Consider this your guide to August in Tempe

August in Arizona has its own set of rules. Keep the air conditioning going, always have a cold drink nearby, and save the outdoor adventures for another season. At San Portella in Tempe, Arizona, you can make the final weeks of summer all about finding fun ways to stay cool. Spend a leisurely morning at home, get in a workout, challenge friends to a game, catch a movie, go shopping, or make dinner the biggest event on your schedule. Summer isn't over yet. You just need an itinerary built for the Arizona heat.

Rule one: make staying home feel like a treat

When temperatures climb, your apartment becomes one of the best places to spend an August afternoon. San Portella offers newly renovated one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences with private entries and upgraded interiors.

Gourmet-style kitchens feature quartz countertops, modern custom wood cabinetry, custom tile backsplashes, and top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. Select residences also feature kitchen islands.

Put those kitchen upgrades to work with an afternoon dedicated to trying something new. Make homemade pizza. Build an elaborate snack board. Try a new dessert recipe. Blend frozen mocktails. Or invite friends over and let everyone bring a favorite dish.

When cooking sounds like too much work, order takeout and start a movie marathon instead. Staying home doesn't have to be the backup plan during an Arizona summer. Make it the plan you're looking forward to.

Rule two: add a little friendly competition

You don't have to leave the community every time you're ready for something different.

San Portella's gallery showcases an indoor game space with billiards and foosball, giving you a great alternative when the afternoon temperatures have everyone looking for air conditioning.

Invite some friends and create your own tournament. Start with foosball, move on to billiards, and keep track of the winner throughout the rest of summer.

You can even turn it into a weekly tradition. Pick a new game, bring some snacks, and give everyone a reason to get together without having to plan an elaborate night out.

Rule three: give your routine a refresh

If the August heat has disrupted your usual exercise routine, bring your workout indoors.

San Portella features a 24-hour fitness center, giving you the flexibility to exercise whenever it works best for your schedule.

Start your morning with an energizing workout before the rest of the day begins. Head there after work when you're ready to switch gears. Or use a weekend afternoon to try something different.

You don't need to reinvent your entire fitness routine before fall. Pick one new goal, keep it manageable, and use these final weeks of summer to get started.

Rule four: check what's happening at home

Before filling your weekend calendar with plans around Tempe, see what's happening right in your own community.

San Portella maintains a community calendar with organized resident events throughout the month.

A resident event gives you another opportunity to change up your routine without planning a trip across the Valley. Check the calendar, pick something that sounds interesting, and make it part of your end-of-summer plans.

It is one more reminder that enjoying August doesn't have to involve spending the entire weekend somewhere else.

Rule five: make movie day an August tradition

Sometimes the best answer to triple-digit temperatures is a giant movie screen and an enormous bucket of popcorn.

San Portella's neighborhood guide highlights Harkins Theatres Arizona Mills 18 with IMAX, making movie day an easy addition to your August agenda.

Pick the biggest summer release you haven't seen yet and turn it into an afternoon outing. Grab your favorite snacks, settle into the air conditioning, and forget about the temperature outside for a couple of hours.

When the credits roll, stay nearby and explore more of Arizona Mills or grab something to eat before heading home.

Rule six: find something completely different to do

• Movie day isn't your only indoor option around Tempe.
• LEGOLAND Discovery Center Arizona is another entertainment destination highlighted by San Portella's neighborhood guide.
• You can also head to Tilt Studio Arizona Mills when you're ready for games and entertainment.

The idea is simple. Pick an air-conditioned destination you've never tried and make it the centerpiece of your afternoon. You don't need an elaborate itinerary to make the weekend feel different.

Rule seven: make food part of the adventure

An August outing can be as simple as trying somewhere new for dinner.

San Portella's neighborhood guide includes a wide range of nearby restaurants, from Cornish Pasty Co and Cafe Lalibela Ethiopian Cuisine to Boulders on Broadway and Top of the Rock Restaurant.

Turn the final weeks of summer into your excuse to try a few places you haven't visited yet. Pick a different restaurant each weekend, meet friends for dinner, and make the meal the main event.

Coffee can become part of the plan, too. Nearby options highlighted by San Portella include Black Rock Coffee Bar and several local cafés and bakeries.

Grab something iced, find somewhere cool to relax, and give yourself an afternoon without a packed schedule.

Rule eight: give August a finale worth remembering

You don't have to spend the final weeks of summer counting down until Arizona cools off.

Make August fun on its own terms.

Try a new recipe. Host a movie marathon. Challenge your friends to billiards or foosball. Start a new fitness goal. Attend a resident event. Catch an IMAX movie. Find a new restaurant. Grab an iced coffee. Or give yourself an entire afternoon with absolutely nowhere to be.

At San Portella, your end-of-summer plans can revolve around staying cool, having fun, and discovering a few new favorites around Tempe. The Arizona sunshine isn't going anywhere. For now, enjoy summer from the air conditioning.