Journey Mamas typically receives compensation and/or hosted journey and pattern merchandise associated to weblog posts. This story could embrace affiliate hyperlinks for which we obtain a small fee at no additional price to shoppers. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn cash from qualifying purchases. You’ll want to test with companies and areas concerning journey restrictions and security precautions earlier than visiting.
What’s there to do in Scottsdale this summer season? Loads! Scottsdale sizzles with enjoyable in June, July, and August. Lovely year-round, this sprawling suburb of Phoenix gives vacationers and locals of all ages plenty of nice summer season actions and refreshing methods to chill off. Plus, Scottsdale’s superb resorts present deep reductions for a Scottsdale trip or staycation. Whether or not you are visiting my hometown otherwise you stay within the Valley of the Solar — you may like this listing of the very best issues to do in Scottsdale in summer season 2023, from morning to midday to nighttime!
This story is delivered to you in partnership with Expertise Scottsdale and ItsThatHot.com.
Out of doors Scottsdale Summer time Actions
As a longtime resident, I do know it is best to rise up early to get pleasure from outside Scottsdale actions throughout cooler mornings earlier than the warmth peaks in summer season. With the shortage of solar at evening and little water within the air to carry the warmth, temperatures within the desert can drop 20 to 30 levels Fahrenheit between the most well liked time of the day to the best temps proper earlier than dawn.
The very best climate for outside play is from daybreak (between 5 and 6 am) till issues get toasty round 10 or 11 am. Regardless of which outside exercise you select, it is vital to use sunblock, keep hydrated with water or electrolyte drinks, and put on a brimmed hat for solar safety.
Mountaineering within the Sonoran Desert
Even throughout summer season, it is enjoyable to take in a few of Scottsdale’s desert magnificence. Set your alarm to absorb the dawn earlier than hitting the paths.
McDowell Sonoran Protect Gateway Path
With dozens of mountaineering paths to select from, you are certain to seek out one which meets your loved ones’s mountaineering ranges and wishes. McDowell Sonoran Protect Gateway Path is a well-liked start line.
Pinnacle Peak Path
One other fairly possibility is Pinnacle Peak Path. It is good for hikers in search of a average hike with views of the granite summit for which it was named.
Quartz Trailhead
For a much less crowded expertise, take a look at Quartz Trailhead as an alternative close to Desert Canyon Elementary College. Maintain your eyes peeled for the path marker right here. It is throughout the road from the car parking zone, simply to the best of the place the sidewalk begins.
ATV or Hummer Tour
Get your coronary heart pumping by exploring the Sonoran Desert on 4 wheels throughout your Scottsdale trip.
Stellar Adventures
Stellar Adventures leads guided ATV excursions or you’ll be able to romp by means of the desert as a passenger in a Hummer or Blazer.
Inexperienced Zebra
Inexperienced Zebra gives 1- and 2-hour guided self-driving ATV excursions of Scottsdale’s backcountry.
Discover Scottsdale by Segway
Why stroll when you might discover Scottsdale by Segway?
Segway of Scottsdale
Segway of Scottsdale leads 2-hour morning excursions by means of historic Previous City Scottsdale. Mics and earpieces in brilliant orange helmets assist preserve riders protected and knowledgeable. Throughout your 6-mile tour, you may zoom previous artwork galleries, the Civic Middle Mall, Scottsdale Waterfront and extra. (Individuals should be aged 12 to 75.)
Scottsdale Segway Excursions
Along with Previous City Scottsdale morning excursions, Scottsdale Segway Excursions a Sunsets, Segways and Metropolis Lights possibility. It is good for exploring the town with out the warmth of the solar.
Phoenix Zoo
The most important non-profit, privately owned zoo within the U.S. is residence to in style residents like giraffes, orangutans, and elephants. Additionally search for indigenous animals like coyotes, mountain lions, and Mexican grey wolves.
