Children’s Museum of Phoenix

Where in Phoenix can you race through a giant cluster of pool noodles, frolic in a cloud of foam and climb to new heights in a giant three-stories-tall play tower? None other than the Children’s Museum of Phoenix!

The Children’s Museum of Phoenix was the Memorial Day destination for me, my husband and our two boys, ages 2 and 7. Given the holiday, we knew we might see crowds. But luckily, the museum is huge! Three levels of fun with space to spread out. Once you step inside, the first floor opens to an airy room with a massive play structure called The Climber that measures three stories tall. Much like a maze, there are different avenues to navigate this high-rise play structure and various stopping points like the “flying” bath tub which make for fun photo opportunities.

The first floor is also home to open areas with building blocks, magnetic gears, hula hoops and floating ping pong balls! My boys spent a lot of time at a snake-like structure of tubes that streamed air and shot colorful scarves from up high. It created a fun game of catch for my oldest and pure joy for my 2-year-old.

Level up to floor two, and you’ll find a fort lover’s paradise in the Building Big room and tricycles to ride on imaginary roads in Pedal Power. There’s an art studio, too, and a play place for children 3 and younger. Here’s where my husband and I split with the kids. I took our youngest to the infant and toddler gallery, while he accompanied our oldest to the art studio.

The infant and toddler gallery was a quieter space with age-appropriate toys and experiences. My little one loved exploring the utensils in the kitchen area and “picking” flowers in the garden. Good to know that this area has a strict no-shoes policy to keep floors clean for crawling tykes.

We hopped over to the art studio to check on Brother and found him tinkering with paper scraps and household items to make a robot! A big green robot is also a fun attraction in the art studio where everyone can leave their mark with a swipe of paint.

From there, it was onto level three. Here’s where you’ll find the Noodle Forest, a thick cluster of hanging pool noodles. Kids of every age can dash through the swinging noodles. It’s bound to put a smile on your face!

The third floor also features a market where kids’ can grocery shop. There’s the Grand Ballroom filled with ball and ramp obstacle courses as well as a The Park where kids can climb through winding tunnels. Don’t miss the Pit Stop if you have car lovers, because this area has three levels of tracks for racing.

Our last stop was the Foam Zone! This attraction is available outdoors during the summer and is a great way to cool off. The blasts of foamy bubbles run intermittently throughout the day, so if you catch it while it’s off, visit the garden or check out the fire trucks next door. Note that the trucks are off limits after 11am in the summer months due to the heat.

If you’re looking for an endless array of all-day play, put the Children’s Museum of Phoenix on your list! Admission is $17 per person for anyone over age 1. Hours are 9am to 4pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day. If you’re visiting outside the summer months, call to confirm their hours or visit their website.

Click here to view a YouTube video from a previous year: