I’m sure by now you’ve heard that parts of Arizona are going to get hot this week. Really hot, like, triple digits hot! Summer is definitely here but that’s no reason to throw your hands up in defeat or to hunker down at home under the air conditioner. Here are some pretty fantastic things you can do this summer without turning into a hermit.

  1. Float down the Salt River.

Alan English CPA/Flickr

  1. Want to stay active without risking a sunburn? Try some indoor rock climbing.

Adrian Delgado2012/Flickr

  1. Or you could try a sunrise or night hike to avoid the sun’s intensity.

Andrew A/Flickr

  1. Participate in an evening flashlight tour at the Desert Botanical Garden.

Josh More/Flickr

  1. Another fun evening tour is at Scottsdale’s Taliesin West.

John/Flickr

  1. Visit a local swimming hole, creek, or river.

Adam Baker/Flickr

  1. Movie nights in a local park are also fun! Cities across the state host these each summer, like Flagstaff, Tucson, and Tempe.

Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance/Facebook For example, the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance hosts movies in Reid Park every Friday for free!

  1. Or try a drive-in movie at the West Wind Drive-In in Glendale, our state’s last drive-in theatre.

West Wind Glendale Drive-In Movie Theater/Facebook

  1. If you want to combine water and darkness, check out the “night splash” events at local water parks.

Golfland Sunsplash/Facebook This one shows the fun at Golfland Sunsplash in Mesa.

  1. If you want something a little quieter and a little more cultured, pay a visit to a local museum.

Forgemind Archimedia/Flickr

  1. Stop by your local ice cream store, paletas shop, Eegees, or even Circle K for a cool treat.

Bionicgrrrl/Flickr

  1. Escape to a cooler climate.

Arizona Traveler/Flickr Who wouldn’t want to spend a cool summer day in a place like Greer?

What are some of your favorite summer activities when the outdoor temperatures become almost unbearable? Let us know by leaving a comment below or on our Facebook fan page!

Alan English CPA/Flickr

Adrian Delgado2012/Flickr

Andrew A/Flickr

Josh More/Flickr

John/Flickr

Adam Baker/Flickr

Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance/Facebook

For example, the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance hosts movies in Reid Park every Friday for free!

West Wind Glendale Drive-In Movie Theater/Facebook

Golfland Sunsplash/Facebook

This one shows the fun at Golfland Sunsplash in Mesa.

Forgemind Archimedia/Flickr

Bionicgrrrl/Flickr

Arizona Traveler/Flickr

Who wouldn’t want to spend a cool summer day in a place like Greer?

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