Ready to escape the scorching Phoenix heat without sacrificing the fun? We’ve curated the ultimate list of 10 indoor activities in Phoenix guaranteed to keep you cool and entertained. Whether you’re a local looking for a reprieve or a visitor seeking refuge from the desert sun, these activities will ensure you have a blast while staying comfortably indoors. Let’s dive in and discover how to beat the heat like a pro!
Table of Contents
Introduction
Phoenix, Arizona is well-known for its sunny weather and extremely hot summers. While the winter months provide perfect temperatures for exploring the outdoors, locals and visitors alike seek cooler activities during the summer months when temperatures frequently exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Luckily, Phoenix and its surrounding cities offer a wide variety of world-class museums, historic sites, entertainment venues, and other attractions that allow you to stay cool while exploring all that the region has to offer. In this guide, we’ll cover some of the best indoor activities in Phoenix and surrounding cities, including:
- Art Museums – Phoenix has a thriving art scene, with top museums featuring works by masters as well as up-and-coming local artists.
- Science Museums – Learn about science, technology, nature and more at Phoenix’s fascinating and interactive science museums.
- Historic Sites – Discover the history of Phoenix and the American Southwest at historic sites and museums located indoors.
- Family Fun Centers – With kids in tow? Phoenix has indoor playgrounds, arcades, mini golf and more to keep the whole family entertained.
- Escape Rooms – Test your wits trying to escape themed rooms in Phoenix’s popular escape room attractions.
- Axe Throwing – Channel your inner lumberjack at indoor axe throwing ranges, a unique entertainment option.
- Indoor Skydiving – Defy gravity and feel the rush of skydiving in a powerfully fast indoor wind tunnel.
With so many cool indoor activities to choose from, Phoenix offers the perfect escape from the desert heat all year long.
1-Museums and Art Galeries
Phoenix has a vibrant museum scene with institutions showcasing art, history, culture, science, and more. The Phoenix Art Museum is located in downtown Phoenix and is the largest art museum in the Southwest. It houses over 18,000 works of art and has notable collections of contemporary art, fashion design, Latin American art, and Western American art. Special exhibits change frequently and cover diverse topics. Upcoming highlights include “Legends of Speed”, displaying historically significant racing cars, motorcycles, and bicycles.
Another top museum is the Heard Museum, dedicated to the art, history and culture of Native American tribes. The Heard hosts excellent temporary exhibits on Native American artists, themes and tribes. It also has an unparalleled collection of Hopi kachina dolls. For a crowd-free visit, avoid weekends and plan your trip on a weekday morning.
Other major museums include the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM), Arizona Science Center, and the Children’s Museum of Phoenix. Smaller niche museums cover railroads, firefighting, neon signs and more. With so many options, Phoenix’s museums offer something educational and inspiring for all interests and ages.
Phoenix Art Museum
The Phoenix Art Museum is the largest art museum in the Southwest. Its collection includes over 18,000 works of American, Asian, European, Latin American, Western American, modern and contemporary art, and fashion design.
Some of the highlights include works by Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Edward Hopper, Frida Kahlo, Cindy Sherman, Ansel Adams, and Frank Lloyd Wright. The museum hosts special exhibitions ranging from Renaissance art to contemporary artists.
The building itself is impressive, designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects. It features a sculpture garden, art library, children’s section, and a restaurant. Visitors can take a guided tour or explore on their own.
Heard Museum
Dedicated to Native American art and culture, the Heard Museum showcases 12,000 objects including pottery, jewelry, textiles, paintings, and sculpture. The museum highlights the art and lives of Southwest Native American tribes.
Some of the most impressive exhibits feature traditional Hopi kachina dolls, intricate Navajo rugs, and colorful murals by Native American students from the Phoenix Indian School. The Heard also has an active calendar of performances, lectures, and demonstrations centered around Indigenous arts.
