Not everyone plans a big vacation trip when the kids are out of school during Spring Break. It is, however, a great opportunity for some family time, especially if you can get a day or two off for a special adventure with the family.
If you need to keep children occupied while you are working many of the area cities and towns have Kids' Clubs for Spring Break; contact your city's Parks Department to see what programs they have available.
All dates, times, prices and offerings are subject to change without notice. Images © Judy Hedding unless otherwise stated.
Sign Up For Spring Camp
There are several organizations around town that usually offer a short camp program during Spring Break. If you can't stay with the kids and take them here and there, at least maybe they can have some fun at camp.
Visit the Animals
The Phoenix Zoo is located in Papago Park in central Phoenix. It's easy to get to from all directions, and it is a lovely zoo, especially on a day when it isn't too hot (Map). Get there early on those warmer, sunny days. See the video.
If you haven't been to Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium, you might want to give that a try for a change of pace. They are more focused on exotic animals. Wildlife World Zoo is on the west side of town in Litchfield Park.
The fish are jumpin' at SeaLife Arizona where you can get up close and personal with seahorses, sharks, rays, tropical fish and the sea turtle, Ziva. SeaLife Arizona is in Tempe. You can watch a short video about SeaLife Arizona.
Go to a Baseball Game
Everyone knows that March is the month for Cactus League baseball. Tickets are very reasonably priced, and the ten Spring Training stadiums around town are easy to get to. There are usually six games or more scheduled on any day in the month of March! If you can't take off from work, there are evening games, too.
Go to Amusement Park
Amazingly enough, Castles and Coasters in Phoenix is the closest thing to a theme park that we have in the Phoenix area. The water slides and features are only available during the summer, but the miniature golf courses, large arcade, and the rides -- including roller coasters -- are always popular.
Enchanted Island Amusement Park is geared to the younger kids. It is located at Encanto Park in Phoenix. (Map)
Go to a Water Park or Pool
Wet 'n' Wild opens on a limited basis for the 2013 Season on March 21st. It operates Thursday through Sunday for Spring Break in March, and then weekends in April. (Map)
Golfland/SunSplash will have race cars, bumper boats and their six water slides open from March 9th through March 17th from noon to 6 p.m. and on weekends until May 11th when the full waterpark opens. Thunderfalls will be open March 14th-17th. Check online for Spring Break special package pricing. (Map)
The indoor wave pool at Kiwanis Park in Tempe is open year-round (except during maintenance periods). It is a popular place during Spring Break! (Map)
Two pools in Chandler, the Hamilton Aquatic Center and the Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center, will be open. The Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center features a lap pool, diving area, two slides, water vortex, lazy river with tumble buckets, and a play area for kids. The Hamilton Aquatic Center features a lap pool, diving area, two slides, water vortex, current river and a play area for kids. Mesquite Groves will be open from March 9 - March 24, 2013. Hours will be Sunday from noon to 5 pm ($1 Family Swim from noon to 2 pm); Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 7 pm; Saturday from noon to 5 pm. Mesquite Groves will also be open from March 25 - May 27, 2013 except March 31 and April 27. Hours will be Sunday from noon to 5 pm ($1 Family Swim from noon to 2 pm); Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 1 pm for play structure and zero depth area only; Tuesday through Friday from 4 pm to 7 pm for all features in play pool; Saturday from noon to 5 pm. Hamilton will be open from March 9 - March 23, 2013. Hours will be Monday through Saturday from noon to 5 pm. Admission is $1 for youth (2 - 17 yrs) and $2.25 for adults (18 - 54 yrs). (Map)
Some other municipal public pools are also open. Check with your neighborhood parks and recreation department.
Drive the Apache Trail
You'd better be a confident and calm driver for this one, but a road trip on the Apache Trail will be a memorable trip. Stop at Tortilla Flat before you continue your desert driving adventure. Don't be frightened, now....
Hike Waterfall Canyon
This is an easy hike; I did it once with a 5 year-old! This is a great way get the kids outside, see some petroglyphs, and let them do some climbing on boulders, too. You probably won't see any waterfalls in March unless we've had a good rain. Bring water and a hat!
Visit the Arizona Science Center
The Arizona Science Center has exhibits, many hands-on activities, an IMAX theater offering movies related to science, and a cool planetarium. Downtown Phoenix.
Tour a Dairy Farm
The farms are slowly but surely disappearing in Maricopa County, and as development continues it's getting harder and harder for kids to see a real cow around here! Problem resolved at Shamrock Farms, where you can see thousands of them, and take a cool tour of this huge, high tech operation. There's no petting zoo, but if you bring the little ones there is a playground, and you can bring your own snacks for a picnic.
At Superstition Farm you'll experience the family dairy farm, take a tour, and pet some of their resident animals. It's a more casual, close-up experience!
