If you’re like me, the idea of getting the kids to do something educational while also keeping them entertained sounds like a far-off fantasy. But I found a little slice of magic in Phoenix that ticks both boxes — the Desert Botanical Garden. Now, before you picture a quiet, peaceful place where you have to shush your kids every five seconds (I’m looking at you, Jenny), let me tell you that this spot has way more to offer than just pretty cacti.
We decided to take a little trip to the garden one Saturday morning. Lincoln was way too excited about the desert animals and how many different types of prickly plants there are (I swear, I had to pull him away from the cacti displays about ten times). Molly? Well, she was obsessed with the butterflies. The garden has this amazing butterfly pavilion, and she could’ve stayed there for hours just watching them flutter around. I got a few minutes of peace while she was totally mesmerized.
Jenny? She was grumpy at first, rolling her eyes at the thought of walking around in the sun. But then we stumbled upon this cool little section where they had interactive exhibits about desert ecosystems and how plants adapt to the heat. By the end of it, she was asking me to snap photos of her “posing” with all the desert plants. Typical teenager stuff — pretending to hate something but secretly loving it.
The garden has so many trails, and it’s huge! Molly enjoyed hopping from one flower to another (yes, I did remind her not to touch anything too much) and Lincoln was our little “desert explorer,” making up stories about ancient desert civilizations. If you’re a mom trying to balance quiet moments and chasing after your kids, this is a win.
And the best part? The Desert Botanical Garden has a cafe with a lovely outdoor seating area, so after all the exploring, we grabbed a snack and watched the little ones burn off more energy by running around the garden’s water features. Jenny finally pulled out her phone to text her friends about how “fun” the place was, and I silently high-fived myself for making this day work.
So if you’re in Phoenix and need a day that’s fun, educational, and doesn’t involve any tech distractions (besides the occasional photo op), the Desert Botanical Garden is the place to be. You might just find yourself saying, “Hey, this wasn’t as bad as I thought!” — and I’ll take that as a mom win.