This story was created by #ThisIsTucson in 2023, updated in 2025 and underwritten byΜύ.ΜύThank you for supporting theΜύlocal organizationsΜύthat support us!Μύ
Some questions we see online a lot: what restaurants will my picky 6-year-old like? Are there any kid-friendly hikes around town? What can I do with my teen on weekends?
We hear you loud and clear. From indoor playgrounds to restaurants that specialize in chicken tendies and over-the-top milkshakes,Μύwe compiled a big ol' guide to kid-friendly things to do and eat in Tucson.
Designed for kids ages 6 months and up, Wild Katz features a tree house, mega slides, tunnels and other obstacles.
Things to do with the littles
These attractions maybe aren't fit for your teen, but are definitely worth it for your 7-year-old.
- β This indoor playground is a kid's dream. Designed for kiddos ages 6 months to 13 years old, Wild Katz, ,Μύhas slides, net courses, tree forts and climbing walls.Μύ
- Μύβ Known for parkour, this indoor playground, ,Μύhas a slew of classes, teams, camps and open play options for infants, kids and even adults. There are Nerf battles, climbing walls and more.
- Μύβ This museum, designed for kids up to age 10, has interactive exhibits that teach subjects like electricity, the body and public safety. The main location is at , but a smaller location sits inside Tohono Chul, .
- Μύβ The JCC has an indoor play area for the center's members and their guests, ages 2-11. Find the J atΜύ.
- Μύβ From crafts to puzzles to toys, this experience is geared toward infants to pre-teens. This is a drop-off center, allowing parents to have a couple hours to themselves. Timeless Play has two locations:Μύ ²Ή²Τ»εΜύ.
A giant gila monster by the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museumβs Nathan Duron and his crew, right, is backgrounded with murals by Joe Pagac in the toddler area of the Packrat Playhouse kids attraction.
Things to do outdoors with the whole family
Enjoy the Tucson sunshine with the whole family. Explore wildlife, history and even fairies.
- Μύβ From elephants to squirrel monkeys, learn all about animals at Tucson's zoo, which also has a shaded playground called World of Play. The zoo, ,Μύhosts seasonal events for the holidays, plus frequent workshops for kids who want to be a zookeeper when they grow up.
- Μύβ Here's where you take the family for a true slice of Tucson, including the flora and fauna that call the Sonoran Desert home. The museum, ,Μύalso has an indoor playground called Packrat Playhouse and a stingray touch pool.
- Μύβ Take a half-mile guided tour through this east-side cave, ,Μύwhere you'll learn about the cave's history and geology.Μύ
- Μύβ This local fantasy park at Μύhas been around for 100 years. It's where you can find fairies, a wizard's tower and other fairytale-like attractions.Μύ
- Mini golf β Check out ²Ή²Τ»εΜύΜύfor mini golf, bumper boats and go-karts. Funtasticks also has an outdoor water park!
- Mount LemmonΜύβ Take a drive up the mountain for scenic views, colorful leaves in fall and maybe even snow in winter. There's a that runs even when it's not snowing, homemade fudge at the and lots of .
Wesley Henderson swings on the silks above a pit of foam cubes at Defy, now known as Jumping Cholla.
Things to do indoors with the whole family
Sometimes you want to stay out of the sun and bask in the A/C.
- Trampoline parks β These are fun for kids and adults alike. Check outΜύ,ΜύΜύ²Ή²Τ»ε .
- Μύβ I spent days upon days at Skate Country, ,Μύas a kid. It's Tucson's only roller rink! If you don't want to skate with the adults, there are sessions specifically for toddlers and families.Μύ
- Cat loungesΜύβ Fans of cats, these ones are for you. Spend time at , , and , , surrounded by dozens of kitties.
- Μύβ Bring the kiddos to This n' That, ,Μύfor all kinds of crafts, including slime-making, a splatter room and a make-your-own-plushie workshop.Μύ
- Μύβ This improv studio, ,Μύhas weekly family-friendly shows, plus classes for adults and teens!Μύ
- MuseumsΜύβ Tucson is home to a lot of museums. Presidio Museum, Ignite Sign Art, Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium, Southern Arizona Transportation Museum and the Pima Air & Space Museum might be right up your alley. See our big list of museumsΜύ.
