Summer is the season that we all try to make the most memorable. It’s the time when we vacation to California, swim every day with an ice cold drink in one hand and stay up until the end of eternity playing video games without a trace of homework-induced anxiety. And even if the June, July and August months seem dominated by work, everyone still aspires to have a great summer. While the season is coming to a close, use this opportunity to explore a few of Tucson’s hidden gems.
Second Saturdays Downtown
On the second Saturday of every month, downtown Tucson hosts a street festival at night, full of dancing people, live bands, a variety of food tents and some type of quirky factor, such as silent face-painted stilt-walkers holding colorful umbrellas. Besides parking, which costs about $3, attending Second Saturdays is a totally free and fun way to connect with the Tucson community. The next festival will be held on August 11, from 6 p.m. to 10:30 pm. For more information, go to www.2ndsaturdaysdowntown.com.
Mount Lemmon
We usually feel our best when we’re spending time outside in the fresh air, but this is often difficult to do when the sun is blazing and our skin is baking in 100 degree weather. Usually, the only outdoor option is swimming, but if you take a drive a couple thousand feet up Mt. Lemmon, suddenly the environment shifts to that of a cool, breezy forest. Around 5,000 feet up, the typical desert atmosphere of Arizona dissipates almost completely. Take a hike up one of the trails, and be sure to bring plenty of water and a few snacks, like apples and peanut butter. Or maybe do something a little more unconventional: If you’re an artist or think you may want to try it out, find a large, flat rock and paint. Windy Point, about 6,600 feet above sea level, is a perfect place to do this. It’s a refreshing, spacious and scenic place, overlooking miles of rolling green mountains.
There is still plenty of time to get out there and salvage some last-minute fun from the rest of your summer. Everywhere you turn there is something exciting to experience in Tucson — sometimes you just have to get creative.