Such a fun place to visit! There are so many restaurants and activities all in one area, plus…read moreparking is easy. Not too fun during the summer though because it's open parking! It's also a great spot to entertain and tire out the kids! Lol There's even a Ferris wheel, but it was way too hot for us to ride. We also found a photo booth near the restrooms ($8), which was a fun little bonus. It's conveniently located near OdySea, Topgolf, and Talking Stick, and it's super easy to get to from the freeway. If you're visiting during the summer, I'd recommend saving the outdoor walking for the cooler months and spending the hotter afternoons indoors at OdySea.

1 Star - Dangerous and disappointing experience on the Big Wheel…read more I rode the Boardwalk Big Wheel at Arizona Boardwalk today with my two young boys, ages 2 and 4. The experience was honestly terrible and, more importantly, felt unsafe. It was 105°F outside, and we were placed in the orange #15 gondola. The gondolas are primarily enclosed by glass and have no effective air conditioning. The AC in ours was clearly broken and was blowing hot air instead of cooling the cabin. Within minutes, all three of us were drenched in sweat and the heat inside was becoming extremely uncomfortable. The biggest issue was that the attendant locked us inside the gondola despite the extreme heat. We waved at her to let us out, but she didn't. We went around the entire wheel and, when we came back around, we waved again. She saw us, but still didn't open the door. I ultimately had to yell and knock on the glass to get her attention before she finally let us out after the second trip around. When we got off, I explained what had happened to the attendant. Her response was essentially an unenthusiastic, unapologetic "sorry." There was no concern about whether my children or I were okay, no offer to move us to a functioning gondola, and no refund or other attempt to make the situation right. I paid $22.71 for the ride, but the money isn't really the issue. What concerns me is putting young children into an enclosed, extremely hot gondola with a malfunctioning cooling system and then failing to respond when the passengers are clearly asking to get out. I would strongly recommend that Arizona Boardwalk inspect and properly maintain these gondolas and, more importantly, make sure attendants respond immediately when passengers are signaling that they need to exit. I would not recommend riding the Boardwalk Big Wheel, particularly with young children in extreme heat.

Very easy check-in, kids loved it. It was a different type of place than trampoline parks. They…read moreonly have 11 slides so you can only slide, they have a small playground, but of course that is only for five and under so big kids aren't allowed on any playground equipment. I rarely saw any staff around.

Mika at the front desk was very helpful and friendly. There are more slides here than trampolines,…read moreand a decent size toddler section. My kids enjoyed two hours here very much.

So there we were, headed to Castles N' Coasters a wholesome amusement park in the desert... a place…read morefor families, laughter, and apparently, poor decision-making. Now my buddy this man reaches into his pocket and pulls out what I can only describe as a historical artifact. I'm talking a doobie so big it looked like Bob Marley himself rolled it during a greatest hits tour. I said, "Absolutely not. I am a grown man. I got responsibilities. I got a mortgage. I got snacks at home I haven't even finished yet." That didn't matter. Next thing I know, windows are up, car turns into a Dutch oven of bad decisions, and now I'm just along for the ride literally and spiritually. Somewhere between "this is a bad idea" and "why is everything funny," I lost control of the evening. We pull into the park around that magical time you know, that in-between hour... not quite day, not quite night... like God dimmed the lights and said, "Alright boys, let's see what happens." The whole place is glowing neon lights, arcade buzz, roller coasters rattling in the distance. Felt like walking into a carnival dream... or maybe a fever dream. Jury's still out. Now here's the thing about this place it's been around since the late '70s, sitting right there in Phoenix like a desert time capsule of fun. You got four roller coasters, including the Desert Storm, which sounds fun until you're on it reconsidering every life choice that led you there. Then there's the Patriot wooden, loud, and about as gentle as a bar fight. And somehow... SOMEHOW... we thought tequila beforehand was a good idea. So now we're buzzed, slightly baked against our will, and wandering this park like three philosophers who lost their notes. We're laughing at everything. Nothing's funny but everything's hilarious. A trash can? Comedy gold. A churro? Best thing I've ever eaten in my life. A child running past me? I'm emotionally invested in his journey. But I'll give credit where it's due the park itself? Clean. Staff's friendly. Nobody's judging three grown men giggling like idiots. It's got that old-school charm too arcades, mini golf, rides, the whole deal. You can bring a family here... or whatever version of a situation we were. Now the rides... oh, the rides. Let me tell you something nothing will make you rediscover fear like being slightly out of your mind on a roller coaster you thought you could handle. I got scared... not once... not twice... but a few times. The kind of scared where you start making promises to God you don't intend to keep. "I'll be a better man if I survive this drop..." Didn't mean a word of it. By the end of the night, we had the munchies, the laughs, and just enough dignity left to get back to the car without needing a group meeting. For a couple hours, though? We were kids again. No responsibilities. No stress. Just lights, noise, and pure, ridiculous fun. So yeah Castles N' Coasters might be a family amusement park... but under the right or completely wrong circumstances, it turns into one hell of a story. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Just... maybe crack a window on the way there.

