The great Grand Canyon State offers plenty to do and see here whether you already own a home or if you’ve purchased Arizona real estate that you’re holding onto until you can build your dream home.
One city in Arizona that’s made the front page a lot lately is Glendale, and guests, sports-nuts and shoppers alike definitely appreciate what’s been going on in this all-grown-up former farming town. Located on the western edge of Phoenix, Glendale is home to several sports venues including the University of Phoenix Stadium where the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals play and the newly christened Camelback Ranch, Spring Training home to Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers.
Similarly, shoppers love Glendale, since it is home to Westgate City Center’s bevy of high-end stores, nightclubs and restaurants. In addition, Westgate features a multiplex theatre, corporate offices, apartments and condominiums. Another one of Glendale’s most defining shopping assets is its Historic Downtown, an ultra-quaint area comprised of ten square-blocks of tree-lined streets, memory-lane merchants, bungalow boutiques and ethnic eateries. According to the Glendale Visitors Center, downtown is consistently ranked one of the top shopping districts in the country thanks to its wealth of antique stores and cozy shops that offer jewelry, art, crafts, collectables and bath and body accessories.
Another special place in downtown Glendale is The Bead Museum, a unique museum that houses an international collection of over 100,000 beads and beaded artifacts and features permanent and changing exhibitions. The Bead Museum also sells a wide range of bead-related publications as well as beads and supplies for the bead worker and specialist beads for the collector.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Get Out of Africa Right Here in Arizona
Whether you already own an Arizona home or perhaps you’ve purchased real estate you’re holding onto until you build your dream home there is plenty to do all across the great Grand Canyon State.
One of Arizona’s best kept secrets is definitely the Out of Africa Wildlife Park, located about 90 minutes north of the Phoenix/Scottsdale/Paradise Valley area in the quaint town of Camp Verde, Arizona. Home to more than 400 amazing animals, Out of Africa Wildlife Park is nestled on 104 wilderness acres at the base of the Mingus Mountain range at an elevation of about 3,400 feet above sea level.
There are many ways to see the park, including the Wildlife Preserve Tour and the Serengeti Safari Tour. On the Wildlife Preserve Tour, visitors enjoy a narrated tram or trolley tour of the Preserve where unobstructed photo platforms provide excellent opportunities to capture scenes of majestic lions, tigers, wolves, hyenas and other predators as they roam in their natural habitats. A little more personal, the Serengeti Safari Tour is a 45-minute narrated tour in a safari vehicle. Hosted by expert park guides, visitors can expect a personal encounter with animals such as zebras, ostriches, giraffes and more, while on nearby hills, prides of lions and other big cats overlook their domain. If you prefer, you can also walk among the Preserve’s habitats where you will frequently see caretakers interacting with the animals.
Additional attractions include the Tiger Splash Arena, a Giant Snake Show and the Community Aviary, home to two dozen exotic birds of exotic origin, including various types of cocktatoos and macaws.
One of Arizona’s best kept secrets is definitely the Out of Africa Wildlife Park, located about 90 minutes north of the Phoenix/Scottsdale/Paradise Valley area in the quaint town of Camp Verde, Arizona. Home to more than 400 amazing animals, Out of Africa Wildlife Park is nestled on 104 wilderness acres at the base of the Mingus Mountain range at an elevation of about 3,400 feet above sea level.
There are many ways to see the park, including the Wildlife Preserve Tour and the Serengeti Safari Tour. On the Wildlife Preserve Tour, visitors enjoy a narrated tram or trolley tour of the Preserve where unobstructed photo platforms provide excellent opportunities to capture scenes of majestic lions, tigers, wolves, hyenas and other predators as they roam in their natural habitats. A little more personal, the Serengeti Safari Tour is a 45-minute narrated tour in a safari vehicle. Hosted by expert park guides, visitors can expect a personal encounter with animals such as zebras, ostriches, giraffes and more, while on nearby hills, prides of lions and other big cats overlook their domain. If you prefer, you can also walk among the Preserve’s habitats where you will frequently see caretakers interacting with the animals.
