Arizona's Home to Numerous Annual Events

Arizona is a land of plenty – plenty to see, plenty to do and plenty to enjoy…year-round. From rodeos to car shows, county fairs to Native American events, it is safe to say you will never be bored with all the things to do in Arizona.

For example, every January, hundreds of collectible cars and thousands of visitors flock to Scottsdale for the Barrett-Jackson car auction. Early spring is also the setting for the PGA’s Waste Management Open golf tournament, which will forever be known by locals as “The Phoenix Open” – although it takes place in Scottsdale. In southern Arizona’s hub-city of Tucson, the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase is an annual event typically held in late January or early February. This popular event brings in people from all over the world to admire the impressive collections on display and maybe even purchase some new treasures for their own.

In February, the medieval Renaissance Festival comes to Gold Canyon, east of Phoenix. Located on a 30-acre site, the Festival’s entertainment includes a plethora of wandering knights, damsels and court jesters, along with jousting competitions, trained falcon displays and theatrical performances on one of many stages.

In March, Major League Baseball Spring Training hits town when the “boys of summer” take to baseball diamonds all across the Valley of the Sun; it’s a great way for families to watch their favorite baseball teams in comfortable yet intimate stadiums for much less than “big league” prices. Out Chandler way, on the eastern edge of the Phoenix metro area, March means it’s time for the annual Ostrich Festival. This large bird is an honored guest at this family-friendly event, host to ostrich races (yes, really!), a parade and a petting zoo for kids.

As the weather warms up, many residents head up to Arizona’s cooler northern climes around Sedona, Payson, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. From May to October, the Flagstaff Community Market features fresh produce and other locally made/grown items, while Sedona is a fabulous place to enjoy art festivals and craft shows pretty much any time of the year.

Once fall rolls around, thousands attend the Arizona State Fair in Phoenix, home to traditional displays, animals and carnival rides. In late November and December, numerous communities across Arizona host holiday events, complete with tens of thousands of twinkling lights accented with intricate decorations. Ahwatukee, a suburb of Phoenix, is well-known for its Festival of Lights that involves millions of white lights adorning dozens of trees, saguaro and other native cacti. If you’re looking for something a little different, Downtown Chandler usually assembles a towering Christmas tree made of wild-west tumbleweeds…we kid you not.

Arizona Museum for Youth is Home of Fun for All Ages

Entertaining children of any age can seem a chore if you are not aware of all the wonderful experiences available to them. Within the greater Arizona real estate there are many ways to keep children happy and busy for a day. One of the most fantastic places to visit is the Arizona Museum for Youth in Mesa. This museum is dedicated to the idea of learning through fun and to children of all ages. To make sure that they live up to their objective, the museum has created fun centers for each age group so that the play and fun are always relevant to the intellectual level of the participant.

In ArtVille the crawlers, toddlers, and the pre-schoolers will find just various things their little hearts’ desire- fun, color, and the opportunity to make a mess. This mini-me area features large crayon pillars and child-height doorways. From kitchen play to oversized blocks and an art center, ArtVille has more to offer than your child can possibly imagine.

ArtZone is for the slightly older crowd. Children ages five years and older will be filled with excitement as they are presented with the opportunity to explore color, sound and texture in a whole new way. Whether they want to try their hand at drawing and painting, or would rather tackle the knack or building in three-dimensions, the Arizona Museum for Youth has just what they are looking for. It is a bit more sophisticated than ArtVille, though still filled with the fun that children crave.

If you are going to make your way there, then you certainly should be rewarded for your efforts. Everyone knows that adults like to have fun too, and the Arizona Museum for Youth will never consider you too old. Classes are available for all ages, so whether you want to create with your child, with your friend, or all by yourself, you will find all kinds of fun there. Class and workshop registration information is available on the museum website, so that you can plan in advance for that day of fun.

So, put on your apron, grab a brush and make your way to the Arizona Museum for Youth for fun for the whole family. This museum offers the perfect get-a-way and a calendar chock full of special events and ways to play.