Musical Instrument Museum
For a uniquely global experience, the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) contains over 6,800 instruments collected from around 200 countries. Visitors can explore exhibits spanning musical genres and world cultures.
Some of the galleries showcase instruments related to Native American music, jazz, Latin music, hip hop, and many more styles. The museum also offers live global music performances using traditional instruments. A visit to the MIM is an interactive, eye-opening look at musical traditions worldwide.
Science Museums
Arizona has some fantastic science museums and attractions that are perfect for staying cool and having fun indoors. The premier destination is the Arizona Science Center in downtown Phoenix. This massive, multi-level museum features hundreds of hands-on exhibits to fascinate children and adults alike. Some highlights include an interactive exhibit on the science of flight, a planetarium with laser shows, and Arizona’s only IMAX theater.
Another top indoor attraction is OdySea Aquarium in Scottsdale. This is one of the largest aquariums in the Southwest, with over 500 different species and thousands of sea creatures. Walk through massive tanks to see sharks, penguins, octopuses, and more up close. A unique highlight is SeaTREK, where visitors can dive underwater while remaining dry in special helmets to feed fish and stingrays.
For a truly unique experience, check out Butterfly Wonderland in Scottsdale. It’s the largest butterfly pavilion in America, with thousands of butterflies from around the world fluttering about in a tropical rainforest environment. Be sure to visit the emerald tree boa and giant ant exhibits too. It’s a beautiful and peaceful place to connect with nature indoors.
2-Historic Sites
Phoenix has several fascinating historic sites to explore indoors that offer a glimpse into the region’s past. Here are some of the top historic sites to check out:
Rosson House Museum
The Rosson House Museum is a preserved 19th century home in downtown Phoenix. This 1895 Queen Anne Victorian house gives visitors a look into what life was like for early Phoenix settlers. The house features original furnishings from the Rosson family and provides an immersive experience back in time. Guided tours allow you to view the ornately decorated interior rooms and learn about the history of the home and its occupants.
Mystery Castle
For a truly unique historic site, head to South Mountain Park to tour the Mystery Castle. This 18-room castle was constructed in the 1930s and 1940s by a man named Boyce Luther Gulley using found and discarded materials like railroad tracks, telephone poles, car parts, and adobe. The eclectic castle design features intriguing stonework architecture, hidden passages, and much more to discover. Tours let you explore the rooms and grounds of this one-of-a-kind desert castle.
Pueblo Grande Museum
The Pueblo Grande Museum contains the ruins of a prehistoric Hohokam village once located on-site. This archaeological site dates back nearly 1500 years and provides insight into how the ancient Hohokam lived and farmed in the area. Indoor exhibits showcase artifacts found at the site and discuss more about the Hohokam culture and settlement. Outdoors, you can walk near the excavated mound and see other preserved archaeological features. Getting to explore this ancient village right in Phoenix makes for a memorable indoor historic adventure.
3-Family Fun Centers
The Phoenix area has some excellent family fun centers that offer a variety of indoor activities to keep kids entertained for hours. Three top options for family entertainment are:
Main Event Entertainment
Main Event Entertainment is a premier family entertainment center with locations in Tempe and Glendale. This huge indoor venue offers bowling, laser tag, billiards, an arcade, and a gravity ropes course. With 40 lanes of bowling, a multi-level laser tag arena, hundreds of arcade games, and a full service restaurant, Main Event has something for everyone. It’s a great place for birthday parties, corporate events, or just family time.
Golfland Sunsplash
For water park thrills indoors, head to Golfland Sunsplash in Mesa. This massive indoor-outdoor park has waterslides, a wave pool, lazy river, and activity pool. When you need a break from the water, there’s also mini golf, arcade games, and carnival rides. A perfect spot for cooling off from the Arizona heat.
Great Skate
Great Skate is a classic indoor roller skating rink that also has laser tag and arcade games. Located in Gilbert, they offer public skating sessions, skating classes, laser tag tournaments, glow skate nights, and skate parties. It’s an ideal active and fun indoor activity for kids and adults alike.
