Summer break may be staring us down, and for some of us, that anxious feeling of dread: how will we keep the kids entertained (and indoors) all summer long?!
Here’s 50+ ideas on summer break activities to keep your kids busy, your budget on track and hopefully a little cool.
XO,
East Valley Moms
Free activities
- Kid’s Club at Superstition Springs Mall
- Library storytimes and classes
- Cs story time (Xth Friday every month)
- Story time with Bear (2nd Fridays)
- Lawn Games Indoors for Kids at Chandler Libraries
- LEGO Club (1st Saturday monthly) at Mesa Libraries
- CinePark May Movie Series
- Look at the Stars at the Observatory, Friday and Saturday evenings from sunset to 9:30 PM
Budget-friendly drop-in Indoor activities
- Harkins Summer Movie Club (fun if you plan these with a group of friends!)
- Rock wall climbing and game room at Red Mountain Center
- VBS
- Our Favorite East Valley Open Gyms
- Wiggle worms in Gilbert, every Friday (nearly free)
- Play place play date at Chikfila or McDonalds (old school, but overlooked!)
Memberships/Classes for summer
- Kidstrong
- Kindermusik at the Musik Box
- Idea Museum
- Odysea Aquarium (if your kids love the zoo, this is an ideal alternative for summer!)
- Edna Vihel Arts Center classes
- 5 Indoor Activities to Help You Survive the Summer with with 5-10 Year Olds
- Indoor Memberships to Help You Survive Summer with Kids Ages 0-4
Home activities
- Take & Make (new craft at beginning of each month) at Mesa Libraries
- Disney Family Date Night: Moana
- Disney Family Date Night: Lilo and Stitch
- Disney Family Date Night: Coco
- Disney Family Date Night: Up!
- March Disney Family Date Night: Inside Out
- Spa day at home EVM’s Guide to the Ultimate Spring Break Staycation at Home
Water play
- Swim lessons
- Dive in movies at COM
- FlowRider Surfing at Rhodes Pool
- Dive in movie at home Birthday Bash: Dive in Movie Party (Almost!)
- 5 Practical Pool Safety Tips from a local Gilbert swim school
- Local Arizona Splash Pads: Tips for Fun in the Sun
- Backyard Water Play Ideas if You Don’t Have a Pool
- Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center This is like a water park, but on a city pool price!
- Splash Pad at Mansel Carter Oasis Park Splash Pad Party July 14
Day trips
- Daytripping to Strawberry: Kid Edition
- Daytrips we love: Prescott
- Day Trips We Love: Tucson
- Day trip: Tonto Fish Hatchery & Christopher Creek with Kids
- Day Trips We Love: Tonto Natural Bridge
- 6 Family Friendly Hikes in Cooler Weather to beat the AZ Heat
- Exploring Arizona: Winslow, Ariz. and the Petrified Forest with Kids
Weekend trips
- Staycation Escape Local: Staycation Options in Your Own Backyard
- Explore Arizona: A Southern AZ, All-Inclusive, Dude Ranch for the Family
- Top-camping-spots-families-arizona
- Best Family-Friendly Phoenix Resort Staycations for Summer
- Explore Arizona: Where to stay in Payson with kids
- Things to do in Greer, Arizona with kids this summer
- Is Great Wolf Lodge Worth it for Toddlers?
- Explore Arizona: a 24 Hour Northern Ariz. Turnaround Trip with Kids
- Exploring Arizona: Late Summer in Show Low, a Family Weekend Guide
- Explore Arizona: Page With Toddlers
- Let Them Be Big: Why I Let My Teenager Go on a Trip with Friends (and no parents!)
- Tombstone, Arizona – on our list for this summer!
- Jerome, Arizona – on our list for this summer!
