What to do and see in Central Arizona, Central Arizona: The Best Educational sites

The Environmental Education Center serves as a gateway to Veterans Oasis Park, offering a diverse roster of programming related to the environment. The park also includes 4 1/2 miles of trails, wildlife viewing areas; ramadas and picnic areas; a butterfly and hummingbird habitat; an outdoor amphitheatre; a unique, learning-oriented playground; a 5-acre "urban fishing" lake; and a Solar System Walk.

Gift shop specializing in local and regional handcrafted items. Located inside the U.S. Forest Service Red Rock Ranger Station Visitor Center. Visitor Center has interactive displays, movie of the local area, visitor information and local and national passes. Views are beautiful from the site with great photo opportunities available.

Providing the finest in live entertainment in the verde valley. Concerts by the best local and national musicians and artists. Conveniently located in old Town Cottonwood, this intimate, vintage venue is a gem.

OdySea Aquarium, located in Scottsdale, is America’s newest aquarium and was recently voted Kids Best Indoor Entertainment. This multi-level, state-of-the-art facility holds more than 2 million gallons of water and is the largest aquarium in Arizona. OdySea Aquarium offers an educational, interactive and entertaining experience for guests of all ages by combining theme-park style amusement with highly engaging presentations of aquatic life. OdySea Aquarium features more than 65 exhibits, 370 species, the world’s only Russian Sturgeon touch exhibit as well as 2 Stingray touch exhibits and a tide touch pool! OdySea is also home to Voyager, where guests take their seats in a stadium-seating style theatre with 46 ft. viewing windows for the “world’s only revolving aquarium experience.