Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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is at Tempe Town Beach, at the foot of the Mill Avenue Bridge. Here you can rent kayaks
and other small boats.
Among Phoenix's most popular parks are its natural areas and preserves. These include
Phoenix South Mountain Park, Papago Park, Phoenix Mountains Preserve (site of
Piestewa Peak), North Mountain Preserve, North Mountain Recreation Area, and Cam-
elback Mountain-Echo Canyon Recreation Area. For more information on these parks,
see “Bicycling,” “Hiking,” and “Horseback Riding” under “Outdoor Pursuits,” below.
Phoenix Zoo
Kids
Forget about polar bears and other cold-climate creatures; this
zoo focuses its attention primarily on animals that come from climates similar to that of
the Phoenix area (the rainforest exhibit is an exception). Most impressive of the displays
are the African savanna and the baboon colony. The Southwestern exhibits are also of
interest, as are the giant Galápagos tortoises and the exhibit featuring monkeys from
Central and South America. All animals are kept in naturalistic enclosures, and what with
all the palm trees and tropical vegetation, the zoo sometimes manages to make you forget
you're in the desert. Families will enjoy
Zoolights,
an after-hours holiday-light display held
late November to early January.
At Papago Park, 455 N. Galvin Pkwy.
&
602/273-1341.
www.phoenixzoo.org. Admission $16 adults, $11
seniors, $7 children 3-12. Oct to early Nov and mid-Jan to May daily 9am-5pm; early Nov to mid-Jan daily
9am-4pm; June-Sept Mon-Fri 7am-2pm, Sat-Sun 7am-4pm. Closed Christmas. Bus: 3. METRO light rail:
Priest Dr./Washington St.
ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS
In addition to the following suggestions, kids are likely to enjoy the Arizona Science
Center, the Arizona Museum of Natural History, the Hall of Flame Firefighting Museum,
and the Phoenix Zoo—all described in detail earlier in this chapter.
Arizona Doll & Toy Museum
Kids
This small museum is located in the historic
Stevens House on Heritage Square in downtown Phoenix. The miniature classroom
peopled by doll students is a favorite exhibit. With dolls dating from the 19th century,
this is a definite must for doll collectors.
At Heritage Sq., N. Seventh and Monroe sts.
&
602/253-9337.
Admission $3 adults, $1 children. Tues-
Sat 10am-4pm; Sun noon-4pm. Closed Aug. Bus: 0, 1, or DASH downtown shuttle. METRO light rail:
Central Station.
Arizona Museum for Youth
Kids
Using traditional displays and participatory
activities, this museum allows children to explore the fine arts and their own creativity.
It's housed in a refurbished grocery store, and the highlight is Artville, an arts-driven
kid-size town. Exhibits are geared mainly toward toddlers through 12-year-olds, but all
ages can work together to experience the activities.
35 N. Robson St. (btw. Main and First sts.), Mesa.
&
480/644-2467.
www.arizonamuseumforyouth.com.
Admission $5.50, free for children under 1. Tues-Sat 10am-4pm; Sun noon-4pm. Closed major holidays.
Bus: 30.
13
Goldfield Ghost Town
Kids
Over on the east side of the Valley, just 4 miles
northeast of Apache Junction, you'll find a reconstructed 1890s gold-mining town.
Although it's a bit of a tourist trap—filled with gift shops, an ice-cream parlor, and the
like—it's also home to the
Goldfield's Historic Museum
(
&
480/677-6463
), which has
interesting exhibits on the history of the area. Of particular note is the exhibit on the Lost
Dutchman gold mine, perhaps the most famous mine in the country, despite the fact that
no one knows where it is. Goldfield Mine Tours provides guided tours of the gold mine