Summer time Hours
Throughout hotter months, morning is the very best time to go to the animals on the Phoenix Zoo. Summer time hours begin and finish early to benefit from comparatively cool mornings. From June 1 by means of August 31, go to the zoo 7 am – 1 pm. Phoenix Zoo members can get a headstart and enter as early as 6 am.
Household Zoo Actions
In the event you’re visiting Scottsdale with children, you then’ll admire the household Scottsdale summer season actions on the Phoenix Zoo. Youngsters love the Concord Farm petting zoo and playground, Enchanted Forest play space, and the zoo’s Endangered Species Carousel. You’ll want to carry alongside swimsuits to chill off on the Leapin’ Lagoon and Yakulla Caverns splash pads, too. The Phoenix Zoo even gives a summer season camp program for teenagers.
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
Households with younger kids will certainly need to go to McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. It is an important place to spend the morning in Scottsdale in summer season.
Paradise Pacific Railroad
The spotlight at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is the Paradise Pacific Railroad. This ride-on miniature practice chugs by means of the expansive grassy park.
In the meantime, true practice lovers get pleasure from exploring indoor mannequin railroad shows and outside full-sized practice automobiles.
Playgrounds
A large playground and a smaller Previous West-themed play space please children of all ages.
Picnics
Purchase hotdogs, hamburgers, and ice cream on the Snackstop. Or pack a picnic to get pleasure from an early lunch at shaded picnic areas.
Scottsdale Charros Carousel
The Scottsdale Charros Carousel at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is plenty of enjoyable, too, with its vintage horses and two wheelchair-accessible chariots.
Golf in Scottsdale in Summer time
Golfers ought to plan to hit the hyperlinks very first thing within the morning in Scottsdale in summer season. The Scottsdale space boasts over 200 programs certain to please any golfer.
Summer time Golf Pricing
What’s extra, {golfing} costs plummet when the warmth rises in Scottsdale. At two luxurious programs, Troon North Golf Membership and The Boulders, costs drop as a lot as 75 p.c throughout summer season months, permitting golfers on a funds to benefit from these glorious golf programs.
Scorching Air Ballooning
Rise up very early in summer season to get pleasure from a sizzling air balloon journey over the Valley of the Solar. With 300 days of sunshine per yr in Scottsdale, the world gives extra flyable days than anyplace else within the nation.
Floating above the desert in a sizzling air balloon is an expertise you’ll lengthy bear in mind. Select from shared or non-public flights with Scorching Air Expeditions and Rainbow Ryders.
Scottsdale Summer time Afternoon Points of interest
After a morning of enjoying open air, your total household will probably be prepared to chill down. In the event you’re nonetheless up for extra exploring (or you’ll be able to’t rouse the troops earlier than midday), then sit back with air-conditioned indoor Scottsdale summer season actions. Alternatively, the afternoon is the proper time to splash in a swimming pool or water park. And you might at all times beat the dry warmth with an ice cream deal with!
Arizona Boardwalk
The entire household may spend a whole day at Arizona Boardwalk and by no means get bored. It’s residence to tasty eating places, a handful of retail shops, and eight main sights.
OdySea Aquarium
The first attraction at Arizona Boardwalk is the biggest aquarium within the Southwest, the 200,000-square-foot OdySea Aquarium. This attraction homes intriguing sea creatures like fish, stingrays, otters, and penguins.
Butterfly Wonderland
Additionally situated throughout the Arizona Boardwalk campus, Butterfly Wonderland impresses vacationers in America’s largest butterfly conservatory. View dwelling fluttering bugs in a reasonably indoor botanical backyard. Tip: Put on fragrance or cologne and brilliant colours if you would like the butterflies to land on you!
Ripley’s Imagine It or Not
View a megalodon shark jaw, crawl by means of a life-sized reproduction of an unlimited prehistoric snake, and pose subsequent to an animatronic model of the tallest man who ever lived at Ripley’s Imagine It or Not.
