For many Arizonans, summer means one thing: indoor entertainment. Air conditioning is key to surviving consistently triple-digit temperatures and those oppressive UV rays. And the thought of going outside to brave that summer heat is almost laughable.
Still, there are a few activities that actually lend themselves well to outdoor entertainment, even in the brutal Arizona summers. With those high temps just around the corner, now is the perfect time to start planning ahead by building your list of outdoor entertainment ideas.
Here are a few ideas to get your list started.
Host a water Olympics.
Invite family or friends over and hold your very own Olympic games—right in your backyard! Make it summertime friendly by choosing water games that will keep you cool even while turning up the competitive heat. Some games to add to your lineup include:
• Water balloon toss or relay
• Water gun freeze tag
• “Tipsy waiter” game
• “Leaking cup” relay race
• Slip ‘n slide (points for distance, style, etc.)
• Pool games: synchronized swimming, dive and seek (find objects on the bottom of the pool), cannonball contest
Get as creative as you want with your water Olympics. The possibilities are endless!
Throw a pool party (or several).
If you have a backyard swimming pool, you have outdoor entertainment covered in the summer. In fact, you’ll probably be the most popular house on the block. Use your pool often and get your money’s worth from it! (If you want to have your pool ready by summer, now is the perfect time to start.)
Hold a classic backyard barbeque.
Eating outside might seem like it would be miserable during the Arizona summer, but if you take care to cool down your eating area, it can actually be quite enjoyable! Here are some tips to make it work:
• Add shade (umbrellas or pergolas) to your eating area.
• Cool down your outdoor dining space with misters.
• Focus on cool, fresh side dishes to accompany your burgers and hot dogs (fruit, veggies and dip, cold salads, etc.).
• When choosing outdoor dining furniture, choose materials that won’t retain too much heat (metal legs and arms are a no-no!).
Have fun after dark.
If you add adequate lighting to your backyard, it’s easy to take the fun outside once the sun goes down. Enjoy dessert, play board games, play yard games (frisbee, croquet, etc.), or just sit outside with a cool drink and chat. If you set your backyard up correctly, it can be the perfect after-dark entertainment option for your family.
Phoenix summers are no joke, but that doesn’t mean you have to move all entertainment indoors for six months out of the year. Set your backyard up for summer success, get creative with your next outdoor get-together, and enjoy the outdoors all year long!
If you’re looking to create the perfect outdoor space to enjoy with family and friends this summer, contact Rustic Creek Landscaping to speak with one of our professionals. We have several years of experience creating custom landscapes throughout The Valley and can help you create the yard of your dreams.
