40+ Fun Summer Activities in Scottsdale, Arizona

What is there to do in Scottsdale this summer? Plenty! Scottsdale sizzles with fun in June, July, and August. Beautiful year-round, this sprawling suburb of Phoenix offers travelers and locals of all ages lots of great summer activities and refreshing ways to cool off. Plus, Scottsdale’s amazing resorts provide deep discounts for a Scottsdale vacation or staycation. Whether you’re visiting my hometown, or you live in the Valley of the Sun — you’ll love this list of the best things to do in Scottsdale in summer from morning to noon to night!

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Outdoor Scottsdale Summer Activities

As a longtime resident, I know it’s best to get up early to enjoy outdoor Scottsdale activities during cooler mornings before the heat peaks in summer. With the lack of sun at night and little water in the air to hold the warmth, temperatures in the desert can drop 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit between the hottest time of the day to the coolest temps right before sunrise.

The best weather for outdoor play is from dawn (between 5 and 6 am) until things get toasty (around 9 or 10 am). No matter which outdoor activity you choose, it’s important to apply sunblock and stay hydrated with water or electrolyte beverages. Be sure to dress for hot weather and wear a brimmed hat for sun protection.

Hiking in the Sonoran Desert

Even during summer, a hike is worthwhile to soak up some of Scottsdale’s desert beauty. Set your alarm to take in the sunrise before hitting the trails.

McDowell Sonoran Preserve Gateway Trail

With dozens of hiking paths to choose from, you’re sure to find one that meets your family’s hiking levels and desires. McDowell Sonoran Preserve Gateway Trail is a popular starting point.

Pinnacle Peak Trail

Another pretty option is Pinnacle Peak Trail. It’s perfect for hikers seeking a moderate hike with views of the granite summit for which it was named.

Quartz Trailhead

For a less crowded experience, check out Quartz Trailhead instead near Desert Canyon Elementary School. Keep your eyes peeled for the trail marker here. It’s across the street from the parking lot, just to the right of where the sidewalk starts.

ATV or Hummer Tour

Get your heart pumping by exploring the Sonoran Desert on four wheels during your Scottsdale vacation.

Stellar Adventures

Stellar Adventures leads guided ATV tours or you can romp through the desert as a passenger in a Hummer or Blazer.

Green Zebra

Green Zebra offers 1- and 2-hour guided self-driving ATV tours of Scottsdale’s backcountry.

Explore Scottsdale by Segway

Why walk when you could explore Scottsdale by Segway?

Segway of Scottsdale

Segway of Scottsdale leads 2-hour morning tours through historic Old Town Scottsdale. Mics and earpieces in bright orange helmets help keep riders safe and informed. During your 6-mile tour, you’ll zoom past art galleries, the Civic Center Mall, Scottsdale Waterfront and more. (Participants must be aged 12 to 75.)

Scottsdale Segway Tours

In addition to tours of Old Town Scottsdale in summer mornings, Scottsdale Segway Tours offers a Sunsets, Segways and City Lights option. It’s perfect for exploring the city without the heat of the sun.

Phoenix Zoo

The largest non-profit, privately owned zoo in the U.S. is home to popular residents like giraffes, orangutans, and elephants. Also look for indigenous animals like coyotes, mountain lions, and Mexican gray wolves.

Summer Hours

During hotter months, morning is the best time to visit the animals at the Phoenix Zoo. Summer hours start and end early to take advantage of relatively cool mornings. From June 1 through August 31, visit the zoo 7 am – 1 pm. Phoenix Zoo members can get a head start and enter as early as 6 am.

Family Zoo Activities

If you’re visiting Scottsdale with kids, then you’ll appreciate the family activities at the Phoenix Zoo. Children love the Harmony Farm petting zoo and playground, Enchanted Forest play area, and the zoo’s Endangered Species Carousel. Be sure to bring along swimsuits to cool off at the Leapin’ Lagoon and Yakulla Caverns splash pads, too. The Phoenix Zoo even offers a summer camp program for kids.

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park

Families with young children will definitely want to visit McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. It’s a great place to spend the morning in Scottsdale in summer. True train lovers enjoy exploring indoor model railroad displays and outdoor full-sized train cars.

Paradise Pacific Railroad

The highlight at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is the Paradise Pacific Railroad. This ride-on miniature train chugs through an expansive grassy park.

Scottsdale Charros Carousel

The Scottsdale Charros Carousel at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is lots of fun, too, with its antique horses and two wheelchair-accessible chariots.

