Kid-Friendly Things to Do in Flagstaff
There are plenty of activities to choose from for your family in Flagstaff, Arizona. The hard part is choosing which ones. Take advantage of Flagstaff’s beautiful weather and local trail systems and let your kids truly experience the outdoors. Packaging water, snacks, hats, and sunscreen gets your kids out and exploring easier than you think. It will give them an unforgettable experience and will bring positivity out in everyone. Just continually encourage them and participate with them. When they see you enjoying the wild, they will like it more.
Top Outdoor Suggestions for Your Children to Experience in Flagstaff
Explore Outside
- Lowell Observatory: A young astronomer’s dream. Tour the campus, enjoy the kids’ zone, and look through their various telescopes to see the stars up close. (Lowell offers both indoor and outdoor activities).
- Arizona Snowbowl: Take a drive up the mountain and get a breath of fresh air. Go for a walk with the wildflowers or ride the scenic chair lift and gondola. Opening in July, Snowbowl's Summer Activities begin which includes a bungee trampoline, summer tubing, and an outdoor rock climbing wall.
- Disc Golf: If your kids can throw a frisbee or just need space to run, check out the multiple disc golf courses you can take your whole family, too. Our favorites are Thorpe Park and McPherson.
- Lava Tubes: Explore underground breath-taking lava tubes. Be sure to bring a headlamp. https://www.flagstaff.com/lava-tubes
- The Challenge Course at Buffalo Park: Have fun and play a game with this park’s course and enjoy magnificent views along the way. Game Ideas: The family member who completes the most challenges will win a prize! Or team up and alternate courses cheering one another on.
- The Adventure Course at Fort Tuthill (Flagstaff Extreme) Flagstaff's only adventure and zip line course will test your limits!
- Rent Bikes or Ebikes: Biking in Flagstaff is one of our best activities and a local’s favorite. Ride the FUTS or single-track trails (depending on skill level) or explore downtown or bike all over NAU’s friendly campus.
- Visit Lake Mary: Sit on the beach, go fishing, or rent stand-up paddleboards and kayaks to get some time on the water.
- Bear Paw Activities Center: A great facility that offers an outdoor swimming pool, putt-putt golf, a snack bar, ice cream, and pool tables. You will find it on the east end of town on Bear Paw Drive!
- Thorpe Park & Bushmaster Park: Both of these parks have great park amenities for kids. Thorpe Park is close to downtown and has more playground equipment for smaller children. Bushmaster Park is located on the east side of down and has amazing grassy areas and shady trees perfect for setting up a slackline, picnicking, reading in the grass, etc. Bushmaster Park also has tennis courts, basketball courts, and a skateboarding park, and both parks have spacious dog parks.
- Red Mountain: Go hike around this volcanic crater for a spectacular time. About 25 miles from Flagstaff Northwest on Highway 180. There is a parking space at the trailhead, then a 30-minute walk to the crater. Carry plenty of drinking water on a hot day.
- Sledding in the winter: This is obviously the first thing most visitors do with their kids in Flagstaff when there is snow on the ground. But we'll mention it anyways!
If You Need Some Time Indoors
- Planet Science Store: Visit Flagstaff's coolest store that features an interactive science kid zone, experiment stations, live streaming of space events, and lots of cool educational toys!
- The Geekery: This sweet spot offers a space to place Magic, D&D, and other popular analog games with other kids who share the same interests!
- Shopping downtown Flagstaff: There are amazing shops for outdoor gear (Babbitt’s), candy shops (Sweet Shoppe) and a bookstore (Brightside Bookstore) that your kids will enjoy.
- Flag Tag: Offers laser tag, axe throwing, pizza and arcade games. You can find them at 1801 West Route 66 #102.
- Harkins Movie Theater: Escape the sun and relax to a movie by the mall.They offer $3 family movies during the summer months.
