Spending time with your children is priceless, especially in a place where they are welcome to explore freely. Together you can make special memories as they laugh, learn, and play in an age-appropriate environment. Looking for a local attraction to bring your family? Check out the five best kid-friendly attractions near Mesa, Arizona.

Superstition Farm

A little girl petting two baby goats at a petting zoo

Does your child love animals? Take them to Superstition Farm in Mesa, home of the cutest petting zoo of rescued farm animals. Children aged 1 and up can join their families for an up-close look at the farm’s donkeys and potbelly pigs. Admission to the petting zoo is $4 per person, with an option to feed the animals for an additional $2. With this option, you can buy a handful of food to feed the chickens, ducks, or the farm’s friendly goats. 

Complete your Superstition Farm experience with a stop at the store, where you can purchase fresh eggs, milk, cheese, and butter. You can also top off your visit with delicious ice cream. If you want to enjoy a hearty meal at the farm, stop by the food truck on Tuesday for Taco Tuesday.

  • Location: 3440 S. Hawes Road, Mesa.
  • Hours: Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Closed on Monday.

Arizona Museum of Natural History

The Arizona Museum of Natural History is the perfect spot to bring your family, especially if you have dinosaur-obsessed kids. Dinosaur Hall features amazing complete dinosaur skeletons, including a tyrannosaurus and a triceratops. Check out Dinosaur Mountain to see the dinosaurs that lived in Arizona over 200 million years ago. Here, you’ll watch a flash flood cascade down three stories every 23 minutes. 

If your children are 6 and under, take them to the Exploration Station for hands-on learning. They can explore dinosaur nests, create their own dinosaur, or study fossils with various tools. Admission is $13 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $7 for children aged 3 to 12. Admission for children aged 2 and under is free. Stop by the museum store before you end your visit to take home cool souvenirs, such as fossils, rocks, minerals, or dinosaur toys.

  • Location: 53 N. Macdonald, Mesa.
  • Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Closed on Monday.

Riverview Park

For a kid-friendly outdoor attraction, visit Riverview Park. You can easily spend the whole afternoon with your family at this park. There are plenty of surfaces for your kids to explore, like the incredible 50-foot-tall Genesis climbing tower or the 60-foot-long caterpillar mesh rope climbing structure. They can swing and slide at the nearby playgrounds or cool off at the shaded play structures. 

Pack your swimsuit when you visit Riverview Park to play around with the fun water features of its spray ground. The splash pad is open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. If you enjoy fishing, bring your fishing gear to the park’s lake, which the state keeps stocked with trout depending on the season. This park is also a great spot to have a picnic near Mesa, featuring shaded areas with tables. Admission to this local community park is free.

  • Location: 2100 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Mesa.
  • Hours: Open daily from sunrise to 10 p.m.

i.d.e.a. Museum

Develop your child’s creative thinking skills at the i.d.e.a. Museum, an art-inspired museum perfect for children aged 12 and under. Your kids can expand their imaginations in ArtVille with the fun and interactive farm, cafe, library, and RV. Check out the Color Your World or Art’s Studio exhibits for hands-on art exploration that’ll challenge your child’s fine motor skills. Stop by the HUB for a chance to incorporate math and science into their experience at the magnetic wall or tech tables. Take a break in the Zen Den to relax and listen to different sounds in a calming space.

General admission is $9. Admission for children under the age of 1 is free. Sign up for an annual membership to receive unlimited access to the museum and a discount if you have multiple family members.

  • Location: 150 W. Pepper Place, Mesa.
  • Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Closed on Monday.

Golfland Sunsplash

Come to Golfland Sunsplash for the ultimate kid-friendly attraction in Mesa. This entertainment center features over 30 thrilling rides and attractions throughout the park. Play a round of miniature golf at one of two 18-hole courses at Golfland. Strap on a padded vest and challenge your kids to an exciting game of laser tag. The arcade is a great place to try over 200 games to win tickets toward awesome prizes like candy, stuffed animals, or lava lamps. Other exciting Golfland attractions include bumper cars and go-karts.

If you and your family love swimming and playing in the water, be sure to visit Sunsplash Water Park. There are several awesome water slides, like Thunder Falls and Sidewinder. Grab an inflatable float and relax on the lazy river, or brave the large waves of the Thunder Bay Wavepool together. For families with younger children, Adventure Island is the ideal spot to let your little ones splash around in the shallow waters. Admission prices vary based on which attractions you select. Height requirements apply to ride certain attractions. 

  • Location: 155 W. Hampton Ave., Mesa.
  • Golfland Hours: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Sunsplash Water Park hours may vary.

Visit the Best Family Attractions Near Mesa

There are many places to bring your kids to in Mesa, Arizona, including interactive museums and thrilling splash pads. At Crème de la Crème of Mesa, we strive to help families find the best local kid-friendly attractions. We want to ensure you have a safe and fun time together. Which spot are you most excited to visit? Let us know. We look forward to hearing about your next adventure.

petting zoo baby goats by Britt Reints is licensed with CC BY 2.0