Playgrounds

A sizable playground and a smaller Old West-themed play area please kids of all ages.

Picnics

Buy hotdogs, hamburgers, and ice cream at the Snackstop. Or pack a picnic to enjoy an early lunch at shaded picnic areas.

Golf in Scottsdale in Summer

Golfers should plan to hit the links first thing in the morning in Scottsdale in summer. The Scottsdale area boasts over 200 courses sure to please any golfer.

Summer Golf Pricing

What’s more, golfing prices plummet when the heat rises in Scottsdale. At two luxury courses, Troon North Golf Club and The Boulders, prices drop as much as 75 percent during summer months, allowing golfers on a budget to take advantage of these excellent golf courses.

Hot Air Ballooning

Get up very early in summer to enjoy a hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Sun. With 300 days of sunshine per year in Scottsdale, the area offers more flyable days than anywhere else in the country.

Floating above the desert in a hot air balloon is an experience you will long remember. Choose from shared or private flights with Hot Air Expeditions and Rainbow Ryders.

Scottsdale Summer Afternoon Attractions

After a morning of playing outdoors, your entire family will be ready to cool down. If you’re up for more exploring (or you can’t rouse the troops before noon), then chill out with air-conditioned indoor Scottsdale summer activities. Alternatively, the afternoon is the perfect time to splash in a swimming pool or water park. And you can always beat the dry heat with an ice cream treat!

Arizona Boardwalk

The whole family could spend an entire day at Arizona Boardwalk and never get bored. It is home to tasty restaurants, a handful of retail stores, and eight major attractions.

OdySea Aquarium

The primary attraction at Arizona Boardwalk is the largest aquarium in the Southwest. The 200,000-square-foot OdySea Aquarium houses intriguing sea creatures like fish, stingrays, otters, and penguins.

Butterfly Wonderland

Also located within the Arizona Boardwalk campus, Butterfly Wonderland impresses vacationers at America’s largest butterfly conservatory. View living fluttering insects in a pretty indoor botanical garden. Tip: Wear perfume or cologne and bright colors if you’d like the butterflies to land on you!

Ripley’s Believe It or Not

View a megalodon shark jaw, crawl through a life-sized replica of an enormous prehistoric snake, and pose next to an animatronic version of the tallest man who ever lived at Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

Museum of Illusions

Trick your eyes with an array of interactive displays at the Museum of Illusions Scottsdale. All ages will enjoy playing and learning about vision, perception, and the human brain at this attraction. This museum would make a great spot for a first date or outing with new friends because the displays of optical illusions naturally encourage conversation and laughter!

Laser + Mirror Mazes

Kids love Laser + Mirror Mazes with its challenging laser-filled, walk-through puzzle and colorful reflective labyrinth.

Cyber Quest

Treat your crew to arcade games at Cyber Quest. Save up your tickets to win prizes like plush toys or even a Snoopy Snow Cone Machine as my family did!

Pangea Land of the Dinosaurs

Dinosaur lovers will roar with delight at Pangea Land of the Dinosaurs. This is an educational attraction that’s lots of fun for all ages.

UFO Experience

The UFO Experience at Arizona Boardwalk is out of this world. Embark on an entertaining adventure of all things alien from UFO sightings to alien “artifacts.”

Indoor Miniature Golf

With two indoor options, miniature golf is always in season no matter the time of year in Scottsdale.

Glow Putt

Kids love the glowing, playful displays at Glow Putt. This has long been one of my family’s favorite things to do for summer fun in Scottsdale. Sink a hole-in-one at the last hole to win another round on the house!

Puttshack

New to Scottsdale in the summer of 2023, Puttshack is an upscale mini golf experience with exciting tech-infused features at Kierland Commons shopping area. Purchase snacks like pizza or salads plus cocktails and other drinks to enjoy before or after a round or two.

Scottsdale Museums

One of the best ways to cool off during summer is at a local museum in the Phoenix area. In addition to year-round educational experiences, look for special summer programs at these Scottsdale museums.

Musical Instrument Museum

Wander through the world-renowned Musical Instrument Museum with displays featuring songs, videos, musical instruments, and traditional costumes from around the world. In the evenings, enjoy a summer concert series at the MIM (as locals call it).

Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West

Celebrate cowboy culture and view Amerindian displays at Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. Kids enjoy hands-on features like an oversized, Wild West-inspired board game à la Chutes and Ladders, an optical illusion painting perfect for posing for photos, puzzles of southwestern animals, and art rubbings.

