Ahwatukee (Ah-Wa-Tukee)
 Welcome to the unique town of Ahwatukee, Arizona. Ahwatukee is 1 of 15 urban villages in metro Phoenix and is nestled around the southern base of South Mountain Regional Park. The remainder of the urban villages in Phoenix sits on the north side of South Mountain leaving Ahwatukee to feel like a small town amongst the 5th largest metropolitan area in the United States. From this area, Sky Harbor Airport is a 15 minute commute and 20 minutes to downtown Phoenix. To the east of Ahwatukee is Tempe, which is home to Arizona State University Sun Devils, and the City of Chandler. Both Tempe and Chandler have numerous employment opportunities including Honeywell, Intel, Microchip, Wells Fargo, just to name a few. To the south of Ahwatukee is the Gila River Indian community including Wild Horse Pass, Spa and Golf Resort.
This village offers the small town friendly atmosphere that you would find in the Midwest. The area is divided into four smaller golf communities, Original Ahwatukee, Mountain Park Ranch, The Foothills and The Foothills Club West. In each of these areas are small communities for even more of a quaint feel. On most days, except for July and August, you will find many people enjoying the incredible weather and mountain views while jogging, cycling, walking, rollerblading, golfing, etc. Of course, in July and August the preference is a cool swimming pool in your own private backyard surrounded by palm trees, tropical hibiscus and green grass.
Ahwatukee has one of the best schools districts in Arizona, according to test scores. The elementary and middle schools are grades K-8, are served by the Kyrene School District. These schools include Kyrene Cerritos (K-5), Kyrene De La Colina (K-5), Kyrene de los Lagos (K-5), Kyrene del Milenio (K-5), Kyrene Sierra (K-5), Kyrene de las Lomas (K-5), Kyrene Monte Vista (K-5) and Kyrene Monte Vista (K-5), and Centennial (6-8), Akimel A-al (6-8), Altadena (6-8) middle schools. High school students go to one of two in the area Desert Vista and Mountain Point. Both schools are in the Tempe Union High School District.
Carefree
Welcome to Carefree, Arizona. Visit, see and feel the Sonoran Desert at its best. With vivid sunsets, towering Saguaro cactus, brilliant green palo verde trees and an assortment of cacti the desert comes alive. At an elevation of 2500 feet the climate is noticeably cooler during summer months and maybe a dusting of snow each winter. If winter rains have been plentiful the Sonoran Desert blooms and is as beautiful as no other with all cacti flowering. For the McDowell Mountains that loom in the east the song says it so right, “Purple mountains majesty”. To the north of Carefree is the Tonto National Forest with rugged terrain for hiking or off road trails, horseback riding and scenic drives with or without a picnic lunch. Some can sit for hours and watch the wild life of the desert dance around each cacti with such precision, like the Momma Quail and her babies, mountain goats, mule deer, coyotes and javelina, to name a few.
Carefree has always been characterized as an upscale residential area. The motto of Carefree is “Home of Cowboys and Caviar, Where the New Meets the Old West.” Carefree has worked especially hard to keep the feel of the quiet, casual air as its Western heritage. All of this can be felt by some of the street names as in, Soaring Eagle Way, Long Rifle, Stagecoach, Easy Street and Ho-Hum Roads.
If you want to get away from the big cities enjoy a cool lunch or dinner at the Horny Toad Restaurant famous for the ribs and fried chicken or head on over to the Satisfied Frog for a cool in house brew of their famous chili beer. Now refreshed, you may want to check out the Carefree Sundial. This sundial was designed by architect Joe Wong and John Yellot and is the third largest in the Western Hemisphere that points to the North Star, or shop on Easy Street at the many unique retail shops including Southwestern art galleries.
Cave Creek
 Next door neighbors Cave Creek and Carefree share the same piece of the beautiful Sonoran Desert overlooking the Valley of the Sun. Even though many people think the two are one they both have their own personality, Cave Creek for its past and Carefree for it contemporary southwestern art and culture.
