The American Southwest has so much to offer groups looking for a memorable educational experience, especially when you visit cities such as Phoenix!
Phoenix is the capital of Arizona and the 5th biggest city in the United States. This desert mecca offers a myriad of museums, environmental education centers, art galleries, and memorable experiences for students and travelers of all ages, making it one of the best cities in the southwest for field trips.
Below we have listed the area's top educational experiences, broken down by specific student age groups. Take a look at what Phoenix has to offer your student group, then give our agents a call today and start planning your next big adventure!
Kindergarten and Younger
- Children's Museum of Phoenix
- Ranked as one of the Top 3 Children's Museums in the nation, the Children's Museum of Phoenix is one of the best places to send a younger student group in the area. Designed for children ages 0-10, this education center serves as a wondrous place of imagination, inspiration, creativity, and just plain fun!
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- Ranked as one of the Top 3 Children's Museums in the nation, the Children's Museum of Phoenix is one of the best places to send a younger student group in the area. Designed for children ages 0-10, this education center serves as a wondrous place of imagination, inspiration, creativity, and just plain fun!
- OdySea Aquarium
- This huge aquarium features various marine life exhibits, interpretive experiences, and an onsite 3D Theater. OdySea combines theme park-like amusement with engaging presentations of marine life, making it the perfect spot for younger visitors. Inside the aquarium, you will find over 7,000 different animals representing 370 species!
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- This huge aquarium features various marine life exhibits, interpretive experiences, and an onsite 3D Theater. OdySea combines theme park-like amusement with engaging presentations of marine life, making it the perfect spot for younger visitors. Inside the aquarium, you will find over 7,000 different animals representing 370 species!
- Phoenix Zoo
- During your visit to the zoo, your group will be able to explore various animal exhibits, visit the petting zoo, enjoy safari and tram rides, and participate in many more activities that we think are perfect for the younger, more curious crowd. Meet zoo residents such as Jai and Suriya the Tigers, or any of the other over 3,000 animals that represent 400 species. See African Lions, Golden Eagles, Asian Elephants, Komodo Dragons, and more!
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- During your visit to the zoo, your group will be able to explore various animal exhibits, visit the petting zoo, enjoy safari and tram rides, and participate in many more activities that we think are perfect for the younger, more curious crowd. Meet zoo residents such as Jai and Suriya the Tigers, or any of the other over 3,000 animals that represent 400 species. See African Lions, Golden Eagles, Asian Elephants, Komodo Dragons, and more!
Elementary School
- Arizona Science Center
- This sprawling center is home to over 350 permanent hands-on exhibits, providing over 400,000 annual visitors with interactive educational experiences and lessons. Arizona Science Center has been named one of the premier science centers in the nation, the 4-story museum boasting a state of the art onsite planetarium, 3D theater, and countless interactive experiences and live science demonstrations throughout, great for elementary-aged students ready to learn!
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- This sprawling center is home to over 350 permanent hands-on exhibits, providing over 400,000 annual visitors with interactive educational experiences and lessons. Arizona Science Center has been named one of the premier science centers in the nation, the 4-story museum boasting a state of the art onsite planetarium, 3D theater, and countless interactive experiences and live science demonstrations throughout, great for elementary-aged students ready to learn!
- Desert Botanical Garden
- One of the most naturally stunning spots you can visit during your trip to Phoenix can be found within Papago Park, at the Desert Botanical Garden. This 140-acre botanical garden allows guests of all ages to 'enjoy the beauty of the desert and care about it', providing educational exhibits, interpretive hiking trails, and educational experiences for students.
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- One of the most naturally stunning spots you can visit during your trip to Phoenix can be found within Papago Park, at the Desert Botanical Garden. This 140-acre botanical garden allows guests of all ages to 'enjoy the beauty of the desert and care about it', providing educational exhibits, interpretive hiking trails, and educational experiences for students.
- Arizona Capitol Museum
- Welcome to the Arizona Capitol Museum, the last home for Arizona's territorial government until Arizona became a state in 1912. This museum serves as a symbol of the state's vast and colorful history, offering guests a peek into the old statehouse chambers and governor's office. We think this is a great opportunity for elementary-aged students to learn about government and the judicial system on a basic, hands-on level.
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- Welcome to the Arizona Capitol Museum, the last home for Arizona's territorial government until Arizona became a state in 1912. This museum serves as a symbol of the state's vast and colorful history, offering guests a peek into the old statehouse chambers and governor's office. We think this is a great opportunity for elementary-aged students to learn about government and the judicial system on a basic, hands-on level.
Middle School
- Taliesin West
- Welcome to Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and school in the desert from 1937 until 1959, when he passed away at age 91. Today Taliesin West serves as the main campus of The School of Architecture at Taliesin and also houses the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. This is the perfect spot for students to learn the basics of architecture, and to learn to appreciate the masters such as Wright.
