Stay Cool this Summer: Tucson Edition

Some of my very best, all time closest friends on the planet are thinking of moving to Tucson. Anyone's biggest concern about moving here is how to adapt to our intensely hot summers. If you know someone who recently moved, is considering relocating, or anyone who would like a few more ideas of how to beat the heat, please pass this along! 

Even just a quick plunge in a body of water can drop your internal temp and keep you cool for hours.

Easiest Ways to Stay Cool In Tucson this Summer

Stay Hydrated: Drink water throughout the day, even when you don't feel thirsty. Hydration helps regulate body temperature and prevents heat-related conditions. Add cucumber or mint to imbue water with cooling properties.

Midday Retreat: Most cultures around the world retreat to cool or shady spaces during the hottest hours of the day. Spend time in air-conditioned places like libraries, museums, cafes or community centers during peak heat hours.

AC Maintenance: Before the heat kicks in, make sure that your air conditioning units are functioning efficiently. This prevents breakdowns during heatwaves. Hose down condensers during peak hours to keep units cool and operational. 

Seasonal Routines: Schedule outdoor activities for early morning and late evening when temperatures are cooler. Avoid strenuous activities during midday heat. Siesta!

Sun Protection: Apply broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen with at least SPF 30, wear wide-brimmed hats, and use sunglasses to protect against harmful UV rays. 

Water Breaks: If you have a pool - amazing. Even just a quick dip can reset you from hot to not for the rest of the day. Outdoor and indoor showers are also wonderful ways to cool off. Kids love a hose, sprinkler, slip-n-slide and super soakers.

Many Arizonans have rituals and routines to pass the summer months. For this post, I thought it would be interesting to also include wisdom practices from cultures around the world - and they’re all pretty much the same. 

In Mediterranean and latin countries like Spain, Italy, Greece, and many parts of Latin America, it’s common to take a mid-afternoon break when the sun is at its highest and hottest. People pause work, close shops, and retreat indoors to rest, nap, or share meals. Daily life picks back up in the cooler evening hours. Similarly, in the Middle East and North Africa, most people start their day early, then take a long midday rest indoors. Social gatherings and business resume after sunset. Indigenous desert dwellers, such as the Tohono O’odham of Southern Arizona and the Bedouins of North Africa, have long practiced heat-conscious living—sheltering during the hottest part of the day and traveling or gathering in the early morning or evening. In India, Thailand, Cambodia, and other Southeast Asian countries we see the same - people plan errands, ceremonies, and work around cooler morning and evening hours. In China, Korea, and Japan, summer is met with seasonal shifts in diet and activity: cooling teas, light foods, shaded tea houses, and indoor rituals. For Chinese Medicine recommendations of how to better keep cool this summer, please check out my previous post. In Japan, uchimizu (sprinkling water on walk ways and grounds) cools down the immediate environment, and people wear light, breathable fabrics like yukata and avoid going out during peak heat. In most of the cultures mentioned here, homes, community spaces and spiritual centers are built with shaded verandas, breezy corridors, and open-air spaces to stay cool. In the hot season, indoor life slows down, and fans, ceiling coolers, and shaded napping areas become central to the day. We need to take a page from these books!

I hope you’re able to organize your life - at least in part - with the most fundamental heat wise traditions: plan activities during the early morning and late evening, retreat indoors or into shade during peak hours and preserve your energy midday so you can gather and celebrate after sunset. 

Tucson bound this Summer?

Check out climatized venues like:

Movie theaters - the Loft Cinema, Violet Crown Cinemas, AMC, Harkins, and Century movie theaters. 

Museums and Exhibition Spaces like Tucson Museum of Art, MOCA, Center for Creative Photography, Arizona History Museum, The University of Arizona Museum of Art, and many more. 

Staycation at Hotels or Resorts like Hacienda del Sol, the Arizona Inn, or Lodge on the Desert. 

Get a Day Pass to a resort or hotel to enjoy their pools and spa facilities: JW Marriott at Starr Pass Resort and Spa, The Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, Omni Tucson National Resort and Spa, The Ritz at Dove Mountain, and Canyon Ranch Tucson.

Resources for families with Kids this Summer

Wild Katz Children's Adventure Playground: Indoor play zones including climbing walls, obstacle courses, and a ball blaster arena. Designed for children aged 6 months to 12 years. 

We Rock the Spectrum Kid's Gym: Inclusive indoor gym offering sensory-friendly equipment and activities suitable for children of all abilities. 

Get Air Trampoline Park: Large trampoline park with activities like dodgeball, foam pits, and an obstacle course. 

Elevate Trampoline Park: Trampolines, rock climbing walls, and ninja courses for active play. Did someone say ninja course? Hiiiiii

Funtasticks Family Fun Park: Indoor arcade, laser tag, and rides for all ages, including Cactus Springs at Funtasticks - a multi-level water play area features colorful slides, gigantic tipping buckets, bubbler jets, water wheels, and waterfalls, providing a refreshing escape from the heat.

Playformance - a dynamic play gym with tons of summer camp options. Parkour teams and nerf gun battles to name a few. The owners are former teachers and have a great philosophy around kids connecting and getting along.

Catalina Terrace swim team is apparently loads of fun for kids but can be a lot of work for parents.

Tucson Racquet Club Camp - a tried-n-true classic hit with the kids, but they'll be outdoors. Good news: indoor and outdoor pools abound.

Live Theatre Workshop - a great indoor camp option

Tucson Museum of Art camps - People rave about these so they book up quickly.

