ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET FOR FAMILIES
 Family friendly is a term that gets bandied about quite a bit these days. At these Scottsdale resorts, however, kids are more than just welcome, they're given the royal treatment.
          
Named after frequent visitor and 1950s TV star, William Boyd (a.k.a. Hopalong Cassidy), theJW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa's (www.camelbackinn.com) Hopalong College is a seasonal program offering educational and recreational kids programs such as arts and crafts, tennis, and other outdoor fun. Not to mention campfire cookouts at this mountainside resort's Old West town featuring a saloon, livery stable, mercantile and other mock storefronts. Camp Hyatt Kachina at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch (www.scottsdale.hyatt.com) teaches campers about the area's unique flora, fauna, and culture with hands-on activities such as crafting dream catchers, rain sticks, bear claw necklaces, and Southwestern sand art. Native American dancers and cowboy storytellers also make guest appearances.
          
There's a cool new cat in town at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess'(www.scottsdaleprincess.com) Bobcat Billy's Clubhouse where the resort's mascot “Bobcat Billy” invites “cubs” to a whole-new resort camp alongside his adventurous storytelling sidekick Arizona Janey. From “Wild West Tuesday” to “Friday Fishing,” every day brings themed games, sports, Southwestern crafts, animal interactions, and photo and video safaris. Games and activities rotate, so youngsters ages 5 to 12 discover something new about Arizona each day. At The Phoenician (www.thephoenician.com), explore a treasure trove of family fun, including organized endeavors at the Funician's Kids Club along with lawn activities like badminton, volleyball and croquet. There's also a Family Activity Center for kids and teens featuring foosball, air hockey, board games, a movie theater, and Nintendo Wii consoles.
         
Family fun abounds at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa (www.kierlandresort.com) with the CFO, “Chief FUN Officer,” kicking off family vacations with a kid-friendly check-in area called the Kierland Mining Co. where kids receive “The Compass: A Trailblazer's Guide to The Westin Kierland” containing a scavenger hunt for exploration of the resort while learning about Arizona history and culture. Fun continues with poolside activities such as hula hoop, limbo and relay races, and evening activities including pajama parties and Kierland Kampfires. Join the Kierland Family Challenge, where you'll compete in pie eating, balloon pop, bobble head and other games for a chance to win Starwood Preferred Guest points toward a future vacation. At the seasonal Digital Kids Club kids capture footage, take digital photos and experiment with special effects and music to create their very own music video on a DVD to take home, making a unique keepsake to remind families of their Scottsdale vacation.
          
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North (www.fourseasons.com/scottsdale) makes family travel a breeze. With the Kids for All Seasons program, the little ones receive a complimentary stuffed animal, juice, and cookies upon check-in, and are treated to exciting activities like foosball, ping pong, and pool time throughout their visit. Kids even get tasty menus at the resort's restaurants for fun family dining. And to make it feel more like home, night lights and kid-size terrycloth robes are available upon request.  

A REAL COWBOY'S PARADISE
Coined the “West's Most Western Town,” Scottsdale has a robust array of cowboy-themed offerings. Grab the troop's boots for a fun-filled day at MacDonald's Ranch(www.macdonaldsranch.com), a family owned and operated stable that offers trail rides for all skill levels. And when the kids aren't on the saddle, explore the ranch's petting zoo, play western games, or take a pony, hay-wagon or stagecoach ride. On Friday evenings, head toFort McDowell Adventures (www.fortmcdowelladventures.com) for a wagon-load of fun that pairs an adventure such as a Jeep tour or horseback ride with a cookout. In addition to roasting wieners, the cookout includes live entertainment, dancing, hay-wagon rides, and games like horseshoes and corn hole. Or plan a full-day trip to Rawhide Western Town & Steakhouse at Wild Horse Pass (www.rawhide.com) in nearby Chandler, Ariz., a re-creation of a 1880s Western town that has it all – gunslingers, saloon girls, a general store and even an authentic town jail. Little buckaroos will love the petting zoo and gold panning, as well as burro, stagecoach and desert train rides.

CULTURE CLUB
Between exploring prehistoric Indian ruins and slicing through the air inside a rumbling WWII bomber, who knew learning could be so much fun? 
         
Arizona State University's Kerr Cultural Center (www.asukerr.com) presents family oriented theatrical events and student-led musical ensembles inside a quaint recital hall built from natural adobe bricks made and dried on property. Discover 1,500-year-old Hohokam Indian ruins and full-scale reproductions of prehistoric homes created by Arizona's original adobe builders at the Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park(www.pueblogrande.com). Founded in 1929, the Heard Museum and Heard Museum North Scottsdale (www.heard.org) offer a world-renowned collection of American Indian cultural art and fine art, unique exhibits and special events – headlined by the annual World Championship Hoop Dance Contest, a drum-filled affair where intricately costumed American Indians from across North America come to compete.
          
Guests at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort, meanwhile, needn't even leave the property to explore Scottsdale's deep cultural roots. Home to an award-winning Native American and Environmental Learning Center, visitors learn about Scottsdale's native Hopi Indians through art, jewelry, textiles, and pottery and Katsina dolls.
          
