Top 7 Healthy Activities to do with kids in Prescott Az. – Family-Friendly Activities.

Here at Prescott Family Chiropractic, we believe that kids who have direct access to nature are better learners. Being in nature has been shown to reduce stress and increase attention spans. When children spend most of their time indoors, they miss out. Problems associated with this modern-day lifestyle include depression, obesity, and attention deficit disorder.

1. Courthouse Square

This has to be one of our favorite places in Prescott, AZ. The Courthouse Square park paints the perfect John Hughes-like scene, giving you that wholesome community feeling you’ve always wanted in a hometown. This is after all “Everybody’s Hometown.”

Lay out a blanket, bring a picnic or better yet pick up some food from the many local restaurants. Lay in the shade, listen to some music, and actually, for once, relax!  It’s so inviting. 

The Square is a great place to visit with its one-hundred-year-old trees, charming shops, local restaurants, and of course its historical courthouse. If you get a chance, stop by the Ian Russel Art Gallery and check out my good friend’s artwork. Paul Klaine is the artist behind Gnar Art’s one-of-a-kind masterpieces on display in this Whiskey Row gallery. We have one of his original pieces on display in our Prescott Family Chiropractic office. Come check it out!

We have enjoyed many picnic lunches here in the square with our kids and afterward usually a special frozen treat from Frannie’s ice cream. Their special Marionberry sorbet is spot on. Altogether, this historic part of Prescott, AZ, and its Whiskey row is the centerpiece for this area. My family and I adore spending time here. 

2. Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary

The Heritage Park Zoo is home to a lot of desert animals like reptiles, javelinas, coyotes mountain lions, and bobcats. Some of their guests hail from far away places including black bears, cougars, lynx, and Bengal Tigers. They have many of the smaller desert favorites showcased in the Reptile House and the Tarantula Grotto. 

I need to give a special shout-out to their small splash pad, playground, and tree-lined grassy picnic area. It has more than once saved my family and me from a heatwave. We have spent the better part of these hot summer days there just keeping cool and entertaining the kids.

The park itself is rather small and can be thoroughly enjoyed on your own in only a few hours. There are also guided tours available as well as special events all year long. 

This small non-profit wildlife sanctuary overlooks Willow Lake and can be a great jumping-off point for a day hike around the Lake. 

3. Willow Lake

Willow Lake Park is a great place to visit with the family. It has an abundance of wildlife, beautiful scenery, and a range of activities suitable for all ages. It is an amazing and unique place to see in Prescott, Arizona. 

The lake is calm, quiet, and very rarely busy with hoards of people. The beautiful tall cottonwoods line the south end of the Willow lake loop bringing with it the sounds of birds, the rustling of the trees in the wind, and glorious shade during the summers. At the northeast end of the park, the infamous Granite Dells surround the lake’s water as if they were guarding the serenity of the lake. 

Willow lake has a 5.7-mile loop around the lake with plenty of offshoot trails. Willow Lake is known for its outdoor amenities from kayaking, fishing, hiking, climbing, picnicking, and even mountain biking. We were told this would be a great trail to take the mountain bike on. Turns out the loop is for elite mountain bikers at best. Dr. Nick’s first time out was spent carrying his bike over large boulders and steep inclines for at least the better half of the trail. It was an exercise in cross-training. LOL 

While carrying his bike up the stairs on the backside of the damn, Dr. Nick was surprised by a beautiful American Bald Eagle. It was surreal, to say the least. 

It is a fine place to take the kids and enjoy nature at its best. Every time we go, I seem to load up every piece of outdoor gear we own. Kayaks, climbing gear, hiking shoes, mountain bikes, and our fishing poles to name a few.

4. Watson Lake

I highly recommend spending some time at Watson Lake during your visit to Prescott, AZ with children. Here you can easily rent kayaks or canoes from Prescott Outdoors and paddle your way around this beautiful body of water. This goes for Lynx Lake as well. 

Again, these unique Granite Dells surround the lake’s edge giving you an otherworldly feel. A trip around the lake is a great way to start or end your day. The abundance of coves and outcroppings will make each section of the lake seem different.

I am more of an avid hiker and climber so sticking to the Peavine Trail that runs along the lake and takes you into the scenic Granite Dells is more of my jam. Here you can find an abundance of wildlife at every step. If you homeschool, any of these trails I mention here in this post will be filled with science-related matter. 

 

5. Lynx Lake

If you’d rather hike or paddle in the shade, then Lynx lake is your place. Again you can rent boats here for day use or bring your own to launch. Unfortunately, Lynx lake, like most lakes in Prescott, does not allow body contact. (Update - swimming is now allowed in Prescott, AZ 2020) Still, the shaded 2.4-mile hiking loop was a welcome escape from the heat.

One of my favorite things about Prescott is that you can leave the center of town and be up in the pines on a beautiful lake within five minutes. As you ascend the seemingly innocuous hill you are quickly transported from a busy city into a heavily wooded forest. Lynx Lake is a welcome getaway from the hot summer heat and popular among fishing enthusiasts. 

If you’re into German food, they have a great restaurant offering authentic dishes at the south end of the lake. The Lynx-Lake Cafe is the only place in town offering these dishes. I was introduced to German food at a young age and while it isn’t the healthiest, it is a cultural experience for all ages. 

6. Goldwater Lake

Goldwater Lake, like Lynx Lake, is only a few miles out from the center of town. It’s easily accessible for a day hike or just a quick getaway into nature with the family. 

At 3$ for a carload, this trip won’t break the bank. Just like many of the other lakes, Goldwater offers boat rentals, fishing, swimming, and more. The lake surrounded by the pines is as peaceful as it gets. 

One of the amenities we used there was the volleyball courts. My daughter needed to get in some practice for her serve and I needed to get out in nature. It was a win-win. 

7. Prescott National Forest

As you may have noticed, all of my favorite things to do with the kids here in Prescott Arizona revolves around getting outdoors and getting in touch with nature. Last on my list is the beautiful Prescott National forest that surrounds the town of Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, and  Dewey-Humboldt. 

Spend some quality time in nature with your family as you explore this 1.25-million-acre national forest. There are eight designated wilderness areas and more wildflowers than you could imagine. Any outdoor activity you want is at your fingertips from horseback riding to mountain biking and more. 

I will be exploring many of the trails here over the next few years. If you have any great trail for kids or avid hikers, drop a comment down below to share. 

Prescott has many activities for young families to enjoy. I have listed some of the healthier outdoor activities that I have had the opportunity to use. As my experiences here grow, so will my list. I didn’t give an encyclopedic list of all the activities offered here. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t check out their game centers, museums, rock climbing facilities, or malls. I am just choosing to focus on our favorites as well as some of the healthier outdoor activities that are available. 

My family and I at Prescott Family Chiropractic look forward to creating relationships with like-minded individuals in the communities of Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, and Dewey Humboldt areas.

We are offering an amazing New Patient discounted rate to those in need of our Chiropractic services by following this link to our New Patient Portal. 

Dr. Nick Schembri 

Your hometown Chiropractor here in Prescott, AZ!

 

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