ASU Planetarium Gives Answers on Stars That Shine on Your Arizona Home

What is one the best things about Arizona? The answer is quite obvious, the gorgeous views- day and night. There are few things more stunning than the wide open sky at night, with thousands of stars twinkling down at all who venture outdoors. But, if you want to really have a better understanding of those stars, then you need to seek the insight of a professional. The School of Earth and Space Exploration Planetarium also known as ASU Planetarium is a great place to see the stars and learn more about the stars that shine down on all of the beautiful Arizona real estate.

Arizona State University is known for many things, but few people take time to mention the education and beauty that can be found at its planetarium. This intimate setting can hold just fifty people at a time, but it is well worth the real estate it occupies. Visitors can make a strong connection with the stars and the universe as a whole. They can learn about all that we, as a modern civilization, know about what lies beyond our own atmosphere, and also a bit about what is still being learned today. Shows will often feature an underlying theme. Currently, the planetarium guides are featuring the works and times of Galileo. Learn more about the man, his telescope, and his contribution to our understanding of Earth and space today.

If you find yourself really feeling the line of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star that says, “How I wonder what you are,” then you will love everything this Arizona treasure has to offer. Daytime shows are available on request, or you can attend the nightly 6:30 PM experience (during the standard school year). To take part in a daytime showing, you will need to bring your own group and contact the SESE to schedule a time. The daytime shows typically last about fifty minutes and many opt to also include tours of the SESE facility thereafter. The 6:30 PM showing lasts about forty-five minutes and includes the opportunity to peer through the ASU telescope, as long as the weather is cooperating.

You will not pay for your visit, as the ASU Planetarium, but you will have to pay for visitor parking on the campus. The charge is currently two dollars per hour, with a maximum fee of eight dollars. This is a very small price to pay for a day or evening of wonder and amazement, as well as a better understanding of the solar system that surrounds us.

Arizona’s Alamo Lake State Park is Home to Many Animals

Is there any wonder why tourists flock each year to the state of Arizona for the beauty of the landscapes, skylines, and sunsets? If you are not sure what all the fuss is about, then it is time to make a trip to the Alamo Lake State Park. This park provides all the true beauty that rural Arizona real estate has to offer in one condensed area. Views of the mountains far off in the distance, running streams and quiet lakes, and do not forget the abundant wildlife.

If you want to get out and stretch your legs, then the Alamo Lake State Park has a lot to offer you. The best in bass fishing means that you can wake early, wade into the clean waters, and spend the day enjoying nature all around, but that is not all. For those who want to truly experience all that this gorgeous area has to offer, there are a number of hiking trails that lead one through the highs and lows of the semi-desert landscape and feature the gorgeous centerpiece, which is the majestic Alamo Lake.

The lake was not completely natural in formation. It resides on the Bill Williams River now, but it didn’t make its home until 1968 when the Alamo Dam was completed. Though it may not have been the primary objective of the engineers to create such a serene place, the side effects are wondrous. The lake now teams with life- fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals of many different species have made their way to the plentiful water supply and currently reside within the park’s boundaries. Aside from the bass previously mentioned, the Alamo State Park is able to brag species including bluegill fish, black crappy fish, bobcat, coyote, mule deer, bald eagles, golden eagles, and even wild burros. Alamo Lake State Park is an animal lovers dream.

If you want to try your hand at experiencing nature at its most beautiful, then make your way to Arizona’s Alamo Lake State Park, but be sure to set up camp at the designated sites and be sure that is a ways away from the lake, as it has been known to rise up to eleven feet in a single night. Also, be sure to leave something behind, when taking your long hike or trying your luck at the lake’s edge, because you won’t want to give up your campsite once you have discovered how wonderful it is to be there.

