Tips for Traveling to Phoenix in the Summer Months

Phoenix, Arizona is a desert oasis for travelers, a sprawling metropolis that despite being the fifth largest city in the United States, somehow is overlooked again and again. If you're looking for a place to travel to on a budget this summer, consider Phoenix your destination. Use these tips to maximize your dollar and your entertainment while visiting our sunny city.

Tip 1:

More of a warning than a tip, really. Phoenix gets to incredible heats during the summer months, with the temperature soaring beyond 100 degrees farenheit most days. The good news for travelers? One, the desert produces a dry heat, which means no humidity. It may not sound like much, but it makes the days bearable (as long as you have AC). Two, it means that Phoenix offers incredible deals to entice travelers during this slow off-season. No waiting in lines or high prices for the summer wanderer. Just remember to pack plenty of shorts, tank tops, sandals, and sunscreen, because Phoenix rarely has cloudy days. If you're traveling during late July or early August, consider bringing a small umbrella with you. Yes, despite the fact that it is blazing hot and sunny, Phoenix boasts of a small season called Monsoon season, when the wind will whip up and a fast, hard rainstorm will blow through every other week. These showers rarely last for more than an hour, so you won't be too inconvenienced.

Tip 2: Sports

Summer is the perfect time to explore indoor Phoenix. Being a large city means having a lot of stuff, to put in plainly. If you're a baseball fan, check out a Diamondsback Game in Downtown Phoenix. Take the light rail into the game (parking is expensive and frustrating) and enjoy a 9 inning game. The stadium is located inside and has AC. If you don't mind the nosebleeds you can pick up a single game ticket for around $20.

Maybe baseball's not your thing, and you'd rather try...skating? One of the joys of Phoenix is going ice-skating for a few hours and then stepping out into the gorgeous desert sun. Polar Ice and the Alltel Ice Den both boast of premier ice skating rinks. No need to bring your own skates- the rinks supply everything for you but the pom pom hat.

Another indoor sport that's sure to be a hit on your vacation is the Phoenix Rock Gym, home to indoor rock climbs. The facility has 30 ft high walls with climbs for every level. Spend the day as a daredevil and maybe score a few muscles along the way.

Maybe you're not a true athlete but rather a gamer. Amazing Jakes is located entirely inside and advertises go-karts, laser tag, bowling, and arcade games.

Tip 3: Educational

The Arizona Science Center is a must see attraction in downtown Phoenix. With over 100 exciting interactive exhibits, its fun for the whole family. You can easily spend an entire day exploring the exhibits, watching a 3-D Imax film, and visiting the planeterium. If you're looking for more info about the history of Phoenix, step next door in Heritage Park and pop into the Phoenix History Museum. For Native American art and culture, the Heard Museum is a premier collection.

If you can muster up the energy to wake up early, head over to the Phoenix Zoo, home to lions, tigers, giraffes, exotic birds and so much more. The Zoo is a serene environment with lush landscape and foliage that seems out of place for the desert location. There are plenty of activities happening all summer for kids at the zoo.

If you're into theater, you're in luck. The valley has over 25 theaters playing a variety of shows for differing prices. For off-Broadway plays like Wicked, which will be featured this summer 2009, ASU Gammage is your destination. You can often find discount tickets during the summer slow months. Other theaters include the Mesa Performing Arts Center, Hale Theatre, and the Herberger Theatre Center.

Tip 4: Cooling Off

Chances are your hotel has a pool (if it doesn't, you chose poorly), but if you're looking to commune with nature a bit more, head up to Saguaro or Canyon Lake and enjoy the beauty of the mountains mixed in with some well needed swimming. Saguaro Lakes is an easier drive, but has less picnic areas and beach space. Canyon Lake is a treacherous journey on a two lane road that twists through the Superstition Mountains, but the end result is worth it. Rent a canoe or a kayak for a low sum, or just bask in the beauty of the mountains. Best of all, Canyon Lake has a restaurant and a boat tour on the Dolly Steamboat.

For those unfamiliar with the Phoenix Valley's love of inland lakes, a word of advice. If you see a small lake, nay, a pond, in a swanky neighborhood, do not jump in to relieve yourself of the heat. These lakes, along with Tempe Town Lake, are not meant for swimming. They are for decoration and lounging upon boats only.

Tip 5: Lodging

Most swanky Arizona resorts offer steep, steep discounts in the summer months to entice travelers. Look online and search for the best deals. You can often get a king size room at a lush Scottsdale resort for under $90 a night in the summer. Consider where you wish to visit and plan your hotel accordingly. A good bet is to book a hotel in Scottsdale, a more central location of the valley and close to restaurants, shopping, and the Valley Metro Light-Rail system.

As far as shopping goes, the Scottsdale Fashion Square is the premier shopping event with Louis Vitton and Gucci. If you're looking to shop on a budget, Arizona Mills in Tempe has a large selection of outlet department stores. And as always, the strip malls are ever present on every corner.