Things to Do When It's Too Hot in Phoenix

I am not going to lie--August in Phoenix is miserable. Not only is it hot, but it tends to get humid, particularly during the monsoon. I've lived in Phoenix now for nearly 10 years, and I still don't quite understand the monsoon, but I am convinced that I hate Phoenix summers. The good news, though, is that relief is only two hours away.

Last weekend brought consecutive heat advisories, which meant for me it was time to get out of town. I packed up the dogs and headed north to Flagstaff. In just about a two-hour drive, the altitude rises to 8,000 feet and the temperatures drop to 80 degrees. The scenery changes dramatically, as you leave behind the desert and enter into a beautiful forest of pine trees.

We arrived early afternoon on Saturday, and the dogs still didn't know how excited this trip was going to be for them. We headed first to the Red Mountain Trail, which is about 30 miles north of Flagstaff, on the road heading toward the Grand Canyon. The hike winds through a juniper forest leading into a pine forest, and a cinder cone area, which is over one million years old and features volcanic ash. The hike round trip is about 2.5 miles and pretty easy. The scenery is both beautiful and unique. And the weather was a sunny 78 degrees!

By this time, the dogs were as happy as could be (I have two: Jake, an English setter mix; and Sarah, a golden retriever [above]). After our hike, we headed to the hotel for the evening. The dogs played at the park and tried to get used to the hotel surroundings. Jake never quite got comfortable, and I don't think he slept a wink all night.

The next day we stayed in town and headed to Buffalo Park for the urban loop trail. This easy walking path is 2 miles and affords views of the San Francisco Peaks and more trees and even a chirping squirrel. We loved this trail so much we circled around twice. Exhausted, we loaded back into the car and headed back to Phoenix for the afternoon.

Part of the beauty of Arizona is its diversity of climates and environments. While Glendale Campus residents will spend most of their time in the Valley, it is an easy trip to head to Flagstaff for cooler weather and even snow in the winter. Heading south to Tucson leads to Sahuaro National Park and lots of other interesting sights and attractions. While I am a Chicago city girl at heart, I have come to appreciate the wonders of the desert Southwest.

Now, we just have to endure about another 4 to 6 weeks of the heat (yes, summer in Phoenix lasts until about mid-October and doesn't let up in September one bit!). After that, we can bask in the glory of a warm winter.