Castles-N-Coasters has always been a total vibe in Phoenix. My only concern with this place is that…read morethe employees do not seem to care if people are buckled in or not. So I'm always very careful when I come with my kids, especially on the bigger posters. None of the rides are super dangerous, but I would hate for somebody to fall out! So thankful that it's still there and has survived all of the businesses closing around it. Will definitely be back.

Only went in the mirror maze on the Go Pass. We actually had 3 passes, but 4 people and they just…read morelet me go in with the kids for free. Thanks! Mirror maze was pretty basic, but pretty fun for the kids. Nobody walked into the wall. There was a thing in the middle that looked like it normally rotated, but was broken when we were there. Not sure if I would go if not for the Go Pass.

super awesome place! reasonably priced and choices of fun for all! will definitely come back!read more

I visited OdySea Aquarium in Scottsdale, AZ after-hours as part of a work-sponsored event (not…read moresponsored or related to Yelp events) while I was visiting in town, and my first impression was how colorful and unique each aquarium was. The facility itself is pretty dim, which really makes all the bright fish and aquatic creatures stand out. The staff even brought out a live baby penguin to view and watch for a bit, which was absolutely adorable!! I am not entirely sure this part was a standard part of general admissions or was incorporated as part of the work event I attended to be honest, but it was quite the experience. I had never been so close to a penguin before! I will say, you can get through the entire aquarium pretty quickly. Unless you really love seeing fish and plan to stop and read each of the wall plaques describing the different sea creatures, it's going to go by fast. Also, please be mindful when taking photos of the aquariums. The sea animals are sensitive to flash, so make sure your flash is turned off. Overall, I would describe OdySea as something you try at least once, especially if you really enjoy fish and other aquatic animals or have kids who may be impressed by all the bright colors and unique aquariums. I enjoyed the experience and I'm glad I got to see it, but personally, I probably wouldn't return for a second visit.

If I could give this 1000000 stars I would!…read more I come here every week..sometimes twice a week! Haha. It's such a calming place, and I always end up learning something new. The animals are clearly well cared for, and there's so much to do for kids and adults alike. You never get bored because they're always changing things up, adding new experiences, and giving you a reason to come back. They have some really unique fish, including piranhas, which I believe are only legally displayed in a few places like Arizona and Florida. You can even swim with some of the fish if you're looking for a memorable experience! And don't skip the shark tank bathrooms--they're absolutely fintastic! They also have a Starbucks, and for the adults, they even serve alcohol. Whether you're visiting with family, on a date, or just exploring on your own, there's so much to see, learn, and enjoy. I always have an amazing time here!

As a butterfly fanatic, I was in heaven!! There are so many beautiful species in the garden, there…read moreis no bad direction to look in. The staff were so knowledgeable and truly cared about all the animals in their care. Highly recommend, especially as a break from the heat!