- Rock Climbing Gyms: Visit the downtown gym (Flagstaff Climbing Center) or one of the bouldering gyms to let your kids have an opportunity to safely rock climb in a controlled environment. Buy a day pass and rent gear at any of the gyms.
- Bowling Flagstaff has two bowling allies. Starlight Lanes on Route 66 and Bowlski's which leans hard on the Big Labowski's vibe, located at Flagstaff Mall)
- Aquaplex Get your kids tired at the Flagstaff Aquaplex where they can swim, cannonball, and climb to their hearts' desire. There is always a lifeguard on duty and comfy cabanas for you to relax in.
Kid-Friendly Restaurants
- Railroad Cafe
- Fratelli’s: The locals' pizza place of choice
- Your Pie: Pizza with a great outdoor place for kids to run
- Tourist Home patio: Delicious food attached to a great bar with a kid-friendly patio
- The Oakmont: A golf-course grill where the kids can play in the grass
- The Mayor - there's a giant Connect Four game on the rooftop patio that's fun for kids of all ages.
- Satchmo's BBQ - Best BBQ in Flagstaff featuring paper tablecloths that your kids can color on.
- Mother Road Brewing
Upcoming Events for Kids
Storytime
Baby, Toddler and Preschooler Storytimes run throughout the week year-round at both the Main Library and East Flagstaff Community Library. Check the library's website for days and times, and seasonal changes (e.g. August-May may differ from June/July.)
Main Library 300 West Aspen Ave | (928) 213-2330
East Flagstaff Community Library. 3000 N. Fourth Street, Suite 5 | (928) 213-2348
http://www.flagstaffpubliclibrary.org
Thorpe Park
Thorpe Park has a playground perfect for toddlers! Located in the neighborhood just surrounding Downtown Flagstaff, this place is convenient, safe, and enjoyable. The rubber mat and woodchipped floors make for soft landing should your toddler really get going!
10 N Thorpe Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Flagstaff City/Coconino County Public Library
Lego Club, geared toward elementary school kids, is on the second Monday afternoon of every month at East Flagstaff Community Library.3000 N. Fourth Street, Suite 5 | Phone: (928) 213-2348 | http://www.flagstaffpubliclibrary.org
Photo Credit: gettyimages.com
The Geekery
If World of Warcraft, Magic the Gathering, or Settlers of Catan are your kids' thing, this is the perfect place them! Play with other people of all ages in a super fun 100% boardgame environment.
The Geekery »Summit Gymnastics Open Gym
Kids can run and jump and climb to their hearts' content. $5 for the first child, $3 for additional children. Monday & Thursdays 9am-10:30am, $6 for the first child and $4 for siblings. 1926 N. 4th St, Suite 7
Phone: (928) 526-0644 | http://www.summitgymnasticsacademy.com
Arizona Nordic Village
Learn to ride mountain bikes - even in the winter! Snow biking on fat-tire bikes is the newest trend in mountain biking and Flagstaff Nordic Center has a robust fleet of them, in sizes to fit adults and kids, and over 15 km of trails on which to ride. You can also take a ski or snowshoeing lesson in the winter, or a mountain biking lesson in the summer. Rentals, passes, and packages range from $10 to $60. Open daily at 8:00 am. Highway 180 at Mile Marker 232.
Phone: (928) 220-0550 | https://www.arizonanordicvillage.com/
Flagstaff Movies on the Square
Starts June 1st. Family-friendly movies are shown outside on Heritage Square each Saturday evening through the summer for FREE. Each event begins at 5pm with entertainment from the community, music, and then movies start at dusk (about 7:30pm) Heritage Square is downtown on Aspen Street between Leroux and San Francisco Streets.
Flagstaff Aquaplex
$3/child (under 3 are free with a paid adult), $5/adult. Make a day of fun at the Aquaplex with swimming in the play pool (complete with slides and fountains), relax in the lazy river, race down the fast water slides, sit in the hot tub, or climb the rock wall and play air hockey. Usually less crowded in the morning or evening, but in the summer, it is often closed in the morning due to swim lessons. Childcare is available for $2/hour/child.
