48 Things To Do In Tucson When It’s Too Hot!
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
11. Attend a movie event at Casa Film Bar
Casa Film Bar is a trendy bar located inside Casa Video, an old-school video rental shop which is said to be home to the second largest collection of movies in the country. If you miss the good ol’ days of Blockbuster Video (I sure do!), you will want to stop by here simply for nostalgia sake. They host a variety of fun events throughout, from a look alike Ferris Bueller dress up contest, to a special Hocus Pocus celebration for Halloween, to classic TV trivia nights.
Location: 2913 E Speedway Blvd.
12. Host a fun movie marathon
It’s always fun to crank up the air conditioning, pick out a few of your favorite movies, get some snacks, and enjoy a lazy day movie marathon. It’s even more fun here as it is the coolest way to beat the heat all day. Whether you pick up a few new flicks at Redbox, browse through HBO Max or Disney Plus, browse for old favorites at the Casa Video rental store, or simply choose from your own collection, a movie marathon is by far the most relaxing & comfortable way to beat the summer heat of the desert! As I mentioned earlier, definitely check out Bookmans – their selection is awesome and the pricing isn’t too bad.
13. Treat yourself to an ice cream flight
At the Screamery’s 3 locations around Tucson, you can treat yourself to a unique flight of ice cream, similar to a beer tasting flight, although more delicious and more appropriate considering the toasty climate. For the flight, you get to mix and match 6 delicious natural flavors, all made using organic ingredients and grass-fed milk and cream.
This local gem offers over a dozen flavors, ranging from classic favorites like Cookie Dough to unique local creations. Try the Cowboy Cookie, which is sweet cream base mixed with oatmeal cookies, caramel, chocolate chips, and walnuts. I like the flight option because I can try a few options without committing to just one flavor.
Location: 50 South Houghton Rd, Suite 120, 2545 E Speedway Blvd, Suite 145 , & 250 East Congress St
14. Stroll around the Tucson Mall
As the largest mall in the metro, the Tucson Mall is your best bet for escaping the heat for a few hours. Home to over 200 shops and a bunch of popular restaurant chains including The Cheesecake Factory, there’s plenty to do if you are looking to kill a few hours in the air conditioning.
Location: 4500 N Oracle Road
15. Go bowling
Bowling is always a fun option for escaping the heat, particularly in really hot climates like southern Arizona. Fortunately, there are a number of options throughout town including Golden Pin Lanes, the city’s largest bowling alley with 48 lanes.
Sundays they offer a nice little special -$1.29 shoes and games all day. This is a pretty nice deal as bowling is typically pretty pricey especially if you have a large party.
Location: 1010 W Miracle Mile
Update: Golden Pin closed in 2019 after 59 years! Fortunately, there are plenty of great options around the metro!
16. Take advantage of summer resort deals
During the summer months much of the population escapes to cooler destinations like Flagstaff, San Diego, and Pinetop each weekend. Summer is also the slowest season tourist-wise, quite obviously due to the intense heat. Thus, the resorts begin to drastically lower their rates, enticing locals to save money by opting for a staycation. Many of these resorts have all sorts of fun summertime amenities including huge resort style pools, golf, and much more. Special events and dive in movies are typically on the roster.
Rates at the fancy 4 and 5 star resorts drop to the lowest of the season, and often include extra perks like free breakfast or spa credits and waived resort fees. Loews Ventana Canyon usually offers enticing deals. If you are up for a drive, the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix offers an awesome all inclusive deal! This was probably my favorite staycation thus far. The buildings here were designed with Frank Lloyd Wright’s influence. Gorgeous architecture, amazing pools, great food, and best of all – great summer deals.
17. Treat yourself to an authentic tea experience at Seven Cups
Due to the extensive collection of authentic Chinese teas and beautiful ambiance, Seven Cups is frequently rated amongst the best tea houses in the country. The tea to try here is the Eight Treasures blend, a herbal mixture of 8 healing Chinese herbs, all known to benefit various systems in the body. This delicious tea is light and refreshing and just perfect for the summer season.
The presentation in a see through glass teapot just makes the experience all the more special. The tea house itself is gorgeous as well and includes a colorful saltwater tank and beautiful decor. One of my favorite things to do on a really miserable day. I have been drinking tea for years for the health benefits but never came across such a beautiful tea house until finding this zen gem.
Location: 2516 E 6th St, Tucson, AZ 85716. Update: They moved into a bigger space. The new address is: 2510 E Fort Lowell Rd.
18. Explore hundreds of miniature dollhouses
The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures is one of the most unique museums you will find in the West. It’s a must-do for any first time visitor, particularly if your visit falls during the heat of the summer. At this unusual museum, you will be able to explore over 400 mini dollhouses spread out through 3 sections: The Enchanted, History, and Exploring the World rooms.
Each piece truly is a unique work of art with an indescribable amount of detail put into each tiny piece. As I walk around, I can’t imagine the amount of time it took to produce these tiny pieces. Many of these artistic wonders took years to create including the 30 year Chateau Meno project!
Location: 4455 E Camp Lowell Drive
19. Visit the zoo during Summer Safari Nights
Reid Park Zoo offers a special summer event known as Summer Safari Nights, held select Saturday evenings from 6-8pm, from late May- mid August. At this time, you can comfortably (as comfortable as you can get in Tucson that is) stroll around the zoo without the sun blaring in your face. Special food and drink specials and live entertainment are also on the lineup.
This zoo is very, very small, although worth visiting if you are looking for something to do outside. It’s just 24 acres, but the landscaping is so nice. Also, you will see a nice variety of animals despite the size limitations. I always spend some extra time by the cats especially this beautiful black jaguar.
Location: 3400 E Zoo Ct.
20. Enjoy old-school gaming fun at Dave & Busters
Put down your phone for a bit and enjoy some nostalgic old-fashioned gaming fun at D&B. With a full restaurant, bar, and dozens of arcade games, a trip to D & B can easily help you forget about the intense heat for a while. I admit that it is a bit pricey but you can sign up for their app for some special promotions. Also games are half priced on Wednesdays so this is the time to go!
From old school classics like Skee-Ball, to carnival inspired games like the Goldfish bowl toss game, to modern favorites like Beer Pong, Dave and Busters is a place for both the young and young at heart.
Location: 1390 E Tucson Marketplace Blvd.
