Such a fun place to visit! There are so many restaurants and activities all in one area, plus parking 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. read more

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1 Star - Dangerous and disappointing experience on the Big Wheel 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. read more

Arizona Boardwalk - Amusement Parks Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

This is a cool, though touristy, entertainment destination in Scottsdale. Lots of positives about the place. A nice variety of family-friendly activities along with several shops and eateries on site, free parking, and great deals with the purchase of a combo ticket to experience different attractions at a discount. I did the "pick 2" combo for access to Butterfly Wonderland and the UFO Experience, and though the former was far more interesting and enjoyable, I'm glad I was able to check out both during my recent visit. Service was great as I interacted with staff at the arizona boardwalk, and the place wasn't overly crowded on a Sunday, which I appreciated. read more

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Great place to visit. Parking is hard since it can get pretty full really quickly. Lots of options to choose from for the family and friends. Different stores. New stores added and some moved. Some upgrades made. A new Ferris wheel was added. read more

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Came here this afternoon to kill some time and it's a very clean complex with plenty of ample parking. Super clean. Plenty of restrooms. Something for everyone. We did the UFO Experience as we've already been to the aquarium. We wanted to eat lunch at Maria's, but they were closed (despite us being there during business hours). I'm fearful the aquarium is doing its best to keep the entire boardwalk afloat. Not sure how sustainable that is as there weren't many people here today. Hoping they can get some additional viable businesses in here... read more

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Overall, fun complex with some good experiences/activities. However, it's highly overpriced and needs more food and dining options. Restrooms were also a bit limited. It looks like they are adding more in the future, so hopefully it improves. Definitely a lot of potential. read more

Lots to do. Lots and lots to do. Lots of money can be spent. Movies, aquarium, restaurants, shops, now there's an air conditioned ferris wheel. read more

This place has so much to do within its vicinity. They have a laser and mirror experience, which is what we tried and loved. They have an ice cream shop. They have a UFO experience. They have a dinosaur experience and at the time we went they had a bubble party outside and everyone was allowed to join without an extra cost. If you're visiting Arizona, this is definitely a place you should visit. read more

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Great fun for the whole family! We loved the Butterfly Conservatory. Lot of things to do while you're there. read more

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The Arizona Boardwalk is an exciting place in Scottsdale for families and even couples to visit as they both enjoy the marquee attractions and the occasional events right in the courtyard. The big attractions include the OdySea Aquarium, Butterfly Wonderland, UFO Experience, Ripley's Believe It or Not, Laser + Mirror Maze, Museum of Illusions, Cluville, Pangaea Land of the Dinosaurs, and Cyber Quest. It is also home to many dining, shopping, and amusement venues. My wife and I are particular to the OdySea Aquarium, which is certainly a place filled with wonder along with live animals, facts, and hands-on experiences. From being able to touch some of the animals to having staff tell stories and introduce some of the animals to having places where you can crawl and pop up in the middle of a penguin exhibit, there is one exciting moment after another. We even got engaged there with the otters thus making it a special place for us! We have also been to Pangaea, the Mirror Maze, and Dophinaris Arizona (which closed in 2019). The parking is free and it's convenient to go from one place to another or to grab food or go shopping before or after one of the attractions. One such special event that has been going on for the last few months and continuing throughout the summer is Foam Frenzy, which is being held in the Arizona Boardwalk Courtyard. This free event features endless foam parties, classic fire truck water play, water squirter battle zones, and other fun water activities. Other events have included Bubble Fest, Halloween Bash, Harvest Festival, Action & Adventure Festival, Holiday Fair & Marketplace, and so much more. The mission of the Arizona Boardwalk is to "invite curiosity through immersive experiences," and the vision is to "inspire wonder that exists beyond the desert." The Arizona Boardwalk was voted the Scottsdale Independent's "Scottsdale Favorites - Best Tourist Destination & Best Place to Take the Kids" Award for 2025. I certainly think the entire Arizona Boardwalk is a place for out-of-towners and locals alike to visit with or without kids. I recommend it and look forward to visiting again soon. read more

Went with the family as we were visiting the area. Wanted something to do and it was great. Was able to walk around and the kids ran around in the open area which helped release their energy. There was many shops and different things they offered. read more

Lots of fun things to do from indoor skydiving to virtual reality. Great place to take kids.

