There’s something about an Arizona sunset from the water that never gets old.

The mountains turn dark against the horizon. The sky goes orange, pink and purple. The temperature finally starts dropping. And if you’re lucky enough to be sitting on a jet ski or hanging out next to the water when it happens, you remember pretty quickly why we live here.

But here’s the thing:

Everybody thinks summer is lake season.

We think they’re only half right.

August is here, September is around the corner, and some of the best weekends to get out on Arizona’s lakes are still ahead of us.

At AZ Stay & Play Rentals, we’re big believers that you don’t pack away the toys just because summer vacation is ending.

In Arizona, we’re just getting to the good part.

September and October Are Underrated in Arizona

June and July get all the attention.

Schools are out. Everyone is planning vacations. Boats, jet skis and campers start showing up everywhere.

And yes, it’s a blast.

It’s also Arizona.

That means it’s HOT.

As we move toward September and October, things start changing. The water can still be plenty inviting while air temperatures begin backing off from their midsummer extremes. Fall also typically brings lighter crowds to many Arizona lakes.

Translation?

You can still spend the day riding, swimming and playing on the water without feeling like you need to crawl directly into an air conditioner afterward.

That’s a win.

Early Mornings on the Water Are Hard to Beat

If you’ve never been on an Arizona lake early in the morning, put it on your list.

There’s a completely different feel before the day gets going.

The water can be calmer. The shoreline is quieter. The sun starts coming over the mountains. You’ve got a coffee in one hand and you’re already thinking about firing up the jet skis.

Then everybody else wakes up and the fun starts.

It’s one of our favorite parts of camping at the lake because you’re not driving home when the day ends.

You’re already home for the weekend.

Ride all day.

Come back to camp.

Fire up dinner.

Hang out with friends.

Watch the sunset.

Get some sleep.

Wake up and do it all over again.

That’s a pretty solid Arizona weekend.

And Then There Are the Sunsets

Look at the photo at the top of this article.

That’s what we’re talking about.

You can’t manufacture that.

Sometimes the best part of the entire trip isn’t flying across the lake or finding the perfect cove.

It’s shutting everything down for a minute and watching the sky.

The reflection on the water.

The mountains silhouetted against the sunset.

Your family or friends sitting nearby.

Those are the moments you remember long after the weekend is over.

And late summer brings another Arizona signature: monsoon skies. They can create spectacular scenery, but they also deserve respect. Conditions can change quickly, and boaters should always check the forecast and get off the water when storms, lightning or strong winds threaten.

You Don’t Have to Own Everything to Have the Experience

This is probably our favorite part.

A lot of people love the idea of spending weekends at the lake.

Then they start thinking about everything involved.

Buying the toys.

Storing them.

Maintaining them.

Getting everything ready.

And suddenly a relaxing weekend sounds like another job.

That’s exactly why rentals make sense.

You don’t necessarily need to own all the gear to have an awesome weekend.

You just need to decide:

We’re going.

Get some friends together.

Pick a weekend.

Make the plans.

Then let AZ Stay & Play Rentals help you put the fun part together.

Stop Waiting for “Next Summer”

We hear this all the time.

“We should do that next summer.”

Why?

It’s August.

We’ve still got September.

We’ve still got October.

And depending on where you’re headed, Arizona’s fall lake season can be fantastic. At desert lakes, fall often means warmer water hanging around while daytime temperatures become much more comfortable.

There are still weekends on the calendar.

There are still sunsets to chase.

And there are still a whole lot of memories waiting to be made.

So don’t put away the swimsuits yet.

Don’t call lake season over.

Load up the crew and go make another weekend out of it.

Because around here, summer ending doesn’t mean the fun is over.

It might mean the best part is just getting started.

Ready to Stay & Play?

Check out the rentals and start planning your next Arizona adventure at AZStayAndPlayRentals.com.