OT: Weather in Arizona - and best time to travel

[Yvanna]

Question for ladies living in or near Arizona.

I am thinking of going to Scottsdale or Tuscon for a holiday - and I am wondering when is the best time to visit the state of Arizona.

I want to bring my parents down, as my dad suffers from COPD, and I know the dessert type environment would be so helpful to him....
Having said that - I don't want it to be scorching hot - where we wouldn't be able to walk outside for long... yet - I do want it to be warm enough to wear shorts and t-shirts....or sit by the pool in a swimsuit.

So - which month(s) has the best weather in Arizona.....and one more - if anyone knows a nice condo-type resort avble for rent - that would be so appreciated.

Thanks in advance ladies......Very snowy, cold and freezing rain in Toronto...and am so looking forward to an escape

 

[bethj]

I live in Phoenix. Winter has nice temperatures but we do get terrible air pollution in the winter which would NOT be good for your dad. Also it can be in the 60's which is not really shorts and swimsuit weather (although coming from Canada it might feel like that to you!) I would say April and late October/early November would be your best bet to have warm but not scorching hot weather (80's), and less chance of pollution problems. The air quality is also an issue in even rural areas becuase of the dust, not from cars. We haven't had rain since Oct 18 and the dust is absolutely terrible hanging in the air.
I don't know about condo/resort rentals but so many Canadians come down I'm sure a Toronto travel agent could help you.
Beth

 

[fab40]

I also live in Phoenix, only since August. You don't want to come then! I think now until april is great. Not hot yet. I love the 60-70 degree weather, but the air pollution is bad and they recommend anyone with lung disease stay indoors. No rain and lots of people= major air pollution and dust problems. My eyes burn right now when I'm outside for any length of time. However, right now I will take it over snow!!:7

 

[Bobbi]

This is the best time to come. We are unseasonably warm in the high 70's and even the low 80's. It has been very dry, which is not good because we will have terrible wildfires. Last winter was colder and wetter and it can indeed be downright nippy. We hit the thirties overnight at times and I am a major weenie about those "bitter" temps at this point. This winter has been so mild and beautiful, it's amazing.. Snow Birds or winter visitors come in numbers from Novermber to April. October can be very hot and in May the temperatures start to climb. In July and August we see temps in the 100's and up to the 110's. Phoenix tends to be about 5 degrees hotter than Tucson which is smaller than Phoenix and the air quality is not nearly as bad. Late July and into August we get our monsoon season which is the time when it clouds up and hopefully rains each afternoon. I love that. In fact, I have adapted to that big heat of summer after 20 years and enjoy the summer although right now, it is amazingly beautiful. The desert has a mystery and allure that can be breathtaking and I think you will like it. Tucson has Mt. Lemmon where we can escape the heat and head up to much milder temps. There is so much to do and it's a great place for vacationing and I encourage you to come. You will love it.
Bobbi "Chicks rule!"http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/tiere/animal-smiley-032.gif
Tell me what you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? -Mary Oliver
http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/linie/smiley-linie-004.gif

 

[Yvanna]

Thank you so much for your answers ladies - I so appreciate it...
and especially for the warm welcome to your city.

I have wanted to see Arizona for a long time - and to see the spas - and therapeutic mud treatments that i have been hearing about.

Tks once again - Yve