Flagstaff, Arizona is the largest city in Northern Arizona.
The city is located along Rt. 66, known for cultural, outdoor, and historical sites.
Flagstaff has the Lowell Observatory, known for the discovery of the planet Pluto, Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.
It offers many cultural and recreational activities for kids and adults.
The Arizona Snowbowl has snowboarding and downhill skiing.
The Flagship Urban Trail System has hiking, biking, walking and ziplines, adventure courses, museums, theme parks, and caves.
Whether you visit or live in Flagstaff, you will find many exciting activities for children.
Contents
- Things to Do In Flagstaff With Kids
- Children’s Downtown Haunted History Tour
- Spend An Afternoon or Evening In Downtown Flagstaff
- Lowell Observatory
- The Snowbowl Ski Resort
- Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course
- Theatertrikos Theater
- Lake Mary
- Sunset Crater Volcano National Park
- Bike Tours In Flagstaff
- Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
- Lava River Cave
- Flagstaff Safety Overview
- Frequently Asked Questions
Things to Do In Flagstaff With Kids
Children’s Downtown Haunted History Tour
Freaky Foot Tour in Flagstaff knows that children love ghosts and haunted places.
That is why they have a haunted history tour of Flagstaff just for children.
The tour is geared to children 5-12 but all ages are welcome.
One parent must accompany the children on this tour.
The tour runs for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
This tour will take you to the haunted Flagstaff Public Library and the Orpheum Theater, haunted by the Woman in White.
You will hear ghost stories about the town’s history guaranteed to scare you from their experienced tour guides.
They have another ghost tour for children and adults, called Downtown Flagstaff Haunted History Tour.
Tours run all year and in the late evenings.
For more information, call 982-224-0518.
Spend An Afternoon or Evening In Downtown Flagstaff
When you stop at the Flagstaff Visitors Center, they can give you some innovative ideas about what to do downtown with children.
Wheeler Park is a great place to walk, read, and go to concerts, and community events.
Old Town Shoppes have a fishpond with Koi fish, and several restaurants to eat at with barbecue food, burgers, a chocolate shop, and retail stores.
Brightside Bookshop in Flagstaff sells books for children of all ages, gifts, magazines, and apparel.
The visitors center can give you a map for a self-guided tour of the Haunted Place in
Flagstaff is a fun activity for children.
Take a walk and visit some of the retail stores, eat at a restaurant, and take in a movie at the Harkins Theater.
Lowell Observatory
The Lowell Observatory is the place to stop if you and your children love the stars and planets.
Observe the sky on the Gioval Open Deck Observatory with six super-advanced telescopes.
Tour the Clark Telescope, a telescope built in 1896, and learn about the discovery of Pluto.
They have science demos and talks called the Journey to Pluto Science Show and Colors of the Cosmos.
These programs are included in general admission.
The museum is known for its outstanding children’s program.
The Snowbowl Ski Resort
If you stay at the resort in the summer, they have summer activities for children: a gondola ride, a bungee trampoline, tubing, and rock climbing.
Children must be supervised by an adult for activities.
Most weekends in the summer have special events.
On the property are several hiking trails.
Skiers will love the downhill skiing and all children under 12 ski free.
They have a winter gondola ride, snowboard rentals, a 2-hour mountain tour for older children, and other activities.
They have a Basecamp with cabins, and a restaurant, and lodges and restaurants nearby.
They give skiing lessons to kids of all ages.
Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course
This is the place for physically fit active children, and parents must sign a waiver and supervise the activity.
The Kid’s Adventure course is for kids 7-11 years of age, and they will have a 1/2-hour training session to learn to use the equipment.
They have various zip lines and those 12-15 must be accompanied by an adult.
It is designed for active, physically fit children.
After you finish your course, you will be given coupons to eat at local restaurants.
Theatertrikos Theater
The theater has a children’s theater and movies in the summer and fall.
Their program TheaterKids is open to kids all year and teaches acting skills and theater production.
The kids produce their own productions, and they have a summer camp for kids 6-13.
Each summer camp session runs for two weeks long.
Lake Mary
In warm weather, Lake Mary is a beautiful place to take kids for a picnic with benches that overlook the lake and a boat launch for boaters.
The water is often too muddy for swimming, but fishing is allowed in the Lake Mary Recreation Corridor.