1702 N. 4th St (928) 213-2300 | http://www.flagstaffaquaplex.org/Frances Short Pond aka "The Duck Pond" at Thorpe Park
Located just west of the downtown Flagstaff area at the end of Aztec street, this is a great place to get out and enjoy Flagstaff's stellar summer weather. Children love the duck pond, and the greater park offers two playgrounds and all-important portable and permanent restrooms. Diections »
Bushmaster Park
When you want to go outdoors, but need respite from the sun, the best shaded park is Bushmaster Park. Two playgrounds for the younger ones, and a bitchin' skate park for the tweens and teens.
Photo Credit: azdailysun.com
Home Depot
Get hands-on at The Home Depot. The Home Depot offers free workshops for do-it-yourselfers of all ages and experience levels. FREE hands-on workshops designed for children ages 5 - 12 offered the 1st Saturday of every month between 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Register online. Two locations: 1325 W Rte 66 (928) 556-1529 and 5005 E Marketplace Dr (928) 526-1692
Mike & Ronda's The Place
Mike & Ronda's is widely regarded as Flagstaff's best breakfast experience, and the kiddos like pretending to serve up their own biscuits and gravy in the play kitchen and miniature tables.
Big Foot BBQ
Located in the Basement Marketplace, Old Town Shops in downtown Flagstaff, this joint is a favorite of locals and visitors large and small because their Kids Corral and chalkboard keep the little piglets busy while you enjoy some serious pulled pork.
Crown Railroad Cafe
One word: Trains! A model train runs around the ceiling to delight the kids, and adults won't be disappointed by the yummy diner food or heralded service.
Cornish Pasty
With literally dozens of pasties to choose from, there's a really good chance that you'll find something that everyone in the family can eat and enjoy. The dining area consists of long tables and old church pews for seats making family-style dining pretty much required, other than the full bar that takes up half the place.
Sandy's Canyon
Located off of Lake Mary Road, the trail leads you along the rim of Sandy’s Canyon with great views of a large lava field with Mount Elden in the distance. The first 1.5 miles is mostly shaded and takes hikers down into Sandy’s Canyon where the trail joins the Arizona Trail, which is a good turn-around point when hiking with kids.
Buffalo Park Trails
Buffalo Park is part of the the Flagstaff Urban Trails System (FUTS, pronounced “foots”) as a non-motorized hike-bike-run-accessible recreation area. Its two short loop trails are flat, wide and ringed with Ponderosa pines and mountain views. Suitable for strollers. Take Fort Valley Road (US 180) to Forest Ave; turn right and go to the turnoff for the park at Gemini Drive; turn left and follow the signs to the park entrance.
Photo Credit: astral.org
Griffith's Spring
Griffith’s Spring is a shaded and peaceful one-mile loop trail that's wide and flat, and terminates at its namesake spring, with small exploratory trails leading to greenery, wildflowers and (watch out) poison ivy.
Wet Beaver Creek
This clear, cool brook remains pleasantly secluded in the deep red rock canyon it has cut into the southern rim of the Colorado Plateau. The stream's pools and riffles are a popular place to fish, hike, swim, and birdwatch. The waters of the stream are stocked with trout. 45 miles south of Flagstaff on graveled Forest Roads. Drive south from Flagstaff on I-17 and exit onto AZ Highway 179; drive 2 miles east on Forest Road 618 to the campground.
