Best Family Activities in West Valley Arizona 2026

The West Valley Is Built for Families

The Phoenix West Valley — spanning Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Avondale, and Goodyear — has grown into one of the best family-friendly regions in all of Arizona. New parks, recreation centers, sports complexes, and entertainment districts have followed the population boom, and the result is a surprising variety of activities for kids of every age and adults who want to actually enjoy themselves too.

Explore the full West Valley events calendar on ZonaHaps to see what is happening near you this month.

Catch a Spring Training Game

Few experiences beat Arizona's Cactus League for accessible, affordable family baseball. The West Valley is the heart of spring training country. Camelback Ranch in Glendale hosts the Dodgers and White Sox; Peoria Sports Complex brings the Padres and Mariners; Surprise Stadium has the Royals and Rangers; and Goodyear Ballpark hosts the Reds and Guardians. Games run from late February through late March, tickets are cheap, and the smaller stadium sizes mean kids can actually see the players. Check the Cactus League schedule on ZonaHaps for dates and matchups.

Westgate City Center — Glendale

Westgate City Center is the West Valley's premier outdoor entertainment district, anchored by State Farm Stadium and Desert Diamond Arena. Beyond concerts and Cardinals games, Westgate has a year-round calendar of family events including outdoor movie nights, holiday festivals, and seasonal activations. The restaurants and the open plaza make it easy to spend a half-day here without a ticket to anything.

White Tank Mountain Regional Park

For families who want to get outside, White Tank Mountain Regional Park in Waddell is one of the best hiking destinations in the Valley. The Waterfall Trail is the signature hike — a 1.8-mile round trip that leads to a seasonal waterfall carved through granite. Petroglyphs along the Petroglyph Trail make the hike educational and engaging for school-age children. Go early (before 7 a.m. in summer) and bring twice as much water as you think you need. See more options on the Arizona hiking guide.

TopGolf — Glendale

TopGolf in Glendale near Westgate is one of those rare venues that works for ages 8 to 80. The gamified driving range format requires zero golf experience, and the climate-controlled hitting bays mean you can book a session even in July without suffering. Food and drinks are served tableside. Prices are by the bay per hour, so it is more economical with a group of four or more.

Dave and Busters — Multiple Locations

Dave and Busters has locations accessible to the West Valley and serves as a reliable rainy-day or summer-afternoon option when outdoor heat makes everything else impossible. The arcade format works for kids from about age five through teenagers, and the lunch specials make it a reasonable weekday outing.

Peoria and Surprise Recreation Centers

Both Peoria and Surprise operate well-funded recreation centers with pools, fitness facilities, and youth programming. Summer camps, swim lessons, and drop-in gym time give kids structured options during school break. Most programs require city registration but are open to non-residents at a slightly higher rate.

• Check Glendale neighborhood events for Westgate programming
• Browse Surprise events for outdoor festival listings
• See the full family events calendar for West Valley-wide activities

The West Valley keeps growing and so does its event calendar. Bookmark ZonaHaps West Valley so you never miss what is coming up near you.