CityScape

CityScape is the downtown Phoenix block families end up on whether they planned to or not. It sits at 1 E Washington St, a short walk from both Footprint Center and Chase Field, and it packs restaurants, shops, and open pedestrian plazas into a walkable footprint.

What makes it work for families is that the block itself is free and pleasant. Wide, flat, paved walkways mean a stroller rolls easily, which is not true of every downtown destination. There is open plaza space where a five-year-old can move around without you white-knuckling their hand, shaded seating for the adult who needs to sit down, and enough foot traffic, street performers, and live music that kids stay entertained before anyone spends money.

Toddlers through teens all find something here, which is rare.

The practical play is to use CityScape as your meal and decompression stop around a bigger downtown outing. Eat here before a Suns or Diamondbacks game instead of at the venue, where prices run considerably higher, then walk over. Restaurant waits stretch to a half hour or more right before games and on Friday and Saturday evenings, so build in buffer or come at an off hour.

On a weekday afternoon you will usually walk right in.

Timing matters more here than at an indoor mall. The open-air plaza is the whole appeal, and from roughly October through April it is lovely, especially in the early evening when the lights come on. In July and August, an afternoon visit is miserable; come after sunset or plan to move between the air-conditioned interiors.

CityScape has run seasonal programming in past years, including an outdoor holiday ice rink, so check the events calendar on the CityScape website before your trip rather than assuming a particular attraction is operating.

On logistics: there is structured parking on site, but rates climb on event nights, and the Valley Metro light rail stops within a block. Plenty of families find the train both cheaper and easier, and small kids usually rank it as the best part of the day. Restrooms and changing tables are handled by individual tenants rather than a central family facility we can confirm, so ask a host at whichever restaurant you pick; larger sit-down spots are your best bet.

Tenants turn over from time to time, so check the current directory at reddevelopment.com/cityscape before you promise your kids a specific restaurant.