Slide Rock State Park
Likely the most popular spot in Oak Creek Canyon (between Flagstaff and Sedona), Slide Rock State Park is an extremely busy picnicking spot and swimming hole. The littlest children will enjoy playing "Pooh sticks" under footbridges, doing some shallow wading or dipping their feet into the cold mountain run-off, while older children can try out the natural water slides and swimming. On US 89A through Oak Creek Canyon, drive 21 miles south from Flagstaff, or 6 miles north from Sedona. You can't miss it. $20.00 Daily Entrance From the Friday before Memorial Day through the end of Labor Day: Per Vehicle (1-4 Adults) Off-Season: $10.00 per day (1-4 Adults) (This is a STATE PARK and does not honor the Federal Recreation Pass or the Red Rock Pass.)
Grasshopper Point
A large cliff-side swimming hole, this day-use site is popular with swimmers and picnickers alike. The swimming hole is shaded and cool, a good respite from the summer heat. You can also access the Allens Bend trailhead from the Grasshopper Point parking lot. Drive south from Flagstaff about 26 miles or north from Sedona for about 2 miles on US 89A. Grasshopper Point will be approximately 2 miles south of Encinoso Picnic Area on the east side of US 89A. $8 per vehicle per day (up to 5 people) in addition to the required Red Rock Pass.
Allens Bend Trail
This short, half-mile walk is one of the best easy day hikes in the Sedona area because it's one of the only paths along the banks of Oak Creek.
FAMILY-FRIENDLY THINGS TO DO & DINING
Cabins & Yurts At AZ Nordic Village
In the winter season, the Arizona Nordic Village hosts a groomed trail system for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and fatbiking. Over 20 miles of trails offer opportunities for everybody to have a winter adventure!
Environmentally-Friendly | Family-Friendly | Low-Risk Covid-19 Activity | Pet-Friendly | Fireplace(s) | BBQ or Grill
Flag Tag AZ
Family-Friendly | Packages Available | Groups/Meetings | Team Building | Serves Food | Free Parking | Serves Beer and Wine
IMAX Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center
Family-Friendly | Educational
Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course
Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course is an elevated obstacle course set in the tall Ponderosa Pines. It is securely suspended between the trees at 15 to 60 feet off the ground. At Flagstaff Extreme, we believe the best family memories are usually ones that take place outdoors, so bring th … More
Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course is an elevated obstacle course set in the tall Ponderosa Pines. It is securely suspended between the trees at 15 to 60 feet off the ground. At Flagstaff Extreme, we believe the best family memories are usually ones that take place outdoors, so bring the entire family! There are 5 adult courses and 1 junior course with obstacles ranging from tarzan ropes, to wobbly bridges, swinging logs, cargo nets, ziplines, and even an aerial surf board!
Come Play in the Trees and explore the outdoors like you never have before!
To see our availability or book a reservation, check out www.flagstaffextreme.com or give us a call at 888-259-0125!
(See our website for age and height restrictions)
Family-Friendly
Bearizona Wildlife Park - Williams, AZ
Discounts Available | Family-Friendly | Low-Risk Covid-19 Activity | Pet-Friendly | ADA Accessible | Self Guided
Out Of Africa Wildlife Park - Camp Verde, AZ
Family-Friendly | Free Parking | Self Guided | Upgrades available | Pet-Friendly | Discounts Available | Low-Risk Covid-19 Activity
The Geekery
Family-Friendly | Educational
Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters
Central Departure Location | Custom Options Available | Family-Friendly | Packages Available | Reservations Required | Romantic | Some Restrictions Apply | Flights from GCNP Airport | Flights from Las Vegas
Grand Canyon Railway - Williams, AZ
Central Departure Location | Custom Options Available | Discounts Available | Family-Friendly | Free Parking | Packages Available | Reservations Required | Upgrades available
The Arboretum
Low-Risk Covid-19 Activity | Pet-Friendly | Family-Friendly | Educational
Museum of Northern Arizona
Family-Friendly | Educational
Riordan Mansion State Park
Family-Friendly | Educational
Pioneer Museum
Family-Friendly | Educational
Rock Climbing & Indoor Bouldering Gym
Family-Friendly | Self Guided | Professionally Guided | Groups/Meetings
Lowell Observatory
Family-Friendly | Educational
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