This experience starts with a 3D movie about the migration of monarch butterflies, then a stop in…read morethe Emergence Gallery, where you can see caterpillars and chrysalis (aka cocoons). From there, visitors can access the Conservatory through the doors. Though a bit humid, it is such a magical environment with concrete pathways, a few seats, a koi pond, and lots of greenery. Various plants creating a beautiful setting, including flamingo flower, panama rose, purple heart, and sandpiper vine. And informative signs are posted throughout, educating visitors about the conservatory and butterfly care. Visitors are given a butterfly guide in the beginning, but some of the butterflies fluttered their wings so quickly nonstop, it was sometimes hard to identify. The big blue one (blue morpho, I believe) looked like a bird as it soared in and out of the plants and overhead. There were so many butterflies in the air, on the leaves and flowers, they even had signs noting how you could get them to land on you as well. The random music in the background wasn't too loud. At some point, the Harry Potter theme song came on, and what an enchanting vibe in the conservatory! They had bees in there too (behind glass). Once you exit the butterfly conservatory, there was much more to see. The Rainforest reptile gallery included awesome turtles (like the mata mata turtle camouflaged with the rocks), snakes, and even amazing axolotls on display. And the Tropical Waters room was delightful to view, with fish, stingrays, and more. There was also a gift shop, cafe, and vending machine selling edible bugs. Butterfly Wonderland is great for all ages, and I had such a memorable time here this past weekend.

We had such a fun experience here today! We came from out…read moreof town and wanted something fun for the kids today and this place hit all the marks. Train, playground inside and outside, splash pad, carousel and lots of lunch picnic tables. It was great to see everyone out enjoying summer. Bathrooms easily accessible for the littles. Great experience overall! If we lived closer we would definitely be here more.

WOW !!! Way more than expected when looking for something to do with an extra day in Phoenix area…read more Decided to visit on a whim (saw Free, Trains, Park). Really glad we did as we spent the better part of the day with no kids/grandkids (hope to bring them one day) enjoying the park. The locals are really lucky to have such a gem near-by to enjoy. So many things to enjoy from a train ride ($3) per ride or you can buy a day pass for $12 which includes the Carousel (pretty sure). There is a shaded playground and splash area (free) with picnic tables located throughout the park. We saw several parties going on at different covered areas (assume u can rent), and there is the Family Circus pavilion with tables near the snack bar Snack Bars (2) - one building and one in a Caboose near playground. The prices are really reasonable and a nice menu (chicken tenders, corn dogs). The ice-cream sucked us in with "Superman" which takes me back to childhood in the mid-west. Prices were great and the Staff even greater as they were super friendly (could be a name of a new ice-cream flavor). Tables located inside if needed to beat the heat. There is a gift shop with unique items to the park(t-shirts. stickers, stuff animals, puzzles etc.) a museum with the history of the park & the Family behind it. We spent the best part of the morning walking around the park, riding the train and exploring the miniature train building which in itself is amazing and beats some that we paid to visit. They have all the sizes on displays that I am sure a lot of spouses are happy that they are there and not in the basement or family room. These dioramas are intricate and beautifully done for each gauge of train with historic scenes to cool pop-culture ones. You could walk around a dozen times & probably see something you missed each time. They definitely spend a lot of time, money & energy to keep it up. Restrooms located throughout the park, easy free parking and a lot to see & do, if you have kids or grandkids or just a big kid yourself.

We took the family to Great Wolf Lodge for an end-of-summer getaway before school starts, and it…read morewas such a fun trip! Check-in was a little busy and hectic, but we quickly got our wristbands for the water park. Our room wasn't quite ready yet, but by the time we had lunch and everyone changed into their swimsuits, it was ready. We dropped off our bags and spent the rest of the day enjoying the water park. The kids had an absolute blast! We stayed one night, which included two days at the water park, and I thought that was the perfect amount of time--especially for a 5-year-old and a 9-year-old. The room was clean, comfortable, and easily slept all six of us. Everyone had a great time, and we'll definitely be back. Another wonderful family trip in the books!