Museum of Illusions
Museum of Illusions is a enjoyable spot for Instagrammers and TikTokers. Get pleasure from all kinds of interactive trick artwork shows to your photo-taking and videoing pleasure.
Laser + Mirror Mazes
Children love Laser + Mirror Mazes with its difficult laser-filled walk-through puzzle and colourful reflective labyrinth.
Cyber Quest
Deal with your loved ones to arcade video games at Cyber Quest. Save up your tickets to win prizes like plush toys or a Snoopy Snow Cone Machine.
Pangea Land of the Dinosaurs
Dinosaur lovers will roar with delight at Pangea Land of the Dinosaurs.
UFO Expertise
The UFO Expertise at Arizona Boardwalk is out of this world. Embark on an entertaining and academic journey of all issues alien from UFO sightings to alien “artifacts.”
Indoor Miniature Golf
With two indoor choices, miniature golf is at all times in season regardless of the time of yr in Scottsdale.
Glow Putt
Children love the glowing, playful shows at Glow Putt. This has lengthy been certainly one of my household’s favourite issues to do for summer season enjoyable in Scottsdale. Sink a hole-in-one on the final gap to win one other spherical on the home!
Puttshack
New to Scottsdale in summer season 2023, Puttshack is an upscale mini golf expertise with thrilling tech-infused options at Kierland Commons procuring space. Buy snacks like pizza or salads plus cocktails and different drinks to get pleasure from earlier than or after a spherical or two.
Scottsdale Museums
The most effective methods to chill off throughout summer season is at an area museum within the Phoenix space. Along with year-round instructional experiences, search for particular summer season packages at these Scottsdale museums.
Musical Instrument Museum
Wander by means of the world-renowned Musical Instrument Museum with shows that includes songs, movies, musical devices, and conventional costumes from all over the world.
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
Have a good time cowboy tradition and consider Amerindian shows at Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West.
Heard Museum
Discover extra Native American cultures of the Southwest on the Heard Museum in Phoenix.
Scottsdale Museum of Modern Artwork
Recognize trendy artwork on the Scottsdale Museum of Modern Artwork in Previous City Scottsdale. Begin right here after which head to Artwork Stroll on a Thursday night.
Extra Museums
Relying on your loved ones’s pursuits, you may additionally need to go to museums past Scottsdale. Fascinating choices embrace the tutorial Arizona Museum of Pure Historical past in Mesa, the interactive Arizona Science Middle in Phoenix, the Phoenix Artwork Museum with artwork from all over the world, or the playful Youngsters’s Museum of Phoenix.
Taliesin West
Followers of architectural design will admire a go to to Taliesin West. As soon as the winter residence of the well-known architect Frank Lloyd Wright, as we speak it’s the headquarters of his basis. It’s open seven days every week for self-guided audio excursions and 90-minute guided strolling excursions.
Out of doors Swimming pools and Water Parks in Scottsdale and Past
Though almost all resorts in Scottsdale function swimming swimming pools, when you’re in search of a special splashy scene, then you will have some enjoyable choices with lazy rivers and water slides within the Valley of the Solar.
McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Middle
McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Middle gives a winding water slide, a nice lazy river, excessive and low diving boards, and a zero-entry splash play space.
El Dorado Aquatic Middle
Additionally, El Dorado Aquatic Middle is residence to a water playground with a slide for younger kids, a zero-entry pool, plus two full-sized waterslides for larger children.
Water Parks within the Phoenix Space
Moreover, water parks in neighboring areas embrace Large Surf in Tempe, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Phoenix, and Golfland Sunsplash in Mesa.
Ice Cream
All of us scream for ice cream, significantly in summer season in Scottsdale!
Candy Republic
For the very best ice cream in Scottsdale, my suggestion is Candy Republic. Their artisanal ice lotions and sorbets will tempt anybody who visits this ice cream store situated in the identical strip mall as Glow Putt.
