11 Unexpected Things That Make Arizona The Best State To Visit In Summer

When most people think of Arizona, hot deserts and toasty temperatures are some of the first thoughts that come to mind. While that’s certainly true for some areas of the state, not every part of Arizona huddles around the air conditioner for several months of the year. In fact, you’ll find some fascinating places to visit and some pretty cool things to do when traveling through the Grand Canyon State. Some may even be completely unexpected. Check out some of the incredible things you can do here during summer!

1. Climb and swing through the Ponderosa pines at Flagstaff Extreme.

If you want to put your comfort to the test and see the Arizona forest from a squirrel’s perspective, then check out Flagstaff Extreme, located at Fort Tuthill County Park. You can find details about visiting by reading one of our previous articles.

2. Enjoy a morning of tubing down the Salt River.

If you prefer to stay near the Phoenix area in summer, you don’t have to melt! Try a couple hours of tubing along the cool waters of the Salt River, which you can read about here.

3. Hike through the chilly environment in Lava River Cave.

This unique cave near Flagstaff is more than 700,000-years-old and reaches a peak temperature of 45-degrees. That certainly seems refreshing when you consider that a good chunk of the state is baking under the sun. Read details about hiking the cave in a previous article.

4. Pack a picnic and check out a movie in the park or our last remaining drive-in theatre.

The West Wind Drive-In sits in Glendale and is the last theatre of its kind in Arizona! You can find details about it in this article.

5. Enjoy games, snacks, and drinks in an icy environment at Scottsdale’s Polar Play.

If traveling to the Arctic won’t make it on your to-do list this year, try a visit to this ice bar that doubles as family-friendly entertainment. You can find details on their website, polarplay.com.

6. Pay a visit to Grand Falls after the monsoons hit for an epic show.

This waterfall only flows when the Little Colorado River is running, so during the summer monsoons is a perfect time to watch the water rush through here. Find details about visiting in this article.

7. Eat a delicious seafood dinner in a subterranean environment at the Salt Cellar in Scottsdale.

If you want to escape the heat, try retreating underground! The seafood restaurant is located at 550 North Hayden Road in Scottsdale.

8. Escape into the pines, whether it’s a long trek to the Grand Canyon’s North Rim or into the White Mountains.

This kind of seems like a no brainer, right? Plus, there are tons of forests around the state that you can run off to for a weekend in the pines.

9. See the world from a bird’s perspective by riding a ski lift.

Pretty, isn't it?

10. Embark on a night hike, particularly one that is guided by park rangers.

Check the calendar of your favorite park to see if any are planned for the summer!

11. Enjoy an evening under the stars and moon on a night boat ride.

Find a sunset or evening boat tour or opt to paddle on a lake yourself, like at Tempe Town Lake.

What are some other fun adventures you like to take in Arizona during the summer?

Now that the temperatures have exceeded the 100s in some areas of the state, summer is probably already on your mind. Read 12 Photos That Perfectly Sum Up Arizona In The Summertime for a reminder of what we have in store for the next few months.