Sierra Vista is one of the most family-friendly cities to call home in Southern Arizona. As you settle in with your family and get to know your new home, you’ll find no shortage of fun activities for family members of all ages. Below you can take a look at some of our favorite destinations for affordable, unforgettable family fun in Sierra Vista.
The Cove Aquatic Center
The Cove is a favorite destination for residents of Sierra Vista. It is open most of the year with a brief closure from November to January for winter maintenance. This sprawling indoor aquatic facility is always about 80-85 degrees inside, so it is the perfect place to enjoy a swim even during the hottest days of summer and the chilliest days of spring and fall. Kids will enjoy a shallow water lagoon just for little swimmers, complete with its own water slide. Older kids and adults can take advantage of two enclosed tube slides, a zero depth beach style entry at one end of the main pool, and eight 25-yard lap lanes for competitions and exercise. With a snack bar and sunning decks on site, you can make a day of your visit.
Skate & Bike Park
Located at Veterans Memorial Park in the heart of Sierra Vista, the Sierra Vista-Kiwanis Skate and Bike Court invites guests on skateboards, in-line skates, and BMX bikes to enjoy a thrilling landscape of berms and banks, ramps and rails, step-ups, hubba ledges, banked walls, a pier block, and an advanced kidney bowl. Admission is free, and with three acres of challenges to explore, there’s plenty of room for adventurers to gather!
Disc Golf Park
Looking for a fun activity that the family can enjoy together? Disc golf is appropriate for players of all ages and abilities, and A.V. Anderson Park Disc Golf Course is the perfect place to build your game. This is a 10-acre 18-hole course with a beginner-friendly layout, and there are no fees to play.
Patterson Observatory
If you have a young scientist in the family or simply want to enjoy more educational activities together, you won’t want to miss a trip to Patterson Observatory. This facility is located at University of Arizona South and hosts public viewings about once per month. Admission is free, but you should sign up well in advance, as spaces are limited. Public nights at the Observatory are weather-dependent, so call ahead to check the forecast and ensure that the skies are clear on the day of your scheduled visit.
Hiking Trails
Looking for ways to get some exercise with the whole family and see some of the amazing outdoor scenery that surrounds the city of Sierra Vista? Going for a hike is the perfect way to spend a weekend day, and there are plenty of choices when it comes to nearby hiking trails. Younger children may enjoy the flat and easy trails along the San Pedro River, while older kids and teens might be up for more of a challenge with lengthy hikes in Miller Canyon, Brown Canyon, and Carr Peak. No matter where you bring the family for a day hike, always remember to bring along plenty of water and snacks to fuel up for your adventure.
Camping
Nothing brings the family together like an evening enjoying the great outdoors. You can find great camping throughout the year with organized campsites in the nearby mountain ranges surrounding the city. Ramsey Vista Campground is the closest to the city, accessible via Carr Canyon Road. It has 14 dry tent sites, water, and toilet facilities and is open from April through November. Reef Townsite Campground sits at a higher elevation than Ramsey Vista Campground and offers 16 tent sites at the site of a former mining town, offering a glimpse into history along with beautiful nature views. Alternatively, take a trip to Lakeview Campground at Parker Canyon Lake, known as Arizona’s Year Round Mountain Playground to enjoy beautiful campsites tucked away in oaks and junipers on a hill overlooking the lake. Tent and RV sites are available. From here, you can easily enjoy fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, or pedal boats—these are almost impossible to tip over and can accommodate riders of all ages and abilities.
If you are considering a move to Sierra Vista, there is no better place to call home than a move-in ready home from Castle & Cooke. Take a look at the properties we currently have available and envision your family making cherished memories in one of these spacious, beautifully finished homes.