Enjoy these 90-degree and breezy days while you can, friends. Because summer is on its way.
Pandemic aside, last year was unprecedented in Tucson. 2020 was the driest year on record and the second hottest year on record. Tucson also had the most 100-plus days on record (108) and the most 105-plus degree days (57).
We're sorry to share that summer 2021 is predicted to be full of days with above-average temperatures too, according to the National Weather Service.
We asked our Instagram followers how they survive summer in Tucson and found you all have some similar ways of dealing. (Also: Thanks to @tucson_jaybird whose hilarious response to our question inspired our headline. We can absolutely relate.)
Here are five tried and true ways to make it through the next few months.
1. Make the pool your BFF
Samairani Gamez practices a technique at lifeguard training class at Sunnyside Pool.
Swimming pools and splash pads are our best friends. If you don't have a pool, find someone who does and make them your best friend.
If that doesn't work, don't sweat it. Unlike last summer when lots of pools and splash pads were closed, this summer there are more options.
- Eight Pima County pools will open for recreational swim starting Saturday, May 29 and two of its splash pads are already open. Visit the Pima County Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation website for pool and splash pad locations and hours.
- Tucson Parks and Recreation's four splash pads are also open daily and seven of its pools are open for lap swimming, although the department has yet to announce its recreational swim schedule. Find pool and splash pad locations and more information on the Tucson Parks and Recreation website.
- The Oro Valley Aquatic Center's pool and splash pad is already open for recreational swimming daily. Visit the aquatic center's website for the schedule and more information.
- You can take advantage of staycation deals at nearly every hotel and resort in town, but if you just want to swim, a handful of Tucson hotels also offer pool day passes through resortpass.com. Prices vary depending on which location you choose.
2. Drink all the icy beverages
Hielitos at American Eat Co. makes raspados from Hawaiian shaved ice. From left: horchata raspado, the Michi-Agua and a fresa raspados with lechera and Thrifty ice cream.
Living in Tucson means drinking all the water, all the time and like ten times more during the summer so you don't get dehydrated. So definitely do that.
But, nothing hits like a refreshing, icy beverage on a 100-degree day.
Tucson's go-to summer survival drink is the Eegee, which you'll likely consume lots of. But there are enough 100-plus days in our future that you might want to mix things up a bit. Here are other choices that will hit the spot:
- Raspados drizzled in fruit syrup and topped with fruit chunks from any one of the local shops around town.
- Iced teas and lemonades with glitter that sparkle beautifully in the summer sun.
- Hard cider slushies from Bawker Bawker, Tucson's only cider house.
- Puerto Rican frappes from The Sweet Coqui.
- A Halo Halo from Nick's Sari-Sari Store.
- The most beautiful boba tea you've ever seen from The Korean Rose.
- Sparkling tea or tea snow (cones) from Transit Tea.
3. Become nocturnal
Survive summer by hiding from the sun as much as possible during the day and doing as much as you can at night.
Our desert critters figured this out a long time ago. Do everything you can at night or in the early morning when it's much cooler and hide from the sun as much as possible during the day.
Luckily, many Tucson places are embracing this approach too, so you can still enjoy plenty of fun without the sun.
Reid Park Zoo is already hosting its Summer Safari Nights with evening hours, live music and prickly pear margaritas, every Saturday through Aug. 14.
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum will be open every Saturday night in June and in addition to seeing all the nocturnal creatures, you can also add on beer or wine tasting.
The Mercado District is also bringing back its Summer Night Market, with dozens of local vendors, food and drinks.
4. Stay inside
Movie theaters, like The Loft Cinema, are an easy way to beat the heat.
Stay indoors as much as possible, especially during the hottest parts of the day and keep cool with AC, swamp coolers and fans.
Movie theaters are a popular escape from the heat and The Loft Cinema recently restarted its indoor screenings, just in time.
You can also swing by one of our air-conditioned bookstores or library branches to pick up some summer reads to pass the time. Check out our Summer Reading Challenge for some ideas.
5. Head north
Mount Lemmon can be up to 20 degrees cooler than Tucson in the summer.
Sometimes there's not much else you can do to survive the heat except hit the road and trade in the saguaros for pines and oaks.
In less than an hour's drive you'll arrive in Summerhaven on Mount Lemmon, where it's at least 20-degrees cooler than Tucson and you can spend the day under shady trees. Or, you can take a trip up to Oracle and breathe in the lavender soaked air at Life Under the Oaks Lavender Farm.
Of course our ability to enjoy our surrounding mountains largely depends on how our wildfire season plays out 😬
It's always something.
