Seasonal Living & Getaways
Weekend getaways, outdoor adventures, and seasonal inspiration
“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Escape the Heat
Cooler Places. Slower pace. Weekend escapes.
When Arizona temperatures climb, these are the places we head to for cooler air, scenic drives, great food, and weekends that leave us feeling refreshed.
Prescott, Arizona
Courthouse Plaza, Whiskey Row, great golf, and Arizona history—all with cooler evenings and a relaxed pace.
Historic charm in the pines.
San Diego, California
Beach walks, Balboa Park, Little Italy dinners, and sunsets at the Hotel del make this one of my favorite escapes.
Ocean breezes & waterfront days.
Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizona
Cool mountain air & quiet days.
Pine forests, peaceful lakes, scenic trails, cozy cabins, and evenings around the fire make it easy to slow down.
Arizona changes dramatically with the seasons, and every one has something worth looking forward to. These are a few of my favorite ways to experience the state throughout the year.
Arizona Through the Seasons
Summer
Tee times — summer greens fees basically nosedive across the Valley, so you can play like a member of the club for the price of a round of mini golf. Springfield Golf Resort in Chandler is our go-to — a fast, forgiving executive course where you can squeeze in nine holes in about an hour and a half before the heat really sets in.
Prescott Frontier Days — the World's Oldest Rodeo has been running since 1888, and it takes over Prescott every year around the Fourth of July with bull riding, a parade, and small-town Independence Day energy you can't fake. Pair it with a weekend up in the pines — you're already headed there for Escape the Heat. It's one of the most popular weeks in town, so grab tickets early.
A few other ideas for summer: floating in the pool with the misters running full blast, watching a monsoon roll in from the driveway, dinner on the patio the second it's bearable again.
Fall
Arizona Cardinals home games — tickets move fast, especially for the marquee matchups. Will they actually win? History suggests... let's just say bring snacks and manage expectations. But the tailgate party never lets you down, even when the team does.
Schnepf Farms' Pumpkin & Chili Party — This festival has been an Arizona tradition for almost 30 years: corn mazes, hayrides, chili dinners, and fireworks lighting up the sky every Friday and Saturday night in October. Go on a Wednesday if it's offered again — a bit less expensive, and the crowds thin out.
A few other ideas for fall: a color-chasing drive to Oak Creek Canyon, the first patio dinner with a sweatshirt on, Sunday gameday snacks that have nothing to do with actually watching the game
Winter
Las Noches de las Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden — a true Phoenix tradition, and weekend nights sell out well ahead of time. Bundle up (by Arizona standards — so, a light cardigan).
Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale— Johnny's pick
For nine days every January, WestWorld turns into the automotive world's main stage — hundreds of rare, jaw-dropping collector cars crossing the block, celebrity sightings, and enough horsepower to make your head spin. Johnny hasn't missed a year yet, and he'll tell you: you don't have to bid on anything to have a great afternoon just wandering the lot. For hours. And hours. Bring snacks — he's not leaving before the last car crosses the block. Tickets go on sale in January.
A few other ideas for winter: window shopping Old Town Scottsdale wrapped in holiday lights, patio brunch with a blanket on your lap, sunrise hikes up Camelback while it's actually jacket weather
Spring
Cactus League Spring Training — tickets typically go on sale in the fall and popular matchups sell out fast, so it pays to plan ahead. Seats behind home plate offer shade from the Arizona sun.
Arizona Renaissance Festival — turkey legs, jousting knights, and a solid excuse to wear a corset on a Saturday. It runs weekends from late January through late March in Gold Canyon, so it's basically tailor-made for a spring day trip once the mornings turn crisp again.
A few other ideas for spring: Desert Botanical Garden in bloom, Old Town farmers market on a Saturday morning, lemonade made from the tree in your own backyard
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Wherever the Year Takes You
However you spend your time here — chasing luminarias in December or a cooler mountain morning in July — Arizona always gives you a reason to get outside.
I hope this gave you a few new ideas for wherever your calendar takes you next.
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