Like many other parents out there, finding meaningful entertainment for my 3 and 5 year old boys, is tricky. ALAS! To the rescue — The Phoenix Children’s museum. Frankly it is the perfect place! Well, minus that little thing we call money, and if you have more than 2 kids can get a little high. There are however many ways to get discounted or free tickets! Just use your Google finger.

We arrived around 9:30 which turned out be darn lucky because not 30 minutes into our visit we heard the parking lot was full. Just as most parents and ALL children we hate standing in line, so the delight was overwhelming when check in was super easy. The relief you felt of not having to say no 10 times, or sorry to the other line standers 20 times is catapulted when you wander in and you hit the 3 story tree house first thing. Officially called The Schuff-Perini Climber. Kids go running, you find a seat, and chill in admiration of..well..yourself. Go ahead pat yourself on the back, every other parent is!

The great part of the Phoenix Children’s Museum, as my wife would innocently mention, is that adults can fit inside this massive 3 story tree house and take little one’s up. (this theory is up for debate). Worried about a stroller…NOPE, there is plenty of area for strollers and sitting. Lastly, and remember you are still in the entrance, they have this awesome Vacuum contraption that you can put a scarf next too and it sucks it in and fires it out the other end. Why you are probably wondering? I don’t know either, but awesome none the less.

Move on to the second floor and get to a huge craft room that allows kids to create, draw and cut. If that’s not enough the magnificence of the second floor is compounded with a bike track and a room to build forts…. Yes, Dads are allowed! It’s really the perfect place, where everyone has kids talking loudly and running around, and I really felt like my kids could just be themselves!

Despite all that fun and excitement, the end brought the most excitement. First was a foam room where kids can run and play in thousands of hanging foam noodles. Every single child loved that! Then the ‘obvious favorite’ as my wife put it, which is also debatable, is the super market! Yep…mini shopping carts, mini isles and mini check out stands. (No the people checking out were not mini). That supermarket was packed with kids just waiting for a shopping cart, who would have thought, domesticated at 5 years old.

Overall The Phoenix Children’s Museum is a place we will be going back to! The one UN-kid-friendly thing is have snacks on the first floor in the Café room. I love snacks, you love snacks, everyone loves snacks, snacks should not be discriminated on and trapped on the first floor only. How un-kid-friendly is it to thwart the magic of snacking and sippy cups!

Regardless of that little hiccup, the Phoenix Children’s Museum is a must do event. Hours of fun, some learning and mostly a great bonding session for the family.

The Phoenix Children’s Museum

P.S. The line for the elevator is crazy! So, don’t take your stroller unless you absolutely have to!