Family-Friendly Things to Do in Glendale: Sports, Parks, Attractions & Kid-Friendly Fun
By: Adam Jerold Cansino | September 7, 2026
Planning a trip with children is easier when your destination offers a mix of outdoor spaces, sports, interactive attractions, and indoor places to cool off. Glendale gives families plenty of variety, whether you want to watch professional football, explore a desert trail, paint pottery, spend an afternoon at an entertainment district, or simply enjoy a playground and picnic.
The city sits within the greater Phoenix area, making it especially convenient for travelers who want access to major attractions without having to plan every day around long drives. Families can build an itinerary that combines energetic activities with slower afternoons, giving both adults and kids enough flexibility to enjoy the trip.
For a comfortable home base close to many of these experiences, explore Glendale luxury vacation rentals. Having extra bedrooms, gathering spaces, and a kitchen can make traveling with children considerably easier, especially for multi-day stays.
Catch a Game or Tour State Farm Stadium to Meet the Action
Sports can be one of the most memorable parts of a trip, and State Farm Stadium is a natural starting point for visitors who follow football or major live entertainment.
Home to the Arizona Cardinals, the stadium hosts NFL games, concerts, and other large-scale events throughout the year. Families who are visiting when there is no game can also check the stadium’s tour schedule. Behind-the-scenes tours typically explore areas that ordinary ticket holders do not see, such as locker rooms, press spaces, premium areas, and portions of the stadium concourse.
The tours generally last 75 to 90 minutes, making them manageable for older children without taking up an entire day. Certain tours also focus on game-day preparation or the stadium’s retractable natural-grass field.
If you are attending a Cardinals game or another major event, check ticket and entry rules before arriving. Children ages 2 and older generally require tickets for stadium events, although specific policies may vary by event.
For young sports fans, the experience can be especially exciting because it gives them a chance to see where professional athletes compete rather than simply watching a game on television.
Spend an Afternoon at Westgate Entertainment District
Westgate Entertainment District is useful when different people in your group want different activities. Instead of committing everyone to one attraction for several hours, you can combine entertainment, food, shopping, and casual recreation in the same area.
Current entertainment options include AMC Theatres, Dave & Buster’s, PopStroke, Escape Westgate, Chicken N Pickle, and As You Wish Pottery.
That variety makes Westgate particularly convenient during hot afternoons. Younger visitors can paint pottery, older children may enjoy arcade games or an escape-room challenge, and the entire group can finish the day with dinner nearby.
Pottery painting can also be a quieter alternative after several days of sightseeing. Instead of another high-energy attraction, children can work on a creative project and take home something connected to their vacation.
Families traveling during busy weekends should look at the district calendar before visiting. Local events, professional games, concerts, and other activities around the surrounding sports and entertainment area can significantly change parking demand and crowd levels.
Explore Parks, Playgrounds and Desert Trails
Not every memorable vacation activity needs an admission ticket. Some of the easiest days with children involve open space, walking paths, playgrounds, and room to move around.
Thunderbird Conservation Park is one of the city’s major outdoor recreation areas. The conservation area covers more than 1,000 acres and includes roughly 20 miles of trails through Sonoran Desert terrain.
Because the routes vary in difficulty, parents should choose a trail according to the age and hiking experience of everyone in the group. Early mornings are usually the most practical time for desert walking, particularly during warmer months. Carry ample water, stay on designated trails, and avoid turning a casual outing into a strenuous midday hike. City guidance specifically emphasizes choosing trails appropriate to your ability and paying close attention to desert heat.
Families looking for something less demanding can choose neighborhood and regional parks instead. A picnic, a playground stop, a short paved walk, or an open grassy area can provide a useful break between bigger attractions.
These simpler activities can be especially helpful with toddlers or younger children who may enjoy an hour outside more than another tightly scheduled excursion.
Discover History and Peacocks at Sahuaro Ranch Park
Sahuaro Ranch Park offers a different kind of outing by combining open parkland with historic buildings and an agricultural past.
One of the property’s oldest structures is the Adobe House, which is believed to date to 1887. The building originally served as a residence associated with ranch operations and was later used for other purposes as the property changed hands.
A visit here can work well for parents who want to introduce a little history without taking children through a long traditional museum. Walking around the grounds allows everyone to explore at a more relaxed pace.
