It’s no secret that temperatures often reach triple digits this time of year in the Southwest. As the days heat up, you’ll want to find some spots to chill out. Use our guide to discover six places to stay cool this summer around Mesa, Arizona.

Mesa Aquatic Complex

Kids Playing in the Swimming Pool by Bulat Khamitov is licensed with Pexels License

Grab your towels and get ready for fun in the sun at the Mesa Aquatic Complex. It’s the area’s best pool for families looking for a dream summer season. Cool off at this urban oasis with loads of water features for you to enjoy. Mom and Dad can relax and float down the lazy river while the kids head straight for the 1- and 3-meter diving boards.

The pool has a zero-depth entry area for the little ones to splash in and a tumble bucket water feature for the older kids. If you want to practice your butterfly stroke, don’t forget about the vortex pool and the 25-yard lap lanes. The city also offers swim lessons at the Mesa Aquatic Complex for kids as young as 6 months of age. You’ll find plenty of shade to set up a home base while you and your family enjoy the pool. The center opens for the season on May 28, 2023, and day passes are just $2 for kids and $4 for parents.

• Location: 1630 E. Southern Ave., Mesa.
• Public Swim Hours: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Pioneer Park

Pioneer Park is a perfect example of Mesa’s outstanding Parks and Recreation Department. It’s also one of the best places to stay cool this summer. This nearly 18-acre public park features a terrific interactive splash pad that’s open year-round. It delivers loads of fun for the whole family, especially the 15-foot water wall.

There’s so much to see and do for everyone in the family at Pioneer Park. Dry off, then go climb the treehouse structures, race across the 500-foot suspension bridge, discover the 9,000-square-foot playground, and see the historic steam locomotive #2355 that’s on display. There are restrooms conveniently located near the splash pad, as well as covered ramadas. It’s an excellent  spot for a picnic, so pack a lunch and plan to spend the day.

• Location: 526 E. Main St., Mesa.
• Splash Pad Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Arizona Museum of Natural History

There are more ways to stay cool than spending time at the pool. Spend an afternoon in air-conditioned comfort at the Arizona Museum of Natural History. This fantastic 80,000-square-foot downtown attraction is an ideal place to spend a summer day, with interesting exhibits historians of all ages will love to see. Visitors can explore the region’s Native peoples and their cultures, travel through time into Arizona’s ancient past, and learn more about anthropology and paleontology.

This popular attraction is one of the best places for dinosaur enthusiasts to cool off this summer. Curators dedicated many of the museum’s galleries to prehistoric fossils and bones. This impressive collection features 3-million-year-old animals, such as the Columbian mammoth, the Diatryma lion, and the one-toed Hagerman horse. You can even walk under a set of megalodon jaws that span a width of 8 feet.

• Location: 53 N. Macdonald, Mesa.
• Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Jake’s Unlimited

Jake’s Unlimited is a newly renovated entertainment venue right here in Mesa. Head to this awesome facility for all kinds of indoor fun. Cool off with the best arcade games, play a round of laser tag, go hyper bowling, and drive the bumper cars at this one-stop center for family fun. Because this place is open daily, it’s the go-to spot anytime you and the kids need to chill out.

Do you have a kid’s birthday this summer? Book your party here. The whole neighborhood will be talking about this cool event all season. Guests will enjoy unlimited food and soft drinks, and all you need to bring is the cake.

• Location: 1830 E. Baseline Road, Mesa.
• Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Puzzling Escape

Families can stay cool and bond with each other at the same time with an escape room adventure. We recommend Puzzling Escape. This place offers one of the most affordable experiences of its kind in Mesa. You can usually pick from at least three 60-minute games that vary from intriguing to terrifying.

Work together to discover what’s causing a little girl’s bad dreams with Nora’s Nightmare, or go back in time to 1929 and change history with The Speakeasy option. Make sure to schedule your private appointment at least 90 minutes before you arrive. While all ages can register, most games are best for kids ages 11 and up.

• Location: 1925 S. Sossaman Road, Mesa.
• Hours: Noon to 10 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Your Own Backyard

From an inflatable wading pool to a water balloon fight, there are so many ways to stay cool right in your own backyard. This activity is easy on your budget, too, even if you don’t have any supplies. Head to your local dollar store to stock up on goodies, including squirt guns, beach toys, snacks, and sunscreen. Another trend that’s been popular all over Mesa backyards is setting up a cowboy pool. A large, galvanized stock tank is an awesome place for the whole family to get wet.

If it’s too hot to even think about hopping in the car, simply turn on the sprinklers for the kids. Just remember to run the water until it cools down, as the temperature inside your garden hose can reach 155 degrees sitting in the sun. Make sure to set up your patio umbrella for shade, turn on your mister system, and fill your cooler with ice and drinks. They’re summer staples here in the Southwest.

One last option is to get your kids out of the sun and enroll them at Crème de la Crème of Mesa. They’ll spend their summer enjoying our fun and engaging day camp programs. It’s the best way to beat the heat in Arizona. Let us know how your family plans to stay cool this season.  Feel free to drop us a line today to find out more.