Cave Creek is situated approximately 20 miles north of Scottsdale and Phoenix. This area has enjoyed celebrating and preserving its illustrious past. A thousand years ago, tribes of Hohokam and, later, Yavapai Indians occupied the area. This area of the Sonoran Desert is known as the Desert Foothills because of its rolling hills, desert washes and sheer beauty of saguaro cactus, teddy bear cholla, mesquite and ironwood trees, ocotillo and an abundant of wild flowers, to name a few.
In the mid-1800’s, the lure of gold and then cooper drew a cast of exploring pioneers to explore the lands hoping to strike it rich. Cave Creek Station was born and later to become just Cave Creek. The mines they laid claims to were given unusual but colorful names: Cave Creek Mistress, the New Hope, the Blue Boy, the Golden Star and Mormon Girl. Even though today there are no active mines in the area, the long abandoned mines give visitors endless hours of exploration but please exercise caution, the mines are very dangerous.
Experience the true Arizona lifestyle of Cave Creek with a cowboy cook-out, horseback riding, rodeos, country and western dancing, old mining tours, hiking, biking, off road, boating (just north at Bartlett Lake) and of course, golfing.
Golf courses, in the area, are designed to wind and wrap around the foothills making some of the most scenic in the state. To name a few of the public golf course in the Cave Creek/Carefree area would include: Dove Valley Ranch, the Boulders Resort Golf Club, and Rancho Mañana Golf Club. Private golf courses in the area are: Desert Forest Golf Club and Tatum Ranch Golf Course.
Chandler
Chandler is part of what is known as the “East Valley”, but in essence it is located in the southeast valley of the Phoenix metro area. To the west of Chandler is I-10 and Ahwatukee, a village of Phoenix. To the north of Chandler are Tempe and Mesa, and Highway 60. Gilbert is east of Chandler with the Gila Indian community to the south. In total square miles, Chandler is the third largest city in Arizona and will eventually be the third largest in population.
Chandler has always been thought of as a bedroom community but for the last several years Chandler has transformed from a small agricultural town, at the turn of the 20th century, to the High Tech Oasis in what we refer to as a mini Silicon Valley, in the desert. Along I-10 and Price Road a new upscale industrial area has been under way to attract business. The major corporations that are now found in Chandler are: Intel Corporation, Orbital Sciences Corporation, Wells Fargo Financial, Countrywide Financial, Motorola, to name just a few. Many more corporations are coming to this area.
Downtown Chandler has been revitalized with the renovation of the San Marcos Resort and Golf, and additional upscale restaurants as in, 98th South, a wine and martini bar, San Tan Brewing Company, La Stalla Italian Restaurant, El Zocolo Mexican Restaurant. University of Phoenix offers classes in the area also. In the downtown area, two new complexes of condos offer urban upscale living. Agriculture was the primary business in Chandler including Ostrich farms. To honor the days of past, Chandler celebrates with an Ostrich Festival. Up until recently, the Ostrich Festival was downtown, but in order to expand the event, it was moved to Tumbleweed Park in south Chandler.
Chandler has a vast array of homes with most being in subdivisions ranging from $155,000 to $4,000,000. Most affordable subdivisions are a track built homes by builders such as Fulton Homes, DR Horton, Richmond American Homes, Pulte, Shea Homes, etc. TW Lewis is a local builder that builds a custom home in a semi custom neighborhood, very well built. Toll Brothers is a builder that builds a semi custom home. A sample of neighborhoods that offer custom or semi custom homes, water way communities, gated, and or golf include: Ocotillo, Valencia, Arden Park, Tierra Linda, Riggs Ranch Meadows, Circle G Ranches, Vasaro, Whitewing, Santorini Shores, to name a few. There are many very attractive track subdivisions in Chandler.
Fountain Hills
Fountain Hills is situated on the eastern slope of the McDowell Mountains. This majestic range naturally separates Fountains Hills from Scottsdale and the rest of metro Phoenix. This secluded community is just a 25 minute drive to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Next door, to the north and east, is the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation community, which includes the Fort McDowell Casino and the beautiful We-Ko-Pa Golf Club. To the south is the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. The main landmark of Fountain Hills is the world’s highest fountain. This fountain can be seen for miles around at its full height of 560 feet into the air.
