The Sonoran Desert in Scottsdale, Arizona is a natural playground that provides fun for the entire family. Your options for outdoor activities are endless from guided hikes, to jeep tours, to horseback rides. Here are some of the many ways you and your family can experience what the desert has to offer.
Butterfly Wonderland
At Butterfly Wonderland, thousands of beautiful butterflies fly free throughout a rainforest atrium. This is the largest butterfly pavilion in the country. Your family will be captivated by the 3D movie the “Flight of the Monarchs.” Butterfly Wonderland has so much to experience including the stingray touch tank, honeybee hives, Emergence Gallery, and other live exhibits.
MacDonald’s Ranch
MacDonald’s Ranch celebrates the history of the Southwest and its natural scenery. Located north of Phoenix, you and your family will enjoy sing-alongs around the campfire, hayrides, and authentic barbecue. Wild West seeking tourists, horseback riders, churches, and corporate groups all love MacDonald’s Ranch. They are available to host parties and events for large or small groups. Their professional staff will guide you along the way and customize and tailor amenities and services based on your event. Kids love the ranch for the Cowboy Cookouts, Pony Ride, the Petting Zoo, and the Pumpkin Patch in October.
Odysea Mirror Maze
One of Scottsdale, Arizona’s recent family-friendly attractions is the Odysea Mirror Maze. It’s found in the Butterfly Wonderland complex and is part of the Odysea in the Desert entertainment complex. The walls create a mind-bending effect with the oversized mirrors lined throughout. There are many twisting corners, dead ends, and loops that lead to nowhere. On your journey, the sound effects and dramatic lighting will make you feel like you are exploring through a rainforest.
Phoenix Zoo
The Phoenix Zoo has daily activities and opportunities for the family to explore wildlife as you’ve never seen. Kids and adults love the Monkey Village which is an open exhibit to view squirrel monkeys swinging through the trees and bushes inches away from you. In the petting zoo, you’re welcome to pet and feed the goats in the barn at Harmony Farm. You’ll also get up-close and personal with sheep, cows, and horses.
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch
The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch is just a short walk from the Gainey Ranch Golf Club and features a spa, restaurants, and bars onsite. Every air-conditioned room is equipped with a work desk, flat-screen cable TV, coffee-making facilities, and a small refrigerator. The family friendly hotel and resort provides Southwestern fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their restaurant Noh serves up exquisite Japanese cuisine, and Alto Ristorante e Bar is your place for everything Italian for dinner. After a long day of activities, relax at Center Stage Bar, The Grotto, or Cantina Due for some much-needed cocktails. With ten outdoor swimming pools, a waterslide, and four separate tennis courts, staying at this hotel is a vacation in itself. There are 493 suites with terraces and balconies providing stunning views of the mountain, sunsets, and golf cours.
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