Additional attractions include the Tiger Splash Arena, a Giant Snake Show and the Community Aviary, home to two dozen exotic birds of exotic origin, including various types of cocktatoos and macaws.
Northern Arizona’s Breathtaking Canyon de Chelly Home to Navajo
There’s plenty to do all across the great Grand Canyon State, whether you already own a home here or perhaps you’ve purchased some Arizona real estate you’re holding onto until you can build your dream home. And as long as we’re talking about homes, all across Arizona there are ancient homes that are still visible that allow visitors to take a peek into long-ago Native American life; some of them are tucked into the steep canyon walls of Northern Arizona’s Canyon de Chelly (pronounced “Shay”). Along with the site’s numerous ancient dwellings that reflect one of the longest continuously inhabited landscapes in North America, Canyon de Chelly’s most distinctive geological feature is Spider Rock, a soaring sandstone spire similar to those that dominate the landscape in nearby Monument Valley.
Boasting artifacts and rock imagery that are remarkably preserved, Canyon de Chelly is thought to have been built between 350 AD and 1300 AD and is dotted with hundreds of ancient pueblo ruins that were once home to the Anasazi Indians. In the 1700s, Navajo tribes-people began to make their way west from northern New Mexico, eventually settling in Canyon de Chelly and even today, a Navajo community inhabits the canyon floor. Designated as a National Monument in 1931, Canyon de Chelly is the only National Park Service site to be completely located within the Navajo Nation.
If you go: Start at the Canyon de Chelly National Monument Visitor Center, where you can learn more about the area and the Navajo people. Two drives follow the rims of the canyon from the visitor center; these are the only drives allowed without a guide. If you have time, be sure to check out the well-preserved Puebloan ruins nestled in the 1,000-foot-tall rock walls (accessible only via guided tour). You can explore the White House Ruin trail on your own, but please be aware that most visits to the canyon floor require accompaniment by a park ranger or an authorized Navajo guide.
Overnight accommodations can be found in nearby Flagstaff, Chinle or Tuba City, while a free campground is available within Canyon de Chelly National Monument.
Boasting artifacts and rock imagery that are remarkably preserved, Canyon de Chelly is thought to have been built between 350 AD and 1300 AD and is dotted with hundreds of ancient pueblo ruins that were once home to the Anasazi Indians. In the 1700s, Navajo tribes-people began to make their way west from northern New Mexico, eventually settling in Canyon de Chelly and even today, a Navajo community inhabits the canyon floor. Designated as a National Monument in 1931, Canyon de Chelly is the only National Park Service site to be completely located within the Navajo Nation.
If you go: Start at the Canyon de Chelly National Monument Visitor Center, where you can learn more about the area and the Navajo people. Two drives follow the rims of the canyon from the visitor center; these are the only drives allowed without a guide. If you have time, be sure to check out the well-preserved Puebloan ruins nestled in the 1,000-foot-tall rock walls (accessible only via guided tour). You can explore the White House Ruin trail on your own, but please be aware that most visits to the canyon floor require accompaniment by a park ranger or an authorized Navajo guide.
Overnight accommodations can be found in nearby Flagstaff, Chinle or Tuba City, while a free campground is available within Canyon de Chelly National Monument.
Take a Skywalk over Arizona’s Finest Real Estate – the Grand Canyon
There are a number of reasons that living in Arizona is a goal for many individuals and families. From the gorgeous Grand Canyon in the north to the stunning saguaro forests of Tucson and southern Arizona, to the high Sonoran desert of central Arizona, Arizona is home to a wealth of diverse climates, seasons and amenities making it easy to see why Arizona is such a wonderful place to purchase a home, land or real estate as well as to live, work and do business.