This community is surrounded by rolling hills, spectacular mountains and the Sonoran Desert, which in return, offers incredible views. Fountain Hills has always been described as an upscale community with a small town charm. Leave the hustle and bustle of the big city behind and enjoy the calming effect of clear blue skies and cooler temperatures. Bird watching is an ever so popular activity along with hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding through out the area. Wildlife viewings are common: look for deer, javelin, and coyotes, to name a few.
If golf is your game you will enjoy some of the most challenging and picturesque courses in Arizona, including: Desert Canyon Golf Club, Eagle Mountain Golf Club, SunRidge Canyon Golf and the private course at Firerock Country Club. If you desire more than golf or in addition to, then relax at the CopperWynd Tennis and Health Resort. This statement expresses how people feel about Fountain Hills “Come for a day, stay for a lifetime.”
Gilbert
Welcome to the Town of Gilbert. Gilbert is a young affluent community in the east valley of metro Phoenix. The east valley is comprised of Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, and Mesa. Incorporated in 1920, this area, has seen tremendous growth in the last two decades. Gilbert had always been known as a sleepy little farming community but now it is known as a bedroom community. In 2005, 2006 and 2007 it was awarded the fastest growing city over 100,000 people in the United States. The city is located east of Chandler, south of Mesa.
As the Town continues to grow so does Gilbert’s commitment to providing residents with the best possible services, programs and accommodations. Several new projects are either just now being completed or are underway. With the opening of the new San Tan freeway, many new office condos, hospitals, retail, restaurants, and commercial buildings have opened. The San Tan Freeway connects Gilbert to the I-10 freeway, and the Price Freeway (loop 101), creating a much easier commute to all areas of the valley. Two new hospitals have recently opened, Mercy Gilbert Hospital and Gilbert Hospital, to service the vast new growth. A new outdoor mall, San Tan Regional Mall, has been completed with the exceptions of outer stores and some restaurants.
In the heart of Gilbert people can gather at Freestone Park and Recreation Center, a 65 acre park. This flagship park truly is a wonderful place to visit and play. Freestone Park features the lakes, sand volleyball pits, ball fields, sports courts, a train, batting cage, concession, playgrounds and picnic armadas. An amphitheater is also located at the park, along with a Skate Park. The Riparian Institute is a main stay in Gilbert. There are over 200 species of birds that can be seen through the year. There are also 4.5 miles of walking trails, and fishing at the recreation lake at Water Ranch. This area was designed to utilize recycled water to create community wetland wildlife sanctuaries. This is a community on the upward move providing services for young families, the active senior crowd, or singles on the move.
In 2007 Gilbert had the third highest income level in the Phoenix metro area. This area has a very nice mix of young communities that range from affordable to the multi million dollar properties. Some of the communities are: Allen Ranch, Agritopia, Val Vista Lakes, Artemina, Vintage Ranch, Ashland Ranch, Power Ranch, Morrison Ranch, Gilbert Commons, Seville, Playa del Rey Estates, Circle G Ranch, Circle Ranch, Whitewing, Weston, Greenfield Acres, and Trilogy. Some of the quality builders, in the area, from custom to semi custom are, Forte’ Homes, Wall & Sons, TW Lewis, Amberwood Homes, Toll Brothers to name a few.
Glendale
Glendale has come a long way since its roots as a small farming community on the western edge of Phoenix. What was once a sleepy little bedroom community with a small downtown, miles of subdivisions and very little else to offer has now become a city in the national spotlight.
Who knew that when two major sports franchises decided to make Glendale their new home it would have such a great effect. The Phoenix Coyotes NHL hockey team, coached by Wayne Gretzky, moved to Glendale first followed soon by the Arizona Cardinals NFL team. Both of their stadiums are in the Westgate portion of Glendale. Jobing.com arena, home of the Coyotes, is a state of the art venue for sports, shows, concerts etc. University of Phoenix stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, has a distinctive retractable roof, removable grass field, and a great view from every seat. In 2008 Glendale hosted Super Bowl XLII, with another promised in the near future, and the annual Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. One more sports item regarding Glendale is the LA Dodgers & Chicago White Sox will share a new spring training facility.
