Family Packing & Prep Checklist — The Rally House

Sun and heat

The desert sun is stronger than the temperature suggests. This is the section that actually matters.

• Reef-safe sunscreen, SPF 50+ — one bottle per adult, one for the pool bag
• Wide-brim hats or caps for every child
• Kids' sunglasses (bring a spare pair — one always disappears)
• Long-sleeve swim shirts / rash guards for pool hours
• Insulated water bottles for everyone, filled before you leave the house
• Lip balm with SPF and a small tube of aloe gel
• Electrolyte packets or freezer pops for after morning outings

Pool and backyard

The pool is heated and the court is private, so most of the trip happens out back.

• Two swimsuits per child so one is always dry
• Goggles, and a puddle jumper or life vest for non-swimmers
• Pool floats worth the suitcase space for a multi-day stay
• Quick-dry towels for outings (house towels stay at the house)
• Water shoes or flip-flops for hot decking
• Pickleball-friendly sneakers for the court

Little kids and babies

• Baby monitor if you're using the bunk room for naps while you're out back
• Travel crib sheets and a familiar sleep sack or blanket
• Stroller with a sun shade for the zoo and Old Town
• Carrier for trails and crowded attractions
• Swim diapers, wipes, and a wet bag
• White-noise machine or app — the house is quiet, but bedtime routines travel
• Nightlight for the hallway

Downtime and drives

• Tablets, headphones, and downloaded shows for the drive from the airport
• A card game or two for patio evenings
• Coloring books and stickers for restaurant waits
• One comfort toy per child, packed in a carry-on, not checked

Buy on arrival

There's a full-size grocery store under 10 minutes from the house — don't fly food in.

• Breakfast for the week: pancake mix, eggs, fruit, cereal, coffee
• Sandwich fixings for lunches back at the house
• Grill night: burgers, buns, corn, and a bag of ice
• S'mores kit for the firepit — graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallows
• Snacks for the morning outings and splash-pad stops
• Sunscreen backup and a cheap cooler for day trips

Before you leave home

• Book the morning attraction tickets — zoo, aquarium, and Butterfly Wonderland sell timed entry
• Check pool heating is on for your dates
• Confirm car seats: rental-car seats book out, so reserve or bring your own
• Download the one-day family itinerary PDF and share it with the other adults
• Save the house address in everyone's phone: 14241 N 54th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
• Set a family rule for the trip: outdoors before 11 a.m., pool after

Day-one prep at the house

• Stage a pool bag by the patio door: towels, sunscreen, goggles, water
• Stage a go bag by the front door: hats, refilled bottles, snacks, wipes
• Pick tomorrow's morning outing tonight so no one negotiates at breakfast
• Set out breakfast on the island before bed for the 7 a.m. wake-up
• Charge tablets and camera overnight