From beaches to water parks, these fun summer activities will help you beat Arizona's heat

Kaely Monahan, Arizona Republic
·4 min read

When the heat rises, Phoenicians know it's time to stay cool. And Arizona has a lot to offer to help you enjoy your summer.

From tubing on the Salt River to boat rentals and water sports at Tempe Town Lake and Park, there are plenty of options for Arizonians to get outside and have fun during the summer. Discounts are also available at some of these popular attractions.

The Republic's podcast team surveyed some of the best spots to beat the heat. We came up with five must-visit water attractions in the Valley.

Here are our top recommendations for where you can keep cool this summer.

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There is an episode transcript available. Please note, there might be slight discrepancies because of the AI used to transcribe the conversation.

Salt River Tubing

The river is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with tube rentals ending at 2 p.m.

Salt River Tubing offers fast passes and online reservations through September. You can purchase your Salt River Tubing tickets online or in person. Here's the cost breakdown:

  • Tube rental and shuttle: $25.

  • Shuttle pass for those with their own tubes: $18.

  • Bucket/cooler tube, to hold your cooler: $20.

  • Season passes (includes one tube rental per day): $199.

  • VIP group passes (for groups of 20 or more; includes tube, private shuttle and skip-the-line privileges): $30 per person.

Discounts are available for military members and first responders when purchased in person only.

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Lake Pleasant Regional Park

Park hours from May 1 to Oct. 31 are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Then from Nov. 1 to April 30, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Lake Pleasant Regional Park is anticipating temporary closures into the summer. The decision to temporarily close sections of the park will be based on:

  • Increased holiday/weekend traffic.

  • Parking lot and shoreline limits exceeding capacity and/or high water levels seasonally limiting shoreline availability.

Keep up to date with any changes on the Park Updates page. Ticket prices vary depending on which activity you plan to do at the park. See all the ticket prices.

Kendra Dezentje and Adam Hammer of Tempe take part in an Arizona tradition: Cooling off in the Salt River, just downriver from the Saguaro Lake dam. Hammer used his GoPro to snap the pic. See more of his photos at instagram.com/el_leche_malo.
Kendra Dezentje and Adam Hammer of Tempe take part in an Arizona tradition: Cooling off in the Salt River, just downriver from the Saguaro Lake dam. Hammer used his GoPro to snap the pic. See more of his photos at instagram.com/el_leche_malo.

Tempe Town Lake and Beach Park

Get out on the water with these boating options.

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Boat Rentals of America

Located on the south shore at Tempe Beach Park. This rental offers all kinds of watercraft for rent. Boats of all types can be rented here for one-hour or two-hour segments. Watercraft options available to rent include donut boats, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, pontoon boats, pedal boats and electric boats. Find pricing, hours and availability on Boats 4 Rent.

Northshore Watersport Rentals

Northshore Watersport Rentals is located on the north shore of Tempe Town Lake, near the Tempe Town Lake Marina Boat Launch. Available watercraft options to rent include kayaks, double kayaks or paddle boards to explore the water. Find pricing, hours and availability on their website.

Tempe Beach Park is open daily from 5 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Make sure to check out all the amenities and their locations.

Mesa Golfland Sunsplash

Sunsplash hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m., with Night Splash from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Ticket prices vary on age and on the day and time. For adults, general admission tickets are $55 with discounts if you buy online. Junior tickets are for children ages 3 to kids who are under 48 inches in height and cost $52. Parking is free. Take a glimpse at ticket and package prices.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor

Park hours are 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. most days. Check their website for the most current hours.

Ticket prices vary depending on age and the day and time of your visit. Single-day general passes can be as low as $35 if purchased online. Season passes start at $55.

Parking is $20 for general and $30 for premium. Passholders can get free parking. Check out all of the ticket pricing.

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Contact the producer at kaely.monahan@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter @KaelyMonahan.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Top 5 fun things to do in Arizona to beat the summer heat