Fun things to do in Arizona during the summer
June 27, 2009 by Teresa Smith · Comments
It’s difficult to discuss hot weather right now. We are almost out of June and it hasn’t even felt hot yet! Apparently we haven’t had a June this cool since 1913!
”Here are some Fun things to do in Arizona during the summer”
Well, let’s just say at some point it does become hot and miserable, what is one to do…. I thought I’d list some of my ideas.
Get in your car and drive far, far away..! Ok, you really don’t have to drive THAT far to get some relief from the oven like heat. Arizona is a very diverse state with many climates. Within 1 1/2 – 2 hrs, you can greatly change the temperature you’re experiencing. And with that comes terrific new scenery.
Let’s talk about a few areas of interest. Hiking trails abound up north near Tonto national forest/creek. Also, Pinetop has wonderful trails and fishing spots. Flagstaff is gorgeous with all their pine trees… and that SMELL! mmmm, it’s so clean! Sedona deserves an entire day or weekend perhaps. It’s as glorious as you’ve heard.
So, you’d rather head south… this can be cooler too! Head to Benson, Tombstone & Bisbee. Look for at least a 10 degree temp drop, maybe more. Benson is home of the Kartchner Caverns State Park, it’s a must see! Call ahead though, sometimes there can be a wait for the tour. There are fees, children 0-6=free and 7-14= 1/2 price,adults can pay up to $23 for the longest tour (0-6yr olds not allowed on that tour). We’ve all heard about the wild wild west in Tombstone, AZ. Apparently, they still try to keep this going and have frequent gun shows in the streets to recreate the “good old days”. Bisbee is more hippy, artsy- crafty. EVERYONE seems to love Bisbee.
You don’t have a car? Or you just don’t feel like leaving the area…. hmm, well the easiest solution is to find a pool, grab a drink, and call it a day. Call some friends and have a little BB-Q when the sun goes down.
There are ALWAYS options. Some may be EARLY morning outdoor exercise, some may require memberships to fitness centers or rock climbing gyms. Not to mention some of the best shopping and dining (all air-conditioned 
) in the country. The heat doesn’t last long, typically 4 months. By the looks of THIS summer maybe 3 or less!
The early mornings and evenings are always great no matter how hot the day becomes. So practice your tennis, golf, or mountain hiking skills before 9am and you’ll stay happy!
Go out and explore! You’ll find even more reasons to love Arizona!!!
Below are some helpful links with more details:
For hiking information go to http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/tonto/recreation/hiking/index.shtml
http://www.flagstaffarizona.org/discovering.html
Kartchner Caverns State Park http://azstateparks.com/Parks/KACA/