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- Welcome to Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home and school in the desert from 1937 until 1959, when he passed away at age 91. Today Taliesin West serves as the main campus of The School of Architecture at Taliesin and also houses the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. This is the perfect spot for students to learn the basics of architecture, and to learn to appreciate the masters such as Wright.
- Pueblo Grande Museum
- By exploring these ancient ruins your group will be able to learn all about the Hohokam peoples, who resided in the area from 450 AD to 1450 AD as farmers of the Salt Gila River Valley. Immerse your group in the environment by taking the 2/3rd mile interpretive trail around the remains of the prehistoric ballcourt and platform mound. You will see native plants, restored walk-in dwellings, and an interpretive agricultural garden growing cotton, corn, beans, squash, and amaranth. This is a great way to get your middle schoolers interested in history, and hey, they will get plenty of exercise while doing so.
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- By exploring these ancient ruins your group will be able to learn all about the Hohokam peoples, who resided in the area from 450 AD to 1450 AD as farmers of the Salt Gila River Valley. Immerse your group in the environment by taking the 2/3rd mile interpretive trail around the remains of the prehistoric ballcourt and platform mound. You will see native plants, restored walk-in dwellings, and an interpretive agricultural garden growing cotton, corn, beans, squash, and amaranth. This is a great way to get your middle schoolers interested in history, and hey, they will get plenty of exercise while doing so.
- Castles and Coasters
- Featuring over 20 rides and attractions, 4 18-hole mini-golf course, over 150 arcade games, and 5 onsite eatery options, it is easy to see why this little amusement park is so popular! Castles N' Coasters is home of the only double looped coaster in the whole state, earning itself an Arizona thrill claim to fame. The park first opened in 1976 and has only grown in both popularity and attraction variety since then! Take this opportunity to teach your students a basic physics lesson on the coasters, or just use it as a fun break.
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- Featuring over 20 rides and attractions, 4 18-hole mini-golf course, over 150 arcade games, and 5 onsite eatery options, it is easy to see why this little amusement park is so popular! Castles N' Coasters is home of the only double looped coaster in the whole state, earning itself an Arizona thrill claim to fame. The park first opened in 1976 and has only grown in both popularity and attraction variety since then! Take this opportunity to teach your students a basic physics lesson on the coasters, or just use it as a fun break.
High School
- Camelback Mountain
- High schoolers looking for a scenic hike while in the area will love the stunning and iconic Camelback Mountain, the 2,700-foot mountain named for its resemblance to a kneeling camel with two humps. Camelback Mountain is the most popular urban hiking spot in Phoenix, located within Echo Canyon Park halfway between Scottsdale and the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. During your visit to the mountain, you will have the opportunity to hike two major trails, Echo Canyon and Cholla.
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- High schoolers looking for a scenic hike while in the area will love the stunning and iconic Camelback Mountain, the 2,700-foot mountain named for its resemblance to a kneeling camel with two humps. Camelback Mountain is the most popular urban hiking spot in Phoenix, located within Echo Canyon Park halfway between Scottsdale and the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. During your visit to the mountain, you will have the opportunity to hike two major trails, Echo Canyon and Cholla.
- Phoenix Art Museum
- The Phoenix Art Museum, the largest art museum in the southwest United States, boasts over 20,000 objects and over 300,000 guests per year. This highly impressive art museum holds a collection of acclaimed art that spans from the Renaissance to the present, providing access to visual arts and educational programs for nearly 60 years now. This is perfect for older students who can appreciate the art and artists inside.
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- The Phoenix Art Museum, the largest art museum in the southwest United States, boasts over 20,000 objects and over 300,000 guests per year. This highly impressive art museum holds a collection of acclaimed art that spans from the Renaissance to the present, providing access to visual arts and educational programs for nearly 60 years now. This is perfect for older students who can appreciate the art and artists inside.
- Roosevelt Row
- This nationally-known arts district boasts one of the finest scenes of art, culture, and cultural events in the southwest, the district fondly called 'RoRo'. There are over 100,000 new visitors to this creative district each year, the district itself extending from 7th Avenue to 16th Street. This is a great place to immerse the older students into local art, culture, and dining.
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- This nationally-known arts district boasts one of the finest scenes of art, culture, and cultural events in the southwest, the district fondly called 'RoRo'. There are over 100,000 new visitors to this creative district each year, the district itself extending from 7th Avenue to 16th Street. This is a great place to immerse the older students into local art, culture, and dining.
College Visits
- Arizona State University
- Arizona State University is a popular local public research university located on 5 different campuses across the greater Phoenix area. It is one of the largest public universities in the United States and makes an excellent campus visit spot for students visiting the area.
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- Arizona State University is a popular local public research university located on 5 different campuses across the greater Phoenix area. It is one of the largest public universities in the United States and makes an excellent campus visit spot for students visiting the area.
- Grand Canyon University
- Grand Canyon University, or GCU, is a private Christian university in Phoenix that is considered to be the largest Christian university in the world, based on enrollment.
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- Grand Canyon University, or GCU, is a private Christian university in Phoenix that is considered to be the largest Christian university in the world, based on enrollment.
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