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art

Appreciate modern art at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art in Old Town Scottsdale. Start here and then head to Art Walk on a Thursday evening.

Additional Museums in the Phoenix Area

Depending on your family’s interests, you may also want to visit museums beyond Scottsdale. Interesting options include the educational Arizona Museum of Natural History in Mesa, the interactive Arizona Science Center in Phoenix, the Phoenix Art Museum with art from around the world, displays of Native American cultures of the Southwest at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, or the playful Children’s Museum of Phoenix.

Taliesin West

Fans of architectural design will appreciate a visit to Taliesin West. Once the winter home of the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, today it is the headquarters of his foundation. It is open seven days a week for self-guided audio tours and 90-minute guided walking tours.

Outdoor Pools and Water Parks in Scottsdale

If you’re looking for a splashy scene, then you have some fun pool and water park options with lazy rivers and water slides in the Valley of the Sun. Also, explore the best Scottsdale hotel pools.

McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Center

McDowell Mountain Ranch Aquatic Center offers a winding water slide, a pleasant lazy river, high and low diving boards, and a zero-entry splash play area.

El Dorado Aquatic Center

The El Dorado Aquatic Center is home to a water playground with a slide for young children, a zero-entry pool, plus two full-sized water slides for bigger kids.

Water Parks in the Phoenix Area

Additionally, water parks in neighboring areas include Big Surf in Tempe, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Phoenix, and Golfland Sunsplash in Mesa.

Ice Cream

We all scream for ice cream, particularly in summer in Scottsdale!

Sweet Republic

For the best ice cream in Scottsdale, my recommendation is Sweet Republic. Their artisanal ice creams and sorbets will tempt anyone who visits this ice cream shop located in the same strip mall as Glow Putt.

Seasonal flavors like Strawberry Buttermilk rotate throughout the year. Meanwhile, year-round offerings like Salted Caramel Swirl and Brownie Fudge Swirl always delight. Get your sundae topped with a roasted handmade marshmallow!

I give 12 out of 10 stars to Sweet Republic’s Pecan Turtle Sundae. It comes with two scoops of Salted Caramel Swirl, sweet and salty Arizona pecans, hot fudge, salted caramel sauce, and whip cream. YUM!

Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlor

In Old Town Scottsdale, you’ll find the sweet pink Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlor. It’s the perfect place for parents to rest weary feet while kids play in the onsite vintage arcade.

This old-fashioned restaurant has been serving up sandwiches, soups, and, most importantly, ice cream since 1958. Get standards like a hot fudge sundae or banana split. Or, order one of their Super Fancy Sundaes. Mint lovers (like me!) will adore the Blarney Dream Sundae, made with mint syrup, vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, a scoop of butter pecan, whipped cream, and a cherry.

Scottsdale Summer Evenings

As the sun sets in the desert, temperatures drop. That’s when to hit the town. Here’s what to do in Scottsdale in summer during the evenings.

Happy Hour

Kick off your summer evening in with happy hour. Since my husband and I go to happy hour nearly every Friday night, I like to consider myself a Scottsdale happy hour aficionado. Below are a couple of my favorite spots.

Wine Girl Scottsdale

For a Scottsdale girlfriend getaway or any night out with your gal pals, nothing beats Wine Girl Scottsdale in Old Town. Expect wine flights, fun merch, feminine pink and white décor, and swings from which to sip.

For something fancy, order a Rosé Petals Winetail made with rosé, rose extract syrup, and sparkling water sprinkled with mini rosebuds.

Happy hour takes place all day Monday through Wednesday with half-off select bottles of wine. Monday through Thursday, happy hour lasts from opening until 6 pm with $2 off food, wine on tap, and beer on tap.

Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen

This Arizona restaurant caters to gluten-sensitive eaters (like moi) and ensures those with food allergies or other restrictions (like vegan) feel comfortable dining out.

Picazzo’s “Healthy Hour” runs from 3 to 6 pm daily. Enjoy such delicious discounted options as Mama’s Meat-Za Balls made with ground turkey, marinara, and basil or Baked Brie with roasted garlic, Gala apple, fig jam, and house-made gluten-free focaccia.

Happy hour drink specials include $5 local drafts, $6 house wine by the glass, and $7 house-made sangria. Also get $8 signature cocktails like Rick’s Smoked Old Fashioned, Aperol Spritz, Cucumber Ginger Mule, or Limoncello Margarita. Look for fun mocktails, too!

