Wet dreams
When the daytime temperatures in Phoenix hit 110 degrees and higher, we imagine ourselves in cool flowing waters, making big splashes, or relaxing on a floating device with a cool drink in hand. We dream of ways we can get wet. From dream to reality, here’s a short list that will satisfy anyone’s hot desert dreams:
Make Waves
For the budget-minded, the city of Tempe in the Phoenix Metro Area operates an indoor pool where kids and adults alike can rent tubes and rafts to ride the three-foot-tall waves to the sandy beach shore. The Kiwanis Wave Pool includes a 127-foot tall double spiral slide for even more water time thrills. General admission is $6, and the pool is open year-round. A snack bar and outdoor patio is also on-site.
Splash Down
The Arizona Grand resort, formerly Pointe Hilton at South Mountain, is probably one of the most popular family resorts in the Valley of the Sun. With a gigantic wave pool, three water slides that you enter from an eight-story tower, and a 25-person hot tub, there’s plenty of water at the Oasis Water Park to create a splashing good time. Of course, you have to stay to play. Summer packages are available.
Float On
Salt River Tubing & Recreation has been around for more than 22 years. Located in northeast Mesa, just 15 miles north of U.S. 60 on Power Road, this is the sight of Arizona’s version of the wild beach party. For $11/person on the weekends, you and a bunch of your friends can rent inner tubes and float down the Salt River. Depending on how far you want to go, you could wind up spending five hours on the river. People bring coolers filled with their favorite drinks, including plenty of water, food and snacks to make it one big floating picnic. Shuttle buses take you back to the parking lot for your ride home.
4 Comments
Good article. The title’s a tad suggestive though . . .
Stanley Bronstein
MrAchievement
Jackie – great ideas! Funny title. And don’t forget that ol’ spray bottle in your car or purse! I put a few drops of aromatherapy oil into a small plastic bottle filled with purified water. When the weather gets too much, I just take out that bottle and spray myself right in the face. Feels great, and helps me smell better than before (LOL)
Beth
As a native of Arizona, I spent all of my summers in water (and have the skin to prove it). It was Slip ‘n Slide as a kid, Big Surf in high school, Salt River in college. Nice to see that things haven’t changed much – except that thanks to Salt River Recreatation, you don’t have to take two cars to tube the river – one to leave at the end of the river and one to drive you to the starting point!
Michelle
Nice article that brings back great memories of tubin’ on the ol’ Salt River — in the days when there was lots of white water too! There are plenty of ways to keep cool in Phoenix, and I will try out the suggestion Beth Terry gave – nice idea, with a spray bottle and scented water!
We don’t have to work too hard to overcome the intolerable heat and building humidity with the monsoons! Enjoyed your suggestions!
Bonnie