The Upper Lake is popular for power boats, water skiers, sailboats, canoes, and row boats.
It is a good area for walking, cycling, and observing birds and wildlife that live in the region.
Sunset Crater Volcano National Park
This park will teach your kids the damage an active volcano can do.
The park protects two dormant volcanoes.
You can follow five trails that go to distinct locations near the volcano.
This is an exciting adventure and a time to learn about the science of volcanoes.
Children must be at least 10 to be allowed in the park.
Currently, some trails are closed due to fire damage, and some are open.
The park is open daily, and fees are charged for admission and parking.
Bike Tours In Flagstaff
When your older kids like biking, they may enjoy a bike tour of Flagstaff arranged by local bike tour companies.
E-Bike Flagstaff has tour guides, bikes, and special bike tours that include riding through downtown Flagstaff, Buffalo Park, and along Rt 66.
They have electric bikes and experienced tour guides to make your tour fascinating.
They provide water, sunscreen, and bikes for your tour.
Call 928-525-4299 for more information and inquire about what ages kids are allowed to participate in the tour.
Flagstaff E-Bike Tours arranges similar tours in Flagstaff.
They allow teens to ride that are experienced and physically fit.
They have bike tours from Village Camp and sunset rides among the pine trees.
They have experienced guides, bikes, and all you need for a great tour.
Call 602-980-3798 for more information.
Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
The mansion has log cabin-style architecture, and stone arches made of volcanic rock.
The outdoors has several gardens, wildlife, art, and architecture.
Young and older children interested in art, buildings, gardens, and wildlife can go on special tours given by experienced guides.
They have a nature walk and garden tour, a special art and architecture tour, a cemetery tour, and lectures.
The home built in 1904 has plumbing, light, water, and special windows with scenes of Native American life.
Guided tours are recommended.
It has a gift shop, an outdoor picnic area, and restrooms.
Lava River Cave
The best times to visit the caves are spring, summer, and fall because in the winter they are harder to reach.
Children should be older and physically fit because the cave requires scrambling over boulders, crouching, and navigating slippery areas.
You and your children may have to crawl, sit, and use your hands and feet to get through the 300 feet of cave.
This cave was formed by molten rock from a volcano.
You should bring two sources of light because it is slippery and dark, a flashlight and a lantern.
Wear sneakers, hiking boots, running shoes that are stable and long pants, and warm clothing as the cave tends to be cold.
In the cave, the space is very cramped but provides a lesson in the science of volcanoes.
Flagstaff Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Flagstaff Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Frequently Asked Questions
What other tourist locations teach about the geographic history of Flagstaff?
Walnut Canyon National Monument has amazing rock formations and cliffs built by Native Americans.
The area has birds, reptiles, and wildlife that can be observed.
It depicts the geographic history of Flagstaff.
The Wupati National Monument has pueblos or buildings constructed by Native Americans to live in.
These buildings have no access to water and food, but the tribes thrived in this region.
Only children ages 10 and older are allowed on the site and it is a terrific way to learn about the history of the Flagstaff tribes.
Red Mountain has a volcanic cone made of cinders that is 1,000 feet in height.
This hike is recommended for children over 4 and it is suggested you bring water for hydration.
Another way to teach about volcanoes and science.
What other recreational parks are worth visiting?
Buffalo Park has 215 acres and many hiking trails that are part of the Arizona Trail.
It is a great place to walk, hike, or bike and provides great exercise for children.
Coconino National Forest has many acres to explore with varied terrain
It has camping, fishing, swimming, boating, hiking, and other activities.
What is the best source of information about things to do in Flagstaff?
The Flagstaff Visitors Center, located in the historic train station on Rt. 66 in Flagstaff, is the best source of information on what to do in Flagstaff.
They can help with maps, brochures, and suggestions about what to visit, where to eat, and stay.
What other educational museums teach kids about the history of Flagstaff?
The Museum of North Arizona has natural history, art, and artifacts used by Native Americans.
A great way to learn the history of the region.
The Pioneer Museum depicts the history of trains in Flagstaff, an astronaut training program, and a hospital operating room.
It has a room of artifacts that belong to a famous historical figure named Ben Doney.
Flagstaff is awesome, I love coming here and have been coming here every several years since I was a child.
Lowell Observatory is the best I have ever seen, I am a bit of a geek for that stuff and their facility is top-notch.