10 Exciting Things To Do In Tucson In Summer
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Discover the best things to do in Tucson in summer. From night safaris to fun resorts and water slides, Tucson has plenty of summer activities lined up for visitors.
Have you been to Tucson? I recently had the chance to explore this city for a week during last summer. I travelled here with my son and spent some fun time in the city. You can find my post on best things to do in Tucson with kids here. Tucson is the largest city in Arizona that is known as the desert. As much as there is culture and history in this city, there are a lot of other places to visit and explore in this city. The rugged natural beauty of the city is to die for.
Is all of it summer appropriate? Go ahead and check on the list of specially curated places by me that would be perfect for a summer holiday in the city.
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Tucson In Summer – Outdoor Tucson Summer Activities
1. A Drive To Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway
You might have already heard about the gorgeous views spread around Tucson. But this scenic road feels like freedom incarnated. All you need to do is to take Tanque Verde Road east from Tucson, to the Catalina Highway which would become Hitchcock Highway around the Forest Service Boundary.
Halt at the Windy Point Vista to enjoy some of the best and fascinating panoramic views of Arizona. Get the tanks of your vehicle full, blast off your favorite music and drive through the endless road to a place called peace. Early mornings and sunset hours are the best time to go on this scenic drive.
2. A Hike At Catalina State Park
When you are in Tucson, you need to visit the Catalina State Park. Gorgeous backdrops of the Catalina Mountains through the easy trails and the nature oriented programs within the state park offer an excellent way of witnessing the beauty of the surroundings.
Starting from the daytime, the morning hikes are the most divine experience that this park offers. The Romero Canyon Trail is a short hike that leads you to a stunning set of pools and falls. There is also a nature trail where you can easily go hiking and enjoy the gorgeous views along the park and then finally from the top.
Further, there are camping tours that get organized now and then in the park. Apart from the camping, recreational vehicles and night camping could be other unique experiences that you can have while you are at this gorgeous place.
3. Dive Into An Arizona Lake
When the summers get too hot that you feel living under the open sky is the most difficult task in the world. You seek water. A fresh, cool, natural source that takes away the heat of your body and leaves you with a soothing, refreshed feeling. Though Tucson is surrounded by multiple lakes that are a few kilometers away from the city, the 265 acre manmade Patagonia Lake is the most visited lake in the city.
During summer visits, this place offers an oasis of relief and a cool place to calm down and relax for a day. The shady location around the lake lets you have a mini picnic and the large area of the waterbody allows the visitors to go on a boat tour through it. You can also participate in activities like water skiing and fishing.
Tucson Summer Afternoon Attractions
4. Take A Wild Ride To The Water Park
Summers and Water Parks go synonymously. And no matter where you plan to visit during the summers, going to a water park should be on the top of your list. Likewise, Tucson has a ton of waterparks. And you can visit them according to which one is closest to you or the amenities available in the parks.
Some of the major water parks in Tucson are Funtasticks Valley Water Park, Catalina Park Splash Pad, Palo Verde Park Splash Pad and Clements Splash Pad.
Some of the features of these parks include Breakers Bay, Bonzai Pipeline, Giant Bubbles, Super Slides etc. Don’t forget the lip-smacking food that is available at the eateries.
5. Get The Best Deals On A Summer Resort
When you think about the summer holiday staying anywhere, you don’t think about a cavy, closeted room. Instead, a place with warm sunshine, an airy abode and a pool is vital at the property. No Airbnb can beat your stay at the resorts of Tucson. They are everything that you can imagine and much more.
Some of the best resorts in Tucson are Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort and Spa, Hacienda Del Sol, JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort and Spa and Loews Ventana Canyon Resort.
These amazing resorts put in their best effort to make you feel at home and leave you delighted.
6. Cool Down At Tohono Chul Gardens
Clear blue skies when you look up and bright colorful flowers as soon as you look down. I wish it was that simple to explain the vibe that Tohono Chul Garden offers. It is much more than that. And the beauty of the garden can only be understood when you visit it.
When it comes to your summer visit plans, this garden is the perfect place. It promises to keep the area approximately 10 degrees cooler than the surrounding place because of its thick, cool, shady trees that are around as well as the material that they have used in the garden.
The variety of vegetation is something else that needs to be marveled at in the garden. You would witness a variety of flowers and a bunch of mature trees that your time spent here would be memorable. Special events get organized on Fridays and Saturdays. Admission to the garden is free of cost.
7. Find An Oasis : Agua Caliente Regional Park
Agua Caliente Regional Park is not just a park for locals or visitors. It is an area where a lot of major events take place. If you visit the park at important times, you will be able to notice political and community meetings taking place at this place.
But if you want to spend some time in nature, just like any other natural place in Tucson, this place is a sanctuary. You would see lots and lots of beautiful flowers, trees, and a bunch of cute birds that regularly visit the place as well as the pond in the park.
Mornings are generally for fitness enthusiasts; afternoons are quiet times and evenings are for nature gazers in the regional park. If you don’t want to visit a lake that is at a certain distance from the city, Caliente is a local option for any visitor.
Tucson Summer Evenings
8. Spend Summer Safari Nights At The Zoo
Reid Park Zoo is one of the most visited and known places in Tucson. It’s an animal reserve spread over 24 acres of an area filled with creatures that are common in Arizona and other parts of the world as well.
The zoo reportedly has 500 types of animals including Hippos and Penguins. Though the time of your visit could be summer you would still get to see the Antarctic beings laying eggs and keeping them warm under a protected environment.
But the best part is to live with these creatures. Reid Park Zoo offers the opportunity to stay and spend some time in the natural environment at night time. You can buy tickets for the nighttime safari, live in a tent and sleep under the stars while the cold breeze combs your hair. Click here for more details about the Summer Safari Nights 2024.
9. Shop At The Happy Saguaro
Summer shopping is hectic and filled with dust, pollution and sweat if you are trying to do it on your vacation. But not while you are spending your time in Tucson. All you need to do is to visit the Happy Saguaro, where the summer heat would be shooed away by the cool art.
While shopping in the little artistic nation, you will get to see a great deal of art in the form of pottery, clothing, jewelry, home décor, plantation, native pieces and much more. You would be amazed by the colors and the artistry of some of these pieces.
Once you would start falling for it, you would take a piece of soul with you in the form of popping colors and aged artistry through every piece that you decide to buy.
10. An Entertainment Time At The Casino Del Sol
As summers arrive, the excitement of the sports and the zeal gets closeted among four walls and that should not be the case. Or we can simply turn the meter up for excitement by visiting the lavish Casino Del Sol. This place is a hub for cultural and other entertainment events. There is a huge arena, so don’t worry about the tickets. It doesn’t get sold out too soon. At least until you are on the VIP list of the casino already. These people make sure to welcome their visitors with open hearts and delightful offers.
I hope this guide gave you multiple good reasons to visit Tucson in the summer. You will not only score some great deals, but you will also find lesser crowds at the most popular tourist attractions in the city.