In downtown, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA, www.smoca.org) offers eye-grabbing exhibitions sure to hold the attention of even the youngest patrons, as well as free admission on Thursday, when the museum stays open late to offer everything from guest lectures to hands-on art demonstrations. SMoCA's Young@Art gallery at the adjacent Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts (www.sccarts.org) features the work of students and other aspiring artists. And don't forget to check out Native Trails (www.scottsdalenativetrails.com), presented by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and produced by the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, a free series of Native American dance performances presented every January through April at the Scottsdale Civic Center Park.

GO WILD
In a setting as splendid (and accessible) as Scottsdale's Sonoran Desert, outdoor adventure is at the top of every family's to-do list. Offering more than 21,000 acres of hiking, biking and outdoorsy fun right in the heart of Scottsdale, the McDowell Mountain Regional Park is a must see. Or explore Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve (www.mcdowellsonoran.org) offering more than 100 miles of trails including the award-winning Bajada Trail, which features 15 interactive stations with photographic panels, games and information about the desert. Nestled amidst Papago Park's rolling red buttes, the Desert Botanical Garden(www.dbg.org) is home to five thematic trails illustrating everything from how desert plants are used for nourishment and tools to the blooming beauty of desert wildflowers. On Thursday and Saturday nights during the summer, families are invited to explore the desert flora and fauna after dark during the Garden Flashlight Tour allowing them to see, hear and feel the desert in a whole new way.  
        
Put civilization in your rearview mirror when you hop aboard a Jeep or Hummer tour for a rousing off-road adventure. Led by professional drivers well-versed in the area's adventurous history and native wildlife, riders can extend their adventure with visits to abandoned mining encampments, Native American ruins or even a ropin' demonstration followed by a campfire cookout. True thrill seekers, meanwhile, will want to slide behind the wheel of one of Desert Wolf Tours' (www.desertwolftours.com) and Green Zebra Adventures' (www.gogreenzebra.com) self-driven Tomcar tours. These rugged two-seaters require only 10 minutes of instruction before drivers 18 and older scamper off on a follow-the-leader journey into the wilds of Scottsdale's desert outskirts.      
         
The Phoenix Zoo (www.phoenixzoo.org) was voted one of the top five in the nation for kids for their creative family programming. For the artist in the family, try Wild Art where children create a unique work of art inspired by animals found in the zoo or for the animal lover, theCritter Keeper program allows kiddos to spend a day in the life of a zoo keeper. Take a walk on the wild side with the Family Wilderness Experience Night Camp where the whole family sleeps in a tent and enjoys campfire s'mores, a night hike, private safari train tour and a day of zoo exploration.
          
Animal action awaits at Out of Africa Wildlife Park (www.outofafricapark.com) in neighboring Camp Verde, Ariz., where visitors are whisked away in traditional safari vehicles for an authentic African photo safari as experienced guides navigate the tour through the “Serengeti.” It wouldn't be a real safari without up-close animal interaction, so guests can treat giraffes and camels to tasty snacks and may even be greeted by a gentle kiss. Be sure to catch Africa's big cats in action at Tiger Splash where Bengals and Siberians romp, play, and of course, splash in a pool with brightly colored balloons, animal-shaped pool toys, and their experienced trainers who teach visitors about their striped friends' instincts, intellect and natural behavior.

ALL ABOARD
Longtime family favorite, Scottsdale's McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park(www.therailroadpark.com) features a carousel, railroad-themed exhibits and a small-scale steam train chugging passengers around a mile-long track. The park's newest addition is the $2.2 million model train building designed for learning about and experiencing model trains with touch screen computer activities; visitor operated model railroads and trains; and exhibits with information, photographs, and illustrations. For those looking to ride the real thing, Northern Arizona offers two historic train adventures: a stunning tour though Arizona's mountainous Bald Eagle country on the Verde Canyon Railroad (www.verdecanyonrr.com), and the stately Grand Canyon Railway (www.thetrain.com), which has been delivering passengers right to the rim of this natural wonder since 1901.

KID-FRIENDLY FARE
Now that you've worked up an appetite, herd them doggies over to a charming, cowboy-themed chophouse such as the aforementioned Rawhide Western Town where buckaroos can chow down on cowboy-sized portions or  Don & Charlie's (www.donandcharlies.com), featuring historic baseball paraphernalia on the walls. Or visit Pinnacle Peak Patio(www.pppatio.com) where they've been serving up finger-lickin' grub for more than 50 years. This steakhouse is a casual place, so don't even think about wearing a tie around your neck or else it will be cut off and hung from the rafters! Finish it off with old-timey fun at the Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlor & Restaurant (www.sugarbowlscottsdale.com), a 54-year-old parlor dishing up classic diner eats alongside sundaes, splits, sodas, parfaits, shakes, malts, floats … need we go on?