One of the most famous places to visit in Arizona is, of course, the Grand Canyon. Vast, spectacular and undeniably majestic, the Grand Canyon is one of the ‘seven wonders of the world’ and simply must be seen to be believed...and even then, it’s hard to wrap your mind around the splendor, glory and enormity of what Mother Nature has carved over the eons.
For those who desire to see the magnificence of Mother Nature in a new and breathtaking way, it’s worth the extra drive to visit the Grand Canyon Skywalk. This unique horseshoe-shaped glass-bottomed cantilever bridge sits an amazing 4,000 feet high above the Colorado River and spans an astonishing 70 feet over the Grand Canyon’s rim. Not for the faint of heart, guests can stroll out over the canyon walls far below for an awe-inspiring view of the Grand Canyon’s soaring cliffs and deep crimson-hued gorges.
Completed in March of 2007, the Skywalk at Grand Canyon West is open 365 days a year. Located at Grand Canyon West, the Skywalk is approximately 250 miles from the Phoenix/Scottsdale/Paradise Valley area and about 375 miles from Tucson/Oro Valley/Marana.
One of the most famous places to visit in Arizona is, of course, the Grand Canyon. Vast, spectacular and undeniably majestic, the Grand Canyon is one of the ‘seven wonders of the world’ and simply must be seen to be believed...and even then, it’s hard to wrap your mind around the splendor, glory and enormity of what Mother Nature has carved over the eons.
For those who desire to see the magnificence of Mother Nature in a new and breathtaking way, it’s worth the extra drive to visit the Grand Canyon Skywalk. This unique horseshoe-shaped glass-bottomed cantilever bridge sits an amazing 4,000 feet high above the Colorado River and spans an astonishing 70 feet over the Grand Canyon’s rim. Not for the faint of heart, guests can stroll out over the canyon walls far below for an awe-inspiring view of the Grand Canyon’s soaring cliffs and deep crimson-hued gorges.
Completed in March of 2007, the Skywalk at Grand Canyon West is open 365 days a year. Located at Grand Canyon West, the Skywalk is approximately 250 miles from the Phoenix/Scottsdale/Paradise Valley area and about 375 miles from Tucson/Oro Valley/Marana.
Winslow Arizona Houses Petrified National Park
Owning an Arizona home is a lifelong goal for a lot of people...and it’s no wonder why. Some folks live for Arizona’s outdoor sports, while others prefer to spend their free time playing one of the state’s gorgeous golf courses, soaking up the spectacular sunsets or moseying around museums and other family-friendly venues.
Here’s something that pretty much everyone who owns a home or other Arizona real estate will enjoy: Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park.
Located east of Winslow, Arizona, the park is nestled inside the world-famous Painted Desert, and is home to 200-million-year-old fossils that will amaze even the non-science geeks in the family. The story goes that volcanic lava destroyed what was once a flourishing forest, embedding the remains of the trees into a vast acreage filled with ash and water. Millions of years later, erosion set the logs free, revealing a veritable wealth of magnificent petrified wood, which is made up mostly of quartz.
In addition to the Petrified Forest, the Park features more than 13,000 years of human history, including a nearly 800-year-old, 100-room dwelling called Puerco Pueblo. There’s also an extensive collection of prehistoric pottery fossils and numerous scenic hiking trails that range from half-mile to three miles – and each trail boasts breathtaking views of the surrounding Painted Desert. If you’re so inclined, head out into the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area on horseback or via burro, mule or even a llama...we kid you not. When it’s time for sweet dreams, no problem – you can do an overnight backpacking trip through the park, or for those less adventurous, there are plenty of nearby hotels and campgrounds.
Here’s something that pretty much everyone who owns a home or other Arizona real estate will enjoy: Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park.
Located east of Winslow, Arizona, the park is nestled inside the world-famous Painted Desert, and is home to 200-million-year-old fossils that will amaze even the non-science geeks in the family. The story goes that volcanic lava destroyed what was once a flourishing forest, embedding the remains of the trees into a vast acreage filled with ash and water. Millions of years later, erosion set the logs free, revealing a veritable wealth of magnificent petrified wood, which is made up mostly of quartz.
