Best Indoor Things to do in Phoenix

Best 10 Indoor Things to Do in Phoenix

Arizona, United States / By

Phoenix, the Valley of the Sun, is known for its abundant outdoor activities. Whether it be a desert safari or off-road excursions, there are many things for outdoor lovers to do. This city experiences sunny days for nearly three hundred days a year, so it’s no wonder that many attractions are tailored around exploration and adventure. But what if you are stuck inside on rainy days? Or, what if you are tired of playing outside and want to explore something indoors? Many times, it’s way too hot to roam outside in the summer in this city.

You are in luck, as the Valley has many indoor options. These include aquariums, indoor amusement parks, museums, and escape rooms. We have listed the best indoor things to do in Phoenix if you want any recommendations. All of these activities are family-friendly and worth trying at least once. In addition, they include a little bit of everything, from entertainment to escaping the heat.

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Table Of Contents
  1. Meet Sharks At SEA LIFE Aquarium Arizona
  2. Experience Childhood Nostalgia At LEGOLAND Discovery Center, Arizona
  3. Catch D-Backs Game At Chase Field
  4. Get Awestruck At The Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting
  5. Learn A Thing Or Two At The Musical Instrument Museum
  6. Step Back In Time At The Arizona Capitol Museum
  7. Go Shopping In Phoenix
  8. Visit The Arizona Science Center
  9. Catch Indoor Shows In Downtown Phoenix
  10. Try To Get Out From Phoenix's Escape Rooms
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Meet Sharks At SEA LIFE Aquarium Arizona

SEA LIFE Aquarium Arizona
Interact with beautiful sea creatures at SEA LIFE Aquarium Arizona. (Source: SEA LIFE Aquarium Arizona Facebook)

Escape from the sun inside the SEA LIFE Aquarium Arizona. It is conveniently located in Tempe and is only an 18-minute drive from Phoenix. It houses ten exhibits of sharks, rescued sea turtles, and colorful fish. The Sea Turtle Rescue Reef is a brand new exhibition in the aquarium. It tells stories of how SEA LIFE rescues, rehabilitates, and provides sanctuary to these beautiful sea creatures. Visitors will also see the rescued Olive Ridley sea turtle Donna.

Next, the Tropical Ocean View Exhibit is Arizona‘s only 360-degree ocean tunnel. Visitors can get up close and personal with 500 sea creatures, including sharks and sea turtles. Colorful fish of over 20 species will surround them. Another fascinating exhibit in this aquarium is the Interactive Touchpool. You can touch and see what sea stars and anemones feel like. You can touch over eight species of sea plants and creatures, including baby epaulette sharks.

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Experience Childhood Nostalgia At LEGOLAND Discovery Center, Arizona

Legoland Discovery Center Arizona
Bring out your inner child at the Legoland Discovery Center Arizona. (Source: Legoland Discovery Center Arizona Facebook)

Make your indoor expedition more fun with a trip to the LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona. It is also located in Tempe and is near Phoenix. This center has everything from thrilling rides to play zones and workshops. It has attractions for kids and adults; hence, no one will feel bored. The kid-friendly zones include The Great LEGO Race Virtual Reality, LEGO City Play Zone, and DUPLO Farm. The latter allows little visitors to let their imaginations run wild and build flowers, gardens, and other things around the barn.

The family can enjoy Merlin’s Apprentice together and watch 4D LEGO Movies at the 4D Cinema. This theater has supercharged wind, rain, and snow effects, which bring the movies to life. Visitors can also meet and snap pictures with their favorite LEGO characters in Meet and Greets. They can also meet a Master Model Builder and learn insider tips and building secrets.

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Catch D-Backs Game At Chase Field

Chase Field
Watch the Arizona Diamondbacks play at Chase Field. (Source: Chase Field Facebook)

America’s favorite pastime, Baseball, is a beloved sport worldwide. While not as famous as football or basketball, it boasts a massive fanbase. Arizona Diamondbacks is one of the top baseball teams in the country. And where else can you watch them play at their home Chase Field? This 48,500-seat ballpark has a retractable roof, making it open rain or shine. If you are indoors during rainy days, you can utilize your time by watching baseball matches in this stadium.

Chase Field boasts 69 luxury boxes, 4,400 club-level seats, six-party boxes, and 1,200 field-level seats. Its unique features include dbTV, the D-backs pool, a retractable roof, and the Coors Light Strike Zone. In addition to baseball matches, it hosts concerts, fests, and sporting events annually. Even if there is no event, touring this ballpark will be worth your time.

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Get Awestruck At The Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting

Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting
Watch this 1963 American LaFrance 900 Series pumper at the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting. (Source: Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting Facebook)

You might have heard of all sorts of museums, but have you ever heard of a museum dedicated to firefighting? The Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting preserves firefighting equipment. George F. Getz Jr. founded the museum in 1961. After his wife, Olive Atwater Getz, gifted him a 1924 American LaFrance fire engine, he began collecting all sorts of firefighting apparatus.

Today, the museum houses over 10,000 smaller objects and 130 wheeled pieces. It has six exhibit galleries, including the Hall of Heroes and Wildland Firefighting. It also has collections of fire alarm systems, fire marks, fire extinguishers, fire helmets, and motorized fire. Furthermore, the Hall of Flame Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM. It charges separate rates for adults, students, children, and seniors.

