Salt River tubing season is in full swing and we've got everything you need to know to enjoy the classic Valley summertime outing.

The big picture: The recreation portion of the Salt River in far east Mesa is about 40 miles from downtown Phoenix.

• Depending on flow levels, it'll take about 2-4 hours to meander down the river.

The intrigue: This adventure can be a peaceful float or an absolute rager.

• Weekdays are quieter and more family-friendly, while weekends, especially Memorial Day and 4th of July, can draw large crowds and the rowdiest tubers.
• 🧠 Choose wisely.

How it works:

🚍 The all-inclusive experience: Salt River Tubing has owned the river recreation market here for decades, and they've got it down to a science.

• For $28, they'll give you an inflated tube, bus you from their parking lot to one of two starting points and pick you up from one of two ending points.
• Cooler tubes, to carry your Igloo down the river, are $20.
• Booking online saves time but isn't required.

🛟 BYOT: Salt River Tubing also offers a $20 shuttle-only option for those wanting to bring their own tube.

• The company won't help you inflate it, though.

🚗 🚙 DIY: Making your own arrangements is cheaper and can be a more flexible experience (no shuttle times to worry about) but does require careful planning and two cars.

• Drop off one car at your end point and transport your party to the starting point in the second vehicle. See map for parking lot and route options.
• Both cars need to have a Tonto Day Pass on the dash ($8, available at nearby gas stations and other retailers).

Be smart:

☀️ Bring bedsheets: Old bedsheets draped over your tube go a long way to prevent the hot rubber from frying your skin.

👟 Wear water shoes or old sneakers: The bottom of the river is quite rocky (and occasionally littered with rusty nails, apparently) and you'll have to walk a short way through sand and rock to reach the river. Flip-flops are not the move.

🍻 Alcohol rules: No glass bottles allowed.

🗑️ Don't be a jerk: Collect your trash and throw it away in the bins at the river exits. And no more marshmallows.

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Axios Phoenix beer drinkers have spoken, and the best craft brew in Arizona isssss... Spellbinder!

State of beer: The hazy IPA from Wren House beat out Pedal Haus' Day Drinker, which recently won a World Beer Cup medal.

Zoom in: Spellbinder, a gold medal winner at the 2020 Great American Beer Festival, is brewed with Arizona-grown Sonora white wheat.

• You can find it canned in some local stores, or get it on draft at one of Wren House's three Valley taprooms.

Thanks for playing! Now who needs a drink? 🙋🏻‍♀️ 🙋🏻‍♂️

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If your baby's name is Liam or Olivia, they're going to be in good company for years to come.

Driving the news: The Social Security Administration yesterday released its annual list of top baby names for 2025.

Zoom in: Liam and Olivia were the top names in Arizona for the seventh time in the past nine years.

• Liam slipped to No. 2 behind Mateo in 2023, while Olivia has held the top girls spot since 2019.
• You have to go back to 2016 — Noah and Emma — to find a year when at least one of them wasn't the most popular name.

Topping the list in Arizona were:

Boys:

1. Liam
2. Noah
3. Mateo
4. Santiago
5. Oliver

Girls:

1. Olivia
2. Sophia
3. Mia
4. Amelia
5. Isabella

The administration compiles the top 100 for each state and for the U.S. as a whole, so check to see whether your kid's name made the cut.

• You can also see lists from previous years if you're wondering how common your name was the year you were born.

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⚖️ A Maricopa County judge upheld a 2025 law that blocked a public vote on the Scottsdale City Council's rezoning for Axon's proposed headquarters building. (AZcentral)

🏈 The Cardinals released their schedule last night. See it here.

🇮🇳 Tikka Drive, Arizona's first drive-through Indian restaurant, opened in Chandler. (Arizona's Family)

👍 Gov. Katie Hobbs is lifting her month-old bill moratorium after what her office deemed a week of "good-faith" budget negotiations with Republican lawmakers. (Arizona Mirror)

🚫 The AG's Office filed a lawsuit seeking to have former state Rep. David Marshall removed as Navajo County recorder. (KJZZ)

It's that time again! See how well you absorbed this week's news with our quiz.

🥳 Congratulations to last week's perfect scorers: Debra K., Brent S., Judi S., Jim M., J. James, Ronnie G., Josh H. and Kimberly B.

Hit reply or email us at [email protected] with a screenshot of your perfect score for a shoutout next week!