Check out these family-friendly resorts in Arizona next time you’re headed to Phoenix on a family vacation. Each resort comes with a beautiful pool complete with a waterslide, activities for families, and suites with plenty of room for families of four or more. Find out what our preschooler Traveling Mom thought of each of these family friendly Arizona resorts.
Two Great Family Friendly Arizona Resorts
Earlier this month I had the chance to go on a girlfriends getaway to Phoenix, Arizona. We stayed at two beautiful and family-friendly resorts on opposite sides of the Phoenix area – the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale and The Wigwam in Litchfield. While I did not have my family with me at the time, I still found myself thinking my preschooler would like this or that as we walked by the bocce ball court and played on the playground. And definitely as we ran around The Wigwam property late at night trying to catch the latest and greatest Pokemon in Pokemon Go.
Both resorts are great options for families, so choose whichever one is closest to where you’ll be spending the majority of your time outside of the resort. We did quite a bit of driving during our trip back and forth across the Phoenix area. So I know from experience you’re going to want to choose a resort nearby. That way you can spend more time exploring and less time driving to these fun things to do with kids in Phoenix.
Arizona Family Resorts: The Wigwam
One of the things I love most about Arizona is that everywhere you go things are designed for people to be outdoors. There are outdoor games, outdoor restaurants, and just spaces for people to sit and enjoy the beautiful weather that happens most of the year.
The Wigwam really shines in this area and the outdoor beauty starts as soon as you walk up to the resort and see the huge wood sign flanked by two large cacti. You immediately feel you’re in the Southwest. That feeling continues throughout the resort and even into the rooms, which look like white adobe homes on the outside.
The Wigwam Rooms
Inside those adobe homes are either a standard room or one of The Wigwam’s larger suites, that come with a separate bedroom area, a large living area, and a sofa bed. These larger suites can sleep up to six and are perfect for families who need a bit more space than a traditional room.
The majority of the rooms and suites also come with a kitchenette area including a small fridge, sink, microwave, and coffee maker. If you have an even larger family, book a suite and a connecting traditional room for even more space. You can find more information about all of their accommodation options here.
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The Wigwam Amenities
The Wigwam isn’t a place designed for families to stay inside their suites. In the main courtyard area, they offer a bocce ball court, corn hole, sand volleyball, and more activities to give you a chance to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. There is also a large pool with a splash area for little kids and a water slide for the bigger ones. If you’re planning to stay at the pool all day, book a cabana with poolside service, reserved lounge chairs, and shade.
In addition to plenty of activities, The Wigwam also offers a couple of on-site dining options. The bar and grill Red’s is probably going to be the best bet for a family but if you’re looking for something a bit more upscale, Litchfield’s offers dining that’s a bit more gourmet than bar food.
Arizona Family Resorts: Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch
On the other side of Phoenix in Scottsdale is the gorgeous Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch. When I mentioned to a couple of locals that we were staying at the property, they immediately said it was one of their favorite family resorts in Arizona, not just the Phoenix area.
Similar to The Wigwam, it’s expected that you will spend quite a bit of time outdoors during your stay at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale but rather than decorating in typical southwestern style, the hotel is decorated in tropical desert style with more palm trees than cactuses.
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Rooms
The Hyatt offers room options for pretty much any family option from traditional two queen or one king rooms all the way up to casita suites with multiple bedrooms and a main living area. If you’re planning on a long stay with a large family, the suites would be a great option. One of the best parts of the rooms is that many of them come with an outside terrace including lounge chairs for getting a little sun without heading to the pool.
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Amenities
Don’t forget to plan some pool time though because the pool at the Hyatt is ginormous and not only includes a regular pool but also a sand beach entrance pool for those of you wishing you were at the beach. The pool also features a large waterslide for the more daring as well as little mini pools throughout the pool area. If you’re traveling sans kids, head to the adults only pool for a more relaxing environment.
Surrounding the pool you’ll also find plenty of things to do with your kids – a playground, bean bag chairs, a life-size checkers game, and even a rock climbing wall. The Hyatt Regency really knows what it takes to be one of the top Arizona family resorts.
Hyatt Scottsdale Entertainment
The Hyatt also offers nightly shows and activities such as Native American dancers, bird shows, and more. Ask at the concierge desk when you check in to see what’s on the schedule for your visit. We watched the bird show for a few minutes, and it was definitely something my 4-year-old would have enjoyed! You can see the full list of activities going on at the Hyatt Regency here. They also have some incredible holiday activities if you’re interested in a holiday vacation!
Similar to The Wigwam, the Hyatt Regency also features a number of different dining options including quick poolside eats all the way to the delicious SWB southwest bistro. If you’re on an family vacation with all adults, see if you can fit in the wine and dine experience at SWB where the chef cooks up food while you sit at the bar and watch. It’s a really fun experience but not for the little ones.
If you need a break from the kids, the Hyatt has a fantastic full-service spa that offers everything from massages to salt rooms treatments. Drop your kids off at Club Hyatt (ages 3-12) and enjoy a few hours of relaxation. If you’d rather not get a treatment, you can also just purchase a day pass to go in and enjoy the spa pools including a hot tub, plunge pool, and sauna.
Why Are These Great Family Friendly Resorts in Arizona?
After spending a few nights at each of these Phoenix resorts, I can comfortably say that I would bring my family back to either one of them. Both offer family-friendly activities, dining, and room options for any family no matter what your children’s ages. Both resorts are also located close to tons of Phoenix area attractions, which makes them an ideal home base for a Phoenix family vacation!
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