One Of Arizona's Prettiest Beach Parks Offers Family-Friendly Recreation, Bikes, And Boating

For most of us, it's hard to say the words "Arizona" and "lake" in the same sentence. The Grand Canyon State is most famous for, well, the Grand Canyon, and outsiders tend to picture cactus-studded cliffs and copper-colored mesas extending as far as the eye can see. These arid imaginings are a fitting portrait of Arizona, and you could drive for hours through the Sonoran Desert and see only these arresting views. But contrary to popular expectation, the state does have substantial bodies of water, and one of the most beautiful specimens lies less than 5 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, where most flyers touch down: Tempe Town Lake.

The lake is a wide serpent of water that stretches about 2 miles, dividing the city of Tempe (south) from Scottsdale (north). Some would argue that it's less a "lake" than an unusually thick segment of the Rio Salado, or Salt River, which flows for 200 miles and cuts through the heart of Maricopa County. No matter how you designate it, Tempe Town Lake is a literal oasis in this parched landscape, a glistening escape for runners, cyclists, beachgoers, and paddlers. A major draw is its small beach, Tempe Beach Park, a rare patch of sand designed for lying in. Phoenix is full of scenic views, most of them from mountains and lookout points, but on a calm day, Tempe Town Lake is like a glistening mirror, reflecting the high rises of this sprawling college town and the many bridges that cross it.

In many ways, Tempe is the perfect location for the valley's only significant lake. Phoenix isn't so much a city as a vast megalopolis of 5 million people, and its suburbs are actually a collection of 24 distinct cities and towns. Tempe is one of those cities. A hotbed of restaurants and entertainment, its core is the vast main campus of Arizona State University, where more than 56,000 students are enrolled. Tempe is widely considered the sporty and progressive corner of Greater Phoenix; wide sidewalks, dozens of recreational facilities, and 220 miles of bikeways make Tempe the ideal environment for active people.

One of those multi-use paths skirts Tempe Town Lake, along with its beach and marina. Visitors can walk, run, rollerblade, and cycle their way along this 12-foot-wide esplanade, taking in uninterrupted views of both shores. There's no fee, making this one of the best free things you can do in the Phoenix area. You're welcome to throw on a swimsuit and wade into the Salt River (Tempe Town Lake), and despite its name, the water is only a fraction as salty as the ocean. The glassy surface is a favorite destination for kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders; these craft can be rented on-site, along with pedal boats and inflatable "donut boats." Motor boats are prohibited on the lake, making for quiet outings and gentle wakes.

Its presence may seem natural and age-old, but Tempe Town Lake is an artificial creation, thanks to a long-delayed damming system that wasn't fully realized until 1999. First proposed in 1966, the project took more than three decades to receive necessary approval and funding. Today, the lake draws about 2.4 million visitors every year, making it the second-most popular attraction in Arizona, right after — well, the Grand Canyon.

Part of Tempe Town's Lake's appeal is how accessible it is: You can drive here, of course, by crossing one of several bridges from Scottsdale. If you don't feel like braving Maricopa County's busy highways, you can ride the Valley Metro Rail to Tempe; this quick and affordable transit system extends from Mesa in the east to the far reaches of North Phoenix, with stops at the airport and downtown Phoenix in between. If you arrive in any season but summer — spring, winter, and fall all bring delightful weather — you can ride a bike through the city's expansive trail network without the dangerous heat.

Tempe boasts scores of hotels and resorts, although most of them skew toward the expensive, often in the $100 to $300 range for a single night. After working up an appetite along the paths or in the water, you'll be glad to find that Tempe Beach Park is directly adjacent to Mill Avenue, a bustling gauntlet of bars, restaurants, and taquerias, and many spots keep serving drinks until 2 a.m. Taking advantage of the culinary scene is just one of the best things locals want you to do when visiting Greater Phoenix. And if you ever get too hot, you know where to cool off.