Activities in Phoenix area for older kids

Here is a list from the city of Scottsdale of things to do:  http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/events

I would recommend Butterfly World, Old Scottsdale, Taliesin, or the Botanical Gardens which have a many different types of cactuses ( go towards evening hours or you will roast in the sun).  You should definitely go to the Music Instrument Museum (it is amazing and you can spend an entire day there)  There is even a hands on room where kids can play instruments but it is amazing  https://mim.org/.  Please have plenty of water throughout the day, the environment is very dry and dehydrating.

Tom Thumb is a great and beautiful hike to do in northern scottsdale; Cracker Jax is a go cart, and other arcade fun place (my kids always loved it), jeep turn into the desert are fun and of course spring training! heard museum in phoenix is awesome..even for kids :-)