Rio Verde Foothills Real Estate is Southwestern Paradise

Far north of Scottsdale, Arizona lies the community of Rio Verde Foothills. These foothills have a rural ambiance that is undeniable, and includes a treasured community that has simply ravishing views of the McDowell Mountains and Four Peaks, as well as views of Tonto National Forest. This Arizona real estate community offers plenty of things for outdoor enthusiasts, including biking, hiking, horseback riding, tennis, and even championship golf. Mingled in with all of the outdoor activities is the air of peace and serenity, which is what makes the Rio Verde Foothills so appealing to so many people.

In the 1960’s, a large group of Minnesota investors believed that this area of Arizona would be the perfect place to set up a winter golf camp. What started as a golf camp grew to become a large community of beautiful custom homes and ranches on multi-acre sites. The architectural styles of the homes range from contemporary to Tuscan and everything in between. One thing that many people enjoy about living in the Rio Verde Foothills is the privacy, as many of the homes allow for a great deal of seclusion.

The Rio Verde Foothills may offer a great deal of privacy and gorgeous vistas, but it is also ideally located. Less than an hour away from the Loop 101 freeway, the town is within easy driving distance of all of the metropolitan areas, including Phoenix and Scottsdale, so those who are missing city life can drive in for an evening or a day to enjoy fine dining. They can then return to the Rio Verde Foothills to bask in the star filled nights and the pristine desert landscape.

Living an Urban Lifestyle

When you heard the words “urban living”, what do you think of? Most people think of city lights, quaint cafes, museums, galleries, theaters, and delicious restaurants all within walking distance. Many people are not able to enjoy this type of lifestyle, but those who find Arizona the best place to live can enjoy upscale, amenity rich communities, and that they can also enjoy amazing vistas and unique opportunities.

The Phoenix and Scottsdale areas boast stunning homes and are perfect for those who are looking for a city lifestyle. Downtown Phoenix shows off lots of lofts and Art Deco styled buildings. Here you can find the restaurants and the shopping that you dream of. Many of the buildings in the city have a retro feel to them, but have been outfitted with modern amenities. The fusion of aged brick and pipes that have been left exposed, along with concrete that has been woven in, gives a unique and beautiful look to the city and makes it interesting as well.

Head into Scottsdale, and you’ll find a different lifestyle. This city features the on-site concierge type of lifestyle, where a valet is available twenty-four hours a day and there are many sleek and chic living options. The lifestyle is very energetic, with lots of nightlife options for those who enjoy going out as well as plenty of things to do in the daytime. Many of the high rise homes boast of amazing mountain views and are a close distance to shopping and dining districts as well.

Both Phoenix and Scottsdale offer an urban lifestyle, although they are both very different. A visit to each city should make it very obvious, very quickly, which lifestyle you prefer and which city is truly the one that you’re comfortable in.

The Charming Communities of Carefree and Cave Creek

The city of Scottsdale does have almost everything that a person needs, but there are times when it’s nice to get away from everything. Those who are looking to get away from the urban area can take a short drive and can discover the gorgeous real estate in Carefree and Cave Creek. The two towns are very different from each other but both allow residents and visitors to enjoy majestic mountain vistas and lots of saguaros.

The town of Carefree was named accurately, as the entire town has a sweet and relaxing feel to it. You can actually see the lighthearted nature of the entire town simply when you start looking at the names of the streets, which include streets like Ho and Hum and Easy Street. Large granite boulders and rock outcroppings can be viewed from all areas in the community, and many spend a great deal of time wondering about how the 12 million year old granite that can be found all around the community managed to get where it is today. In Carefree you’ll find winding pathways that go to Tuscan villas and large haciendas. You’ll also find The Boulders, which is an exclusive community that features two of the best golf courses in the area.

Cave Creek has a colorful history as a rough and tumble mining town, and an independent spirit that lives on today. Most of the homes that you’ll find in Cave Creek have a country and ranch feel and it’s common to find people riding their horses down the street. The 2.9 million acre Tonto National Forest, however, also offers a number of recreational activities for those who are not equestrian lovers to enjoy.

Though Carefree and Cave Creek are vastly different, they’re both immensely perfect for someone who is looking to get away from the city and to live the Arizona high life.