Seasonal depression is real y’all and an Arizona summer is bane of my existance. As a native New Yorker, having four distinct seasons was just our norm: we’d freeze during the winter, sneeze during the spring, sweat during the summer, and bliss out on everything pumpkin during the fall. So moving to Arizona where, to me, there are really only two distinct seasons–summer and not summer–was a difficult transition. Everyone who is born and raised in Arizona will tell you, “It gets easier every summer!” Well, I’m here to tell you that just isn’t true. But, there is light at the end of the tunnel! Because of my adversity to the intense Arizona summer, I’ve become somewhat of a pro at finding activities to get us out of house and out of the heat. Read below to find some of my favorite things to do over the summer here in Arizona!
Salt River
Head out to the Salt River in the Tonto National Forest of Arizona where you can enjoy a multitude of recreational activities: tubing, kayaking, rafting, or just hanging out in the water on the shores. Our favorite thing to do on the Salt River is without a doubt tubing! Go to Salt River Tubing to buy your ticket to rent a tube and pay for a shuttle ride to and from the river. As of summer 2019, tickets for all of the above will bring you to $17. Here are some important tips as you plan your Salt River adventure:
- Rent a “storage” tube (an inner tube with a big black basket in the middle) to toss your belongings in as well as a cooler with your favorite summer drinks and snacks!
- No glass on the river so pack accordingly
- Bring a TON of water
- Because the water is so refreshing, you don’t think you are getting sunburned, but TRUST ME YOU ARE. Bring sunscreen. A lot of sunscreen.
- Wear sturdy water-shoes – the bottom of the river is rocky so you will thank your lucky stars when you are trying to get your ass out of the tube and walk across the flowing river to the shore that you took my advice 🙂
- Bring a water proof camera! Maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see the wild horses hanging out in the river while you are there.
Take a Day Trip to Flagstaff
Flagstaff is one of mine and Brads favorite getaways in Arizona for so many reasons: the camping, hiking, food, lakes, atmosphere, the list goes on and on. The weather will be, on average, 20-30 degrees cooler than in the valley, which is why this is on the top of our list. We love to camp and Flagstaff is one of the best places for dispersed camping. Dispersed camping is camping anywhere in a National Forest outside of a designated campground with no services; no trash removal and little to no facilities like tables, fire pits, or toilets (this means, #packitinpackitout is even more important when you disperse camp).
If you do not love the outdoors like we do, Flagstaff is still a wonderful place to visit! Head downtown to grab a bite to eat or a beer at one of the many breweries. Some of our favorite breweries in Flagstaff are Mother Road, Dark Sky, and Flagstaff Brewing Company. Grab a coffee at a local coffee shop, or spend your afternoon walking up and down the streets of downtown window shopping.
Aspen Corner Dispersed Camping Upper Lake Mary
Take a Day Trip to Sedona
Sedona is another wonderful place that offers something for everyone: hiking, camping, golf courses, spa’s, restaurants, vortexes, gem stores, and Red Rock tours. Sedona is a little bit more of a touristy area than Flagstaff is so it’s best to get an early start on your days while visiting.
Our favorite thing to do in Sedona is hike! The landscape offers some of the most iconic views in Arizona so get your sunscreen and get outside! Here are some of our favorite hikes in the area:
Devils Bridge
Elevation: 564 ft
Distance: 4.2 miles (out and back)
Rating: Moderate
Tip: This is a wildly popular hike in Sedona so make sure you start early to avoid the crowds. We like to do sunrise hikes during the peak season so we either have the place to ourselves, or share the space with a few other hikers. Also, the trailhead parking lot is for high clearance vehicles only so you will more than likely park at the Dry Creek Road trailhead. This is one mile away from the Devil’s Bridge trailhead. Meaning, one mile to the trailhead, 4.2 miles out and back to Devil’s Bridge, and one mile back from the trailhead to your parked car, making this a 6.2 mile hike round trip. Make sure you take this into account when planning your trip (extra food, water, sunscreen, etc.)!
Cathedral Rock
Elevation: 744 ft
Distance: 1.2 miles (out and back)
Rating: Hard
Tip: This is, hands down, my favorite hike in Sedona! While short, this trail is hard and used for rock climbing. Wear either trail shoes, or super flexible hiking boots, as you will be scrambling to the top.
West Fork Trail
Elevation: 820 ft
Distance: 7.2 miles (out and back)
Rating: Easy
Tip: There is an $11 parking fee for this trailhead parking lot and the lot fills up faster than most. We arrived around 8:30am over the summer and there was already a line to get in! There are 13 separate river crossings throughout this trail so bring appropriate shoes. This trail is also used for backpacking and the end of the trail is not well marked so make sure you track your mileage to know when to turn back!
Catch a Sports Game
Because of our wonderful summer temperatures that like to stay in the triple digits for what seems like months on end, most of our sports stadiums are either indoors or have retractable roofs. Here are a few of the teams you can see during the summer months in Arizona:
- The Arizona Cardinals: Catch a preseason game at the State Farm Stadium located in Glendale. Tickets start at around $30.
- The Arizona Diamondbacks: These games are cheap and plentiful. Games go on all summer and you can find bleacher seats starting at $15 a piece! The Diamondbacks play in Downtown Phoenix at Chase Field. There are so many options in terms of transportation to make this such an easy day: take the light rail, park in any one of the hundred parking garages downtown, take a Lyft/Uber, or if you live downtown like we do, walk!
- The Arizona Coyotes: Even though Coyotes games start in September, remember, you are in Arizona and “summer” is still in full force in September. Our professional ice hockey team plays at the Gila River Arena and is one of my favorite things to do during a scorching hot day. Why you ask? Inside the stadium is so cold that you need a jacket. Cold temperatures, warm clothes, cold beer, and a nice hockey fight? What more can you ask for!?
- The Arizona Rattlers: Have you ever been to an indoor football game? Me neither until I went to a Rattlers game! Catch an end of the season game in June played in Talking Stick Resort Arena in downtown Phoenix. The rules are a little bit different in indoor football, which honestly, makes it that much more fun! Check out a game, I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Watering Holes in AZ – myth or fact?
I know it comes as a surprise to many people, as it did to me when I first moved here, but there is an abundance of watering holes in Arizona! My last way to survive the Arizona summer is to take advantage of one of the many lakes/creeks/watering holes we have: Roosevelt Lake, Canyon Lake, Lake Pleasant, Bull Pen in Camp Verde, and Water Wheel in Payson. A few tips as you research: some require permits (ones that I haven’t named), some require hiking, and some are so special they require backpacking to get to. With enough research, you can find them and cross them off your bucket lists. Please remember, #packitinpackitout and always treat these places with respect.
So, don’t let the triple digits ruin your summer. Find a lake to cool off in, jump in the car and head north, or stay right here in Phoenix and hunker down in the AC while you enjoy a sports game or one of the many restaurants and bars. Remember, never underestimate the power of something as simple as a good indoor, bottomless mimosa brunch on a Sunday morning. Stay cool my friends.
Yours,
Bohemian Postcards
1 Comment
Leave your reply.