them up for classes and workshops.

5. Alltel Ice Den

City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 585-7465
Address: 9375 E. Bell Rd.
Insider Pick:

Description: In addition to offering public skating, this facility sponsors figure skating and hockey classes for kids and adults, and has a pro shop, a concession area, and a cafe. Usually there are DJ light shows Friday and Saturday nights; Friday is Teen Night, and Saturday is Family Fun Night. Public sessions vary by the season but usually last 2 hours every weekday. Admission is $5 to $8 depending on your age; rentals cost a bit extra.

6. Scottsdale Civic Center Library

City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 312-2474
Address: 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd.

Description: This large library is a focal point of Scottsdale’s Civic Center Mall, and its colorful children’s area is one of the best in the Valley. Programs include family story time, kids’ reading practice sessions with the dogs from Tail Waggin’ Tutors, and specific sessions for toddlers.

7. Crackerjax

City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 998-2800
Address: 16001 N. Scottsdale Rd.

Description: Miniature-golf aficionados like this place for its 2 courses with different degrees of difficulty. You can also try your hand at real golf on the 2-level driving range. The park keeps kids happy with bumper boats, go-karts, sand volleyball, batting cages, and an arcade. The park has extended hours Fri and Sat. An unlimited ride pass goes for $20 to $25 depending on the day. The Bungy Dome, with its bouncy 30-foot drops, costs $10.

8. Macdonald’S Ranch

City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 585-0239
Address: 26540 N. Scottsdale Rd.

Description: Take a horseback ride among desert scrub and saguaros with the McDowell Mountains as your backdrop. For decades MacDonald’s Ranch has been teaching people about horses through lessons and day rides. The ranch also specializes in stagecoach rides, cowboy cookouts, and hayrides. Reservations are required, and the ranch suggests these activities for children ages 7 and older. There are free pony rides at the ranch for those younger than 7. A 1-hour guided trail ride is $40 to $45 per person.

9. Mccormick-Stillman Railroad Park

City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 7301 E. Indian Bend Rd.

10. Downtown Scottsdale

City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 4343 N. Scottsdale Rd.

11. Taliesin West

City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd.

12. Cookie Company

City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (602) 254-2151
Address: 7020 E. 2nd St.

Description: An affiliate of Phoenix Theatre, the Cookie Company built a stellar reputation for taking old stage favorites and putting a modern spin on them. The theater, made up primarily of adult actors, enjoyed its 30th season in 2011. Performances of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Unstoppable Me! included free activities for the kids an hour prior to curtain. The theater is aptly named—audiences chomp on cookies and milk after each performance during a meet-the-actors reception. Admission is around $15. Call the box office for updated prices.

13. Jester’Z Improv Comedy

City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 423-0120
Address: 7117 E. McDowell Rd.
Insider Pick:

Description: Jester’z improvisational theater is funny enough for adults but clean enough for kids. Its shows steer clear of raw language and crude situations. Alcohol and smoking are prohibited on the premises. Performances are fast paced and interactive, and members of the audience yell out suggestions for scenes, games, and exercises. The 90-minute shows are scheduled every Fri and Sat at 8 and 10 p.m. All tickets cost $12 except the 6 p.m. Sat show ($10). Reservations required. If your kids get an itch for show business after the show, sign them up for classes and workshops.

14. Alltel Ice Den

City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 585-7465
Address: 9375 E. Bell Rd.
Insider Pick:

Description: In addition to offering public skating, this facility sponsors figure skating and hockey classes for kids and adults, and has a pro shop, a concession area, and a cafe. Usually there are DJ light shows Friday and Saturday nights; Friday is Teen Night, and Saturday is Family Fun Night. Public sessions vary by the season but usually last 2 hours every weekday. Admission is $5 to $8 depending on your age; rentals cost a bit extra.

15. Scottsdale Civic Center Library

City: Scottsdale, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 312-2474
Address: 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd.

Description: This large library is a focal point of Scottsdale’s Civic Center Mall, and its colorful children’s area is one of the best in the Valley. Programs include family story time, kids’ reading practice sessions with the dogs from Tail Waggin’ Tutors, and specific sessions for toddlers.
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