What all this new found notoriety mean is that Glendale is now experiencing more growth then ever before. More developers are looking into Glendale and the surrounding farmland for upscale housing, shopping and resorts to go along with Arrowhead Towne Center and Westgate Village. Within the next few years Glendale will also be connected to the Valley Metro light rail system.
With all this change Glendale has managed to retain its small town feel with a revitalized downtown area that includes cozy boutique shops and a town square that hosts concerts and a spectacular Christmas light show.
Gold Canyon
Located just 35 minutes east of Phoenix Sky Harbor airport, Gold Canyon is nestled in the beautiful Superstition Mountains. This former cattle ranch is now home to more than 23,000 residents in an unincorporated area of Pinal County, America’s fastest growing county. With phenomenal weather, unmatched scenery and small town hospitality, Gold Canyon lives up to its reputation as the lost gold of Superstition Mountain.
A variety of exciting events are held in Gold Canyon and the Superstition Mountain area throughout the year. The Superstition Mountain Country Club hosts the Safeway LPGA Invitational Golf Tournament every year in February. Arizona’s only Renaissance Festival comes every spring and boasts attendance figures into the hundreds of thousands over the two month event.
Gold Canyon shoppers have a variety of shops to choose from. Local art galleries feature artist Bev Doolittle’s work, and works by the very popular Arizona native, Anne Coe, can be found in multiple galleries as well. The restaurant at the Gold Canyon Resort offers the finest Southwest cuisine and boasts Chef Enrique Morales. Restaurants with nearly every cuisine imaginable are plentiful in Gold Canyon. Take the time to savor the richness of the unforgettable cuisine combines with the breathtaking beauty of Gold Canyon.
Hiking trails abound throughout the Gold Canyon area. Over 350 miles of improved trails exist in the adjacent Tonto National Forest. Explore the history of the Superstition Mountains and the Lost Dutchman State Park. Nature trails, horseback trails, picnic facilities and a variety of educational programs are held throughout the year.
Mesa
Mesa is the northeastern city of the East Valley. North of Mesa is the Salt River Pima Indian Reservation, south of Mesa is the Town of Gilbert, and to the west is the city of Chandler and Tempe. Mesa is the third largest city in Arizona, and in 2006 MONEY Magazine selected Mesa as the third best big city to live in.
Mesa is most famous for being the home of the Chicago Cubs in the Cactus League for spring training baseball. Many people come from all over the country in March to April to watch their beloved Cubs at Hohokam Stadium. Another major attraction for Mesa is the LDS Temple. In downtown Mesa is the new Mesa Arts Center that features concert stars of today, like Vince Gill.
Some of the major employers to this area includes: Boeing, TRW, Banner Health, and Empire Machinery. Mesa is on the move for new growth with the addition of Bass Pro Shop, Toby Keith’s, I Love This Bar & Grill. In the near future an enormous water park, The Wave Yard, will feature scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, surfing, plus much more. Another local activity, from May through Sept., is tubing the Salt River. Within 15 minutes one can be at Four Peaks or Sycamore Creek enjoying the off road life. Also Saguaro Lake is just a few miles north where you can enjoy fishing, water skiing, wake boarding and boating or go for a horseback ride to enjoy the scenery of the bald eagles soaring through the canyons and topping towering saguaros. This is Arizona at it best, sit back and enjoy, the beauty is breath taking.
Mesa offers a wide variety of age ranges, from young families to active seniors, from affordable homes to elegant large custom homes. Some of the possible subdivisions that one can consider are: Las Sendas, The Groves, Hermosa Vista South, Villa Tuscano, Red Mountain Ranch, Boulder Mountain, Thunder Mountain, and Leisure World, to name a few. With the completion of the Red Mountain Freeway, the north portion of Hwy 202, commuting is a breeze.
Scottsdale
“The West’s most western town.” That is the unofficial slogan of Scottsdale and it pretty well describes this very unique Arizona city. Although Scottsdale is rooted in western heritage it is definitely a modern city with all the shopping, nightlife, recreation you would expect from a city much larger.