HITTING FROM THE KIDS' TEE
Kierland Golf Club (www.kierlandgolf.com) rolled out a family program where young aspiring pros learn the fundamentals of putting, chipping and full swings, as well golf etiquette, rules and history of the game. Next, these diminutive duffers take on one of the club's three nine-hole courses decked out with junior tees to make the course more playable for younger golfers. The Family Tee program at TPC Scottsdale's (www.tpc.com/scottsdale) Champions Course makes golf more enjoyable for kids and newbie-adults by turning the course into a shorter, more playable venue. Two markers are provided at each hole, offering unobstructed shots to the green with few, if any, hazards and there are even easy-to-read scorecards.

CANNONBALL!
Although Scottsdale is smack dab in the middle of one of America's largest deserts, families are never left high and dry. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess' kid-friendly Sonoran Splash is a 6,000-square-foot water recreation area featuring two of the state's longest resort water slides. On summer weekends after dark, plunge down a transformed Techno waterslide that features fog, disco lights and music. The Phoenician boasts nine pools and a nearly 1 million-gallon Necklace Pool and Lagoon where families can help feed the resident Koi fish. But that all pales in comparison to the spine-tingling excitement of the 165-foot waterslide, which is transformed during summer holidays into an “electric waterslide” complete with fog, lasers and pulsating music.   
        
Located in downtown Scottsdale, FireSky Resort & Spa – A Kimpton Hotel  (www.fireskyresort.com) boasts a verdant inner courtyard that hides a spacious pool deck including a sandy beach pool, Mediterranean-inspired lagoon, and torch-lit heated outdoor pool and hot tub. The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort tempts with 2.5-acres of water wonderland, including 10 pools, 28 fountains and 47 sparkling waterfalls. Kid favorites include a new faster-than-ever three-story waterslide and “beach pool” featuring 500,000 pounds of toe-curling sand trucked in from Monterey, Calif. to form a 50-foot-long, 70-foot-wide shoreline.
          
Offering more than 575,000 gallons of wet n' wild fun, including a 110-foot-long waterslide and 900-foot-long lazy river ride, The Westin Kierland Resort's Adventure Water Park is a splashing good time. Lined with native desert plants and family friendly cabanas, the pool deck is complemented by a children's play area featuring pop-jet water fountains and a shallow pool for small children and babies. And in August 2012, The Westin Kierland added surfing to its already robust list of water activities with the “Kierland FlowRider.” Plus, the resort is one of several Scottsdale properties that encourage families to kick back and enjoy poolside cinema as part of their summer dive-in movie program. Other places to catch a poolside flick include The Phoenician, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME
Spring training home to Major League Baseball's San Francisco Giants, Scottsdale Stadium(www.scottsdaleaz.gov/stadium) combines big league entertainment with small venue charm. Held during the perfect 75-degree weather of March, little leaguers can get up close and personal with their idols during designated autograph time. Families are encouraged to pack a picnic lunch and watch from the grassy lawn seats just behind the outfield wall. Other Cactus League favorites, Colorado Rockies and Arizona's very own Diamondbacks, have the last at-bat at the new Salt River Fields at Talking Stick (www.saltriverfields.com) that opened in spring 2011. The 11,000-seat ballpark's scenic location provides awe-inspiring views of the Camelback and McDowell Mountains, and the game too!

BECAUSE FIDO'S FAMILY, TOO
FireSky Resort's BONE Appétit package offers pet-toting guests a customized doggie welcome, including gourmet treats, toy, dog walk, leash, and doggie bed and bowl. W Scottsdale (www.wscottsdalehotel.com) goes above and beyond to pamper pets with its signature P.A.W. (Pets Are Welcome) program offering everything from pet turn-down service to a specialty menu with items such as baked salmon, grilled chicken and rice. The Westin Kierland Resort introduces all cats and dogs to its Kierland Companion Club and provides aWestin Heavenly Dog Welcome Kit with a special ID tag, clean-up bags, eating dishes and a Westin Heavenly dog bed. Guests traveling without their pet can make friends with Scotty, the resort's Scottish terrier rescue who says hello with a friendly tail wag or clever trick.
          
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess makes bringing family's best friend on vacation easy and economical. The Paws on Board program accommodates pets less than 25 pounds for an additional $25 per night and includes a “Woofer” or “Purr-fect” gift set featuring a plush bed, ceramic food and water bowls, food mat, pet toys and of course, treats. With plenty of pet-friendly paths and grassy areas nearby, a leisurely afternoon w-a-l-k is a must for the vacation itinerary.
         
Located in the heart of Scottsdale's grass-lined Greenbelt recreation area, Chaparral Park (www.scottsdaleaz.gov/parks/chap) offers a 4-acre off-leash area where the people-watching is often as exciting as the dog walking. Here, Rover can roam across 3 acres of play features, water fountains and grassy terrain, conveniently separated into areas for active and passive doggies.

To download a free kids' activity guide to Scottsdale, visit our download page.

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Media Contacts:
Laura McMurchie, Vice President of Communications
Tel: 480-429-2253
E-mail: mailto:lm@scottsdalecvb.com

Tatum Luoma, Director of Public Relations
Tel: 480-889-2719
E-mail: tluoma@scottsdalecvb.com