On a long summer drive with my family last summer, I stumbled on a couple of places I'd highly recommend. Flagstaff AZ - loved it - good for visiting Grand Canyon. High enough in the mountains that it doesn't boil in summer. Very green and lots of nice people. Also on Route 66 if you like...
So funny. I worked for Intel as a contractor for 3 years in Chandler, AZ although I never lived there. In the summer it was hot as balls. I remember playing golf in August. It was 118F and I must have had 15 gallons of water over 4 long hours of misery. I remember the "misting" machines...