Why Should You Travel to Arizona During the Summer?

As I grew up in Scottsdale, I learned that summers in Arizona are famously hot. But I don’t want you to think the temperature is always 115 degrees. The temperature is frequently in the 100°-105° range, which is much more agreeable. “Are you at ease?” my friends enquire. “You’re crazy!” Such heat is not favorable to human existence.”

I’d spent the previous week in my hometown and couldn’t wait to go onto the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport’s walkway. The weather, like an old song on the radio, brings back memories for me. It also appears primitive and simple, as if you’ve traveled back in time to when the first humans roamed the Earth.

“It’s a dry heat,” Arizonans will gladly say, and I’m right there with them. Any day, I’d rather have Arizona summers than a hot 85° with 75% humidity. Though Phoenix and Scottsdale offer lovely weather in the spring, fall, and winter, I like convincing travelers that the ideal time to visit is during the summer. Off-season pricing at five-star resorts like the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, The Phoenician, and Four Seasons Scottsdale allows for longer stays. You’ll enjoy all of the desert’s peace and luxury at a fraction of the cost. (Think frozen grapes delivered to the pool at the Four Seasons and dine-in movies at the Fairmont.)

To be honest, summer travel requires a bit more planning on your part owing to the extreme heat. Talking about planning, booking sprinter rentals might be a good idea. A noon stroll, for example, is entirely inappropriate. Anything outside must be finished very early in the morning.

I prefer to begin my day by hiking up Camelback Mountain at 6 a.m. The Cholla Trail and Echo Canyon paths lead to the summit.

On a recent hike up Cholla Trail, all I could think of was my pounding heart and the breathtaking panoramic views of Phoenix, Scottsdale, which I know like the back of my hand, and the McDowell Mountains. They are friendly mountains, as seen by the clean, broad roadways.

The contrast between the old surroundings and the area’s modern retail buildings, restaurants, and hotels is appealing.

Though Biltmore Fashion Park and Kierland Commons give customers a refreshing mist as they shop outside, when the afternoon heat hits, I head to the movies or Scottsdale Fashion Square. If I’m feeling very cerebral, I’ll pay a visit to the strange Musical Instrument Museum or the Heard Museum to observe the current exhibit on American Indian culture.

The monsoon season begins in August, with much-needed rain washing everything clean. The parched landscape sighs in relief, quenching a long thirst, and the once-dark sky returns to its original shade of blue, the air softened by the pleasant scent of creosote.

With confidence, book your next holiday.
To be sure, this is a happy picture. The holy grail emerges in the form of a covered parking space when the heat strikes with force, causing sweat to pour down your back and your head to become muddled.

Locals recognize how simple it is to visit Sedona, Flagstaff, and Prescott in the milder northern temperatures. But just when you think you can’t take it any longer, the seasons change, and cold sets in. To summarize, visiting Arizona is never a terrible idea. But the summer months will always have a particular place in my heart. And those relentless beams will keep the Valley of the Sun warm for a few more weeks.

Those balmy summer nights
Temperatures fall in the evenings, making it a fantastic time to enjoy the desert scenery. Bring a picnic or locate a spot to see one of Arizona’s famous sunsets at Saguaro National Park. Then visit the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, which is open til 10 p.m. until September 1st, to see the nocturnal creatures awaken.

Night owls may plan a moonlight trek. Many paths are available after dark (but check the hours if it’s in a gated park). If you’re concerned about seeing unusual species in the brush, you may go on a guided tour led by county parks and recreation agencies (such as Maricopa’s) or at an Arizona State Park. Alternatively, try some ironic drinking at Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour, a bar located in the former prohibition headquarters of Arizona. The 32-page storybook cocktail menu with bespoke drawings and cocktails is so superb that the bar has been nominated two years in a row by the industry-savvy Tales of the Cocktail crowd for the world’s finest cocktail menu. Mixology enthusiasts and imbibers looking to cool down will enjoy their attention to ice craft as well.

Owls Club in Tucson, Arizona, offers a double dosage of spirits. The dark, whiskey-centric bar (all drinks are $9) debuted at the end of 2016 in a former funeral home chapel. Try Borderlands Brewing Co. downtown for a lighter atmosphere: live music, an outside terrace, and walking access to a multitude of other downtown watering establishments make it a local favorite. Try the Beer Without Borders Brown Ale, a collaboration between Borderlands and Hermosillo, Mexico’s Buqui Bichi Brewing.