Scottsdale ArtWalk

Old Town Scottsdale is home to more than 100 art galleries, many of which specialize in pieces by local Arizona artists and Southwestern American art. For more than 45 years, this area of town has been welcoming visitors to the Scottsdale ArtWalk on Thursday evenings from 7 to 9 pm. Many galleries offer refreshments, live music, and special exhibits during this time.

Shopping in Scottsdale

In addition to the artwork and Arizona-themed gifts found in Old Town, Scottsdale offers a plethora of shopping opportunities.

Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter

Neighboring Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter outdoor shopping districts feature misters in the summertime that cut the heat. Bonus: The Quarter offers a fountain where children splash and play to cool off.

Scottsdale Fashion Square

Meanwhile, the indoor Scottsdale Fashion Square offers 240 air-conditioned retail stores sure to please serious shoppers. Fashion Square specializes in high-end options like Neiman Marcus, Burberry, and Gucci. Meanwhile, bargain shoppers will be pleased to find favorites like H&M, Claire’s, and Windsor. Chill out and watch a film on one of 14 screens at the mall’s Harkins movie theater while you’re there.

Top Scottsdale Hotels with Pools and Water Parks

As the temperatures soar in Scottsdale, room rates at the city’s swanky hotels drop drastically. Look for the best deals of the year on services at Scottsdale’s best spa resorts, too.

Many hotels also offer things to do outdoors like tennis, golf, and guided hikes. With incredible hotel pools in Scottsdale and summer offerings like dive-in movies, you may never want to leave your resort!

Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale

Guests of all ages seeking pampering, delicious restaurants, outdoor activities, and gorgeous desert scenery will adore Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North. This resort features three pools — a shallow children’s pool, a family pool, and a pool just for grown-ups.

Tucked away in North Scottsdale next to Pinnacle Peak Park, Four Seasons is where to go to escape it all. Read my comprehensive review of Four Seasons Scottsdale.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

Want to visit the beach in Scottsdale? Head to the Fairmont! You’ll find a white sand beach, six swimming pools, and two twisting waterslides. On the weekends, kids will go gaga for Let’s Glo Pool Parties and Dive-In Movies. Meanwhile, parents will appreciate their swish world-class spa and championship golf course.

New for 2023, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is throwing the biggest summer bash in Scottsdale. The 80s and 90s-themed Retro Recess features a shaded outdoor roller rink, a vintage arcade and themed laser tag adventure, and a glowing mini golf course. There are even fireworks every Saturday night. Let’s hope this becomes an annual event, similar to their Scottsdale Christmas soirée.

The Westin Kierland Resort and Spa

Pool lovers flock to the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa for their Adventure Water Park. This hotel offers the iconic Kierland FlowRider flow-board simulator for surfing in the desert, a lazy river, a 110-foot-long water slide, and an adult-only pool with a hot tub.

If you want to stay away from crowds, then rent a family-friendly poolside cabana to relax in shaded luxury. Better yet, enjoy your very own Tommy Bahama Relaxation Reef private “island”.

Great Wolf Lodge Arizona

The Great Wolf Lodge Arizona is home to the state’s first indoor water park. Expect multiple water slides, a splash-loaded treehouse with a giant tipping bucket, play pools, and a lazy river. In summer, families also enjoy the outdoor Raccoon Lagoon’s water play area with fountains galore.

Hyatt Regency Scottsdale at Gainey Ranch

Cool down at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale’s 2.5-acre water playground complete with a sand beach, 10 swimming pools, 20 fountains, and 45 waterfalls. Daredevils will especially like their three-story, high-speed water slide.

Even if you’re not staying at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch, you can still cruise through the resort’s 7-acre lake aboard a handcrafted Italian Gondola boat while being serenaded by a professional gondolier!

After a $110-million renovation, this hotel will reopen as the Grand Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa in late 2024, making it the first Grand Hyatt hotel in Arizona.

Explore More of Arizona

Take a look at my comprehensive list of things to do in Scottsdale with kids for even more fun in the Valley of the Sun.

Headed to Northern Arizona? You’ll definitely want to read my Grand Canyon tips!

Visit a quaint college town and gateway to the Grand Canyon with this list of the best things to do in Flagstaff, AZ.

To experience America’s biggest ghost town, check out my tips for visiting Jerome, Arizona.

Discover the charms of Arizona’s territorial capital in my guide to Prescott.

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