Lizards for Kids and More
Rating
Family of 4
Walking in and looking at the animals costs nothing, so a browse is a free stop in Glendale.
Duration
Thirty to forty-five minutes for a walk-in visit, which is about as long as a small reptile shop holds even an enthusiastic kid. Booked encounters, parties, and educational programs run longer, and the length depends on what you arrange. Ask when you call.
Best Ages
Best for about ages 5 to 15, and specifically for the kid in your house who already knows the difference between a bearded dragon and a leopard gecko. Little kids from 5 up can hold a calm animal with a hand under it and an adult beside them. Big kids and tweens are the core audience, since this is where the questions get good. Reptile-obsessed teens do fine here too. Toddlers and infants are a hard sell, because the whole experience depends on gentle, controlled hands.
About
This one needs framing before you get in the car. Lizards For Kids And More is a small independent reptile business in Glendale, not a zoo, not a museum, and not a ticketed attraction with a parking lot and a gift shop. It is a shop at 7157 N 59th Avenue, in an alley building at the rear of the property, and the value it offers a family is proportional to how much your specific kid loves reptiles.
For the right kid, that value is high. A reptile-obsessed 8-year-old who has watched every gecko video on the internet gets to stand in front of real animals, ask questions of someone who actually keeps them, and, when the staff say it is appropriate, hold something. That last part is the whole point.
A hands-on encounter with a bearded dragon or a snake, with an adult guiding the grip, is a completely different experience from watching one behind glass at a museum, and it is the thing kids remember. The business carries a perfect 5. 0 rating, though across only 14 Google reviews, and the recurring theme in those reviews is patient, generous attention from the person behind the counter.
Beyond the shop itself, the "and more" in the name refers to booked programming: birthday parties, hands-on encounters, and educational visits. Those are arranged and quoted per event rather than posted as a menu, so if that is why you are interested, call (602) 810-1663 or check lizardsforkidsandmore. com rather than assuming.
Ask specifically how long the program runs, how many animals are included, and whether they travel to your address, because those answers determine the price.
Practical notes matter more here than at a big venue. Hours are not reliably posted for a business this size, so calling first is not optional. The rear alley entrance is genuinely easy to miss, so budget a few extra minutes to find it.
The space is small, which means a full-size double stroller is a nuisance and a carrier is better for anyone still being carried. There is no cafe, no restroom you should plan around, and no play area. It is indoors and air conditioned, which makes it a legitimate 30 to 45 minute option during a Phoenix summer or a monsoon afternoon.
And the one health rule that applies to every reptile encounter anywhere: hands get washed afterward. Reptiles commonly carry salmonella, handling is still perfectly reasonable with supervision, and the hand washing is what makes it reasonable. Set that expectation with your kid on the drive over along with the other rule that matters, which is that the animals are handled when the staff say so and not a moment before.
Age Suitability
Parent Logistics
Stroller-Friendly
Limited
Nursing / Changing
Unknown
Kid Meals
N/A
Setting
Indoor
Rainy Day
Great option!
Plan Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
Call before you go, every time. This is a very small independent business, hours are not posted reliably in Google, and the entrance is in a rear alley building rather than on the street. Weekday afternoons tend to be quietest. Reptiles are also more alert when they are warm and near feeding time, so it is worth asking on the phone when the animals are most active.
Wait Times
No lines. A walk-in visit is immediate if the shop is open. Booked encounters and parties run on the schedule you arrange, so the only real waiting is on the calendar, not at the door.
Nearby Food
You are on N 59th Avenue in Glendale, a corridor lined with casual and family-run restaurants. There are taquerias, sandwich shops, and fast casual within a couple of minutes in either direction on 59th, and more options where 59th meets Glendale Avenue and Bethany Home Road. Downtown Glendale and the Catlin Court historic district are about five minutes away and have sit-down places that work better for an actual meal with kids. Nothing is available at the shop itself, so eat before or after.
Why Kids Love It
Almost every kid has a phase where lizards are the most interesting thing on earth, and this is a room built entirely for that phase. Instead of watching a snake behind museum glass at twenty feet, a kid gets to stand at the enclosure, ask what it eats, and often, under supervision, hold something warm and alive that sits on their forearm. The five-star rating comes from parents describing exactly that moment: the owner taking real time with one kid's questions.
Pro Tips from Parents
- Call (602) 810-1663 before you drive out. Hours at a one-location business like this are not reliably posted, and there is no upside to guessing.
- The address is unusual on purpose: 7157 N 59th Ave, Rear, in an alley building in Glendale. Drive to the rear of the property rather than looking for a storefront on 59th Avenue, and give yourself a few extra minutes to find it.
- Ask about handling rules for your child's age before you arrive, and confirm whether the animals out for handling that day are the calm ones. Whether a kid can hold something is up to the staff and the animal, not up to your kid.
- Wash hands after any contact with reptiles, without exception. Reptiles commonly carry salmonella, and this is the one non-negotiable rule of every reptile encounter.
- If you are here to book a birthday party or a classroom visit, ask about it in person while your kid is looking around. You will get a better read on the animals and the handler than any website gives you.
What to Bring
- Hand sanitizer for the walk back to the car, plus a plan to wash properly afterward
- Clean, calm hands and a kid who has been told the rules before walking in
- A phone for photos, with flash off since it startles the animals
- Questions written down if your child is researching a first reptile
- Cash or card if you plan to book a party or pick up supplies
Cost Info
Partially free — some areas or times are free
Estimated Cost (Family of 4)
Walking in and looking at the animals costs nothing, so a browse is a free stop in Glendale.
The paid side is the booked side: birthday parties, hands-on encounters, school and group programs, and any animal or supply you buy.
Those are quoted per event and vary with group size and travel, so call (602) 810-1663 or check lizardsforkidsandmore.
com for current pricing rather than budgeting from a guess.
Street parking nearby is free.
Tips to Save
- Do the free walk-in first before you book anything, so you know whether your kid's interest is a phase or the real thing.
- If you are considering a party, ask directly what is included, how many animals come, how long the program runs, and whether travel to your address costs extra, since those four answers explain most of the price.
- If your child wants a reptile of their own, price the enclosure, heat source, and UVB lighting before the animal, because the setup is the real expense and the lizard is the cheap part.
Hours & Contact
Contact
Have a Question?
Frequently Asked Questions
Tickets & Booking
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