Scottsdale could be divided into two geographic areas, one is the central or Old Town area and the other is North Scottsdale. We’ll focus on the central area first. This is where most of the upscale shopping is located, including Scottsdale Fashion Mall and the Old Town shopping areas. Scottsdale Fashion Mall has stores such as Nordstroms, Neiman Marcus, Macys and several boutiques you’d expect to find in Beverly Hills. In the Old Town area you’ll find more specialty boutiques as well as several art galleries specializing in western art and sculpture. This area also has the best nightclubs in the area including: Axis/Radius, Myst, e4 and Devils Martini just to name a few. One of the new additions to the downtown area is the new Waterfront development, it includes shops, restaurants & high rise condos all built along the Arizona canal. A couple of other attractions in this area is the Scottsdale Center for the Arts and Scottsdale stadium (spring training home of the San Francisco Giants). There are also several smaller resorts in this area as well as the world famous Phoenician Resort just minutes from downtown.
The North Scottsdale is the relatively new part of Scottsdale. This area includes everything north of Shea Blvd and goes east to the McDowell Mountains. This area is dominated by large golf resorts such as The Princess Resort, Westin  Kierland, The Boulders and Hyatt Regency Gainey Ranch. This area is also where the most upscale neighborhoods are located such as Desert Highlands, DC Ranch, Troon, Greyhawk, Scottsdale Ranch, Legend Trail, Ancala and Whisper Rock. Don’t be alarmed there are also some more moderately priced subdivisions in North Scottsdale such as: McCormick Ranch and McDowell Mountain Ranch. A couple of other highlights in the north Scottsdale area are West World Center (site of the Barrett Jackson Auto Auction) and the world famous Mayo Clinic.
Last but definitely not least here is some information about the golf courses in Scottsdale. You can’t turn down a major street without glimpsing one of the many courses in Scottsdale. There is everything from 9 hole executive courses to PGA tournament courses. To view all of the courses and the stats just click on this link: Golf Courses
Paradise Valley
Paradise Valley is actually part of Phoenix and is one of several Towns that make up Phoenix. Paradise Valley is located to the north east of downtown Phoenix and is nestled between Camelback Mountain and Mummy Mountain. Paradise Valley is just minutes from downtown Phoenix or downtown Scottsdale
Based on medium household income Paradise Valley is the wealthiest town in Arizona. The medium home price in Paradise Valley is approximately $1.74 million with many exceeding $5 million. Some of the notable residents of paradise Valley include, supreme court justice Sandra Day O’Connor, former vice president Dan Quayle, sports figures, Randy Johnson, Steve Nash, Charles Barkley and Mark Grace just to name a few.
Along with the exclusive neighborhoods and celebrities Paradise Valley is also home to 12 resorts including: The Camelback Inn and the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain. To go along with the resorts and their fine dining there are also some of the areas top restaurants including: El Chorro Lodge, Lon’s at the Hermosa and Elements.
Phoenix
Phoenix is known as “The Valley of the Sun” or “The Valley”. Phoenix is surrounded by mountains on all sides and have an average of 330 days of sunshine each year. When living in the Phoenix metro area, people embrace the sunny weather and an active outdoor life style. Many people enjoy hiking Camelback Mountain, Squaw Peak/Piestewa Peak, South Mountain or Papago Park. Arizona is the one state that does not go on daylight savings time.
Phoenix has its share of Fortune 1000 companies as in: Allied Waste, Avnet, Apollo Group, Freeport McMoRan, PetSmart, Pinnacle West and CSK Auto. Other companies that are based in this area are: Honeywell, Intel, American Express, U-HAUL and Best Western., Google, e-Bay, AOL and GoDaddy, IPower, Easynews.
Downtown offers an array of entertainment starting with the Arizona Diamondbacks playing at Chase Field. In 2001 the D-Backs won the baseball world series against the New York Yankees. Across the street from Chase Field is US Airways Center, home of the Phoenix Suns (NBA) and the Phoenix Mercury (WNBA). The Mercury won their first world championship in 2007. Several performing arts venues are found in downtown, which include: Phoenix Symphony Hall, the Orpheum Theatre, the Herberger Theatre, and the Dodge Theatre. Several restaurants compliment the variety of events that occur through out the year, from casual to formal.
