When your phone is buzzing with alerts of an extreme heat warning in Tucson, the last thing you want to do is venture outside. But as soon as the sun dips behind the mountains, Tucson comes alive. The desert cools down (at least a little), and some of the city's best experiences begin after sunset.
Whether you're looking for a family outing, a date night or simply an excuse to get out of the house, here are seven ways to make the most of the summer nights before the season comes to an end.
Ride the Sabino Canyon Crawler under the stars
Sabino Canyon is beautiful any time of day, but there's something extra special about seeing it after dark. During the summer, the Sabino Canyon Crawler offers narrated nighttime rides through the canyon, giving visitors the chance to experience the desert in a completely different way while learning about the area's wildlife and history.
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The Sabino Canyon Night Crawler stops at the end of the road during a summer night tour.
When: Saturday evenings through Oct. 31
Cost: $15 for adults, $8 for children ages 3 to 12. Children younger than 3 ride free.
Explore the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum after dark
Visitors take sunset pictures and video at Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum during its Cool Summer Nights, when the museum stays open until 10 p.m. on most Saturdays through Aug. 29.
The Sonoran Desert doesn't go to sleep when the sun goes down, and neither does the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. During Cool Summer Nights, visitors can stroll the museum after hours, listen to live music, meet nocturnal animals and even search for glowing scorpions with a blacklight.
A bark scorpion glows in black light from its hiding spot in a stone wall at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
When: Saturdays through Aug. 29, open until 10 p.m.
A mountain lion checks out the visitors taking a look at him during Cool Summer Nights at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.
Where: Arizona Desert Museum
Cost: $29.95 general admission (ages 13 to 64), $24.95 youth (ages 3 to 12), free admission for Desert Museum members, Native Americans (with Tribal ID or CIB) and children under 2.
Visit the animals during Summer Safari Nights
One of the giraffes uses every inch to get to a branch left out for it during Summer Safari Nights at Reid Park Zoo.
Some of the zoo's residents are more active once temperatures cool off. Reid Park Zoo's Summer Safari Nights give visitors the chance to explore the zoo in the evening while enjoying keeper chats, family activities, local vendors and entertainment.
Meru the young African elephant enjoys a dip in the pond as the temps begin to drop at Summer Safari Nights at Reid Park Zoo.
When: Saturdays, 6 to 8 p.m., through Aug. 8
Where: Reid Park Zoo
Splashing down in the slip-n-slide, cooling off at Summer Safari Nights at Reid Park Zoo.
Cost: $12.75 for adults (ages 15-61), $10.75 for seniors (ages 62+), $9 for children ages 2-14, free for zoo members and children under 2.
Spend an evening Chillin' at the Chul
Live music, local artists, food, drinks and one of Tucson's most beautiful desert gardens? That's what you'll find during Chillin' at the Chul. Whether you're planning a date night or catching up with friends, it's an easy way to spend a summer evening outdoors.
Sax player Malik Alkabir and the Edna & Ely B-Cool Band provide musical entertainment for Chillin’ at the Chul.
When: Fridays and Saturdays, 6 to 9 p.m., through Aug. 28
A couple finds refuge from the monsoon rain under a canopy as the storm rolls over Chillin’ at the Chul earlier this summer.
Cost: $5 general admission, free for members and children under 2.
Shop a summer night market
Summer nights are the perfect time to browse Tucson's local markets without the daytime heat. From handmade goods and vintage finds to local art and food trucks, these evening markets are a fun way to support local makers while spending time outdoors.
Shoppers strolling by take a longer look at the handmade lighted shadow boxes on display at The Tucson Crafty Cat tent as the sun goes down over Old Tucson’s Summer Night Market.
When: Select evenings through September
Where: MSA Annex and Old Tucson
Cost: Free to attend; bring money if you'd like to shop or grab a bite to eat.
Take a guided night hike
The desert comes alive after sunset, and Catalina State Park's guided night hikes offer the chance to experience it firsthand. Join a ranger-led, one-mile walk along the Nature Trail to learn about nocturnal wildlife like scorpions and bats before wrapping up the evening with a constellation tour featuring astronomy facts and stories from different cultures.
State Park Ranger Isaiah Ortiz uses a laser pointer to pick out a target in the starry skies for his group of nighttime hikers at Catalina State Park.
When: First, third and fifth Fridays of the month
Where: Catalina State Park
Cost: Park admission applies.
See the stars from Kitt Peak National Observatory
Kitt Peak National Observatory is one of Southern Arizona's best places to experience the night sky. During the Nightly Observing Program, visitors can watch the sunset from the mountaintop before learning about the constellations and looking through telescopes at planets, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies alongside observatory staff. The evening also includes a light meal and astronomy presentation.
Even better, youth admission is free through the end of September, making it a fun family-friendly summer outing.
When: Nightly (weather permitting; check the schedule because some seasonal dates may vary).
Cost: Varies by program.
