1. Arizona Museum Of Natural History
City: Mesa, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 644-2230
Address: 53 N. Macdonald St.
Description: At the Mesa Southwest Museum, visitors can explore Arizona without ever leaving town. It features a 200-million-year-old Camarasaurus, in addition to other giant prehistoric fossils. A 3-story mountain presents a life-size peek at the Mesozoic era—just watch out for the animated dinosaurs and the flash floods. Kids can hunt for their own dinosaur bones in the Paleo Dig Pit. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $8 for students with ID, $6 for children 3 to 12, and free for children younger than 3.
2. Arizona Museum For Youth
City: Mesa, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 644-2467
Address: 35 N. Robson St.
Description: You can really kid around in this downtown Mesa museum, where youth enjoy an introduction to fine arts. Visitors can experiment with hands-on activities that stimulate creativity and artistic savvy. Kids under 5 will especially enjoy Artville, a tiny town designed to teach awareness of colors, shapes, and textures. Admission is $7 for everyone over 1.
3. Atomic Comics
City: Mesa, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 649-0807
Address: 1120 S. Country Club Dr.
Description: This is the Valley’s original comic book store. Its customers range from kids to childlike adults. Aside from traditional comics, Atomic also features comic-related video games, collectible cards, and action figures. Atomic Comics has three other Valley locations: 2815 W. Peoria Ave., Phoenix (602-395-1066); 12621 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix (602-923-0733); and 3155 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler (480-940-6061).
4. Superstition Springs Center
City: Mesa, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 832-0212
Address: 6555 E. Southern Ave.
Description: This mall makes a nice destination for a family outing, not only because it houses several major department stores and dozens of specialty stores, but also because it has a couple of nice features for those moments when you’re shopped out and need a respite. Children can take a break by riding the carousel near the food court or by exploring the indoor toddler play area near the Sears lower level. Westcor runs a Kid’s Club every Thurs at 10 a.m., usually with singing and dancing shows.
5. Amazing Jake’S Pizza Factory
City: Mesa, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 926-7499
Address: 1830 E. Baseline Rd.
Description: This facility is an indoor adventure with all sorts of entertainment and fun to go along with an all-you-can-eat buffet. Activities include go-karts, laser tag, mini golf, and video games. There are gentler rides for the little ones, but the kids need to be at least 4 years old. All rides cost extra.
6. Organ Stop Pizza
City: Mesa, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 813-5700
Address: 1149 E. Southern Ave.
Description: The original Organ Stop Pizza opened in Phoenix in 1972, featuring a huge Wurlitzer pipe organ rescued from oblivion. The larger structure in Mesa was built to accommodate the crowds and the largest Wurlitzer theater organ in the world (more than 5,000 pipes). Kids love dancing to the live organ music and all the special kaleidoscope lighting effects.
7. Jambo! Park
City: Mesa, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 820-8300
Address: 2726 S. Alma School Rd.
Description: Jambo! Park has the feel of a mini state fair with amusement park rides, video games, mini golf, mini bowling, and colored lights. Fortunately, for families looking for something to do on a hot day in the Valley, they’re all indoors. The play lands are geared to children 12 and younger, offering small but fast roller coasters, carousels, and other kiddie rides. Preschoolers like the 3-level soft playground with tunnels, chutes, and ladders. A $10.99 Jambo! Passport gets you some unlimited rides and other perks. There’s another location at 15230 N. 32nd St., Phoenix (602-274-4653).
8. Golfland/Sunsplash
City: Mesa, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 834-8319
Address: 155 W. Hampton Ave.
Description: The gigantic wave pool includes a “river” that you can lazily float on in an inner tube. The kiddie area is quite big, with easy concrete slides, a waterfall, sprinklers, and hoses for lots of safe water play. Admission to the water park and other features varies. The best value is $36 for an unlimited pass to the water park, mini golf, laser tag, and other features.
9. Superstition Farm
City: Mesa, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (602) 432-6865
Address: 3440 S. Hawes Rd.
Description: Casey and Alison Stechnij, a brother-and-sister team, grew up on a farm in East Mesa. After years spent following other pursuits, they joined forces and decided to show kids what farm life really means. This working 28-acre dairy ranch offers tours Sat 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The petting zoo is open most of the week. You’ll ride a hay wagon as you learn all about life on the farm. There’s a milk bar with 12 flavors. Groups are welcome if you call ahead. Tours cost $7.50 and $5.50 for kids under 13.
10. Arizona Museum Of Natural History
City: Mesa, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 644-2230
Address: 53 N. Macdonald St.
Description: At the Mesa Southwest Museum, visitors can explore Arizona without ever leaving town. It features a 200-million-year-old Camarasaurus, in addition to other giant prehistoric fossils. A 3-story mountain presents a life-size peek at the Mesozoic era—just watch out for the animated dinosaurs and the flash floods. Kids can hunt for their own dinosaur bones in the Paleo Dig Pit. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $8 for students with ID, $6 for children 3 to 12, and free for children younger than 3.
11. Arizona Museum For Youth
City: Mesa, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 644-2467
Address: 35 N. Robson St.
Description: You can really kid around in this downtown Mesa museum, where youth enjoy an introduction to fine arts. Visitors can experiment with hands-on activities that stimulate creativity and artistic savvy. Kids under 5 will especially enjoy Artville, a tiny town designed to teach awareness of colors, shapes, and textures. Admission is $7 for everyone over 1.
12. Atomic Comics
City: Mesa, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 649-0807
Address: 1120 S. Country Club Dr.
Description: This is the Valley’s original comic book store. Its customers range from kids to childlike adults. Aside from traditional comics, Atomic also features comic-related video games, collectible cards, and action figures. Atomic Comics has three other Valley locations: 2815 W. Peoria Ave., Phoenix (602-395-1066); 12621 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix (602-923-0733); and 3155 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler (480-940-6061).
13. Superstition Springs Center
City: Mesa, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 832-0212
Address: 6555 E. Southern Ave.
Description: This mall makes a nice destination for a family outing, not only because it houses several major department stores and dozens of specialty stores, but also because it has a couple of nice features for those moments when you’re shopped out and need a respite. Children can take a break by riding the carousel near the food court or by exploring the indoor toddler play area near the Sears lower level. Westcor runs a Kid’s Club every Thurs at 10 a.m., usually with singing and dancing shows.
14. Amazing Jake’S Pizza Factory
City: Mesa, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 926-7499
Address: 1830 E. Baseline Rd.
Description: This facility is an indoor adventure with all sorts of entertainment and fun to go along with an all-you-can-eat buffet. Activities include go-karts, laser tag, mini golf, and video games. There are gentler rides for the little ones, but the kids need to be at least 4 years old. All rides cost extra.
15. Organ Stop Pizza
City: Mesa, AZ
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (480) 813-5700
Address: 1149 E. Southern Ave.
Description: The original Organ Stop Pizza opened in Phoenix in 1972, featuring a huge Wurlitzer pipe organ rescued from oblivion. The larger structure in Mesa was built to accommodate the crowds and the largest Wurlitzer theater organ in the world (more than 5,000 pipes). Kids love dancing to the live organ music and all the special kaleidoscope lighting effects.