Children's Museum Tucson: Interactive exhibits designed for children up to age 10, promoting learning through play. 

Rocks & Ropes: Indoor rock climbing facility with kid camps, teams and/or you can just sign up for an hour or two.

My Gym Tucson: Fitness and fun programs tailored for children, including gymnastics and dance. 

Golf N' Stuff: Indoor arcade games and mini-golf: classic. 

I was raised on Justin’s Water World and The Breakers - both totally questionable water parks with very low standards as far as hygiene and safety were concerned. But! It was the 80s/90s and we did NOT care. Always a blast. Sadly, Justin’s was mostly converted into an RV & Mobile Home park in the early aughts and Breakers permanently shut it’s doors in 2018 - the entrance gates are now covered over by “no trespassing” signs.  But so, while Tucson doesn't have large-scale water parks anymore, there are a few venues and events designed to help kids stay cool and entertained during the summer (this seems a fairly obvious and potentially lucrative hole in the market): 

Cactus Springs at Funtasticks Family Fun Park: This multi-level water play area features colorful slides, gigantic tipping buckets, bubbler jets, water wheels, and waterfalls, providing a refreshing escape from the heat. 

City of Tucson Splash Pads: The city operates multiple splash pads, including those at Clements Splash Pad and Fort Lowell Splash Pad, offering free water play areas for children. City of Tucson

Public Pools with Water Slides: Facilities like Archer Pool and Clements Pool feature water slides and are open for recreational swimming during the summer. Admission is free. This is Tucson

Special Summer Events for Kids in Tucson

Loft Kids Fest at The Loft Cinema: An annual event offering free screenings of family-friendly films, along with activities and games for children.

Chillin’ at the Chul: Hosted by Tohono Chul, this event provides evening entertainment with activities for kids, allowing families to enjoy cooler temperatures after sunset.

Summer Reading Programs: Local libraries often host summer reading initiatives with events, storytelling sessions, and activities designed to engage young readers. Cute.

Get out of Dodge! Easy Flights from TUS

The natives will tell you: Leave if you can. If you have the time, means, and interest to depart for someplace chill, here are a few revitalizing summer getaways with cooler temperatures. The following destinations have direct flights from Tucson International Airport:

Seattle, Washington: Known for its mild summers, Seattle offers a vibrant cityscape surrounded by water, mountains, and evergreen forests. Enjoy the majesty of the Pacific Northwest. 

Portland, Oregon: A renowned food scene with loads of cultural venues and lush parks. The city's temperate summer climate makes it ideal for outdoor activities like hiking and biking. 

Denver, Colorado: Nestled at the base of the Rocky Mountains, Denver boasts cooler summer temperatures and oodles of outdoor adventures and national parks. 

San Francisco, California: “the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco” - Mark Twain. Enough said. Famous for its foggy summers, the Bay offers a cool escape with loads of attractions and diverse neighborhoods to explore. 

Salt Lake City, Utah: Surrounded by mountains, Salt Lake City provides a gateway to numerous outdoor activities and national parks. 

Short Roadtrips to Cooler Climes

If flying isn’t your jam or you prefer a roadtrip to escape the desert heat, there are a number of cooler destinations within a 5-hour drive from Tucson. Each of these offer either higher elevation or water access, which usually means milder temps:

Mount Lemmon (1–1.5 hrs) ~20–30°F cooler than Tucson! Pine forests, hiking, rock climbing, and the charming town of Summerhaven. Enormous cookies at the Cookie Cabin.

Prescott, AZ (3.5–4 hrs) especially consider Prescott Lake. Historic downtown, pine trees, lakes for kayaking, and cooler summer temps. Great for antiquing and outdoor festivals.

Flagstaff, AZ (4.5–5 hrs) Mountain town with a college vibe, 7,000+ ft elevation (20-30 degrees cooler than Tucson), perfect for hiking, biking, breweries, and cool nights.

Sedona, AZ (4–4.5 hrs) Red rock scenery, spiritual vortexes, galleries, cooler nights, and gemstones! Try Oak Creek for it’s extra charm and shaded water hikes.

Payson, AZ (3–3.5 hrs) Gateway to the Mogollon Rim. Lakes, pine forests, and creek hikes make it a peaceful, cooler retreat.

Silver City, NM (3 hrs) Artsy mountain town near the Gila National Forest. Explore the Gila Cliff Dwellings and soak in the many hot springs - maybe at night : ) 

Cloudcroft, NM (4.5–5 hrs) Small alpine village over 8,000 ft in elevation—lush forests, cool weather, and cozy cabins.

Head South past the border to Beaches!

Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point), Mexico ~3.5 - 4 hours. Beach town on the Sea of Cortez. Sandy beaches, seafood markets, snorkeling, and jet-skiing. A passport & Mexican car insurance required.

Bahía de Kino (Kino Bay), Mexico ~ 6 hours. More laid-back and less touristy than Puerto Peñasco. Quiet fishing village with calm swimming beaches, fresh seafood, stunning sunsets.

San Carlos, Mexico ~6 hours. Beautiful beaches framed by dramatic mountains. Boating, snorkeling, diving, and the sunsets are next level.

What did I miss? If you have other favorite destinations or ideas to stay cool during the hot summer months, please leave a comment. Special thanks to Maja Franklin for her wonderful kid-focused ideas to help your children chill and have a great time this summer. Check out her super cute shop The Little Little when you have a chance - all precious things Southwestern.

If you'd like help with the seasonal transition or anything else, please don't hesitate to reach out: britta@intuitivehealthhealing.com and 917.519.2432 Xx