Keep boredom at bay with these family-friendly activities that are sure to delight kids and adults of all ages.
With an impressive combination of sunny weather, stunning desert beauty and a seemingly endless array of activities, Surprise is a family-friendly playground like no other. Whether your crew is an up-and-at-‘em gang of adventure aficionados or a crew of competitive and creative gamers, there’s something here for just about everybody.
Play All Day
When the scorching sun’s out, it’s the perfect time to hit the water at Surprise Aquatic Center, which features a zero-depth area with water play features, water slides, a vortex whirlpool, competition pool and diving well.
For indoor family fun, head to Uptown Alley or FatCats. Uptown Alley is a sprawling entertainment venue that has 40 lanes of state-of-the-art bowling, a full-service restaurant, two high-energy bars, a sports theater, billiards, laser tag, over 80 video and prize games, live entertainment, private party rooms and much more. FatCats also features bowling and an arcade, as well as glow-in-the-dark mini golf and an on-site movie theater!
Explore the Outdoors
Lace up your hiking boots or grab your mountain bike and hit one of the desert trails that surround Surprise. White Tank Mountain Regional Park is the largest regional park in Maricopa County with nearly 30,000 acres of beautiful, rugged ridges and canyons. This park is home to more than 30 miles of shared-use trails ranging in length from 0.9 to 7.9 miles, and difficulty from easy to strenuous. And with 2.5 miles of hard-surface, barrier-free trails, even the youngest hikers can enjoy the views (from the comfort of their stroller, of course).
Treat Yourself
It wouldn’t be vacation without a few indulgences, right? Surprise is a veritable hotbed of tasty treats, from cotton-candy lemonade at Sweet Tea Café to a decadent coffee at Spencer’s Place, such as a cookie & caramel coffee or tiramisu coffee.
If you prefer your treats on top of pretzels, we’ve got the place for you. As one of only two locations in the country, Surprise is home to Twisted by Wetzel’s, a modern twist on the classic Wetzel’s Pretzels shop. Featuring wild pretzel-centric treats, you can’t go wrong with chocolate churro, maple bacon, cookies & cream or the s’mores Loaded Bitz.
For dinner, grab a table at The Habit Burger Grill, where the restaurant’s famous charburgers are loved by all guests. For dessert, grab a milkshake, ice cream sundae or classic vanilla soft-serve cone.
Batter Up!
Surprise is the Spring Training home of the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers, and Surprise Stadium was ranked the No. 1 Arizona Spring Training Stadium by USA Today. Tickets start at just $8, and parking is free. No matter where you choose to sit, you can expect a great view of the game and some fun additions to the fan experience, including an interactive photo opportunity that lets you place yourself in a scene with the Royals and Rangers mascots.
Next to the stadium, you’ll find Surprise Community Park & Urban Fishing Lake, where the shaded playground provides the perfect setting for a few rounds of floor is lava and a five-acre fishing lake beckons anglers of all ages.
Find More Fun
For more ideas — for the whole family or just yourself — check out our insider travel tips on our blog.