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Learn A Thing Or Two At The Musical Instrument Museum

Musical Instrument Museum
See many musical instruments at the Musical Instrument Museum, including this ceremonial drum. (Source: Musical Instrument Museum Facebook)

Next, the Musical Instrument Museum houses the most extensive collection of musical instruments worldwide. It has over 16,000 instruments worldwide, including the USA, Brazil, Mexico, China, and India. It also has 90 historic stringed instruments, such as ukuleles, mandolins, banjos, and guitars. In addition to special exhibitions, this museum has several galleries, including the Geographic Galleries, Orientation Gallery, Artist Gallery, Experience Gallery, Mechanical Music Gallery, and Collier Stem Gallery.

The Geographic Galleries focuses on major world regions, such as Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. The Artist Gallery displays instruments and artifacts played by influential artists, such as Maroon 5, Elvis Presley, and Glen Campbell. Likewise, the Collier Stem Gallery explores the connection between music and science. Its multiple displays introduce the physics of sound creation through interactive technology, original video, and instruments.

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Step Back In Time At The Arizona Capitol Museum

Arizona Capitol Museum
Learn about Arizona’s history at the Arizona Capitol Museum.

Next, the Arizona Capitol Museum reflects Arizona’s culture and history. It initially housed the Arizona Territorial and State Legislature and executive offices. After Arizona became a state, the State Capitol building was restored and rededicated as the museum. It teaches visitors about Arizona’s social, governmental, and political history. Each museum exhibit, event, historical artifact, public program, and interactive activity focuses on educating about the evolution of Arizona from state to territory.

This museum has many exhibits and priceless collections, including the Arizona flag created from 113,998 Lego bricks. Some of its exhibits include USS Arizona: Flagship of the Fleet, Arizona Takes Shape, Minerals of Arizona’s Historic Mining Communities, Arizona Memory Project, The U.S.S. Arizona Artifact Collection, and Historic House Chamber. It also houses online art exhibits by Frank Ybarra and Hugo Medina.

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Go Shopping In Phoenix

Phoenix Shopping
Shop till you drop in these Phoenix malls.

Are you a diehard shopper? Then, Phoenix offers the ultimate shopping experience. You will find everything here, from local products to international brands, apparel, accessories, cosmetics, and home essentials. You can also buy souvenirs and gifts to take back home. The malls and shopping centers are among the top indoor things to do in Phoenix. Here, we are listing the best malls in the city.

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Visit The Arizona Science Center

Arizona Science Center indoor thigs to do in phoenix
Climb abroad the OceanXplorer at Arizona Science Center. (Source: Arizona Science Center Facebook)

Exploring the incredible Arizona Science Center is one of the best indoor activities in Phoenix. It houses four levels of fantastic hands-on exhibits, a state-of-the-art maker space, and a five-story-high gigantic screen theater. The level one exhibits include Mission Future Arizona 2045, All About Me, Flight Zone, The W.O.N.D.E.R. Center, and Making Sense of Your Dollars and Cents. Level two houses a 90-foot-long SkyCycle, which teaches riders about the principles of counterbalance.

Likewise, the exhibits on levels three and four teach visitors about the forces of nature, modern and past technologies, the sun, and the science of sound waves. This center also has a featured exhibition, OceanXperience. It offers visitors access to the OceanXplorer vessel, where they can experience being underwater explorers. It also features many exciting rooms, including the Bridge, Mission Control, Wet and Dry Labs, and the Sub Hangar.

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Catch Indoor Shows In Downtown Phoenix

Magic Show
Watch magic shows or comedic performances in Phoenix.

Enough of museums and indoor attractions; how about we discuss something new? For example, indoor shows in Downtown Phoenix. You will find many interactive performances and shows in the city. If you like magic, The Up-CLOSE Magic Experience is your go-to destination. This 90-minute magic show happens inside the trendy Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel. It features magicians from Penn and Teller’s Fool Us, America’s Got Talent, Masters of Illusion, Broadway, and the Vegas Strip.

Downtown also has many comedy theatres, including The Main Street Comedy Show. It is a unique mix of storytelling and improv comedy worth watching. You will enjoy listening to jokes and interacting with comedians. Likewise, this city houses several movie theaters where you can catch the latest releases. Nothing beats a good movie and popcorn on a rainy day.

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Try To Get Out From Phoenix’s Escape Rooms

Escape Room
Get ready to solve puzzles and escape from these escape rooms.

Finally, we include mystery rooms in our list of the best indoor things to do in Phoenix. Not many know, but the Valley of the Sun has over 20 escape room venues. They are available in many themes, including horror, crime, and adventure. Escape rooms are a perfect way to rewind, relax, and let go during rainy days. Try to complete the tasks, solve the clues, and escape within the time limit. Also, check out some of the escape rooms in Phoenix.

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Indoor activities in Phoenix don’t have to be boring. Attractions like LEGOLAND and SEA LIFE Aquarium are fun for everyone. Likewise, Phoenix Museums teaches visitors about the city’s history, culture, and lifestyle. You will also enjoy escape rooms and scavenger hunts. If none of these activities suit you, how about exploring this city’s food scene? There are many restaurants and eateries worth visiting. Thanks to many indoor and outdoor activities, Phoenix is a year-round destination in the US. There is something for everyone here.

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