Enjoy the Valley of the Sun: Phoenix & Scottsdale
- Aug 3
- 3 min read
Central Arizona’s five seasons:
Winter (Dec 1 – Feb 1) Mild days, brisk nights. High: 68°F | Low: 43°F
Spring (Feb 16 – Apr 30) Ideal weather, peak hotel pricing. High: 77°F | Low: 50°F
Dry Summer (May – June) Low humidity, scarce rain. High: 99°F | Low: 68°F
Wet Summer (July 1 – Sept 15) Intense heat, afternoon storms. High: 103°F | Low: 78°F
Fall (Sept 16 – Nov 30) Clear, warm days. High: 87°F | Low: 61°F
Right now you’re probably enjoying beautiful Oregon summer weather, but in a few months you might be wishing for some warmth. Good news: the Phoenix/Scottsdale area is blessed with an average of 330 days of sunshine every year, and it’s easy to get there from the Eugene Airport.
Located in the Sonoran Desert, Central Arizona offers many things to see and do. You can drive to the Grand Canyon in 4 hours and to Sedona in 2 hours. Everything is spread out so you will need a rental car and a good navigation app to explore Arizona.
When to visit
Hotel prices are highest in the spring and lowest in the summer. If you don’t mind the intense heat, you can get great deals at luxury resorts in June through August, spend all day in the pools and do your exploring after dark.
What to do
There are endless options for activities in the Valley of the Sun. The area boasts over 200 golf courses. Tennis has always been popular here and Pickleball has really taken off. There are many public courts available for free, or a low cost so bring your racquets. Because of the heat, lots of people play after dark on lighted courts.
Resorts and hotels show off with impressive swimming pools and some feature water slides, sandy beaches and lazy rivers. There is a rich history in this area with many ways to learn about Native American culture as well as the Wild West. Outdoor activities are varied including biking, hiking, rock climbing, hot air balloon rides, boating, rafting and Jeep tours. Sports are a big deal with the following local teams: Phoenix Suns (NBA), Phoenix Mercury (WNBA), Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB), Arizona Cardinals (NFL) and the Arizona Coyotes (NHL).
Spring training features 200 games by 15 Major League Baseball teams. The near-perfect weather means there are always outdoor festivals, concerts and sporting events to choose from.
Where to stay
For families, you can make everyone happy at a resort with giant pools, slides and a lazy river. Cabanas with cocktail service will keep mom and dad happy too. It is like going to a tropical island.
The Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort or the Hilton Phoenix Resort at the Peak always deliver. I also have some resorts with two-or three-bedroom units that work great for families on a budget.
Vacation MOM favorites
Taking a hot air balloon ride
Visiting the OdySea Aquarium
Touring Scottsdale on Segways
Taking the flashlight tour of Desert Botanical Gardens
Riding in a Jeep tour of the desert
Exploring Old Town Scottsdale in the day — and the fun nightlife
The next time you’re craving some sunshine, make your escape to Central Arizona. Don’t forget the sunscreen!
American Airlines offers twice daily non-stop flights to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Allegiant Airlines offers twice a week service to Mesa Airport. Southwest, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines all offer connecting flights into Phoenix Sky Harbor. Both airports serve the Greater Phoenix area which is a sprawling metropolis that includes Scottsdale, Mesa and Tempe.
Airlines serving the Eugene Airport
Alaska Airlines: AlaskaAir.com
Allegiant: Allegiantair.com
American Airlines: AA.com
Delta: Delta.com
Southwest: Southwest.com
United: United.com
Helpful websites
Meet Vacation MOM
Vacation MOM is brought to you in partnership with Eugene Airport
Donnita Bassinger lives in Eugene with her husband and three sons. She dedicates her time to Scouting America and many local charities. Donnita has been a travel agent for 40 years and has taken her family to Arizona for many vacations. They can’t wait to go back! She is the owner of VIP Vacations, Inc and would be happy to chat with you about travel plans.
Contact Donnita at 541-913-5272 or on facebook@VacationMOM
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