5 Arizona activities to put on your summer 2025 bucket list

The locals’ guide to summer in Arizona includes rooftop bars, cool lakes, mountain hikes, and more.

Summer is coming, which means it’s time to start checking things off your bucket list. And while big vacations are great, there’s something especially fun about using the season to explore your own backyard. Check out the top four Arizona activities for you summer 2025 bucket list. 

1. Sip and socialize on Phoenix’s rooftop bars

Experience Phoenix from above at three of the city’s best rooftop bars.

Named after the goddess of light, Thea, perched atop the Global Ambassador, offers stunning views of Camelback Mountain, along with delicious Mediterranean dishes and creative cocktails. Don Woods’ Say When is a more intimate spot with views of both the Phoenix skyline and Camelback. With its retro vibe inspired by the late ’60s and early ’70s, this rooftop features a light menu and a lineup of classic and cleverly named cocktails. Lastly, there’s the Eden Rooftop Bar, an escape that feels like a step outside the desert and into luxury. You’ll find “sultry” cocktails like The Garden of Eden, Side Piece, and Late Night Spanking, plus a daytime menu with popular sandwiches and an evening menu full of shareables for the whole group.

The outdoor rooftop space at Don Woods’ Say When, located inside Rise Uptown Hotel, provides beautiful, cactus-lined views of Phoenix. (Don Woods’ Say When/Facebook)

2. Spend a day on the water

Summer in Arizona means hot, hot, hot days—but luckily, the state has a built-in remedy: lakes. Head to one of these popular spots for a day of sunshine and cooling off.

Apache Lake, tucked into the Tonto National Forest, is one of Arizona’s best-kept secrets, offering endless outdoor recreation like kayaking, pontoon boating, and paddleboarding. Not exactly a lake, but an equally fun way to cool off in the water is by floating down the Salt River. If tubing isn’t your thing, you can always rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard for an equally fun experience. Then there’s Scorpion Bay at Lake Pleasant. Known as Arizona’s premier “floating playground,” it’s packed with options from daily pontoons and ski boat rentals to slips for harboring your own boat, and plenty of space to fish, sunbathe, or simply soak in the mountain views.

Scorpion Bay’s floating cabins offer a unique experience and unparalleled views of Lake Pleasant (Scorpion Bay/Facebook)

3. Escape the heat in Flagstaff 

Start your day in Flagstaff with a cold brew and a breakfast panini from The Station, a local favorite known for its carefully curated menu and exceptional espresso.

Once you’ve had your caffeine fix and filled up, make your way to Humphreys Peak for a challenging, but seriously rewarding, mountain adventure. At 12,633 feet, it’s the highest point in Arizona. The trail to the summit is a strenuous 5-mile climb, but the panoramic views at the top are worth every step; on a clear day, you can even spot the Grand Canyon. Just a heads-up, though, this hike isn’t for beginners and typically takes 6–8 hours round-trip. If you’re not up for the full trek, you can still enjoy the wildflower-strewn meadow at the base or hike a portion of the trail and turn back when you’re ready.

The view from Humphreys Peak looking into the Inner Basin of the San Francisco Peaks in Arizona (Mike Elson/CC BY-SA 2.0).

After you’ve tired out your legs and cleared your head, it’s time for pizza, and there’s no better place than Dark Sky Brewing. Named after Flagstaff’s international dark sky designation, DSB is home to some of the best craft beer in town. And what pairs better with beer than wood-fired Neapolitan pizza? Grab a slice (or a whole pie) from Pizzicletta, the cozy pizza spot that shares space with the taproom.

4. Wander through a museum in Tucson

Spend the day learning something new with a trip to Tucson, a city full of fascinating museums covering everything from art to science.

If you’re looking to tap into your creative side, head to the Tucson Museum of Art. This museum has it all: American West art, Asian art, modern and contemporary works, European and Latin American collections, and more. For a deeper dive into Arizona’s natural beauty and ecological uniqueness, spend a day at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. This “fusion museum” blends a zoo, botanical gardens, art galleries, an aquarium, and a natural history museum, all centered around the stunning Sonoran Desert. Keep in mind that 80% of the museum is outdoors, so be sure to bring water and dress for the weather.

Colorful cactuses at the Sonoran Desert Museum in Tucson, AZ. (JP R/CC BY-NC 2.0)

One of Tucson’s most unique and intriguing attractions is Biosphere 2, a 3.14-acre research facility operated by the University of Arizona. Open to the public, it houses five distinct biomes: ocean, mangrove wetlands, tropical rainforest, savanna grassland, and fog desert. A visit here offers a fascinating glimpse into groundbreaking environmental research, and it’s such a one-of-a-kind experience, you’re guaranteed to leave with a newfound appreciation for our planet.

5. Visit Arizona’s wine regions

Have a Napa day without ever leaving Arizona. Believe it or not, Arizona has its very own wine regions, and they’re well worth a visit.

The Verde Valley Wine Trail, located in Northern Arizona, stretches across about ten cities and communities. It’s known for its diverse wineries, each offering a unique take on Verde Valley wines. Then there’s Willcox Wine Country, a hidden gem in the southeastern corner of the state. Though it flies under the radar, Willcox is actually home to 74% of Arizona’s wine grapes and stands as the largest wine-producing region in the state. With so many wineries and tasting rooms, you might need more than one trip to experience it all. Lastly, there’s Sonoita. Tucked into the high desert grasslands of southern Arizona, this is the state’s original wine country, and its first and largest AVA (American Viticultural Area). Surrounded by four mountain ranges, rolling green hills, and vibrant wildflowers, Sonoita offers a wine-sipping experience that’s hard to beat.

Cotton candy colored skies over Rune Winery, a popular destination in Sonoita, AZ. (Rune Wines/Facebook)

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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