Food scene
This is a fun, family owned taco restaurant with a huge, relaxed outdoor area and fun for the kids! Don't skip the chips and salsa!
12 locals recommend
Creek Side Taco Shack
20401 S Sossaman RdThis is a fun, family owned taco restaurant with a huge, relaxed outdoor area and fun for the kids! Don't skip the chips and salsa!
Really great Italian-ish food and fantastic salads! Our favorites are the Vino Bambino and the Big Beefstro salads. (And the pizzookie dessert!) It's a fun, loud atmosphere, and there is often a wait on the weekends.
6 locals recommend
Oregano's Pizza Bistro
20677 E Maya RdReally great Italian-ish food and fantastic salads! Our favorites are the Vino Bambino and the Big Beefstro salads. (And the pizzookie dessert!) It's a fun, loud atmosphere, and there is often a wait on the weekends.
A fun Western restaurant that often has live music and dancing! (Check their website to see when) Mostly outdoor seating. Great chicken wings!
108 locals recommend
San Tan Flat
6185 W Hunt HwyA fun Western restaurant that often has live music and dancing! (Check their website to see when) Mostly outdoor seating. Great chicken wings!
Great Italian food and pizza! Good place for a casual date.
Vito's Pizza and Italian Ristorante - Now Open!
4865 South Higley RoadGreat Italian food and pizza! Good place for a casual date.
Barrio Queen
7114 E Stetson DrGreat spot if your looking for a margarita and gourmet tacos!
Winters Quarters Water N Ice
19011 East San Tan BoulevardA super cute family-owned place for ice cream and snacks.
Neighborhoods
Downtown Gilbert is full of great restaurants. Park in the public parking lots and walk through mainstreet! Great breakfast spots here, too. Can be crowded.
74 locals recommend
Gilbert
Downtown Gilbert is full of great restaurants. Park in the public parking lots and walk through mainstreet! Great breakfast spots here, too. Can be crowded.
Family Fun
Great place to take the kids! Depending on the season there is a pumpkin festival, fruit picking, hay rides, Christmas lights, etc!
70 locals recommend
Schnepf Farms
24810 S Rittenhouse RdGreat place to take the kids! Depending on the season there is a pumpkin festival, fruit picking, hay rides, Christmas lights, etc!
Gilbert Regional Park
3005 E Queen Creek RdTennis, pickleball, basketball, playgrounds, etc!
Founder's Park Splash Pad
22407 S Ellsworth RdFun park for the kiddos!
Great Wolf Lodge
7333 N Pima RdSuper fun indoor water park.
If you want to paddle board along the "river walk" this is the place. Google Tempe Town Lake paddle board or kayak rentals to see the options. Not good for swimming.
453 locals recommend
Tempe Town Lake
620 N Mill AveIf you want to paddle board along the "river walk" this is the place. Google Tempe Town Lake paddle board or kayak rentals to see the options. Not good for swimming.
Golfland Sunsplash
155 W Hampton AveFun spot to take the kids. Huge water park, arcade, etc.
Fat Cats Queen Creek
20660 E Riggs RdArcade, movie theater, bowling mini-golf, etc
Check their website for a calendar of events if you're looking for rodeo, bullriding, horse shows, etc!
11 locals recommend
Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre
20464 E Riggs RdCheck their website for a calendar of events if you're looking for rodeo, bullriding, horse shows, etc!
Mansel Carter Oasis Park
19535 E Appleby RdFun park for the kids with playgrounds and splash pads.
Sightseeing
Sort of like a winery tour, but with olive oil! Good lunch, too!
130 locals recommend
Queen Creek Olive Mill
25062 S Meridian RdSort of like a winery tour, but with olive oil! Good lunch, too!
A fun weekend activity! Check out the website for details. Tubing is not really ideal for kids. Bring more water than you think you'll need and don't forget sunscreen!
If you have two vehicles, you can rent paddleboards or kayaks at a local shop. Be sure to ask their advice so you understand where to launch and where to exit the river. We always see the wild horses on the river!
