We've all heard it from our friends around the country: "I'm glad I don't live with you in the summer, it's way too hot!" Well, let them keep thinking that so you have more room to reap the benefits.
Many people quickly focus on all the negatives that accompany 100+ degree weather, but there are also a lot of advantages.
Here are the top 12 benefits for when it gets as hot as the devil's kitchen.
1. Cheap golf
The fluctuation of temperatures and golf prices is on a theoretical teeter-totter. One goes up and the other goes down. When it gets over 100 degrees, you can play some of the most fantastic golf courses in the Valley for about one-fourth of the peak season green fees.
2. Less traffic
When serious heat rolls in, the snow birds roll out. This means that all the part-time residents or vacationers head elsewhere to avoid the triple-digit temps. However, this gives the full-time residents their breathing and elbow room back. There is a lot less traffic and other venues are a lot less crowded.
3. "Stay-cations"
Hotel prices drop just like golf rates do. If you haven't experienced certain places around Arizona, summer is the time to do it. You can stay at beautiful resorts and save a lot of money in your vacation budget when the temperatures get above one hundred.
4. Saguaros bloom
During the hot summer months, the Arizona state cactus looks stunning. The flowers on the cactus' arms begin to bloom. Teo Spengler from Demand Media describes it beautifully, "A blooming saguaro looks as if some giant hand had lifted up the plant and dipped the stem tips in pale, flowering frosting."
5. Getting back in touch with the high country
Arizonans are blessed to have such a environmental variety around the state. Flagstaff is such a beautiful getaway if you really need a break from the heat. If you live in the Valley, it's only a couple hours away. You can enjoy the evergreen-surrounded mountain town and sip on your favorite craft beers.
6. A Natural pool heater
If you don't have a pool heater, you know that your pool water can be really cold for a majority of the year. Luke Allen, a chemical engineer at Audubon Engineering says, "water has a high specific heat capacity. It takes a lot of energy to heat a pool which is why it requires really hot temperatures to naturally keep it consistently warm."
7. "Champions are made in the summer"
Anyone who has done physical training in high heat knows that it's brutal, but it pays off. Of course, you have to know your limits to avoid injury, but it whips you into shape. If you can muscle through your training in triple-digit temperatures, nothing can stop you.
8. The nighthawk
In the evenings of Arizona's hottest days, we can spot one of the most beautiful nocturnal birds: the nighthawk. "These fairly common but declining birds make no nest. Their young are so well camouflaged that they're hard to find, and even the adults seem to vanish as soon as they land," according to The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. So, if you see one, make a wish!
9. More light
12 News meteorologist, Dr. Matt Pace says, "Triple-digit temperatures mean summer is here, signaling longer days so you can get in an early morning or late evening hike and still have plenty of light."
10. Night life
There is no shortage of activities in Arizona, but when the sun goes down on hot summer days, you can enjoy patio activities all night long. Now, some of you may think it's still too warm, but many outdoor restaurants and venues are equipped with misters. You can dance the night away and enjoy each other's company to your heart's content.
11. Pollen allergy relief
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has ranked 100 cities across the United States that are the most challenging places to live with spring allergies. Phoenix comes in at number 66. "We will finally start seeing some relief when it gets above 100 degrees Fahrenheit for at least a week," said Dr Aaron Davis of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Associates, LTD.
12. Cheap airfare
If any of your family members or friends change their minds and want to experience some of these great benefits, they can find the "hottest" deals during the summer months to fly into the Valley.