Family Night: The Perfect Summer Evening in Gilbert

In Gilbert, family-friendly fun is always on the horizon, especially when the sun goes down.
Whether under the distinctive neon lights of the Heritage District or out and about beyond downtown, Gilbert offers family-friendly activities and goings-on to entertain everyone in your crew.

Afternoon: Cool Places to Hang Out

Get a jump on your evening with a trip to Altitude Trampoline Park, featuring 35,000 square feet of trampolines, or BounceU, an “inflatable playground.” You can book a party or visit during open bounce sessions. (Pro tip: Make it a glow-in-the-dark experience, and your kids will thank you.) If your crew prefers putting over bouncing, head to Imagine 3D Mini Golf, which features a putting course played through 3D glasses.

For a jampacked family entertainment experience all under one roof, head to Fat Cats, which combines an arcade, movie theater and bowling alley into one crowd-pleasing package. Its movie theater has cushioned recliners, and the waitstaff are happy to deliver popcorn to you in your seat.

Evening: Time for Dinner

After an afternoon spent bouncing or putting or gaming, everyone will be ready for some grub. You can cook up classic summer foods yourself (hot dogs, anyone?) using one of the public grills at a park like Freestone, where kids can also play basketball or use park checkerboards.

Want someone else to do the cooking? You’ve come to the right place. Gilbert’s kid-friendly options are plentiful. Downtown in the Heritage District, there’s something for everyone — just look for the neon lights. In addition to lawn games like corn toss, Joe’s Real BBQ serves up a variety of favorites, including pulled pork, mac-and-cheese and peach cobbler. Culinary Dropout is big on nachos and games like ping-pong, while other local favorites include Liberty Market, Pomo Pizzeria and Lo-Lo’s Chicken and Waffles, which serves breakfast all day.

Before You Go: Sweet Treats

It isn’t a summer evening without ice cream. So grab a cone at Udder Delight, which churns batches made from milk collected down the road. And make sure to check out Rocket Fizz, a place worthy of Willy Wonka with its wonderland of bacon soda and multi-color pinwheel lollipops. The kids will never forget the experience, and you’ll have a special family memory that you can revisit whenever you like.