Explore Tempe Virtually: Top Museums, Zoos, and Attractions from Home
Discover the vibrant attractions of Tempe and surrounding areas through immersive virtual tours. While many sites welcome in-person visitors with updated safety protocols, their online experiences offer family-friendly fun accessible from anywhere. Always verify the latest details on official websites before planning a visit.
From zoo videos and historical activities to art workshops and campus tours, Tempe's cultural gems provide enriching digital adventures. Dive into our curated guide below for the best virtual explorations in and around Tempe.
ASU Art Museum
The ASU Art Museum shares daily #museumfromhome content on Facebook and Instagram, featuring behind-the-scenes looks at art borrowing processes and exhibition insights. Explore their YouTube channel for performances, curator interviews, Saturday Storytimes, Masterpieces at Midday, and family art-making activities. New weekly Storytimes on Instagram and YouTube feature books read by museum ambassadors.
Arizona Heritage Center and Arizona Historical Society
Though the Arizona Heritage Center in Tempe is temporarily closed, the Arizona Historical Society's digital hub brings artifacts and Arizona history to life. Enjoy state facts, coloring pages, activity sheets, Native American tribe lessons, tortilla recipes, digital puzzles from historic images, Zoom backgrounds, and projects like crystal growing or pottery making.
- Hi Ho Silhouette Tangram: Use 14 puzzle pieces to create 5 silhouettes from a 1930s Arizona family collection.
- Oral history interview tips for capturing elders' stories.
- Origami: Fold a "Colorado River Toad" (Incilius alvarius).
- Digital Jigsaw Puzzles: 12 historical Arizona scenes.
ASU Gammage Digital Connections
ASU Gammage delivers free digital arts experiences, including masterclasses, performances, tech tours, and Lunch Time Talks. Visit their website for schedules and upcoming events.
Tempe History Museum
Explore historic photographs, artifacts like Charles Hayden’s hat, past exhibits, and more via the museum’s online collections. The Tempe at Home page offers puzzles, memory games, coloring pages, a Spotify playlist, eMuseum Bingo, and weekly Tempe Time Machine digital games inspired by classics like Pong and Oregon Trail, plus matching offline activities.
Tempe Public Library
The library's Tempe at Home page links to arts and crafts, coloring pages, book recommendations, a digital library for cardholders, and global virtual tours from the Louvre to the Guggenheim.
Tempe Walking Tours
Experience Downtown Tempe, Tempe Town Lake, and historic ASU campus sites through self-guided "Walk Through History" tours highlighting structures from the 1800s.
Tempe Plays at Home
Tempe Parks and Recreation's webpage features workout videos, adaptive fitness, daily activity themes, and #TempePlaysAtHome updates on Facebook and Instagram.
Phoenix Zoo
The Phoenix Zoo's Digital Safari includes videos, photos, fact sheets, games, and animal spotlights—watch sloths eat roses or anteaters in bubble baths. Check their site for special events like drive-thru safaris.
Tempe Center for the Arts
Weekly virtual Thursday series showcase diverse Tempe and Arizona artists in jazz, funk, dance, and acoustic performances. Follow on Facebook for live streams.
Gallery at Tempe Center for the Arts (TCA)
The Gallery at TCA website offers educational resources on past exhibits like Biomimicry and STEAM, perfect for home learning.
Tempe Town Lake
Visit virtually with the Tempe Town Lake Safari Guide: quizzes, coloring pages, and wildlife facts. Tempe Beach Park remains open with social distancing.
OdySea Aquarium
OdySea’s Oceanic Adventure from Home includes virtual classrooms (shark deep dives), videos, and live webcams of sharks and sea lions. In-person visits require advance booking.
Desert Botanical Garden
Explore insider tips, recipes, plant care videos, Desert Bingo, butterfly info, and Your Garden at Home blogs. Follow Facebook and Instagram for updates; advance tickets needed for visits.
Hall of Flame Fire Museum
The world’s largest firefighting museum features 90+ apparatus from 1725–1960. Their YouTube series dives into the collection. Open Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium
Discover sea creatures via website resources. Open with safety measures; book tickets online due to capacity limits.
Virtual Workshops with Changing Hands Bookstores
Enhance writing and mindfulness skills with online workshops. Visit their site for schedules; store open Tues.-Sun., 10 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
ASU For You
ASU For You provides free learning tools: virtual field trips, K-12 lessons, college courses, and a Tempe Campus virtual tour of Palm Walk, Memorial Union, and ASU Gammage.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
America’s Friendliest Airport offers aviation-themed coloring pages, puzzles, word games, and more for home fun.
