Museums, unusual places, hands-on discoveries, and group visits you can plan for your own day.
ScienceBuseck Center for Meteorite Studies
See real meteorites and learn how researchers use them to study the solar system. The ASU display is open for self-guided visits on weekdays, excluding university holidays.
ScienceASU Institute of Human Origins
Visit a working research institute to explore fossils, early tools and the science of human evolution. This is a genuine behind-the-scenes learning opportunity rather than a conventional museum day.
NatureArizona Worm Farm
Follow the farm’s self-guided learning stops and QR-code videos to see composting, worms and sustainable soil practices in action.
WorkshopCerreta Candy Company
Watch the candy-making process, learn how the factory works and choose whether to add a hands-on chocolate activity. This is a commercial factory experience with separate ticket options.
HistoryDeer Valley Petroglyph Preserve
Explore ancient rock art with an optional staff-led two-hour program. Self-guided groups can use a free audio tour, activity booklets and an interactive discovery app.
SciencePhoenix North Gateway Materials Recovery Facility
Go behind the scenes of the city’s recycling and waste-diversion system. The Phoenix Zero Waste team describes group tours and educational presentations as part of its public outreach.
HistoryS'edav Va'aki Museum
Explore the history of the ancestral Sonoran Desert people and the canal networks that shaped the Valley. Ask about school or group experiences before planning a co-op trip.
NatureLiberty Wildlife
Walk the education trail, meet non-releasable birds of prey, learn from live bird presentations and reptile encounters, and explore desert wildlife conservation with an educator.
NatureSouthwest Wildlife Conservation Center
Meet rescued native mammals on a docent-led outdoor field trip about habitats, food webs, coexistence and conservation. Homeschool groups qualify for school tours, subject to group makeup.
Act One Culture Pass gives two general-admission tickets per checked-out pass at participating museums, gardens and cultural sites. For example, Phoenix Art Museum, Heard Museum, S’edav Va’aki Museum, Cosanti and Desert Botanical Garden appear in partner lists. A pass covers two people, not necessarily your whole family.
Availability differs by library and venue. Passes are limited; holds or renewals may not be allowed. Special events and exhibitions often cost extra. Mesa Public Library limits households to one pass at a time and two per month.
See participating venuesPhoenix Art Museum opens for voluntary-donation admission on Wednesdays 3–8 p.m. and offers free general admission on First Fridays 5–8 p.m. Chandler Museum, Tempe History Museum and ASU Art Museum have free general admission year-round.
Special exhibitions at Phoenix Art Museum may cost extra. Verify hours and age suitability; the free times are not the same as a private tour reservation.
See current free-access hoursAct One Culture Pass: Explore includes admission opportunities at natural and historic sites. Deer Valley Petroglyph Preserve passes are available through participating Central Arizona libraries; reserve according to library rules.
The available venue list changes by library, and a single pass does not necessarily cover your entire group. Check the pass terms before traveling.
Explore free nature passesAct One Culture Pass: Performances enables eligible cardholders at select libraries to check out tickets for theatre, concerts and selected other performances. In the Valley, participating library branches and individual shows are limited.
A regular museum Culture Pass does not automatically grant event tickets. See the specific performance partners and eligible libraries first, and check seating and age restrictions.
Check performance pass partnersPhoenix Art Museum’s Museums on Us program offers free general admission on the first full weekend of each month to an eligible Bank of America, Merrill Lynch or U.S. Trust cardholder. The museum also lists AAA and active-duty military/veteran discounts.
Each qualifying cardholder gets their own admission benefit, not automatically tickets for every family member. ID and program rules apply; discounts cannot always be combined.
Check qualification detailsThese are public programs, not exclusive Parley discounts. Confirm current eligibility and admission terms with each provider.
Group options are different from individual admission. Ask about possibilities without assuming discounted rates or guaranteed bookings.