Celebrating the force. May the 4th be with you. I recently visited the Arizona Boardwalk for the May the 4th Be With You run, and it was a blast! This was my first official run, and it was indeed memorable. The location was perfect for the event, and even after the run, I made sure to take photos of some attractions displayed all over the venue. I also rubbed elbows with Star Wars characters. I am glad that the run was held here (and not in a galaxy far, far away--for the Star Wars celebration, lol) because, kidding aside, it gave me great ideas about where to visit next time I am in the Scottsdale area. AZ Boardwalk is home to eight attractions: OdySea Aquarium, the largest aquarium in the Southwest; Butterfly Wonderland, the largest indoor butterfly conservatory in America; UFO Experience, an out-of-this-world alien mysteries exhibition; Ripley's Believe It or Not, a collection of the extraordinary and unbelievable; Laser+Mirror Maze, a mind-bending light effects experience; Museum of Illusions, with eye-fooling exhibits; Pangaea, with true-to-life recreations of prehistoric dinosaurs; and Cyber Quest, an arcade for the whole family to enjoy. From exciting rides and attractions to delicious dining options and shopping, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Plus, the beautiful surroundings make it a great place to spend time with family and friends. read more

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We were able to the attractions. The facility is very well kept and some things change over time. There is a new carousel ($5.00 per rider). Check prices & look for special discounts before you go. read more

Arizona Boardwalk is basically an all-in-one adventure park--there's seriously something for everyone here! You can wander through a butterfly garden, step back in time with dinosaurs, explore the aquarium, and even challenge your skills with video games--all without leaving the property. It's like a mini theme park without the exhausting lines. Food-wise, there are only a couple of restaurants and an ice cream shop. If you're hungry I highly recommend Pangaea Dinosaur Grill--it's themed, it's fun, and the wide variety of excellent food selections really hits the spot after a day of exploring. What makes the Boardwalk extra fun are all the random, Insta-worthy photo ops sprinkled throughout. Giant tire? Check. Enormous animal sculptures? Yep. Dinosaur eggs you can climb into and "hatch" out of? Absolutely. It's the kind of place where you'll want to have your phone charged and ready for pics. And whatever you do, don't skip the carousel ride--it's pure joy and the perfect way to cap off your visit. All in all, Arizona Boardwalk is an awesome spot for families, dates, or even just a fun day out with friends. You'll never run out of things to see or do, and you'll leave with a camera roll full of memories! read more

Unless you plan on spending $300+ for a family of 4 not including food then this is not for you. They have bundles that allow you to do a lot of activities but they are a bit pricy. It's always empty when we go. Even on the weekends. The aquarium is nice but there are nicer and cheaper ones available. read more

I went to see the aquarium on a date and it was a great place to go, amazing things to see and explore. Nice views and great for a day of fun with friends or a date. Not to expensive, only negative is the heat is there. Not indoors but not outside either. Its only hot outside basically lol read more

Something for everyone.. unique destination entertainment and events. The y aquarium has something new all the time...stressed out. Go visit the butterfly's... open area to people watch or let the kids run! read more

Nice! I think if I lived in the area or had kids or grandkids this would be a must. I'm visiting from out of state and spending time with my family. Came for Bugfest with my grandkids (well done) and stayed to visit the aquarium here. All was clean and well taken care of. Places to visit with the kiddos, a handful of places to grab a bite and some shade. Last words...let's go see. read more

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If you and the family are looking for entertainment, the Boardwalk is a good choice. There is a great selection of paid things to experience. Odysea the aquarium, the Butterfly World, Ripley's Believe it or not and many more to choose from. There are restaurants on site so you don't have to venture far to find food. There are stairs and an escalator to take you to the second floor. Free shared parking lot and WiFi in certain parts of the area. read more

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Love this little shopping area with activities, eateries, and shopping. Very cute date idea or even just a family day out. I've been here a couple of times and enjoyed both experiences trying various businesses in the area. read more

Fun little family friendly area with Cali vibes! Had been here before but came for a little valentines event they had. The event was not very Valentine ish but was still fun! They have a carousel, Photo Booth, cool little shops, an arcade, and of course the big attractions like odysea and butterfly wonderland. They have some restaurants here too, and bunch of free events! They did a free movie here a few weeks ago but it was a little cold so we didn't go. Will definitely be back here more when my son gets older! read more

