If your child dreams about being the next Top Chef, book a trip to the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa and enroll them in the interactive “Kids in the Kitchen” program ($25 for guests) which covers safety, cooking, baking, and finally, eating! Your sous chef will sport professional gear and take a “back of the house” tour. While Junior is sautéing, hit the Agave Spa for a Table Thai Massage ($189 for 80 minutes) or a Signature Organic Facial ($159 for 50 minutes). www.kierlandresort.com
Children sit around a campfire for “The Yavapai Experience” at Fort McDowell to learn about indigenous people and hear legends from tribal elders while participating in a one-mile nature hike. The tour highlights ancient tools and deciphers the area’s petroglyphs before winding back to the campfire where you get a taste of traditional Yavapai stew. www.fortmcdowelladventures.com
Older kids live and learn on the Desert Shelter Tour, where members of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture offer insight into desert life with visits to their self-designed outdoor dwellings. Additionally, the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation operates a broad range of educational outreach programs and summer camps for kids grades K through 12. www.franklloydwright.org