Things to Do in Greater Scottsdale: Children's Museum of Phoenix

If you are looking for something to do with your children or grandchildren, the Children's Museum of Phoenix is the perfect place. Designed for children ages 1-10, the Children's Museum of Phoenix is an interactive, hands-on learning experience for children and adults alike.

Located in the former Monroe School building, built in 1913, the museum sits in the heart of downtown Phoenix. Upon entering, you walk into a large room with soaring ceilings, "streamers" made of CD's and several stretchy tubes and boxes and tunnels for the kids to crawl into and pop out of. There are also hula-hoops in various sizes for playing. The floor is nice and padded to encourage rolling around. Honestly, many of the kids I saw looked like they would be fine with just staying in this section for the day!

The rest of the activities and exhibits are located on the second and third floors and can be accessed via the stairs or elevators. Everywhere you look is a new opportunity to learn, touch and experiment.

Here is a sample of some of the things to try:

• Texture Cafe - Kids can "make" their own meals in the kitchens of Texture Cafe. Pizza, pastas, salads, and so much more can be whipped up using silk and velvet materials. Meals can then be "paid for" and "served" at the Cafe.
• The Market - Here is where the kids are in charge of the supermarket experience. They can select their items and put them in the kid-size carts, measure and weigh their produce and even ring up their purchases at the checkout stand.
• Area for Under Threes- In this gated, shoes-free area, kids can roam freely and interact with all of the items. Slides, bridges, mini-houses with bedrooms and kitchens, 'secret' dens and lots of toys and books await.
• Art Studio - Here is where hands-on art creation happens. Projects rotate frequently and often involve all members of the family.
• Book Loft - Take a break from the activity and curl up with a book. There are plenty of different seating areas scattered throughout the loft and books are available in English and Spanish.
• Pedal Power - A tricycle "track" with plenty of racing room.
• Pit Stop - A place where race cars zoom by on suspended tracks. Race cars can be modified to see how they perform or you can just sit back and watch the cars speed by.

This is just a sample of what we saw and experienced. Every hallway is lined with fun, interactive learning exhibits. Since there is so much to do, you can come back time and time again and still have an entertaining, new experience.

The best part is that several more exhibits are on tap to open in early 2009. Some of these exhibits include:
- 10,000 Blocks - The Sky's the Limit
- Building Big - Build your own forts and structures
- Galaxy of the Stars
- The Climber - Top of the World
- Windplay

Details:
Children's Museum of Phoenix
215 N. 7th Street
(7th Street and Van Buren)
Phoenix, Arizona 85034
Phone: 602.253.0501
www.childrensmuseumofphoenix.org
- Open Tuesday-Sunday 9AM - 4PM and select holidays.