whats it like to live in Phoenix AZ?
I am moving from Charlotte NC, but I am originally from California (bay area).
I miss the west coast and I am happier to be going back across the great divide.
But I am looking for a bit of advice and locals tips on living in Phoenix. I am looking at living in the southern area as this is where my boyfriends new job is. What areas are good to live? I am looking for a free standing home with privacy, not commercial housing or apartments. Also what are some great ethnic restaurants (mexican, indian, chinese, etc) and just general entertainment and local culture?
We are into outdoor adventures (hiking and camping) roadtripping, etc also I paint and I love art
Any advice would be great.
Thanks!!
I have lived in just about every region of the country and have lived in Phoenix for about 18 months. I lived back east in the DC area for 5 years and I know what you mean about the West. I love the West because the scenery changes and there are so many outdoor opportunities. Phoenix though is different animal but you are relatively close to a lot of things.
Choosing where to live in Phoenix is not easy. Phoenix is really spread out. But be aware that most of the “decent” jobs are in the East Valley (Scottsdale, Tempe). Don’t even bother with Glendale or anything West of I-17. It’s cheaper to live out that way, but sitting in traffic when it’s 115 degrees 5 months out of the year is not fun.
I could recommend certain areas for looking for a house but I don’t know your budget. If you can afford it, I would go for Awuatukee or Tempe or Chandler. If not, perhpas Mesa. Just be aware that North Scottsdale is the only area where there isn’t a “seedy” area close by but it’s as expensive to live there as it is the Bay Area (ok, not quite but it’s close).
Also, I don’t want to sour you on Phoenix as everyone has their own preferences but Phoenix, IMO, doesn’t have much culture or nightlife. Phoenix is also, BY FAR, the least sophisticated big city I have ever lived in. Summers are also pretty unbearable. It’s like a bad dream that doesn’t end for 5 or 6 months.
If you like art you will however love Sedona. It’s setting is really beautiful if you haven’t been there yet. The Grand Canyon is also great – especially the North Rim. There’s also lots of desert hiking opportunities in the Phoenix area in regional parks. The high country though is somewhat disappointing (Flagstaff, Prescott, Snowflake). There’s nothing that compares to Yosemite or even Big Bear (outside of LA). But you can get out of the heat and into the pines in about 2 hours from Phoenix where you can find some decent camping (but not a ton of good hikes unfortunately).
Anyway, I could go on forever as I have pretty much explored the entire state. I hope I’ve given you at least some usable information.
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Day Hikes on the California Southern Coast $6.98 DIVThis guide is a collection of 100 coastal hikes in southern California.br/divDIVThis 224-page guide is a collection of the best coastal day hikes along the southern California coast, the latest addition to the populariDay Hike Books/iseries! It is an essential guide for both residents and travelers who appreciate the outdoors.brbrThe southern California coast has some of the most diverse and scenic geography in the state. This guide includes 100 great day hikes along 238 miles of coastline, from Ventura County to the U.S.–Mexico border. Discover hundreds of miles of trails in scenic and undeveloped land, despite the expansive urban areas. Highlights include wide sandy beaches, marine terraces, rocky headlands, tidal estuaries that are ideal for exploring, bay-side coves and caves, sandstone cliffs, great locations for viewing wildlife, lighthouses, expansive dunes, forested canyons, waterfalls, thousands of acres of undeveloped public lands, and panoramic ocean-front overlooks.brbrEach hike includes the following:br*Detailed mapbr*Accurate driving and hiking directionsbr*Distance/time/elevation statisticsbr*List of relevant mapsbr*Summaries to help hikers find a trail appropriate to their ability and desirebrbrCompanion hiking guides, also by Stone, includeiDay Hikes Around Los Angeles/i(aniLos Angeles/iiTimes/iBestseller),iDay Hikes Around Ventura County/i, andiDay Hikes On the California Central Coast./ibr/divDIVReaders like the concise directions to the trailheads, clear hike descriptions and comprehensive selection of hikes.br–Bill Becher,iLos Angeles Daily News/ibr/divDIVFor more than a decade, veteran hikerbRobert Stone/bhas been writer, photographer, and publisher of Day Hike Books. Robert resides summers in the Rocky Mountains of Montana and winters on the California Central Coast. This year-round temperate climate enables him to hike over 200 trails throughout the year. When @ë…¸Qìÿ¾Úð |
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