How to Make Your Kid Smarter in Phoenix

Could a trip to Arizona make your family smarter? With a myriad of attractions that are exciting yet educational, Phoenix just might teach you and your loved ones a thing or two. The bonus is: you'll be having so much fun, you won't even notice that you're learning. Shhhhh! Don't tell the kids that it's educational, and they'll never even know that their brain cells have multiplied. They'll simply thank you for an amazing trip.

The Phoenix Zoo
455 North Galvin Parkway
602-273-1341

Do you have a budding zoologist in your family? You will after a trip to the Phoenix Zoo, ranked one of the top five zoos for kids in the nation. The trails are organized based on the parts of the world, so your children can get a sense of not just the animals, but their environment as well. There's a rainforest trail, a desert trail, and much more. Here you will find white rhinoceros, Galapagos turtles, cheetahs, meerkats...you name it. On display are over 1,200 different animals! Call ahead and ask about special programs where kids can have hands-on learning experiences.

Taliesin West
12621 North Frank Lloyd Wright
480-860-2700

The Arizona home of the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright might inspire the future architect in your kids. It might even inspire your next home improvement project! Tours are given daily, and I highly recommend that you take the longer version. You don't want to miss a room. Each area holds a new and different wonder of design and art, with a story behind each one. Make sure you plan time to visit the bookstore, which has beautiful gifts and souvenirs (and of course, books).

Arizona Mineral & Mining Museum
1502 W. Washington St.
602-255-3795

Inspire a future in geology with a family trip to a museum that has far more than just a mere rock collection. With over 3,000 specimens, the museum houses rare gems, moon rocks and meteorites as well. Don't miss one of the most whimsical displays: a collection of rocks that look exactly like food. In fact, the Mineral & Mining museum has so many of them that they have to constantly rotate the display. Stop by the gift shop and pick up the beginnings of a collection of your own.