If you’re looking for family fun in Arizona, there are many things to do in Yuma. A great place to start is the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park, which sits over the Colorado River and features preserved cells and a guard tower. Yuma was also a 19th-century military warehouse and telegraph station, and a 1907 steam locomotive is situated on Pivot Point Plaza.
Waylon’s water park
If you’re traveling with your family and looking for a family-friendly waterpark, consider visiting the Yuma, Arizona-based Waylon’s World Water Park. The park has a number of water rides for everyone, including a “Syd’s Zone” AquaPlay Rainfortress. There are also private cabanas and a hideaway bar, and kids’ slides and a kiddie area.
The waterpark is open year-round in Yuma, Arizona, and includes slides, tube rides, a lazy river, a tots’ swimming pool, a four-lane racing mat slide, a giant bowl tube ride, and batting cages. You can even visit the Z Fun Factory, where you can play miniature golf, climb a tree, and play batting cages. There is plenty to do for the whole family, and the park is open year-round, except during COVID-19.
Yuma’s historic downtown
If you’re looking for a great place to explore with the kids, consider a walk through Yuma’s historic downtown. It’s filled with restaurants and shops and hosts many events, including street fairs and musical performances. Though open to vehicular traffic, walking through the area will give you a chance to take in all the sights. Here are three great things to do in Yuma with kids:
First, head over to the Territorial Prison, which used to house prisoners and has a public high school. The prison is filled with relics from the past. Kids can jump from platform to platform, explore the prison’s museum, and participate in activities. The museum also includes a Junior Ranger activity booklet and a cemetery for the departed prisoners. In addition, you’ll find plenty of places to visit with the kids in Yuma.
Alternatively, visit the West Wetlands Park, where you can picnic and play alongside camels. The park is 110 acres and is home to the Stewart Vincent Wolfe Creative Playground. The “lower bench” has been restored to its natural habitat, and the upper bench has been developed with playground areas and picnic ramadas. It’s a great place to spend an afternoon with the kids. And if you’re looking for other free things to do in Yuma, you can’t go wrong with a visit to the City of Art Center.
If you have time, you can also check out the Yuma Art Center, operated by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. There are four art galleries, a pottery studio, a black and white photography darkroom, and a variety of arts classes and workshops. The center has a full calendar of events. The Historic Yuma Theatre has several stage productions, film screenings, and education workshops. You can visit any of these free events to see what Yuma has to offer.
Yuma’s prison
If you’ve never been inside a prison, you might be surprised to know that Yuma’s prison was built in 1876. It was one of only a handful of Western prisons that housed women, but the Yuma Territorial Prison had more than 3,000 male inmates. This prison was coed, but there were only 29 women there at one time. The prison was constructed with stone walls and a huge watchtower, and was once a place of punishment. Now, the prison is a museum that allows visitors to tour the prison and experience its infamous past.
Prison life in Yuma was harsh. Inmates were punished with a ball and chain, and the worst offenders were put in a snake den. Prisoners who behaved well were treated with respect, but they were still considered free labor. They had little chance of escaping, so they were often sent to the prison for their misdeeds. Despite this, the prison provided a lot of amenities, including electricity and a learning center.
The Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park has been a popular place to take kids. During the early days, the prison was built on a bluff overlooking the Colorado River, but it was so unstable that it flooded three months a year. Unlike many prisons today, Yuma’s prison was not staffed with guards, so incarceration was very dangerous. It is no wonder, then, that the prison in Yuma is still a popular tourist attraction.
The prison itself has a spooky history and is full of specters. Visitors have reported hearing blood-curdling screams from inmates in the “Dark Room,” which was used as punishment for breaking rules. The prison had its own public library and used profits from admission fees to buy books for the prisoners. The prison also had an electrical plant, and its ventilation system was one of the first in the west.
Yuma’s Conservation Garden
The city of Yuma has more than 30 city parks for the kids to enjoy. Two of the city’s best parks are the East Wetlands and the West Wetlands. These parks have lots of open space, a playground, and a pond stocked with fish. There are also hummingbird signs and a butterfly garden. A visit to Yuma’s Conservation Garden is a great way to learn about the environment while having fun.
If you’re looking for an outdoor classroom and educational experience for kids, consider visiting Yuma’s Conservation Garden. The garden is open weekends from November to April. You’ll find an outdoor classroom as well as permanent signage. Even your kids will have fun learning about the native plants of Yuma. And don’t worry if you’re a vegetarian! Kids will have a blast exploring all the different plants and animals!
A park for the whole family is a great place for family fun. This park has a playground, a picnic area, and a covered Ramada for picnics. There’s a wildlife park, too, so you can spot desert tortoises, ducks, and other animals. Families can also organize events in the park and have a picnic under the shelters. In addition to the Yuma Conservation Garden, you can visit the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge to view native wildlife and learn about how these creatures live in the region.
While you’re visiting Yuma’s Conservation Garden with kids, you might want to check out the nearby City Art Center. It is a city facility that is run by the City of Yuma Parks and Recreation Department. The Center features a 650-seat Yuma Theatre and several studios for local and visiting artists. Admission is free. And it’s a great way to spend a rainy day.
Yuma’s Farmer’s Market
If you’re planning a trip with your kids, one place to take them is Yuma’s Farmer’s Market. You’ll find local crafts, fresh fruits and vegetables, and other goodies to take home. You’ll also find artists and other artisans selling their work. You’ll find more information on the Yuma Farmers Market at Alexander Toyota. Besides fresh foods and crafts, the market offers unique products from local artists and craftspeople.
Another fun way to bring the kids to Yuma’s Farmer’s Market is to take them to the Sanguinetti House Museum and Gardens, which were built by E.F. Sanguinetti, the founder of Yuma. Admission is $6 per person. Another family-friendly activity is to visit Yuma’s Farmer’s Market, which is located in the parking lot of a shopping center in front of Old Navy. Although this market only has a small selection of local produce, you can take the family to get a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Whether you take the kids to Yuma’s Farmer’s Market to browse the fresh produce or to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, you’ll find that Yuma is a great place to do both. The market is located across the street from a park where you can bring your kids to play or visit. Nearby, there are other fun activities for kids, including a bowling alley.
