Arizona's natural beauty - from the picturesque Sonoran Desert to the breathtaking Monument Valley and the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon! If you are looking for a unique vacation experience, check out these Fun Things to do in Phoenix with a Teenager!
Fun Things to do in Phoenix with a Teenager
Arizona, also known as the "Grand Canyon State," is a place of wonder for children, adults and even teenagers! From marveling at the Grand Canyon to the awe-inspiring beauty of Sedona's Red Rocks, and the vast expanse of the Sonoran Desert.
Every corner of the state has its own unique charm and offers a sense of discovery for every age range. While traveling with teenagers can be tricky, the beauty of Arizona and its enchanting destinations that never cease to amaze you AND your teenager!
Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride in Phoenix or Scottsdale
When in Phoenix or Scottsdale, fly the friendly skies in a hot air balloon! A hot air balloon ride is a popular thing to do for all ages, offering stunning birds eye views of the desert landscape, the mountains and everything in between.
You can find daily sunrise hot air balloon adventures as well as sunset flights available during the winter months.
Take a one hour flight package that includes the traditional celebratory ceremony, light continental breakfast, and balloon souvenirs. Check out the selection of hot air balloon rides available through TripAdivsor!
If you have not registered with Rakuten yet, now is your chance! You can earn up to 10% cash back on TripAdvisor tours when you book things to do with teens in Phoenix through their website OR by installing the browser extension and clicking activate while on the TripAdvisor site!
Visit the Dark Sky Parks in Arizona
Arizona boasts twelve Dark Sky Parks, defined by the IDA as lands with “exceptional quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment.” Not only is this something fun to do in Phoenix for adults, your teenagers will love sharing this bonding experience with you!
The most famous of these is Grand Canyon National Park, where remarkably beautiful night skies lend draw-dropping credence to the Park Service’s reminder that “half the park is after dark."
These parks and communities are defined as among the best:
- Big Park/Village of Oak Creek, Arizona
- Camp Verde, Arizona
- Cottonwood, Arizona
- Flagstaff, Arizona
- Fountain Hills, Arizona
- Sedona, Arizona
- Thunder Mountain Pootsee - Kaibab Paiute Reservation, Arizona
Fun Things to do in Phoenix with a Teenager
Flagstaff the City of Seven Wonders
The Flagstaff area is surrounded by stunningly beautiful landscapes. Once you have run out of stuff to do in Phoenix, take the kids to Flagstaff and use that time to experience some truly amazing adventures! From cavernous canyons and majestic mountain tops to the starriest skies and most pristine wilderness areas, Flagstaff is almost as popular as Phoenix itself!
Flagstaff is known as the City of Seven Wonders and provides an ideal base for you to set up camp for a day or two to explore some of the most spectacular scenery in the United States.
Vacationing families can also ‘get their kicks’ on Route 66! Flagstaff is a charming historic downtown with trains, shopping, art galleries, events, music, restaurants, and nightlife. This town also includes the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest surrounded by American Indian culture.
If your teens love the outdoors, follow the trends set by Arizona teens and go hiking or biking too!
The Catalina Highway: Mt Lemmon Highway
Known as the “Mt Lemmon Highway,” The Catalina Highway is a 24-mile route and is the only paved road that leads to the upper reaches of the Santa Catalina Range. It is one of the most scenic highways in the southwest as it climbs nearly 6,000 ft.
At lower elevations along the Catalina Highway, you can view saguaro and other cacti. At higher elevations, you will find a mixed conifer forest, similar to the experience of driving from Mexico to Canada in one day! Scenic roadside areas offer stops for breathtaking vistas and panoramic views of Tucson and the surrounding mountains.
The Santa Catalina Mountains are often referred to as one of southern Arizona’s sky islands because they rise out of a sea of desert. This area is home to diverse species of plants and animals and natural rock formations are everywhere!
