The scorchin’ heat of Tucson summers can be a drag at times, but it doesn’t necessarily need to be. For instance, there’s the flavorful and frozen Eegee’s treats available to distract you from the blistering temperatures. You can’t forget about the cool patios spread throughout the city either — fans and misters and shaded shelters, oh my. So, don’t lose your cool because the summer months aren’t something you need to worry about.
Another option this summer is Summerfest at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, which will feature hand-crafted cocktails and mocktails at Flying V Bar & Grill, along with a self-led cultural safari that’s designed for guests of all ages and abilities.
Summerfest kicks off on Wednesday, June 1, and will keep things rolling through Labor Day, Monday, September 5 at the resort. The multi-month-long event is meant to celebrate seasonal travel, in-person connectivity (leave your smartphone at home), and something they’re referring to as “artistic authenticity.”
And, even though it’s a celebration of travel, it’s a nice staycation for us Tucsonans, too.
Limited-time Summerfest Cocktail & Mocktail
Summerfest Cocktail with SelvaRey Rum
The Loews Ventana Canyon Resort is capturing the flavors of summer with a brand new cocktail in partnership with Bruno Mars’ award-winning SelvaRey Rum. They’re keeping it local, too, with locally-sourced ingredients and garnishes.
The Sonoran Daiquiri is a mixture of SelvaRey White Rum, lime juice, and prickly pear syrup
Destination-Driven Craft Mocktails
For those looking to embrace a healthier option all summer long, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort’s mixology team has put just as much attention into crafting the Southwest Refresher.
The Southwest Refresher is a concoction full of citrus agave cordial, lemon juice, two slices of strawberries, one slice of jalapeno, and club soda.
Summerfest Cultural Safaris
Earlier, the term “self-led safari” was mentioned, which is a way for guests to discover a handful of Tucson’s hidden gems.
“Designed as a self-guided tour, the Summerfest Cultural Safari includes everything from destination landmarks to distinctive southwest art, family-owned local businesses, and a look at the stars,” Loews Ventana Canyon Resort released in a statement. “The Summerfest Cultural Safari is fully inclusive and is designed for all ages and all abilities, with a majority of the points of interest within a short radius from Loews Ventana Canyon Resort.”
These destinations include DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Museum, Eegee’s, Mount Lemmon, and Sabino Canyon.
Summerfest is also offering a Live Like a Local package and it comes with a $50 food and beverage credit, waived resort fee, and late check-out.
For more information about Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, call 1-877-879-9979 or visit loewshotels.com.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