Seasonal flavors like Strawberry Buttermilk rotate all year long. In the meantime, year-round choices like Salted Caramel Swirl and Brownie Fudge Swirl at all times delight. Get your sundae topped with a roasted handmade marshmallow!
I give 12 out of 10 stars to Candy Republic’s Pecan Turtle Sundae. It comes with two scoops Salted Caramel Swirl, candy and salty Arizona pecans, sizzling fudge, salted caramel sauce, and whip cream. YUM!
Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlor
In Previous City Scottsdale you may discover the candy pink Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlor. It is the proper place for fogeys to relaxation weary toes whereas children play within the onsite classic arcade.
This old style restaurant has been serving up sandwiches, soups, and, most significantly, ice cream since 1958. Get requirements like a sizzling fudge sundae or banana break up. Or, order certainly one of their Tremendous Fancy Sundaes. Mint lovers (like me!) will adore the Blarney Dream Sundae, made with mint syrup, vanilla ice cream, sizzling fudge, a scoop of butter pecan, whipped cream, and a cherry.
Scottsdale Summer time Evenings
Because the solar units within the desert, temperatures drop. That is when to hit the city. This is what to do in Scottsdale in summer season in the course of the evenings.
Blissful Hour
Kick off your summer season night in Scottsdale with pleased hour. Since my husband and I am going to pleased hour almost each Friday evening, I like to think about myself a Scottsdale pleased hour aficionado. Beneath are a few my favourite spots.
Wine Lady Scottsdale
For a Scottsdale girlfriend getaway or any evening out together with your gal buddies, nothing beats Wine Lady Scottsdale in Previous City. Count on wine flights, enjoyable merch, female pink and white décor, and swings from which to sip. For one thing fancy, order a Rosé Petals Winetail made with rosé, rose extract syrup, and glowing water sprinkled with mini rosebuds.
Blissful hour takes place all day Monday by means of Wednesday with half-off choose bottles of wine. Monday by means of Thursday, pleased hour final from opening till 6 pm with $2 off meals, wine on faucet, and beer on faucet.
Picazzo’s Wholesome Italian Kitchen
This Arizona restaurant caters to gluten-sensitive eaters (like moi) and ensures these with meals allergic reactions or different restrictions (like vegan) really feel comfy eating out.
Picazzo’s “Wholesome Hour” runs 3 to six pm each day. Get pleasure from such scrumptious discounted choices as Mama’s Meat-Za Balls made with floor turkey, marinara, and basil or Baked Brie with roasted garlic, Gala apple, fig jam, and house-made gluten-free focaccia.
Blissful hour drink specials embrace $5 native drafts, $6 home wine by the glass, and $7 house-made sangria. You too can get $8 signature cocktails like Rick’s Smoked Previous Normal, Aperol Spritz, Cucumber Ginger Mule, or Limoncello Margarita. Search for enjoyable mocktails, too.
Scottsdale ArtWalk
Previous City Scottsdale is residence to greater than 100 artwork galleries, a lot of which specialise in items by native Arizona artists and Southwestern American artwork. For greater than 45 years, this space of city has been welcoming guests to the Scottsdale ArtWalk on Thursday evenings from 7 to 9 pm. Typically galleries supply refreshments, stay music, and particular reveals.
Procuring in Scottsdale
Along with the art work and Arizona-theme items present in Previous City, Scottsdale gives a plethora of procuring alternatives.
Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter
Neighboring Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter outside procuring districts function misters in summertime that reduce the warmth. Bonus: The Quarter gives a fountain the place kids splash and play to chill off.
Scottsdale Style Sq.
In the meantime, the indoor Scottsdale Style Sq. gives 240 air-conditioned retail shops certain to please critical customers. Style Sq. makes a speciality of high-end choices like Neiman Marcus, Burberry, and Gucci. Discount customers will probably be happy to seek out favorites like H&M and Windsor, too. Relax and watch a movie on certainly one of 14 screens on the mall’s Harkins movie show when you’re there.
