5 Best Water Activities in Scottsdale AZ

Scottsdale vacation adventures in June, July, and August look different from the hiking, biking, and outdoor activities you’d enjoy during the rest of the year. In the summertime, it’s all about staying cool with fun, refreshing water activities in Scottsdale AZ!

Whether you’re looking for family-friendly entertainment or simply a way to relax and beat the heat this summer, here are some of the best water activities to enjoy in Scottsdale:

Stay Cool The Summer with These Water Activities in Scottsdale

1. Summertime Dive-In Movies

Many Scottsdale-area resorts offer dive-in movies for effortless nighttime fun during the summer months when the kids are out of school.

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is just one of the many resorts showing family-friendly flicks all summer long as a part of their “Summer at the Princess,” which also includes other activities the whole family will love, like fireworks and catch-and-release fishing derbies.

2. Waterslides

Even if you’re not staying overnight at one of Scottsdale’s resorts, you can still purchase a day pass to enjoy the wet-and-wild thrills of a resort’s water park, large pool complexes, and sky-high water slides.

Twirl down the three-story slide at the Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa or zip down the dual racing twist waterslides at the Arizona Biltmore. If you’d like to spend all day outdoors, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess offers four swimming pools and multiple waterslides to keep the kids busy, and Arizona Grand Resort & Spa features a seven-acre Oasis Water Park with waterslides, a lazy river, tiki bars, and other activities the whole family will love.

3. Splash Pads

If you’re looking for a children’s play area more conducive to smaller children, look no further than Scottsdale Quarter. This outdoor shopping center features upscale retailers and fabulous restaurants that adults and teenagers alike will love.

However, younger kids will enjoy running around in the cool pop-jet fountains and splash pad on the shopping center’s quad.

Some of Scottsdale’s city parks also offer splash pads for kids in addition to fun playgrounds and lush outdoor areas, such as Paiute Park, Chesnutt Park, and Pima Park.

4. Waterparks

Waterparks are some of the best water activities in Scottsdale to keep kids of all ages, from preschoolers to teenagers, entertained all day. These sprawling venues feature wave pools, splash pads, surfing simulators, waterslides, and other fun water activities.

Great Wolf Lodge boasts Arizona’s largest (and only) indoor waterpark, which is excellent for beating the heat in Scottsdale this summer. Hurricane Harbor in Phoenix and Golfland Sunsplash in Mesa are two other popular water parks outside Scottsdale with entertainment for all ages.

5. River & Lakes

If exploring nature is more your style, there are plenty of lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water within an hour’s drive of Scottsdale!

You can spend the entire day floating on an inner tube down the Salt River, boating on Lake Pleasant, or try stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking on Tempe Town Lake.

If you don’t have the proper equipment to enjoy these water activities in Scottsdale—no problem! The Salt River offers tube rentals, and Lake Pleasant and Tempe Town Lake have rental companies nearby where you can rent kayaks, paddleboards, boats, and other equipment for a fun day in the sun.

Check out this list to discover more of the best parks in Scottsdale.

Beat the Heat at a Luxury Vacation Rental from Stay With Style Scottsdale

Whether you like to stay active outdoors or lounge by the pool, Scottsdale offers attractions that will keep everyone cool and refreshed during Arizona’s long, hot summer.

If you’re visiting from out of town and are looking for a place to stay during your Scottsdale vacation, look no further than our spacious, well-furnished vacation homes.

Stay With Style Scottsdale offers visitors a wide selection of gorgeous properties with excellent amenities, like jacuzzi tubs, high-quality mattresses, gourmet kitchens, and more.

Plus, each of our properties has a sparkling swimming pool, so you’ll be able to continue the water fun—even after you return to your rental! Explore our spacious short-term vacation rentals to find the perfect place to stay during your summer vacation.