Arizona Boardwalk
4.5(5,727)4.5 out of 5 stars, 5727 reviews Phoenix, AZ
About Arizona Boardwalk
A multi-attraction entertainment destination featuring the Odyssey Aquarium, Butterfly Wonderland, and free community events, though high ticket prices make it best suited for special occasions.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Special occasions and birthday celebrationsFamilies seeking a clean, relaxing day out with a mix of paid and free activitiesChildren of all ages8-year-olds (noted as a great birthday destination)
Why families love it
- Immersive 3-D monarch migration movie at Butterfly Wonderland
- Odyssey Aquarium is a major hit for families
- Free community movie nights and fairs with booths
- Cute, free photo-opportunity spots around the boardwalk
- Butterfly Wonderland with 1,500 cocoons received weekly
- Odyssey Aquarium
Insider tips
- Choose the aquarium over smaller exhibits if you have to pick one
- Take advantage of the free photo spots and free movie nights to offset costs
- Be prepared for school field trip crowds, especially on weekdays
Good to know before you go
- Visiting during peak school group hours if you prefer a quieter experience
- Spending money on smaller exhibits if you are on a tight budget
- High ticket pricing for museums, exhibits, and the aquarium
- Some smaller exhibits like the UFO experience may feel less worth the money compared to the aquarium
- Crowds
- Busy with school groups and field trips
- Value
- Considered very expensive ('nuts expensive') for those living outside Scottsdale, though free events and photo spots help provide some cost-free entertainment.
What parents say
"We visited the Butterfly Wonderland. It is one of my wife's favorite places to visit. The 3-D movie about the monarch annual migration is amazing as you are in the midst of them. They receive 1500 cocoons per week from all over the world. It can get busy as it is a destination for school groups, too"
a month ago
"Good fun. I did the UFO experience and I wish I would have done the aquarium instead. But a happy place to visit and have a great time!"
a month ago
"Everything is super expensive here. There are cute places to take photos for free and they frequently have entertainment or fairs with booths. However all the museums, exhibits, buterflies and the aquarium are nuts expensive for anyone outside of Scottsdale. Its good for a special occasion."
in the last week
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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