Kaibab National Forest
Travel through the Kaibab National Forest north of the Grand Canyon heading toward Fredonia, Ariz., to the Le Fevre Overlook, a popular scenic point on the North Kaibab Ranger District located just a few miles from the north end of the Kaibab Plateau on Scenic Byway 89A. It offers spectacular views along with a number of other area attractions.
The Grand Staircase refers to an immense sequence of sedimentary rock layers that stretch south from Bryce Canyon National Park and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, through Zion National Park, and into the Grand Canyon National Park.
The view from Le Fevre Overlook is an incredible expanse of hundreds of square miles of these highly varied stair steps and geologic wonders.
At the overlook, a large set of standing binoculars offers visitors the opportunity to get a close-up look of the landscape and its features. In addition, overlook guests will discover an installation of a beautiful interpretive painting depicting the Grand Staircase and displaying all of the rock layers.
One of the most Fun Things to do in Phoenix with a Teenager is visiting Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon National Park is one of the natural wonders of the world and located in Northern Arizona. At 277 miles long and 6,000 feet deep at its deepest point, it is no wonder that it is one of the most famous parks in all of the world!
The easily accessible South Rim is the most popular place to explore the Grand Canyon and considered one of the most fun things to do in Phoenix with teenagers.
Visit the Grand Canyon National Park during Sunrise or Sunset for spectacular skies and light that plays with the rocky surfaces like a color palate. You can check here for times, moon phases, and suggestions.
Glamping or Camping is at the top of fun things for teens to do in Phoenix
Your teenagers may not get excited about camping, but glamping? Yes, please! Backland luxury eco-resort gives guests an immersive and transformative experience in nature while striving to significantly improve wildlife habitats and the ecology of the land.
Completely surrounded by miles of ponderosa pine forests, their exclusive tents, chef-prepared meals and secluded location completely redefine the concept of glamping. Having a unique camping experience is at the top of unique things to do in Phoenix!
One of the most memorable fun things in Phoenix for any age is experiencing a breathtaking Arizona sunrise or sunset in the Sonoran Desert. Ascend to a mountain viewpoint for a great view of the Valley of the Sun and the Phoenix Metro Area and see the Sonoran Desert for more than 40 miles to the west.
The stunning sunsets and abundant desert flora and fauna will delight the senses of anyone, at any age, making it a top choice for things to do in Arizona with teens.
Visit Page Spring Cellars in Cornville for Wine, Yoga and Massage
While the teenagers are sleeping in or taking a break, let the adults have some fun too! Page Spring Cellars in Cornville offers not just wonderful vintages but also massages for two, two refreshing salads and two glasses of specially selected PSC wines for enjoyment in the tasting room or rent out a semi-private cabana.
Or you can even take a yoga class to settle the mind and offer peaceful physical fitness among the vines.
Visit one of the amazing Arizona State Parks
The past few months of plentiful rain have helped welcome a wonderful wildflower season in one of the Arizona State Parks. State Parks that have wildflowers include Picacho Peak, Catalina, Lost Dutchman, Alamo Lake and Cattail Cove State Parks.
In May, the wildflowers in parks at higher elevations, like Oracle and Red Rock State Parks, will start to bloom. Enjoy stunning orange, purple, yellow, and red wildflowers while hiking and camping.
Learn More about Route 66
Learn about Route 66 from the man who fought to preserve its history at the Kingman Visitor Center where visitors can interact with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) version of Angel Delgadillo at the Route 66 Gift Shop to discover what living on Route 66 was like.
Now every guest has the chance to ask Angel questions about Route 66 with AI technology that combs through hours of interviews and formulates a response to guests’ burning questions.
Star Gaze in Sedona
Immerse yourself in Sedona’s breathtaking beauty and stay at the Ambiente Sedona cubed-shaped, glass-encased Atriums designed to harmonize with Sedona’s geography and offer guests their own distinct panoramic view.
With their luxurious interior and private rooftop desks, guests will have the perfect star-gazing spot to end their adventure-filled days. As a hotel where guests must be over 21 years old, guests can reconnect with nature and find tranquility.
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