From downtown Phoenix, north through the Central Corridor area, Phoenix has aspired to become more of an urban lifestyle. Several new buildings have begun construction on loft and flat styles of living. Throughout this area there are three historical districts including: the Encanto Park area, The Willows and the Coronado District. Other areas of upscale living are the Biltmore, Arcadia, Phoenix Country Club, Paradise Valley, and Ahwatukee.
A Metro light rail system is scheduled to open at the end of 2008. In the future, the hope is to connect the larger cities in the outer areas such as: Scottsdale, Mesa, Glendale, Peoria, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert. The smaller outer areas that maybe in the distant future might be helped by the light rail would include: Cave Creek, Carefree, Queen Creek, Goodyear, Fountain Hills, Litchfield Park, Anthem, Sun Lakes, Sun City, Sun City West, Avondale, Surprise, El Mirage, and Tolleson.
Queen Creek
Queen Creek is one of the best kept secrets in the metro Phoenix area. Wonderful climate (330 days of sunshine annually), outdoor recreation and relaxed, rural lifestyle all combine to make Queen Creek one of Arizona’s best small towns.
Queen Creek has grown from approximately 4500 residents in 2000 to over 23,000 in 2008 and still growing. Even with this growth Queen Creek has maintained its small town ambiance and low crime rate. The residents like to think of their town as a “first name” community, where a person behind a counter isn’t an uncaring stranger but someone who knows your name.
Queen Creek is a place where you can enjoy the great outdoors. To the south of town are the San Tan and Goldmine mountains, a great place for hiking, picnics and nature watching. Some of the local parks include founders Park and Desert Mountain Park where you will find tennis, basketball and volleyball courts.
Queen Creek is located about 40 miles south east of downtown Phoenix. Your commute times to Phoenix Sky Harbor airport will be approx. 40 minutes. You are 10 minutes from Williams Gateway airport and 15 minutes for the new San Tan village shopping area.
Tempe
Tempe is home of Arizona State University, the Sun Devils. This city is in an ideal location, located 10 minutes to Sky Harbor Airport, and 15 minutes to downtown Phoenix or Scottsdale. Tempe is also the most accessible city in the entire Phoenix metro area with access from the Loop 101, 202, US 60, I-10 and the Hohokam Expressway. Tempe is the place to live, work and play.
The City of Tempe offers an area rich in cultural attractions, vibrant downtown, festivals, sporting events, shopping opportunities, Tempe Town Lake, Papago Park and of course Arizona State University. Some of the events and locations that can be enjoyed by locals and visitors include: concerts and plays at Gammage Auditorium (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright), The Improv, the Marquee Theater, The Mill Avenue District, Tempe Town Lake, the Tempe Arts & Craft Fair, Arizona Mills Mall, the IMAX Theater, IKEA Home Furnishing store, The California Angels spring training facility, and all of the ASU sports programs. Congratulations to the 2008 Women’s softball team for winning the Women’s College World Series.
Tempe Town Lake is a 220 acres urban playground. Around the lake, in a few locations, new urban condos and flats are being built with wonderful views of the lake, Camelback Mountain, the Buttes or the McDowell Mountains. Activities around the lake are: boating, hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, rowing and people watching. Many activities and festivals are held at the lake each year, such as, the Oktober Fest, Fourth of July celebration, Christmas Parade of Lights, New Years Eve celebration, P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Arizona Marathon and the Ironman Arizona triathlon, to name a few.
After a day of shopping and fun, Tempe has some of the best restaurants in the valley with a wide variety of cuisines. Some you might want to try are: Monti’s La Case Vieja, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Café Boa, Rula Bula Irish Pub, Café Lalibela, Blue Nile Café and Efes Turkish Cuisine, to name only a few.
The City of Tempe has seen great changes during the past 20 years, new and developing industrial parks, and planned communities have developed a great deal in an effort to keep pace with the influx of high-tech industry, financial, insurance, athletic, academic, cultural and tourism operations. Tempe is home to two Fortune 500 companies, US Airways and Insight Enterprises. |