OdySea Aquarium
OdySea Aquarium is an indoor aquatic theme park featuring massive tanks with thousands of sea creatures on display, from sharks and stingrays to penguins and otters. Beyond the exhibits, they also offer amusement park rides, aerial trek courses, mirror mazes, and more.
Price: Tickets run $24-30 for adults, $19-22 for kids based on date. Additional costs for rides and attractions.
Ages: All ages can enjoy. Especially great for kids interested in marine life.
4-Escape Rooms
Escape rooms are a fun entertainment experience where a group of players are placed in a room and have a certain amount of time, typically 60 minutes, to uncover clues, solve puzzles, and find the key to ‘escape’ the room. They require teamwork, problem-solving skills, and thinking creatively to figure out the mystery and succeed.
Phoenix has some of the best escape room options in the country with unique and immersive environments. Top choices include:
- The Basement – One of the highest-rated escape rooms in Phoenix. They offer rooms with horrifying and intense themes including a serial killer’s lair and a voodoo lab. Difficulty level is 4 out of 5.
- Enigma Escape Rooms – They have an expansive space with 11 themed rooms including a 1950s bomb shelter and an alien abduction mystery set in outer space. Great for beginners and families with difficulty levels of 3 to 4 out of 5.
- Escape Zone – Features Hollywood-level sets and challenging puzzles. Must-try rooms are the haunted hotel with creepy surprises and an old western bank robbery. Difficulty ranges from medium to hard.
- Mystery Escape Room – Provides an immersive experience with cinema-quality decor. Popular rooms include Jail Break, Mine Escape, and Kidnapped. Difficulty levels are 3 to 5 out of 5.
- The Exit Room – Highly detailed rooms with technology-driven components and surprises. They have options like Museum Heist for beginners and Pandemic for more advanced players.
With thrilling storylines, elaborate sets, and puzzles that require teamwork, Phoenix escape rooms are a fun indoor adventure for families, friends, co-workers, and anyone looking for an exciting break from regular activities. Trying to beat the clock makes for an adrenaline-filled experience!
5-Movies and Theaters
Phoenix has a vibrant movie scene with theaters showing the latest blockbuster films as well as indie movies. Some top movie theaters in the city include:
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – This theater chain is known for its wide selection of films, food and drink menu that’s ordered right to your seat, and strict no-talking policy during movies. There are several locations around the Phoenix metro area.
Harkins Theatres – One of the largest movie theater chains in Arizona. Harkins has over a dozen locations in Phoenix, many with large format screens and luxury recliner seating. They show all the newest Hollywood movies.
FilmBar – For indie, arthouse, and foreign films, check out FilmBar in downtown Phoenix. They have a full bar and restaurant to enjoy before or after the movie.
The Newton – Another spot to catch indie flicks, classic movies, film festivals, and more. The Newton has a laidback, retro vibe.
Majestic Neighborhood Cinema – This small, historic theater located in midtown Phoenix shows independent and art house films. They also host special events.
So if you’re looking to beat the Phoenix heat with a movie, the city has theaters showing all the latest blockbusters, as well as smaller indie cinemas where you can catch more unique and obscure films.
6-Axe Throwing
Axe throwing has become an increasingly popular activity and a way to blow off steam in recent years. Originating as a Scottish medieval sport, axe throwing has been adapted into an indoor recreational activity that is fun, engaging, and even little therapeutic.
Phoenix has some great axe-throwing venues that offer exciting experiences for everyone from beginners to more seasoned throwers. Some of the top indoor axe throwing spots in Phoenix include:
- Lumberjaxes: This axe throwing facility has multiple locations across the Valley and provides a rugged, rustic environment right out of the lumberjack era. They offer beginner lessons as well as league play and private events. Lumberjaxes supplies all the axes and targets, and staff are on hand to provide instruction and tips.
