Monsoons to paleteros: Arizona summer is not complete without these essentials

It might not seem like it outside, but summer is coming to an end. Students are heading back to school, snowbirds are booking flights to the Valley, and our days to wear white pants are limited.

While Sept. 22 is the "official" end of summer, Labor Day is often marked as the unofficial end of the season.

But summer is one of the most nostalgic times of the year. And there are certain activities or experiences that Arizonans try to get in every year.

"The paleteros," says Itzel Rios Soto, social video producer for The Arizona Republic. "The little ice cream trucks or ice cream carts. Once we hear the bell or the little music, we all run outside."

For some, it's a sweet treat. And for others, it's a road trip to beat the Arizona summer heat.

"The reminder that the outdoors doesn't have to be brutal," Richard Ruelas, an Arizona Republic reporter, says. "That is the break you need."

This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, members of our newsroom wax poetic about their summer traditions and what must be done for an Arizona summer to feel complete.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Monsoons to paleteros: Arizona summer is not complete without these essentials