Favorite Summer Bargains

Soaking up the amazing Tucson Weather

I'm from New Jersey so I just love the "heat". The mornings are the best, even in the 90's. I walk early in the AM & enjoy the beautiful views & perfect temps. I never want to see snow or feel cold air again, so being in Tucson is a REAL TREAT. Love it!!!!!

Oro Valley

Lois

Frozen banana blender shakes

Peel and freeze two bananas in a sandwich bag. Drop them (no bag) in the blender and add a cup of milk, more or less. Blend it and drink it. It doesn't even need sugar or vanilla. My kids' favorite!

My freezer

Lynn

Air Conditioning: Crossroads Theater, Live Theatre Workshop,

Air conditioning is the honest key to the summer heat. Over 80 degrees sends me into air conditioning and I don't come out until night. Crossroads/Oracle View theatres are great. Live Theatre Workshop is a cool place to get some good laughs and drama and Beowulf Alley is also offering some summer treats. The Desert Museum is doing summer nights and I shall be checking that out. And then there is the great, downtown, community event at Cinema La Placita every Thur night. Upcoming is A Kiss Before Dying which had something to do with tucson.

Home, Grant/Swan, Speedway/Rosemont

Beth M. Horowitz

Cafe Poca Cosa

I'd been hearing from several people about a wonderful Mexican restaurant right in downtown Tucson. It sounded like the perfect place to take our very good friends of over 20 years. I had been very excited and couldn't wait for our friends to come in town so we go go to Cafe Poca Cosa. Everything I heard about this place was accurate. My friends were so excited about the food and service. They are from Chicago and have many wonderful restaurants to choose from and they still thought this wasa a WONDERFUL experience. We've added it to our list of places to take visitors so when our next wave of company came in a month later we took them there as well and they also thought it was FABULOUS!

Downtown Tucson

Nancie Keener

LaPaloma Westin, live Jazz w/ Jeff Lorber

I went to the Westin LaPaloma for a "live" jazz concert featuring Jeff Lorber (keyboards), Everett Harp (sax) and Jay Soto(guitar)...they were "AWESOME"!! There was a Q&A and photo set prior to the concert and after the concert, the artists autographed CDs. Jeff Lorber and I talked about the soltice that was happening that particular night, and how he was a chem major, and so was I; and how I always wanted to learn to play the piano. I started listening to Jeff Lorber during the "Return to Forever" days with Chick Corea. I have always very uch enjoyed listening to Jeff Lorber. Jay Soto was incredible!! He "made love to and mo love, dirty love" to his guitar!! As a listener, you could feel everything that Jay was feeling while playing. Mr Everett was just as exciting with his sounds and moves! That was definitely the Jazz Concert of the year thus far in Tucson...just incredible talent, and the purest of jazz that could be heard and entertaining to the max!!! Jeff Lorber actually stood up from the signing table, reached over and hugged me after our conversation. That made my night even more special since I have so much admiration for him...I was too happy! What a summer treat!!

LaPaloma & Sunrise, Tucson

Payne

Mountain Biking Or Hiking

In the  early morning hours or in the late afternoon, my husband  and I love to go hiking or bike riding the trails at Santa Rita Mountains in south Vail or around Sonoita

St Rita Mountains

Tere

Iced Tea w/Orange Juice or Mango Mixer

When the temps are 108° outside it's nice to kick back at Ventana Canyon Resort out by the pool with a huge cold glass of iced tea with orange juice or mango or other fruit flavors mixed in and enjoy the sights and relaxation!

Ventana Resort

Juan in a Million (John)

Swimming all weekend long

Floating in the pool with our two girls while eating kiwi and sliced mango!

our back yard

Rosy Schumack

Breakfast in the Desert

I like to get up early, get my hubby and go out to the desert, maybe the monuments whre there are picnic tables, and cook breakfast and watch the sunrise and the critters- they are quite active BEFORE it gets hot. Fun to watch all the little ones (quail babies are like walnuts on little legs!). this is good, quality time with my better half...and very relaxing. Then we go home to the AC unit!

Anywhere

Barb

Lodge at Ventana Canyon-Simply loved it,cool and exciting

I carried cool water and Powerade,wore a wide brim hat when I went to trek on the trails and to Sabino Canyon. On returning I had light meals of salads and frozen yoghurt at the upscale mall on Campbell La Encantada and had the Frost and another time I had a treat at Cold Stone Creamery which is also a stone's throw from Ventana Canyon Lodge. Everything cool to beat the Tucson summer.

Ventana canyon Retreat

Gitanjali Sen

Making Ice Cream

I like to make homemade ice cream for summer treats! No, we do not use an old-fashioned crank churn, I do have an electric one and it is SO easy to make all your own favorite flavors without buying expensive ingredients! Whenever I buy fresh fruit, I freeze some in little baggies to add to the mix whenever we want!! The fresh flavors are not to be beat. We make ice cream floats, ice cream sandwiches, and of course, ice cream cones!! Nothing beats ice cream to make you slow down and cool down!!! When I was a young girl, we would go to family get-togethers and did get to help make the ice-cream in the old crank churn with rock salt - which seemed to take forever, but it was so worth waiting for. I love this memory, even though my parents are now gone, but have helped create new memories with my own kids.

Tucson, AZ

Donna Cox

Local Pool

On weekends I like to pick up my grandsons and head over to Randolph Park pool. We go about 4:30 and the water is so warm you just walk right in. It gives me a chance to have some quality time with them.

Randolph Park

Angie L

Drive Trip to San Diego

Every year me and my family go to san diego on vacation. for the most part we drive because it costs less than flying. When the gas prices are not way up there, it cost's approimately 40 dollars for gas each way. We usually go to a hotel that offers the free breakfast so we can save money on that portion. another item we look at when booking our hotel is we look for a place with a kitchenette that has refrigerator and microwave. this way we can cut costs on going out to eat. Most places we go to and stay are set up like this and the costs are minimal as far as the room goes. we hang out at the mission beach and imperial beach because those of our favorite. We do eat out a few times, but we look for the most economical places to get the most for our money.

Mission Bay, San Diego

Danny

Movie Mania!

What could be better than sitting at home, in a nice air conditioned apartment/house, and cuddling up on the couch with that special someone watching the latest blockbuster on a big screen tv with nice surround sound?? That's the BEST!!!

Tucson

"J"

Root beer float

I have every Tuesday and Wednesday off and we go up to Summerhaven to the Cookie Cabin. They have the best root beer floats.

Summerhaven

Lynn

Sitting outside weekend mornings

After a long week of of getting up at 4:20 AM to get to work, I enjoy my morning weekends. I get up when I want to and make a pot of coffee. I head for the North patio with coffee and the morning paper, turn on the overhead fan, and enjoy the start of the day.

My north patio

Ed

Swimming

When we get too hot working in this weather we take an hour out and jump in the pool.

Backyard

Helen Spence