Scottsdale Accommodations with Nice Swimming pools and Water Parks
Because the temperatures soar in Scottsdale, room charges on the metropolis’s swanky resorts drop drastically. Search for the very best offers of the yr on resort spa companies as properly.
Many resorts additionally supply issues to do open air like tennis, golf, and guided hikes. With unimaginable lodge swimming pools in Scottsdale and summer season choices like dive-in films, you could by no means need to depart your resort!
4 Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
Company of all ages in search of pampering, scrumptious eating places, outside actions, and beautiful desert surroundings will adore 4 Seasons Scottsdale. This resort options three swimming pools — a shallow kids’s pool, a household pool, and a pool only for grown-ups.
Tucked away in North Scottsdale subsequent to Pinnacle Peak Park, 4 Seasons is the place to go to flee all of it. Learn my complete evaluation of 4 Seasons Scottsdale.
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
Wish to go to the seashore in Scottsdale? Head to the Fairmont! You will discover a white sand seashore, six swimming swimming pools, and two twisting waterslides. On the weekends, children will go gaga for Let’s Glo Pool Events and Dive-In Motion pictures. In the meantime, mother and father will admire their swish world-class spa and championship golf course.
New for 2023, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is throwing the most important summer season bash in Scottsdale. The 80s and 90s-themed Retro Recess encompasses a shaded outside curler rink, a classic arcade and themed laser tag journey, and a glowing mini golf course. There are even fireworks each Saturday evening. Let’s hope this turns into an annual occasion, much like their Scottsdale Christmas soirée.
The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa
Pool lovers flock to the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa for his or her Journey Water Park. This lodge gives the enduring Kierland FlowRider flow-board simulator for browsing within the desert, a lazy river, a 110-foot-long waterslide, and an adult-only pool with a sizzling tub.
If you wish to avoid crowds, then lease a family-friendly poolside cabana to calm down in shaded luxurious. Higher but, get pleasure from your very personal Tommy Bahama Rest Reef non-public “island”.
Nice Wolf Lodge Arizona
The Nice Wolf Lodge Arizona is residence to the state’s first indoor water park. Count on a number of waterslides, a splash-loaded treehouse with a large tipping bucket, play swimming pools, and a lazy river. In summer season, households additionally benefit from the outside Raccoon Lagoon’s water play space with fountains galore.
Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch
Quiet down at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale’s 2.5-acre water playground full with a sand seashore, 10 swimming swimming pools, 20 fountains, and 45 waterfalls. Daredevils will particularly like their three-story, high-speed waterslide.
Even when you’re not staying on the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch, you’ll be able to nonetheless cruise by means of the resort’s seven-acre lake aboard a handcrafted Italian Gondola boat whereas being serenaded by knowledgeable gondolier!
After a $110-million renovation, this lodge will reopen because the Grand Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa in late 2024, making it the primary Grand Hyatt lodge in Arizona.
Discover Extra of Arizona
Check out my complete listing of issues to do in Scottsdale with children for much more enjoyable within the Valley of the Solar.
Headed to Northern Arizona? You will positively need to learn my Grand Canyon suggestions!
Go to a quaint school city and gateway to the Grand Canyon with this listing of the greatest issues to do in Flagstaff, AZ.
To expertise America’s greatest ghost city, take a look at my suggestions for visiting Jerome, Arizona.
Uncover the charms of Arizona’s territorial capital in my information to Prescott.
Save these Scottsdale Summer time Actions
You’ll want to save this listing of enjoyable issues to do in Scottsdale in summer season. Merely pin the picture above to Pinterest. We hope you’ll observe Journey Mamas on Pinterest when you’re at it!
Would you prefer to expertise a Scottsdale summer season trip? Tell us within the feedback beneath!
You may additionally like: