Cheap or Free Adventures! Surprising Fun in Your Arizona Backyard

Arizona summers are no joke. The suffocating heat means outdoor plans can melt faster than a popsicle on the patio. With the rising cost of EVERYTHING, expensive family adventures can be off the table entirely.

There are plenty of ways to keep the whole family entertained, cool, and connected, and the best part is, they're cheap or completely free!

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At Home Adventures that are Totally Free

Family adventures don't have to be complicated or spendy. Start with a DIY desert-themed movie night. If you still have a DVD player and you're tired of watching the same old movies, find a friend and swap some titles, or grab your library card and borrow something you've never seen.

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Explore free streaming services like Pluto, Tubi, or Roku. Dig through the older flicks and see if they have any movies you loved as a kid. Share some nostalgia with your kids and see if the movies still hold up.

Grab some tea bags and make some sun tea. Pop some popcorn, raid the cupboards for fun snacks, and you're all set for an almost-free family movie night.

Host an Arizona Backyard Safari

If you’ve got little explorers, turn your backyard or living room into a Backyard Safari scavenger hunt. Print out pictures of local wildlife. Here are some Arizona theme ideas:

• Desert mammals like javelinas and coyotes
• Creepy-crawlies like tarantulas and vinegaroons
• Venomous creatures like Diamondbacks, Gila monsters, and scorpions
• Desert birds like roadrunners, quail, hawks, and woodpeckers

Add some fun facts, hide them around the backyard or in the house, and you've got a fun adventure. And kids won't even know they're learning along the way!

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Crafty Arizona-Themed Afternoons

You may already have the art supplies you need for this one. Raid your kids' backpacks from last year's school supply haul, and get busy creating with Arizona-inspired art projects.

Draw or paint desert sunsets, make paper saguaro cacti, or create your own petroglyphs using brown paper bags and chalk. Pinterest is your best friend here, with endless ideas.

Arizona Science with a Twist

Cool off with an Arizona-themed kitchen science day. Make your own ice cream in a bag, build a solar oven to melt s’mores, or try the classic baking soda volcano, but give it an Arizona twist, with red sand, mini cactus, and succulent decorations.

This one is very entertaining and totally free. Grab a little monsoon magic as those summer storms roll in. Grab a blanket, sit by the window, and enjoy nature’s light show. It’s one of the most underrated Arizona experiences.

Add some competition by challenging your kids to see who can count the most lightning strikes...from a safe distance, of course!

Sources: Best Ideas for Kids | Glamper Life