Thousands of colorful butterflies, hundreds of species of fish, and one giant rhino await in Phoenix, Arizona. It’s easy to fill your Phoenix bucket list for families with unique animals encounters. Add in state-of-the-art exhibits, a multi-level children’s museum, and resorts that are a destination in themselves and you have one amazing family vacation. There’s so much to do in Phoenix that you’ll be crossing off multiple bucket list item daily. Check out some of our favorite Phoenix bucket list items below.

Phoenix Bucket List for Families

Phoenix Zoo

The Phoenix Zoo has the number one spot on our Phoenix bucket list for families. With exciting experiences like Stingray Bay, Camel Rides, the Endangered Species Carousel, and Goat Yard, your visit to the zoo will be memorable for the entire family.

I highly suggests participating in the Meet “Chutti” the Greater One-horned Rhinoceros experience. We’ve had lots of wild animal encounters before, but this was the first rhino encounter. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime encounter that you will never forget. If you want to feed a rhino and maybe even give him a bath, here’s your chance. Chutti is a friendly giant waiting for you. There are no age restrictions on this tour either so it’s wonderful for everyone in the family.

Children’s Museum of Phoenix

The Children’s Museum of Phoenix is a wondrous place of imagination, inspiration, and creativity.

The Museum offers more than 300 play experiences both indoors and outdoors.

In addition, there are a range of classes and programs offered daily from music and yoga, to math and science, and the Art Studio is a budding artist’s dream come true!

The 2nd floor of the Children’s Museum of Phoenix is where we spent most of our time. It is the perfect places for toddlers to explore and discover new experiences. These exhibits and programs focus on early childhood education and development.

Additionally, on the 3rd floor of the museum, there is a beautiful, sun-lit place space exclusively designed for ages 3-year-olds and younger.

Desert Botanical Garden

Desert Botanical Garden offers the world’s finest collection of arid plants from deserts of the world in a unique outdoor setting. The Garden has more than 50,000 desert plants on display throughout five thematic trails that illustrate topics such as conservation, desert living, plants and people of the Sonoran Desert, and desert wildflowers. There are thousands of species of cactus, trees, and flowers from all around the world spread across 55 acres.

If you’ve romanticized what it would be like to visit Phoenix, Arizona, this is where those visions come to life.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona

LEGOLAND Discovery Center is where families with children can enjoy a world of creativity, color, and building fun in the ultimate indoor LEGO playground. It is complete with the thousands of LEGO bricks, magical mini creations, creative workshops, rides, a 4D cinema, and unique themed play areas.

Crayola Experience Chandler

Discover the magic of color at Crayola Experience, Crayola’s premier, one-of-a-kind family attraction! Dozens of hands-on creative activities and a full day of fun awaits. The colorful adventures of Crayola Experience help kids and adults alike explore art and technology, express their creativity, and experience color in a whole new way. Plan your visit today and get ready to make colorful family memories that will last a lifetime!

Great Wolf Lodge Scottsdale

Great Wolf Lodge Arizona is a complete destination for families looking for the perfect getaway. It’s a 350-room family resort featuring an 85,000-square-foot indoor water park with 13 slides, a wave pool, lazy river and other water-fun attractions for every age. The adjacent 27,000-square-foot Great Wolf Adventure Park offers a host of family-friendly attractions such as a ropes course and climbing wall, to a wide range of complimentary kids’ activities including arts and crafts, dance parties, and more.

Butterfly Wonderland

Butterfly Wonderland features the largest indoor butterfly glass conservatory in the country. Here thousands of butterflies flutter among lush tropical plants and colorful flowers. Butterfly Wonderland also features an array of animals indigenous to the rainforests of the world in its amazing Rainforest Reptiles, Tropical Waters, and Rainforest Birds exhibits.

OdySea Aquarium

Spanning 200,000 square feet, this multi-level, state-of-the-art facility has over 6,000 animals and holds more than 2 million gallons of water. With over 70 exciting exhibits that highlight nearly 370 different species, OdySea Aquarium is an educational, interactive, and entertaining experience for guests of all ages.