In addition to the Petrified Forest, the Park features more than 13,000 years of human history, including a nearly 800-year-old, 100-room dwelling called Puerco Pueblo. There’s also an extensive collection of prehistoric pottery fossils and numerous scenic hiking trails that range from half-mile to three miles – and each trail boasts breathtaking views of the surrounding Painted Desert. If you’re so inclined, head out into the Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area on horseback or via burro, mule or even a llama...we kid you not. When it’s time for sweet dreams, no problem – you can do an overnight backpacking trip through the park, or for those less adventurous, there are plenty of nearby hotels and campgrounds.
Arizona’s Lake Powell Home to Many Houseboats
There are always plenty of things to do whether you have Arizona homes, land, real estate or even a houseboat. And speaking of houses and boats, Arizona’s Lake Powell is one of the most popular places in the state to go house-boating thanks to its 186-mile-long smooth-as-glass surface snuggled alongside soaring crimson-hued canyons, rugged rock outcrops and the spectacular scenery of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Sprawled across an amazing 1.2 million acres, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area offers fabulous opportunities for water-based as well as land-based recreation. The recreation area stretches for hundreds of miles from Lees Ferry in Arizona to the Orange Cliffs of southern Utah, encompassing a wealth of geologic wonders and magnificent scenic vistas crafted by a combination of volcanic lava, erosion, wind and time.
Formed by the Colorado River and Glen Canyon Dam, one of the world’s highest dams, Lake Powell itself straddles the border between Arizona and Utah and was created as a result of the construction of the dam in the early 1960s. The lake, whose level changes with the years and the seasons, boasts nearly 2,000 miles of meandering shoreline – making it the perfect destination for fishing, water sports, house-boating and other outdoor activities.
Located near Page, Arizona, Wahweap Marina is the largest marina on Lake Powell and locals and visitors alike tend to agree that it is a great place to rent a houseboat or find a hotel or other lodging. You can bring your own boat or rent one and head out onto the lake for water-skiing, wake-boarding or whatever sporty adventure strikes your fancy.
If you’re not staying on a houseboat, you might want to make one of the campgrounds your home...options include a National Park Service campground at Lees Ferry, privately run campgrounds and there’s also a lodge at Wahweap Marina. If your idea of a home away from home includes a “real” bed, no problem - several nicely appointed hotels are available in Page, just a few miles away.
Sprawled across an amazing 1.2 million acres, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area offers fabulous opportunities for water-based as well as land-based recreation. The recreation area stretches for hundreds of miles from Lees Ferry in Arizona to the Orange Cliffs of southern Utah, encompassing a wealth of geologic wonders and magnificent scenic vistas crafted by a combination of volcanic lava, erosion, wind and time.
Formed by the Colorado River and Glen Canyon Dam, one of the world’s highest dams, Lake Powell itself straddles the border between Arizona and Utah and was created as a result of the construction of the dam in the early 1960s. The lake, whose level changes with the years and the seasons, boasts nearly 2,000 miles of meandering shoreline – making it the perfect destination for fishing, water sports, house-boating and other outdoor activities.
Located near Page, Arizona, Wahweap Marina is the largest marina on Lake Powell and locals and visitors alike tend to agree that it is a great place to rent a houseboat or find a hotel or other lodging. You can bring your own boat or rent one and head out onto the lake for water-skiing, wake-boarding or whatever sporty adventure strikes your fancy.
If you’re not staying on a houseboat, you might want to make one of the campgrounds your home...options include a National Park Service campground at Lees Ferry, privately run campgrounds and there’s also a lodge at Wahweap Marina. If your idea of a home away from home includes a “real” bed, no problem - several nicely appointed hotels are available in Page, just a few miles away.
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