Prescott with Kids: A Family Weekend in the Pines

Prescott is one of those rare places that’s genuinely fun for the whole family, cool enough to play outside all day, small enough to be easy, and packed with the kind of simple outdoor stuff kids actually remember. Here’s how to do a family weekend right.

Get on the water

Prescott’s lakes are tailor-made for kids:

• Lynx Lake, an easy, flat loop trail, electric-boat paddling, stocked trout for little anglers, and recreational gold panning at Lynx Creek that kids go nuts for.
• Watson Lake, paddle among the giant granite boulders of the Dells, then let them scramble the rocks (with an eye on them).
• Goldwater Lake, shady picnic ramadas and a calm, low-key afternoon.

Easy adventures on land

The trails here are forgiving, and half the fun is what you find along the way, pinecones, granite to climb, and the famous little horned lizards (“horny toads”) sunning on the path. Bring a magnifying glass and a sense of wonder. The Peavine Trail (flat, stroller- and bike-friendly) and the Granite Dells are easy wins. See more in our best hikes guide.

Beyond the trails

• Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary, a small, friendly Prescott zoo and rescue with animals kids love.
• Courthouse Plaza, let them burn energy on the big lawn; there’s often a concert or festival, and ice cream is never far.
• Downtown, easy, walkable, and full of treats.

Why a cabin beats a hotel with kids

Space to spread out, a full kitchen for picky eaters and big breakfasts, a washer/dryer for the inevitable mud, and a private hot tub for tired legs at the end of the day (supervise the little ones). Both of our cabins sit right in the Groom Creek pines, a few minutes from everything on this list. See which weeks are open and plan the trip.