- Arcades and bowlingΜύβ This is a packed category. From to to , there are lots of options for arcades and bowling. (The Peter Piper at Μύeven has a trampoline zone!)
- Indoor rock climbingΜύβ Spend an afternoon going indoor rock climbing at gyms like and . Both have youth teams!
Leo Sameniego, 6, continues his work on building a house in the Imagine It! exhibit, which encourages kids to let their creative imaginations run free.
Free things to do
You don't have to break the budget every time you go on a family outing. Here are free activities fit for the family.
- Children's Museum Tucson, ,Μύoffers free admission every .ΜύThe museum is also known to host lots of other events throughout the year that often include free admission.Μύ
- Every of the month, the Tucson Museum of Art, , hosts a pay-what-you-wish day that often features activities like crafts, performances and family yoga.Μύ
- Get a taste of the Old West by taking a walk through Trail Dust Town, . While attractions cost money, the mini town sometimes hosts special events throughout the year, such as the free Μύin December that feature snow and visits with Santa.
- The frequently hosts free events from performances to classes to story times.
- Every first Saturday of the month, Valley of the Moon, ,Μύopens its doors for free, usually with some kind of theme or planned activity.Μύ
- Each summer (and sometimes in other seasons), the parks and recreation departments with and host free outdoor family-friendly movies. Cox Communications usually does the same in Reid Park. Also check 's showtimes, as they host Loft Kids Fest in the summer and random free screenings throughout the rest of the year.
- Make a visit to the , , where there's a zine area for kids and a writing residency program for K-12 students.
- When all else fails, a trip to your nearest park or Μύmight do the trick.Μύ
Naomy Robles, 7, sits atop dad Raulβs shoulder while they bask in the water cascading over Sabino Dam as visitors to Sabino Canyon enjoy a cooling-off in the abundant monsoon runoff flow near the Sabino Dam in 2017.
Kid-friendly hikes and bike rides
If you're itching to get the family out of the house to spend an afternoon submerged in our glorious nature, here are a few hikes and bike rides fit for the kiddos.
- is home to 14 trails, plus an electric shuttle that will give you a narrated tour of the area. The main road is paved and walkable for kids. A popular site is Sabino Dam, especially when the water is running, and it's about 2Β½ miles roundtrip from the visitor center. showsΜύdifficulty levels of other trails in Sabino Canyon.
- If you drive as far east on Broadway as possible, you'll hit the in Saguaro National Park. The Mica View Trail is mostly flat and walkable for kiddos.
- has 15 trails inside 880 acres ofΜύdesertΜύbeauty. Pima County ranks the trails easy to intermediate.Μύ
- Dubbed an outdoor classroom, Μύhas self-guided tours through it's 2Β½ miles of pathways. Almost 1,000 feet of theΜύpathways are concrete.
- The in Catalina State Park is a 2.3-mile mostly flat loop with some stairs about halfway through.Μύ
- Hike through our tall saguaro friends along the ,Μύmost of which is flat and smooth, though the pathway turns rockier the farther in you hike.
- If you want to take an easy walk or bike ride, Μύis a 137-mile paved loop through Tucson with plenty of stops to get on or off. It's closed to cars!
- For mountain biking, has several trails good for beginners and kids.
Emily Wolfgang, manager at Little Anthony's Diner, walks out of Little Anthony's Diner with an order during the first day of Little Anthony's Diner Carhop on April 28, 2020.
Restaurants for even the pickiest of eaters
As a kid, I was the pickiest of picky eaters. Many of the restaurants below not only have kid-friendly menu items, but also play areas and other perks.
- Μύβ What's more kid-friendly than milkshakes, pizza, a mini arcade, quarter-machine amusement rides and a table cloth that's actually a giant piece of paper stocked with crayons? Find this retro diner at .