Whoaaa! Where do we start! There were so many different scenes you could have went to, we did the butterfly wonderland. As the butterflies freely fly around (literally) makes the world a better place to live. The colors were amazing. It was very quiet and calm. As informative as each section has its own fun fact about the certain species of butterflies, plants and flowers. Definitely a place to visit. Pricey too. My kid was a little scared of the flying butterflies BUT became brave towards the end! And let's not forget the gift shop! As we purchased her favorite hobby (book) as a 3 year old which was her favorite thing to do was read. Can't beat that! (2019) read more

Arizona Boardwalk - Amusement Parks Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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Mainly for families with kiddos! Great photo ops though ! Pricey like amusement parks for small establishments! read more

Arizona Boardwalk - Art - Amusement Parks Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

Arizona Boardwalk has a variety of attractions, shops, and restaurants. My family and I were visiting from Las Vegas. On a Tuesday, we decided to stop by Arizona Boardwalk and ended up spending the whole day here! We purchased combo tickets for the OdySea Aquarium, Butterfly Wonderland, and Pangea - Land of the Living. There are a variety of other attractions which include the following VR Xtreme Johnny Rockets Johnny's Playground Frozen Penguin Laser + Mirror Maze The Science of Ripley's Believe or Not. Four Peaks Mining Co. Arizona Territory Trading Post Sugar Drop Candy Soap Bubble It was really empty when we visited on a Tuesday during Christmas week. We enjoyed all of the attractions at the Arizona Boardwalk. It is relatively expensive though, especially if you purchase the combo tickets at the OdySea Aquarium. My daughter's favorite attraction was the Pangea, Land of the Living. We ended up spending at a minimum of 3 hours there! The OdySea Aquarium was amazing too, especially since we don't have any aquariums in Las Vegas. The Butterfly Exhibit was my favorite though, especially the conservatory! We also spent time at a few of the restaurants such as Frozen Penguin and Johnny Rockets. Sugar Drop Candy is a fun spot and great for picking up some candy! Johnny's Playground is a great indoor playground. Arizona Boardwalk has a lot of wonderful family activities and I'd highly recommend it! read more

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Fun place. To start, I was only here for the May the 4th be with you 5k run. I did not experience any of the offerings here at the boardwalk, but I can say it's pretty nice and great for families and kids. Not much else I can say, but it feels like the kind of place you could go over the weekend and stay the whole day. They have a coffee shop, some restaurants, as well as several amusement type of places. read more

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Fun place for families just off the 101 in Scottsdale that includes multiple attractions and restaurants. The main attraction is the OdySea Aquarium. The Butterfly Wonderland and the dinosaur place have been there awhile too. Most of the other attractions are more seasonal and come and go after a length of time. Arizona Boardwalk usually offers special deals if you do more than one attraction. Past exhibits include Ripley's Believe It or Not, a Titanic exhibit and an Ice lounge. All of these attractions surround a water fountain that has a stage for music and events. Food includes a Johnny Rockets, a candy shop and Pangaea Grill. It's a nice place to walk around on cooler days. I mostly come here because I have a lifetime membership to the OdySea Aquarium and it is a quick stop off the freeway when I am in the area. The surrounding parking lot at Arizona Boardwalk is pretty large and usually has plenty of spots. Arizona Boardwalk has also hosted 5K runs with Startling Racing. I have done a couple of them here and have enjoyed running around the parking lot. read more

Arizona Boardwalk - African Penguin from OdySea Aquarium - Amusement Parks Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

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Beautiful place to talk a walk around and enjoy the places, definitely a good place for kids as well, we just don't got those yet

So fun for kids! We loved even just walking around! We spent a couple hours at the aquarium, which was so fun, wish we could have spent more time! You really need to plan for the entire day! read more

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A lot of entertainment in one place. If visiting from out of town, or if looking for stay cation ideas, check out the Arizona Boardwalk. The Arizona Boardwalk is a combination of attractions and shopping. At the time of my visit, there were nine attractions. Attractions include, but are not limited to, Odyssey Aquarium, Pangaea Land of the Dinosaurs, and child friendly museums. Each attraction has a separate entry fee. Shopping includes Four Peaks Mining Co., a candy shop, and Arizona Territory Trading Post. In the middle of the center is a splash pad. Limited dining options are available. Parking is free. Parking wraps around the center. read more