The park is also well known among visitors for the peacocks that roam the grounds. Spotting the birds can turn what might otherwise seem like a history stop into a surprisingly engaging experience for younger travelers.
Bring water, comfortable shoes, and enough time to wander rather than rushing between buildings. If your trip falls during warmer weather, morning hours can make the experience much more comfortable.
Cool Off With Indoor and Aquatic Activities
Arizona heat can shape a vacation itinerary, particularly during late spring and summer. Instead of avoiding travel during warmer months, plan outdoor activities early and reserve the afternoon for air-conditioned or water-based experiences.
The Foothills Recreation and Aquatics Center offers facilities that include a basketball gymnasium, rock wall, indoor walking track, fitness areas, racquetball courts, and swimming facilities.
Depending on current schedules and admission availability, facilities like these can be useful when children need an active break without spending several hours outside.
Summer camps and recreation programming may also be available through city facilities at different times of year. Because schedules change, check current Parks and Recreation calendars rather than assuming the same program will run during every visit.
The city has also offered free events and recreational programming in connection with Parks and Recreation Month, including climbing, movie nights, ice cream socials, and stargazing.
Seasonal programming can make repeat trips different each time, so reviewing upcoming events shortly before your stay is worthwhile.
VAI Resort – Coming Soon
One of the biggest additions planned for the area is VAI Resort, a large entertainment-focused development across from State Farm Stadium.
As of September 2026, VAI has not announced an official opening date. Its official FAQ states that the date will be announced approximately nine months before opening.
Once completed, the plans call for four hotels with approximately 1,100 rooms and suites, along with a large beach, aquatic attractions, dining, shopping, live entertainment, and other recreational activities. The property is also expected to include Mattel Adventure Park, adding another major draw for visitors traveling with children.
Because the project is still coming together, travelers should verify opening announcements directly with the resort before making plans around it.
When operational, the development could make the stadium and Westgate area even more useful for travelers who prefer to keep several attractions close together rather than drive across the metro area every day.
Plan Around Seasonal Events and Weather
A successful trip with children often depends less on how many attractions you visit and more on when you visit them.
During warmer periods, organize your schedule around mornings, evenings, swimming, and indoor attractions. Desert trails and outdoor parks are generally better suited to cooler portions of the day.
Fall can be particularly appealing because football season brings additional energy to the sports district while temperatures gradually become more comfortable for outdoor exploration.
Before traveling, review community calendars for festivals, recreation programs, arts activities, sports schedules, and special events. A kids’ event or neighborhood celebration may run for only a single weekend, while larger venues may announce their schedules months in advance.
Families involved in youth sports should also check whether tournaments or camps overlap with their visit, as these can affect traffic and accommodation availability.
For even more ideas beyond these child-focused activities, explore more things to do in Glendale and build an itinerary that combines sports, shopping, trails, history, dining, and entertainment.
Where to Stay With Kids
Choosing the right place to stay can make a major difference when traveling as a group. Hotel rooms may work for shorter stays, but longer stays are often easier when everyone has more space.
Vacation homes can give parents separate sleeping areas, kitchens for preparing simple meals, laundry access, living rooms for downtime, and outdoor spaces where available. Those features are particularly useful when children have different sleep schedules or when the group wants an occasional evening at home instead of another restaurant meal.
Location matters as well. If most of your itinerary centers on State Farm Stadium, Westgate, and western Valley attractions, staying nearby can reduce the amount of time everyone spends in the car.
The best approach is to balance a few major outings with unscheduled time. Children rarely need every hour filled. A morning hike, an afternoon swim, a relaxed dinner, and a movie night can sometimes create a better vacation than trying to visit five attractions in one day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some good activities for children visiting Glendale?
Popular choices include State Farm Stadium tours, Westgate entertainment venues, Sahuaro Ranch Park, desert walks, playgrounds, swimming facilities, movies, arcade games, and creative attractions such as pottery painting. Choose activities based on children’s ages and the time of year.
Is Glendale a good destination for a family vacation?
Yes. Visitors can combine professional sports, parks, trails, indoor entertainment, restaurants, historic sites, and seasonal programming into a single trip. It is particularly convenient for groups that want both active outings and easy downtime.
What should parents plan for when visiting during summer?
Schedule outdoor activities early in the morning, carry plenty of water, use sun protection, and plan air-conditioned or aquatic activities for hotter parts of the day. Always check current weather and facility schedules before heading out.