Whether you're a resident looking to keep the kids busy on a weekend or a tourist with a few little ones in tow, it's always handy to have a mental index of fun family activities in Phoenix. Luckily it's not hard to find great ideas for kid-friendly activities, thanks to the area's abundance of top-notch museums, zoos, and parks. Read on for our list of top things to do in Phoenix with kids:

Phoenix Zoo

You don't just get to see the animals at this 125-acre Papago Park zoo—you get to make friends with them too. Each day the zoo operates a number of animal encounters, from petting stingrays in Stingray Bay to brushing goats in the Big Red Barn at Harmony Farm.

Don't miss: Monkey Village, an open, walk-through exhibit where squirrel monkeys dart through the trees inches away from you

Play time: Kids can cool off at water play areas like Leapin' Lagoon and Yakulla Caverns or explore themed playgrounds at Enchanted Forest and Discovery Farm.

Click to see deals on admission starting at $9.95.

Arizona Science Center

A day at Arizona Science Center is packed with action. Kids can walk through an enormous "working" stomach in the "All About Me" exhibit, launch paper airplanes in the American Airlines Flight Zone, and even ride the Skycycle across a 90-foot cable suspended 15-feet in the air for a high-wire physics lesson.

Seeing stars: Watch shows like "Solar Superstorms" and "Grand Tour of the Solar System" in the Dorrance Planetarium's immersive NanoSeam dome.

Special exhibit: "A Mirror Maze: Numbers in Nature" lets visitors navigate a giant maze of mirrors, puzzles, and patterns in nature while attempting to find a secret room (through Sep. 4, 2018).

Click to see a special deal on a Summer Fun Pass with admission to "A Mirror Maze: Numbers in Nature."

Big Surf Waterpark

The biggest draw at Big Surf Waterpark remains the one that put it on the map: the Waikiki Beach wave pool, the first in the world when the park opened in 1969. Today the 2.5-million-gallon attraction anchors a 20-acre campus with more than a dozen water slides.

Thrill ride: The Black Hole, which sends you on a pitch black ride through a twisting, enclosed slide

For the little ones: The park has three designated kids' zones for children 48 inches and under, who get to climb a giant frog, shoot water cannons, and ride smaller Otter Slides.

Click to see deals on single-day passes and season passes at Big Surf Waterpark.

Desert Botanical Garden

Take a stroll through the Sonoran Desert's most beautiful (and resilient) flora at this 140-acre garden, where you'll find more than 50,000 desert plants across five themed trails. Seasonal exhibits might include art showcases, music installations, and even a butterfly show in the fall and spring.

Learn the landscape: Sign up for a kid-friendly class to see reptiles and spiders up close or learn the science of making popsicles.

Nature at night: On Saturday nights during the summer you can take a flashlight tour after sunset for no additional charge.

The Hall of Flame Fire Museum

For a certain subset of kids who fantasize about becoming firefighters, this museum is heaven. Inside they'll see dozens of historic firefighting machines, including manual and horse-drawn apparatuses dating back as far as 1725, plus classic truck models from the '50s and '60s.

Home of the brave: The National Firefighting Hall of Heroes pays tribute to firefighters who have been decorated for acts of valor, as well as those who have given their lives in the line of duty.

Make a day of it: The museum is located in Papago Park, home of the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Garden, not to mention picnic areas, bike paths, and hiking trails.

Click to see a deal on admission to The Hall of Flame Fire Museum.

Ultrastar Multitainment Center

If you've ever taken the kids to a movie and then thought, "Now what?", this place is for you. Aside from movies presented in pristine Pure Digital Cinema projection, the complex hosts a laser tag arena, a 24-lane bowling center, an arcade, and a Gamer Cave for console gaming.

Chew on this: Grab burgers and sandwiches at 347 Grill, or treat the kids to house-made ice cream at Cones Cafe.

Party time: Birthday party packages let kids play unlimited games, host private screenings, or even tour a movie booth and start the film themselves.

Click to see deals at Ultrastar Multitainment Center starting at $28.99.

Enchanted Island Amusement Park

Admission is free at this Encanto Park attraction—you just pay for the rides and food you want. Small children can ride the bumper boats, the carousel, and the Dragon Wagon mini coaster, while older kids can enjoy the dizzying Rock 'N' Roll spin ride and the space-themed Mini Enterprise.

Popular ride: the C.P. Huntington Train, a one-third replica of a famous 19th Century steam engine which provides a relaxing 7-minute tour of the island

Make a splash: At the Castle Clash game, teams blast targets (and each other) with water cannons, with the winning side getting a free shot to soak their opponents at game's end.