- Μύβ This locally-owned food court at Μύis home to several eateries serving pizza, tacos and burgers. There's a small arcade, too.
- Μύβ Home to the best chicken tendies in town. Find Coop at
- Μύβ Spaghetti, pizza and chicken tenders are featured on the kids' menu here, plus the restaurant can shape aΜύΜύfor kids' birthday parties. You can also order a big slice and they'llΜύΜύso they can slice it themselves. Find Dominick's atΜύ.
- Μύβ Find American fare at this far-east-side restaurant, ,Μύcomplete with outdoor yard games like giant Connect 4.Μύ
- Μύβ Giant cookies and pizza by the slice amid views of our favorite mountain. Find Mt. Lemmon Cookie Cabin at in Summerhaven.
- Μύβ This historic steakhouse at Μύhas a kids' menu that includes 6-ounce prime rib or sirloin, ribs, barbecue chicken and shrimp.Μύ
- Μύβ If you wear a necktie to this steakhouse tucked inside Western attraction Trail Dust Down, ,Μύstaff will cut it off. Beware!
- Μύβ Get a seat near one of the giant windows and hope a critter runs by. The kids' menu, appropriately dubbed "Little Saguaros," features cheeseburgers, chicken tenders, quesadillas, buttered noodles and a grilled cheese for $7. Find Saguaro Corners at .
- Μύβ I think I developed my love for refried beans because of frequent family trips to La Parrilla as a kid. The kids' menu has flautas, tacos, quesadillas and even chicken nuggets. La Parrilla has three locations in Tucson.
- Μύβ This east-side Chinese restaurant at Μύhas a kids' menu with five chicken options and one beef.
- Μύβ Find both breakfast and lunch/dinner options on this kids' menu that includes burritos, tacos, quesadillas and a grilled cheese. Find Poco & Mom's at .
- Μύβ While Noodies, ,Μύdoesn't have a designated kids' menu, the pasta is customizable and there's a small area for kiddos to play and read.
- Μύβ This casual build-your-own pasta shop at Μύhas a kids' area with blocks, books and toys.
Mildred & Dildred opened its doors in 2007.
Shops for babies, kids and teens
From toys to clothing, here are a few stores for your kiddos.
- Μύβ Find all kinds of toys and books at this midtown shop, .
- Μύβ This shop carries new and gently-used clothing for kids. Find the shop at .Μύ
- Μύβ Find clothing, toys, pacifiers, toys and more for babies at this boutique located at
- Μύβ This online shop is home to desert-themed clothing, accessories and toys for babies and kids.
- Μύβ Find all kinds of kids' books at this children's bookstore located at
- Μύβ This comic shop at Μύhas been around for two decades. Beyond the comic books, you can also find games and vinyl. Find more comic book stores !
- Μύβ If your kiddo is a fan of LEGO, this is where to go. Find all things LEGO here, both new and used. Find the shop atΜύ.
- Μύβ Here's where to go for K-pop and anime items, from plushies to figurines. Find Kira Kira at .
- Μύβ This K-pop shop brings Korean music, snacks and beauty items to Tucson. Find it atΜύ.
- β Among the newest shops on this list, this store buys and sells gently used kids' clothing, toys and other items. Find it at .
- Μύβ One of the newest additions to the Mercado District, Minimal Mae offers sustainably-made clothing, toys and accessories for kids. Find it at .
- Μύβ A section of this shop in the MSA Annex has kids' clothing and children's books. Find it at .
Artist Frank Powers fires off a bunch of bubbles from his bubble gun while working with the crowd outside his Comic Bookmobile at the Tucson Festival of Books on the UA Mall in 2024.
Random tidbits
- Μύhas a huge roster of classes for all ages, from dance to pottery. Beyond parks and rec, tons of studios around town offer classes and extracurriculars ranging from music and dance to sports teams and martial arts.Μύ
- We include kid-friendly events on our weekly lists β sign up for our newsletter to get the list sent directly to your inbox every Wednesday! Here are some big annual events that are good for kids: ,Μύ, ,Μύ, , Μύ²Ή²Τ»ε theΜύ.
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