6 Fun Ways to Beat the Heat During Summer in Scottsdale, Arizona

If you think summer isn’t a great time to visit Scottsdale, Arizona, for vacation—think again! Since the heat keeps many tourists away, summer is the perfect season to score low prices on airfare, accommodations, and activities in Scottsdale.

Plus, there are tons of fun ways to stay cool in Scottsdale that your whole family will enjoy. Here are six of our favorite activities to enjoy during the summer in Scottsdale!

1. Go Tubing on the River Rapids

Tubing the Lower Salt River in Tonto National Forest is a popular way to stay cool while basking in the Arizona sunshine during your vacation to Scottsdale!

Lower Salt River Tubing is a 27-mile drive from Scottsdale, Arizona. Both locals and tourists will be content to spend a day floating along the river to beat the hot summer temps. You can choose a two, three, or five-hour trip, depending on the part of the river where you decide to exit.

During the summer, tube rentals and shuttle bus rides to and from the area where you enter the river are available seven days a week for $19 per person. We recommend reading the safety protocols on their website before enjoying a day of fun in the sun!

2. Relax at a Scottsdale Resort 

Scottsdale resorts are filled with fabulous amenities—including tons of refreshing pools, luxurious resort spas, and excellent golf courses that offer an experience like no other!

During your summer vacation, book a day pass to enjoy pool, spa, and amenity access at a popular Scottsdale resort—and you don’t even have to stay the night!

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Hotel Valley Ho, Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa, Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, and the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa are just a few of the resorts where you can book a day pass. They offer access to outdoor pools, private cabanas, splash pads, sandy beach areas, thrilling water slides, lazy rivers, relaxing amenities, and even an Adventure Water Park to enjoy a refreshing day in the Arizona sun.

Or, perhaps golf is more your thing. Many of the places listed above, like the Scottsdale Princess and the Westin Kierland Resort, have a golf course you can enjoy while the kids are content hanging out at the resort pools.

3. Visit Sunset Beach at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess 

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort deserves a special visit during your summer vacation. Between the massive pools, giant water slides, relaxing hot tubs, and excellent dining options, there’s plenty to do on-site at the Princess that will keep you and your family busy for the entire day.

One of the reasons people love to visit the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is Sunset Beach—the largest pool at the Princess with a 9,000-square-foot sandy beach surrounding it. There’s plenty of lounge chairs to relax in, and a beachside drink and snack menu is available.

On Fridays and Saturdays during the summer, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort hosts dive-in movies at Sunset Beach. Your family can watch G-rated movies on a giant, inflatable screen while floating in the pool at Sunset Beach! You can visit the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess website for details on the dive-in movies.

4. Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride 

When you’re visiting Scottsdale in the summer, it’s challenging to enjoy the excellent hikes and mountain biking trails in the Sonoran Desert due to the excessive heat.

So, what better way to soak in Arizona’s iconic sunsets and panoramic views than a hot air balloon ride as the sun sinks below the horizon?

There’s no doubt that a hot air balloon ride will be one of the most memorable things you do during your time in Phoenix, Arizona. Rainbow Ryders offers sunrise and sunset rides to Phoenix and Scottsdale that provide spectacular views of the Sonoran Desert landscape.

5. Enjoy Ice Cream at Sugar Bowl 

Beat the heat after a long day in the sun at the Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant—one of the best places to visit in Old Town Scottsdale for ice cream treats!

Sugar Bowl has been serving sweet treats and a small menu of American food to the state of Arizona since 1958, and not much about this charming local spot has changed since then! When you visit, you’ll notice everything in the shop looks like it’s from the 1950s—from the authentic soda fountain to the retro décor.

6. Explore Interesting Museums 

Once you’ve had your fair share of water activities, visit one of Scottsdale’s many museums or art galleries to take a break from the Phoenix heat. Here are a few popular museums anyone will love:

Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West: From cowboy to ghost town stories, learn the reasons why Scottsdale became the “West’s Most Western Town” with engaging exhibits, programs, and activities for kids and adult participants alike.

Musical Instrument Museum: Experience music from around the world at the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)—the largest instrument museum in the world that celebrates culture and music with a collection of 8,000 instruments from over 200 countries.

Heard Museum: The Heard Museum is nationally recognized for its world-class exhibits, collections, programming, and festivals that present, interpret, and advance American Indian art and stories.

Want to discover even more museums that you can explore? Check out this blog post on Scottsdale museums!

Relax at a Stay With Style Scottsdale Vacation Rental this Summer 

One of the best things you can do during your Scottsdale vacation is choosing a place to stay that offers a phenomenal experience entirely on its own.

One of the reasons our guests love staying at our Scottsdale vacation rentals is access to extra space and luxurious amenities that allow them to have fun without leaving their private place. However, our rentals are also located in a convenient area—nearby restaurants, shopping, and plenty of things to do in Scottsdale!

Make our space your space this summer. Contact our friendly team to book a spacious, comfortable place to stay during your trip to Scottsdale, Arizona!