In many parts of the country, August means spending as much time outdoors as possible. In Tempe, August means becoming strategic about when you go outdoors. Early mornings become valuable, shade becomes an amenity, and air conditioning is simply part of daily life. What does August look like in Tempe when It’s 110° outside?
We adapt to the heat. We enjoy our early mornings, seek out shade, move many activities indoors—and keep an eye on the sky for those dramatic summer monsoons.
We find extraordinary indoor experiences. Over the years, I have traveled to France, Greece and Mexico without leaving Phoenix - all in the beautifully air-conditioned halls of the Musical Instrument Museum. Through its Signature Events, I have listened to French chansons, Mexican mariachi and Greek lyra players. For a few hours, summer in Phoenix can feel like a trip around the world.
Of course, sometimes I really do pack a suitcase. Over the years, summer has also taken me to Europe and to Santa Fe, New Mexico, for a violin retreat. A visit to a cooler climate can be a very welcome break in the middle of an Arizona summer.
Our community and personal lives continue. This August, mine has included a South Tempe Character Area meeting, a fascinating wellness and home-design evening in an old Potato Barn in Gilbert, dance classes, violin practice at home, and, of course, real estate.
Arizona summer isn't simply something we endure. We develop a different rhythm around it. Culture, music, dancing, community meetings, professional events and social life move comfortably indoors.
And then there is the other side of our summer.
Indoors, summer can take me around the world. Outdoors, the Sonoran Desert puts on its own show.
Monsoon clouds gather over the Valley. The light changes. Sunsets become spectacular. Lovebirds add unexpected flashes of color, and even sunflowers manage to thrive in the desert heat.
Perhaps it isn't surprising that my posts about Monsoon Season in Tempe and Lovebirds and Sunflowers have become two of my most visited posts over the years. These are some of the things that make summer in our part of the world so different.
Maybe that is what I like most about August in my corner of Arizona. We adjust our hours, seek out cool indoor adventures, watch the monsoon clouds gather, and appreciate the surprising amount of life, color, music and activity that continues - even when the thermometer tells us we should probably stay inside.
This blog post is my participation in the August 2026 AR Challenge: Summer In My Corner of the World that Carol Williams and Debe Maxwell, CRS are hosting.
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