Or you can just park near the bridge and have lunch and play in the river.
You will need a "Tonto Pass" to park here, which is about $10 and can be purchased at many gas stations, but not at the river itself. You can Google and find a list of sellers.
242 locals recommend
Salt River Tubing
9200 North Bush HighwayA fun weekend activity! Check out the website for details. Tubing is not really ideal for kids. Bring more water than you think you'll need and don't forget sunscreen!
If you have two vehicles, you can rent paddleboards or kayaks at a local shop. Be sure to ask their advice so you understand where to launch and where to exit the river. We always see the wild horses on the river!
Or you can just park near the bridge and have lunch and play in the river.
You will need a "Tonto Pass" to park here, which is about $10 and can be purchased at many gas stations, but not at the river itself. You can Google and find a list of sellers.
Gorgeous views at the lake and on the drive there. There is a dinner paddleboat cruise that's fun, or pack a lunch and sit on the beach. Look for Desert Bighorn Sheep up in the rocks!
You will need a "Tonto Pass" to park here, which is about $10 and can be purchased at many gas stations, but not at the lake itself. You can Google and find a list of sellers.
131 locals recommend
Canyon Lake
Gorgeous views at the lake and on the drive there. There is a dinner paddleboat cruise that's fun, or pack a lunch and sit on the beach. Look for Desert Bighorn Sheep up in the rocks!
You will need a "Tonto Pass" to park here, which is about $10 and can be purchased at many gas stations, but not at the lake itself. You can Google and find a list of sellers.
You definitely can't miss the Grand Canyon while you're in Arizona!!
435 locals recommend
Grand Canyon
You definitely can't miss the Grand Canyon while you're in Arizona!!
A must-see if you have an extra full day! Do some hiking while you're there!
883 locals recommend
Sedona
A must-see if you have an extra full day! Do some hiking while you're there!
Fun little western restaurant. We like the green chile burger best. Combine this with your drive to Canyon Lake.
98 locals recommend
Tortilla Flat
Fun little western restaurant. We like the green chile burger best. Combine this with your drive to Canyon Lake.
Hiking
There are several trails here, most we could consider "moderate" difficulty. The views are fantastic, even if you don't go all the way up. Look them up online or on All Trails for details. Bring more water than you think you'll need and don't forget sunscreen!
53 locals recommend
Peralta Trailhead
Peralta RoadThere are several trails here, most we could consider "moderate" difficulty. The views are fantastic, even if you don't go all the way up. Look them up online or on All Trails for details. Bring more water than you think you'll need and don't forget sunscreen!
There are many trails that start here, easy to difficult. The views are gorgeous!! Look up online or on All Trails for details. Bring more water than you think you'll need and don't forget sunscreen!
99 locals recommend
Usery Mountain Regional Park
3939 N Usery Pass RdThere are many trails that start here, easy to difficult. The views are gorgeous!! Look up online or on All Trails for details. Bring more water than you think you'll need and don't forget sunscreen!
Hiking trails, great views of the Superstition Mountains. Look up online or on All Trails for details. Bring more water than you think you'll need and don't forget sunscreen!
102 locals recommend
Lost Dutchman State Park
6109 N Apache TrailHiking trails, great views of the Superstition Mountains. Look up online or on All Trails for details. Bring more water than you think you'll need and don't forget sunscreen!
Easy hiking, many flat trails with nice views. If the kids brought bikes, this is the perfect spot! Can be a bit crowded on the weekends. Small fee to park.
84 locals recommend
San Tan Mountain Regional Park
6533 W Phillips RdEasy hiking, many flat trails with nice views. If the kids brought bikes, this is the perfect spot! Can be a bit crowded on the weekends. Small fee to park.
City/town information
Cool old mining town and a beautiful drive. Kind of touristy but still great for lunch and shopping!
476 locals recommend
Jerome
Cool old mining town and a beautiful drive. Kind of touristy but still great for lunch and shopping!