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Attractions at the Arizona Boardwalk

Attractions, Retail Stores, Restaurants and SO MUCH MORE...Something for Everyone!

By Sponsored Content June 16, 2023

Scottsdale's Entertainment Destination

Arizona Boardwalk




Scottsdale’s one-of-a-kind entertainment destination that features nine marquee attractions – OdySea Aquarium, Butterfly Wonderland, UFO Experience, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!®, Laser + Mirror Maze, Museum of Illusions, Pangaea Land of the Dinosaurs, Cyber Quest and Johnny’s Playground – in addition to multiple dining, shopping, and amusement venues.

The outdoor courtyard regularly hosts a variety of free events and family entertainment throughout the year. Parking is free and there is no admission required to enter Arizona Boardwalk. Arizona Boardwalk is located at 9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale, AZ 85256, within the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, and is part of the Talking Stick Entertainment District.

For more information, please call 480-951-2100 or visit the website at www.azboardwalk.com.

OdySea Aquarium



The largest aquarium in the southwest, OdySea Aquarium takes guests on an entertaining and educational oceanic adventure like no other. Voted Best Family Entertainment multiple years in a row, the state-of-the-art facility features an amazing array of animals including sharks, otters, sea lions, penguins, sea turtles, sloths, and more. OdySea Aquarium will quickly become part of your “must see” list of things to do in Scottsdale with immersive experiences like SeaTREK® underwater ocean walking, four different touch exhibits, a giant submerged escalator that descends into the deep ocean, and the world’s only rotating aquarium, OdySea Voyager.

Field Trips: OdySea Aquarium offers an educational and ‘fin-tastic’ experience for students from preschool through high. School tours are self-guided tours that take 2 hours or more.  Educator resources, including grade-level specific curriculum and activities, are available on the OdySea Aquarium website along with information on field trip costs and how to book a trip.  https://www.odyseaaquarium.com/education/field-trips-school-groups/


Butterfly Wonderland



Butterfly Wonderland is the largest indoor butterfly conservatory in America and should certainly top your indoor family fun list of “Things to do in Arizona”. The magnificent glass conservatory provides the ideal tropical rainforest habitat for thousands of butterflies from around the world to fly freely. Setting the stage before you enter the conservatory is a 3D movie chronicling the amazing journey of the monarch butterfly, followed by a tour through the Emergence Gallery where you’ll be inches away from live chrysalis as they emerge into beautiful butterflies. Along with the butterflies, you’ll have the chance to see other rainforest animals such as insects and spiders in the Spineless Giants Gallery, colorful and exotic fish in the Tropical Waters Gallery, and unique reptiles and amphibians in the Rainforest Reptiles Gallery.

Field Trips:  Butterfly Wonderland is a unique, educational experience for any school group. There is so much to learn about nature that will fit in school lesson plans including the lifecycle of butterflies, desert inhabitants, spineless giants, bees, colorful fish of the Amazon, and so much more!  Imagine wandering through a rainforest landscape with running waterfalls, exotic plants and flowers in bloom, and serene koi fish ponds while surrounded by thousands of the most beautiful species of butterflies in the world fluttering all around you.  Educator resources, including grade-level specific curriculum and activities, are available on the Butterfly Wonderland website along with information on field trip costs and how to book a trip. https://butterflywonderland.com/field-trips/


Laser + Mirror Maze



Enter the Mirror Maze, a challenging adventure for the body and mind. By surrounding your pathways with mirrors, you see infinite reflections, impossible corridors, and mind-bending light effects. It’s an experience like no other! Alongside the Mirror Maze, sharpen your ninja skills as you twist, duck, and crawl your way through an intricate web of lasers in the Laser Maze Challenge. Try to make it through the vault and hit your mission buttons without being zapped by the laser beams.  Laser & Mirror Maze is another ‘can’t miss’ experience when visiting all the attractions at Arizona Boardwalk!


UFO Experience 




UFO Experience is an out-of-this-world, family-friendly exhibition based on the widespread interest in UFOs and alien lifeforms. Explore ancient unsolved mysteries, see alien artifacts, analyze modern day UFO sightings, view government and military documents, and listen to recordings of 911 emergency tapes.  This entertaining and informative journey takes you through one of the world’s most comprehensive exhibitions exploring reports of UFOs, alien abductions, and encounters with extraterrestrials.


Ripley's Believe It or Not!



Explore the unbelievable! Go places you’ve never imagined and explore an extraordinary collection of intriguing objects and astonishing artifacts. Crawl through a life-size model of a prehistoric snake. Measure up against the world’s tallest man. Marvel at intricate micro sculptures so small, they fit in the eye of a needle. Celebrate the life and legacy of Robert Ripley. Here, you’ll find that truth is always stranger than fiction as the unbelievable comes alive right before your very eyes!


Museum of Illusions



Experience the impossible at Museum of Illusions Scottsdale! This one-of-a-kind edutainment destination will blow your mind as you immerse yourself in the world of illusions. Experience over 60 eye-fooling exhibits that will have you defying gravity, walking on walls, and questioning your sense of reality. It’s a can’t-miss, photo-worthy destination for all ages that will leave you feeling inspired…and a little off balance!


Pangaea Land of the Dinosaurs




Complete with more than 50 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs as well as true-to-life recreations of prehistoric habitats, Pangaea Land of the Dinosaurs transports guests back to the age of the dinosaurs. Dig for fossils and enjoy other family-friendly activities, educational explorations, dinosaur themed-dining, and more.


Cyber Quest Arcade




Cyber Quest is an arcade like no other! This family-friendly entertainment venue features non-violent game content in a bright, colorful, and inviting space. Its team take great pride in providing a very high level of guest service and interaction. When it comes to prizes, Cyber Quest’s Prize Zone awaits, stocked full of prizes from simple to grand. And because Cyber Quest rewards players with more tickets, it’s easy to walk away as a winner. Whether snuggly plush or the latest in technology, there is truly something for everyone!


Johny's Playground




Leap, climb, bounce, slide, and jump your way around Johnny’s Playground. With multiple inflatables and bounce houses, a climbing structure, a dedicated space for the littlest ones, and plenty of benches for the grown-ups, this indoor playground is the perfect place for your kids to burn off excess energy all year long.

Temporarily Closed – Will Re-Open in August







  • Frozen Penguin Ice Cream
  • Johnny Rockets
  • Pangaea Dinosaur Grill
  • Sugar Drop Candy Shop
  • Starbucks (inside OdySea Aquarium)



  • Four Peaks Mining Co.
  • Arizona Territory Trading Post
  • Butterfly Treasures
  • OdySea Treasures
  • The Soap Bubble

Arizona Boardwalk is Arizona's premier venue to hear live music, watch dazzling performances, and enjoy some of the best FREE family events and entertainment in the Valley.

For more information click HERE 


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