Kiddos

he city has dedicated 272 acres to outdoor family fun and community togetherness at Gilbert Regional Park. Picnic, walk along a one-mile path, fish in the lake, or take in a performance at the amphitheater. Tots and toddlers can safely climb, slide, or splash at playgrounds just their size. A 17-foot-tall playground—dubbed The Mountain—offers three levels of climbing features, slides, and a zip line. The sports-minded have their choice of basketball, pickleball, sand volleyball, and tennis courts. And by 2024, the park also promises the addition of a community water park.

One of Gilbert’s newer recreation areas is Desert Sky Park, where you can play or watch soccer, exercise along the fitness course, stroll around the lake, and let the kids loose on the playground.

Freestone Park has many of the same amenities, but it also features a skate park and the Freestone Railroad—an area with a miniature train, carousel, and mini Ferris wheel to ride.

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et a taste of desert nature at the city’s Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch. Explore nearly five miles of trails with signage about local wildlife that weave along the banks of several ponds. A floating boardwalk crosses a lake for a closer look at fish and birds. Viewing blinds help you quietly watch the park’s animal residents, and gardens attract butterflies and birds. There’s also a sky observatory that offers public programs, a paleontology dig site, and a tot playground.

For something adorable, check out the cute barn animals at Mother Nature’s Farm. The farm, which is open seasonally, takes care of pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, sheep, cows, donkeys, horses, goats, alpacas, birds, and tortoises. It’s a perfect place to take pictures with kids. The maze of hay bales also is kid-sized, but the whole family can enjoy fall hayrides, winter “snow” days, and a boutique filled with rustic home decor.

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here’s no excuse for being bored at the Main Event—no matter your age. This indoor amusement center offers billiards, laser tag, bowling, air hockey, virtual reality experiences, and an arcade with more than 100 games. Get strapped into a harness as you safely navigate tightropes, balance beams, and rope bridges in a suspended-in-air obstacle course. Play as a team while flying through space or save a candy factory in the immersive environment of a Story Room. Regenerate with burgers, pizza, and more at the restaurant and bar.

Multiple entertainment options exist at FatCats, too. Play a few frames of bowling, try your gaming skills in the arcade, and putt your way through nine holes of miniature golf among pirates and scalawags. Enjoy a burger and a side of fries—or a few other menu offerings—at your seat as you enjoy a movie on one of several screens.

Go ahead and bounce off the walls—and the floors—at Altitude Trampoline Park. You’ll find a parcourse, a foam pit, a beam for gladiator-style duels, bounce basketball, dodgeball, rock climbing, and a gymnastics tumble track. Enjoy access to family-friendly events throughout the week, including Sunday Family Fundays and Glo in the Park nights.

For kids at heart, “arcade” means pinball! Level 1 Arcade Bar has old-style pinball and stand-up video games that are rotated every month so that each visit can be a new experience. The menu is full of snacks and meals that appeal to all ages, as well as beer and cocktail offerings for adults. After 7 p.m., the place turns into a 21+ spot.

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hungry family can find many varied offerings throughout Gilbert. Check out Agritopia, where farm-fresh is more than a slogan, it’s a lifestyle. Joe’s Farm Grill focuses on breakfast favorites, plus burgers, sandwiches, salads, and more for lunch and dinner. Dining at a picnic table next to a grassy area is the perfect family setting.

For a taste of delicious food and quirky architecture, Topo is the place to go. Known throughout the region as the restaurant with undeniable roadside charm, Topo (which means “gopher” in Spanish) proudly sports a massive gopher statue with a ranger hat atop its roof. Perfect for family photos, the restaurant serves tacos, burritos, elote, and even prickly-pear soft serve.
If everyone in the family likes, nay, loves macaroni and cheese, then head directly to Elbows Mac N’ Cheese. There are numerous concoctions on the menu, plus a gluten-free option and build-your-own possibilities. No worries if this isn’t your taste. The menu also has chicken tenders, sandwiches, and salads.

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