Some mysterious force in summertime, even in the very hot desert Southwest, calls us to venture outside for entertainment. Yes, the temperature is now officially scorching hot in my home town of El Paso, Texas, but where's the fun in sitting inside under the air conditioner? Outdoors is where life is happening - plants blooming, lawns turning a brilliant green, and puffy white clouds decorating a serene blue sky . Here are a few outdoor activities that my husband Wayne and I have been enjoying recently.
Alfresco! Fridays in the downtown area offers free concerts in a variety of musical styles. On a recent evening Rod Crosby and the Intruders entertained the crowd with old time rock and roll sounds. And our longtime friend, Skip Clark (white shirt), joined two other music fans to provide back-up singing. Rock and Roll has a long tradition in the El Paso area, and concert attendees (admittedly a slightly older crowd) showed their support by dancing enthusiastically to the rhythmic music.
Another enjoyable outing was a short hike and picnic in Franklin Mountains State Park, the largest urban state park in the nation. An upward walking path led us to expansive views of the surrounding area.
A laid back lizard kept us company.
If outdoor activities become a bit much as the mercury hovers around the 100 degree mark, air-conditioned Mexican food restaurants provide a cool respite along with fiery food. Nachos are our favorite late afternoon snack (as long as they are not those fake nachos made with liquid cheese! Ugh!)
So grab sunglasses, water bottles and sunscreen and venture out to enjoy the Desert Southwest! It may be hot, but it's a dry heat, or so they say!
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