- Copperstate Axe Throwing: Located in central Phoenix, Copperstate has a 14-lane axe throwing arena and lively music pumping to get your adrenaline going for some axe slinging. All ages and skill levels are welcome. They host group events as well as walk-ins for casual throwing.
- Phoenix Axe Throwing: This axe venue focuses on providing a fun and safe introduction to the sport. Experienced coaches teach proper throwing techniques before new throwers step up to take aim at the targets. Phoenix Axe Throwing offers both competitive league play as well as more casual “axeperimenting”.
For those seeking an energetic and satisfying group activity, axe throwing is a creative way to enjoy some friendly competition indoors. With coaching and protective gear provided, it’s an experience suitable for many ages and comfort levels under one roof.
7-Bowling Alleys
Bowling is a popular indoor activity, especially in the hot Phoenix climate. For a fun night out with friends or family, head to one of Phoenix’s many bowling alleys.
One of the top spots for bowling is Let It Roll in Phoenix. This massive entertainment center has 72 bowling lanes, making it one of the largest bowling alleys in Arizona. Beyond just regular bowling, Let It Roll offers cosmic bowling on the weekends with neon lights, music, and other effects to amp up the atmosphere. There is also an arcade with the latest games, pool tables, and a full bar and restaurant serving American fare like burgers, wings, and appetizers. It’s a great all-around night out.
Another recommended bowling alley is Christown Bowling in Glendale. This venue offers both regular bowling and blacklight cosmic bowling. There are 36 lanes, an arcade, billiards, and a restaurant and lounge on-site. The menu has typical bowling alley fare like pizza, burgers, hot dogs, nachos, and more. There are also fun promotions like college night discounts certain nights of the week. Christown Bowling is located in a shopping center, so you can make a day of shopping and then head over for some bowling.
Bowling is a classic activity that never seems to go out of style. Hitting up the bowling alleys in Phoenix is a fun way to spend time with friends or family while getting a little friendly competition going. With features like cosmic bowling, arcades, full-service restaurants, and lively atmospheres, Phoenix bowling alleys take the experience beyond just knocking down pins. Grab your bowling shoes and get ready for some strikes!
8-Trampoline Parks
If you’re looking for high flying indoor fun, trampoline parks offer hours of high-energy entertainment for kids and adults alike. Phoenix is home to top trampoline facilities like Sky High Sports and Flip Dunk Sports that feature massive courts with interconnected trampolines where you can jump, flip, play dodgeball, and more.
Sky High Sports has 25,000 square feet of interconnected trampoline fun including open jump sessions, fitness classes, toddler times, teen nights, and sports leagues. Dodgeball is a popular attraction, with courts set up over the trampolines. There are also battle beam jousting pads, angled trampolines for extra lift, and foam pits you can jump into. Birthday parties can be hosted in private rooms.
Flip Dunk Sports is another popular trampoline park with over 16,000 square feet of trampolines and attractions. Their courts have angled trampolines around the edges to bounce you higher plus pits filled with soft foam cubes to jump into. Dodgeball games, basketball hoops, jousting beams, and a ninja obstacle course provide active fun. Kids will love the separate playground area designed just for them. Flip Dunk offers open jump times along with fitness classes, camps, parties, and events.
With wall-to-wall trampolines, pits to jump in, games to play, and exciting attractions, Phoenix’s top trampoline parks offer high-flying fun for all ages. Dodgeball, foam pits, fitness classes, and open jump sessions make for an energetic indoor adventure.
9-Indoor Rock Climbing
Phoenix has some excellent indoor rock climbing gyms and facilities that offer fun and challenging climbs for all skill levels. Indoor rock climbing is a great way to stay active and get your adrenaline pumping without having to brave the Phoenix heat.
Two of the top indoor climbing gyms in Phoenix are AZ on the Rocks and Focus Climbing Center. AZ on the Rocks has over 13,000 square feet of climbing terrain on walls up to 44 feet tall. They offer top rope, lead, and bouldering options. Focus Climbing Center is one of the largest climbing gyms in the Southwest with over 17,000 square feet of climbing surface area. Both gyms have options for day passes, monthly memberships, and climbing classes for beginners and more advanced climbers.