We came here in August 2024 and again in July 2026. I…read moreforgot how expensive it was, and somehow it got even more expensive! Lol If you have money, and you don't have a thing called a budget, then come! Your family will probably love it. The food here is okay at best, and over priced. Buy food and bring it in. Or just go out to eat. Local and staying multiple nights? Get a Lyft/Uber. It'll save you $ from the parking fees. Overall fun but pricey. So many add on options too. Staff was friendly from our interactions. Might come back in 2-3 years, we'll see.

My family and I visited here on 7/11/26 which was a Saturday in the summer. Knowing it would be…read morebusy, we made sure to get there close to opening. Overall our day went well. We enjoyed the rides, the 4D movie, all the opportunities to build, and especially the mini model of Phoenix. I was also very impressed by how clean and well-spaced everything felt despite it being a very hands-on place. The reason it did not get 5 stars for me was the amount of employees and subsequently the wait times. Not counting those in training, the first ride had 2 employees, the second had 1, and the mosaic room had 1. Each ride also had one person in training, which will be very beneficial for them. Having more employees available overall would have been great. For example, in the Merlin ride which has flying vehicles that can go up and down, there was one employee that seemed experienced and the trainee. There were 6 vehicles that could fit up 2 at a time. We witnessed the ride cycle through twice before our turn and we timed that it took us 30 minutes before we rode. The ride itself was maybe 2-3 minutes in its entirety. It took that long for the employees to load everyone on, check seatbelts, run the ride, and then unlock and release the people that just finished. Here is what I would change: have a designated employee at the entrance that counts off whoever is going on the next ride and prep them while the prior ride is going. That means take the measurements, ask who is riding (adult w/child, etc.), and explain the rules. Once the prior ride finishes, both the employee from the entrance and an employee from the exit enter the ride area to unlock the passengers, one for the outside guests and one for the inside. Then let the new passengers enter and repeat the seatbelt check cycle. Resume positions and start again. If I was to go again the first thing I would correct was to wait on going on the second ride. Get there early and knock the rides out first to save you time. I sincerely hope they find a way to operate faster because this place is super cool and without the long wait time, I would be way more likely to return. It is a great way to spend a day indoors during the AZ summer!

I thought it was a great deal to have the ticket combined with the Seaquarium ticket next door. It…read morewas only $28 dollars for both and you can visit the aquarium 60 days after you visit Legoland (we did that). This discovery center was full of displayed legos with AZ's and the valley landmarks to begin your journey. The play area is great for the little ones. They can go on the slides, a mini interactive journey in a "it's a small world" type of moving ride , build legos, and so much more. I don't get the bad reviews. The place was clean and you can even take advantage of a small cafeteria and clean restrooms inside.

I had the pleasure of attendng a mitzvah recently at Dolce Events and I was very impressed with…read morethis beautiful venue! It's a great location, offers plenty of parking, and has a large space with a bar that serves both indoor and outdoor... The food was good and while I know our hostess hired plenty of outside vendors for the entertainment, etc... it all worked well within the venue. Bathrooms were clean and spacious as well. If you're looking for a turnkey event venue in Scottsdale, Dolce is a great place to check out.

WOW! Talk about a 'hidden gem'! My daughter's high school swim team had their season end banquet…read morehere. Dolce did an amazing job! Upon arrival, they had plenty of parking, the venue was decorated beautifully with a photo op area for all the Instagram moments. The room was set perfectly. I know I'm gushing, but they did a great job. The food was great. NO COMPLAINTS! I'm not affiliated with this venue at all only 100% satisfied. Bathrooms were nice. Overall, amazing. I highly recommend this venue for any function - up to 250 ppl I think it was. The manager on duty, Jennifer Lajoie who is the Director of Events was so very helpful and a joy. Kitchen and catering staff were on point too.