Throughout much of the year, Tucson’s climate allows for a wide range of outdoor activities and fun things to do around the city.
But when temperatures start to soar in the summer months, many residents are confined to the comfort of their air conditioned homes.
Boredom is inevitable.
Luckily, the Tucson area is packed with deals and other incentives on a range of activities to make the summer months a little more bearable.
Here are five things you can do to beat boredom this summer:
Staycations
Many Tucson area hotels and resorts offer staycation deals and packages throughout the summer including the “Celestial Summer” package at Marana’s Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain,15000 N. Secret Springs Drive.
The deal includes access to several resort facilities including pools, hiking, tennis and pickleball and yoga classes during the day and private stargazing, family movies on a big screen, night hikes and a star-themed arcade at night.
Prices start at $199 per night, check the Ritz-Carlton website at ritzcarlton.com for more details.
The Ventana Club and Lodge at 6200 N. Clubhouse Lane in the Tucson foothills also has some summer deals. The resort, home to lush golf courses, pools, a racquet sport facility and top-notch restaurants, offers Arizona residents 20% discounts in the summer. If you stay for three nights between Sunday and Thursday, your fourth night is free.
Golf
If you can withstand Tucson’s summer heat, there’s deals and discounts on golfing throughout the summer.
Starr Pass Resort, home to some of the best golf courses in the area, offers a “Golf Stay and Play” deal at its sprawling west side property, 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd. With a one-night stay, you can golf free all day after 1 p.m. on the day you check in.
There is also unlimited use of the practice facilities and complimentary breakfast the following morning.
The resorts aren’t the only summertime greens in town. Public courses including Randolph Dell Urich, 602 N. Alvernon Way, reduce their rates once the mercury soars.
Play 18 holes after 2 p.m. and you pay around $30, roughly half the going fall and spring rates. Quarry Pines, located at 8480 Continental Links Drive, is one of the area’s most popular golf courses. Similar to Randolph Del Urich, prices are halved after 2 p.m.
If you can handle the heat and want to golf on a budget, be sure to check out tucsoncitygolf.com.
Community Pools
Tucson’s dozen city pools and seven splash pads opened April 1 and remain open through early fall. Some also are open year-round. For a list of pools, visit tucsonaz.gov
Summer Movie Deals
Harkins Movie Theaters is bringing back its children’s ‘Summer Movie Fun’ offer.
Every weekday for 8 weeks this summer, movie tickets for children are just $2 for the first showing of the day, which is at 9:45 am. The event kicks off on June 6 and runs until July 29.
Be sure to check harkins.com to see showing times as well as the list for screenings.
Escape to Mount Lemmon
Mount Lemmon is a great wintry escape from Tuson’s arid desert landscape, but it’s also the perfect summer escape.
Temperatures on the mountain, whose 9,000-foot elevation towers over Tucson’s 2,300 feet, can be significantly lower than Tucson.
You can wander up for a day and see live music, hike the trails, shop the general store or visit the famous Mount Lemmon Cookie Cabin at 12781 N. Sabino Canyon Park.
But if you’re looking for a weekend getaway, Mount Lemmon Lodge, 12833 N. Sabino Canyon Park in Summerhaven, throws in nightly free drinks when you stay from May 1 until Aug. 31.
Sse code “VTT” when booking at mountlemmonlodge.com.
Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.