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Love this place. Lots of fun things to do with the kids. The aquarium is amazing, we also love the butterflies. More things to try next time. One tip- the bathrooms could use a once-over at least once a day. They were filthy and the changing table had poop on it. read more

It was cute and there was some nice little stands set up as well as the bounce house and zip line that they had for the kids to play in for free. read more

It's a nice place to get out of the sun and enjoy some experiences. To name some of the things, there's the aquarium, butterfly habitat, mirror maze, and an arcade. There is also plenty of free parking. read more

Man O Man! Unless you have money to burn, stay away! I went to the Aquarium with 2 adults and 4 children. JUST to get in was over $250.00! The aquarium itself was very nice but not worth the admission price. Then we took the children to Laser Maze which was not expensive but the kids were engaged for less than 10 minutes! My grandparents went in to see the UFO Experience - another $75.00 and WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY! Everyone - go to the Phoenix Zoo instead and save your money and frustration! read more

The Boardwalk is a great space to spend a few hours with the family. Can get a bit pricy with all the attractions but worth it in my opinion. My kids enjoyed the attractions we visited: aquarium, butterfly exhibit, and laser maze. You can easily spend the entire day there if you visit all it has to offer. The food variety is also a benefit as you don't have to leave the area. Recommend if you have the means to. read more

A little pricey I'd say, but my family and I had a great time! I do wish we say more fish, seemed like we were looking at all the same fish, not to many sharks. I did love how quiet the atmosphere was and just walking around, when we got to the end we were surprised it was over. I love the photos I captured read more

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I didn't even know this place existed! I stumbled across the Boardwalk while searching for a restaurant in the area. The signage for the Boardwalk piqued my interest, so I decided to come check it out after breakfast. I was glad I did. It was a Thursday morning, so it was pretty empty, but I was happy, as I didn't want to deal with large crowds. My main attraction to the Boardwalk, was the Butterfly museum, so that was my first stop upon arriving. I purchased my $40 adult ticket online, so I was able to walk right in. I was guided to the Butterfly garden, and was so surprised at how nice it was. All the cute buttie's we're just flying around and having a grand ole time. It was such a relaxing experience to be able to spend time with these peaceful critters. There's also a Coi Fish pond, where visitors are able to feed the fish. I felt like a kid again as I fed the fishes! As part of my ticket price, I had access to the other parts of the museum like the reptile aquarium, which was pretty neat. Overall, I could see how this place could be slightly underwhelming, but just keep a positive mind and make the most of what's provided. In due time, I'm sure the Boardwalk will be booming! I briefly walked around and noticed some other little shops, but most were closed. Again, keep a positive mind, make the most with what's provided, and you can find yourself in for a treat! read more

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It's always fun going there out last visit was at the museum of illusion but the butterfly garden and the aquarium and the Pangea land of the dinosaurs is also great we love it as a family outing ! read more

Arizona Boardwalk - Illusion - Amusement Parks Near Me - Scottsdale, Arizona

I didn't even know this shopping center full of attractions even has a name. It has a lot of potential, but needs some marketing and advertising! The last time we visited it was like a ghost town. Though we like to do everything during the week when things are quieter. Our first two visits to the Butterfly Wonderland I didn't even know this area existed. My last visit with the girls we explored and had a great lunch at the Pangaea Dinosaur Grill. We ended the day by getting some ice cream and stopping at the huge candy store. We are waiting for the girls to get older for OdySea Asventures, but upstairs you are able to walk through the shop and make purchases! The highlight of the day was Watching them bring a giant tire in for the play area maybe? Oh and the coolest thing ever was watching them convert the Ripley's Titanic exhibit into dinosaurs! Watching them lift the dinosaurs in the air going up and over was so cool. There is a laser maze my husband and I raced through competing before the girls were born. It would be nice if they brought the prices down a bit on the activities within the mall and had some events like live bands and a splash pad for the kids in the center. read more

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Carousel was over priced. 2 revolutions for $5. Nice and clean. The Boardwalk was ok. Parking was free and ample.