Other features you’ll find at Phoenix climbing gyms are generous bouldering areas, auto-belay walls that allow solo climbers, cracks and overhangs to practice technique, and circuit and traverse walls to build endurance. Many of the gyms also have fitness areas for cross-training, pro shops to purchase gear, and youth programs. Classes offered can cover climbing fundamentals, movement skills, belay certification, lead climbing, and training plans.
Indoor climbing is a fun activity for daring kids, adventurous adults, and anyone looking to challenge themselves mentally and physically. The gyms offer air conditioning for escaping the Phoenix heat, and the community is welcoming to newcomers. It’s an exciting way to develop strength, flexibility, balance, and problem-solving skills.
10-Indoor Skydiving
For an exhilarating indoor experience, check out iFLY Phoenix. This indoor skydiving venue allows you to experience the thrill of skydiving without having to jump out of a plane!
Inside the expansive wind tunnel at iFLY Phoenix, guests wear a jumpsuit, goggles, and helmet and then literally fly within the glass enclosure. The wind turbine generates winds up to 160 mph, which allows you to soar effortlessly, just like skydiving. Professional instructors are there to guide you through the entire experience.
No prior experience is necessary. Safety is the primary concern, and all proper precautions are taken. The instructors teach you the body positions and hand signals you’ll need to maneuver in the tunnel. There are special skydiving packages for kids as young as 3! It’s an unforgettable and super fun family activity.
The feeling of freedom and excitement from floating on air is incredible! Indoor skydiving at iFLY is enjoyable for all ages and fitness levels. Come take your imagination to new heights on the unique thrill ride of indoor skydiving in Phoenix! This exhilarating experience lets you fly like a bird within a safe, controlled environment.
Bonus: Indoor Water Park
The Phoenix area has some excellent indoor waterpark options to help you and the family stay cool during the hot summer months or to enjoy a water adventure any time of year.
One of the most popular indoor waterparks can be found at Great Wolf Lodge. This massive indoor park has slides for all ages and thrill levels including tube slides, raft rides, and enclosed flume slides. For small children they have a great fort play structure with mini slides and water activities. There are shallow pools for younger kids as well as a wave pool, lazy river, and activity pool for the whole family to enjoy together. Beyond the waterpark, Great Wolf Lodge also has an arcade, mini golf, MagiQuest interactive game, and more. Room packages are available so you can stay right at the resort.
In terms of pricing, a day pass will likely cost $50-70 per person depending on the park. Packages vary but expect around $250-500 per night when including a hotel room and waterpark passes. While not cheap, these indoor waterparks offer hours of entertainment and a fun way to escape the Arizona heat! Be sure to check group rates and look for seasonal deals or discounts to help make your indoor waterpark vacation more affordable.
Conclusion
Phoenix, Arizona offers a wide variety of indoor activities for locals and visitors alike to enjoy year-round. During the hottest summer months, it’s wise to seek fun inside to beat the heat. When the weather cools down in fall and winter, indoor attractions provide a great rainy day activity option.
Throughout this article, we covered several types of indoor destinations across Phoenix including art museums, science museums, historic sites, family fun centers, escape rooms, axe throwing, and indoor skydiving. With this diverse range of indoor activities, there’s something to appeal to all ages and interests.
If you’re seeking a fun indoor itinerary, consider creating a route to hit some of Phoenix’s top museums and historic sites during the day, followed by an evening of axe throwing or escaping from an escape room with friends. During summer months, spend a day enjoying the air conditioning at a family fun center before cooling off further at an indoor skydiving session.
Whatever indoor activities most appeal to you, Phoenix has an option to stay entertained while indoors. For more ideas, check out Visit Phoenix’s website listing of top things to do indoors. Get out there and explore the many indoor gems across the Valley of the Sun!
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