Arizona Living Archives - Pick the Right Place

Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club

When you make the move to Trilogy®, you’ll have countless opportunities for hanging out with the neighbors – from morning fitness classes to evening cocktails around the firepit, and rounds of golf or excursions on the hiking trails in between.

Serving as your basecamp for much of this activity is the amazing resort club you see in the video above.

At Wickenburg Ranch, they’ve got an awesome new amenity-rich facility that has their Members crossing paths and creating lifelong friendships – and sharing a few toasts to The Good Life on the back patio!

Make plans to come visit in person, to see this spectacular new Club and the community of Trilogy® at Wickenburg Ranch.

Want to see all of the great floorplans available in Trilogy® at Wickenburg Ranch?

Request More Information

Pickleball Catching on with Arizona Boomers

Arizona Living, Things to Do

Boomers Redefining Retirement

Once upon a time, the dream of retirement was to collect a pension, travel and play golf. Today, boomers are redefining retirement right before our eyes. Many of today’s retirees have neither the time nor the funds to spend on golf, so they’re turning to activities that require less of an investment, while allowing them to stay active and socialize. One sport that is growing in popularity with boomers is pickleball. In Arizona, sport is becoming so popular that many public parks and rec centers now feature pickleball courts and host tournaments. And some retirement communities are adding pickleball courts to their on-site amenities.

Where to play pickleball in Arizona

Pickleball basics:

•    Object: hit a tennis ball sized whiffle ball back and forth across the court
•    Played on a court that is the size of a badminton court
•    Two sides divided by a 3-foot-tall net lowered to the ground
• The paddle is slightly bigger than a ping pong paddle
•    Serve is underhand and must bounce once on opposite side
•    Only the serving team can score a point
•    Game is won when one team scores 11 points. (Must win by 2.)
As with tennis, the game can be played in singles or doubles format, although doubles are most common. Pickleball appeals to people of all ages, but especially those for whom running is a challenge. David Holland is a senior pickleball player who claims, “You can compete with younger people by using your head while they try to use their speed. You out think them.”

Pickleball Origin

Pickleball was “created” in 1965 near Seattle. Legend has it that Joel Pritchard (a Washington State Representative) and a couple buddies returned home from a Saturday golf game to find their bored family members just hanging around. They attempted to get the others engaged in badminton, but couldn’t find a shuttlecock. So, they lowered the net and improvised with a whiffle ball.

Video: See more about pickleball in Arizona from FOX10Phoenix.com.

USA Pickleball Association

Pickleball court dimensions drawing — Pickleball court

According to the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA), there are more than 100,000 active players in the United States. A 2014 NBC News feature called pickleball the fastest growing sport in America. Official rules for the game, along with terms and jargon, can be found on USAPA website at usapa.org.

Languages in Arizona

Arizona Living

No, You Don’t Need to Know Spanish

Editors Note: People often ask Arizona for Boomers about how sharing a border with Mexico impacts life in the state. So here you go… our first post on the subject.

The Numbers
As a cornerstone of the American Southwest, there is no question that Arizona’s culture and lifestyle share influences from the neighboring country of Mexico. It’s noticeable in the architecture, fashion, cuisine, and language.

First off, overwhelmingly, (73%), people in Arizona speak English. However, you will likely run across Spanish. According to the latest census numbers, Spanish is spoken in approximately 20 percent of Arizona homes. Compare this to the whole United States. Across the country, 13 percent of the population speaks Spanish at home. Additionally, census records indicate that up to 9 percent of Arizonians speak only Spanish, contrasted to California’s 13 percent and Maine’s quarter of a percent.

By the way, Spanish isn’t the only non-English language spoken in Arizona. Other 7 percent speak (at home) languages including Navajo, German, Chinese, Tagalog and Vietnamese.

English – It’s Official
While the people of Arizona cherish many facets of Hispanic and other cultures, in 2006, voters passed Proposition 103 by an overwhelming margin to make English the official language of the state. The provision did not outlaw the use of other languages; it merely established that the official business of the State of Arizona is in English.

Proponents claimed that the move was necessary because the proliferation of multiple languages could divide residents and lead to wasteful spending in translating millions of state documents into multiple languages. Further, it was acknowledged that trade and tourism, and other key state functions, will still use multiple languages.

What Arizona Proposition 103 does:

•    Requires English for all official actions of state and local governments
•    Prohibits discrimination against a person that uses English in any public or private communication
•    Arizona citizens and business can enforce English requirement in court

What Arizona Proposition 103 does not do:
• Not unlawful to speak other languages in Arizona
• Prohibit non-English on signs or advertising in Arizona

Prop 103 has made no noticeable impact on daily life in Arizona. English is still the primary language spoken in public places, yet Spanish or other native tongues are used more so in some pockets of the state. For the most part, signs and other materials are printed in English. Just enough, multilingual influence remains visible to help native people connect with their roots and newcomers expand their vocabulary.

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Arizona visitors and residents need not be concerned: Arizona’s rich southwest culture is here to stay; and so is the English language.

Snowbird in Arizona Without Leaving the State

Arizona Living, Traveling to/from

Hot and Cold in Arizona

Over the past few decades, Arizona has become a magnet for snowbirds: people who spend the summer months in cooler locales like the Upper Midwest or Canada and winter months in Arizona. Seems like a lot of effort to “climate hop,” considering you can be a snowbird without leaving Arizona.

Winter in the desert

Average temperatures in six Arizona cities.

Arizona cities like Phoenix, Tucson and Lake Havasu City are known for their warm winter temperatures. Snowbirds flock here every year in October and November to escape the cold and snow back home. Then, when things get cooking in the desert around May or June, they pack up and migrate north.

A downside to Arizona’s reputation for being a hot spot in the United States is that few snowbirds realize they can escape the blistering summers of the desert without leaving the state.

Summer in the high country

When triple-digit temps become too much to bear in the Phoenix Valley, you can escape the heat by jumping in the car and driving a couple hours into the high country or “rim country” – the part of the state situated on the Mogollon Rim. Flagstaff, Prescott and Payson are some of the more popular high country destinations in summer months. However, dozens of charming small towns are dotted around the higher terrain.

Advantages to living in Arizona full time

A few reasons why living full-time in Arizona beats snowbirding in another state:

Enjoyable climate year round
Lower travel expenses
Simpler tax filing
More consistent medical care
Easier access to your stuff

Arizona snowbird housing options

Arizona-Snowbowl — Arizona Snowbowl/ Photo www.liftopia.com

With so many housing options available to you in Arizona, your living choices are virtually unlimited. Consider owning a winter home in the Valley and a summer home in the high country, if your budget allows. If that is out of reach for you financially, you might buy a winter home and rent a summer home – or vice versa.

If you happen to own a timeshare with exchange privileges, you have a number of great Arizona resorts to choose from, in both the desert regions and the high country. This is a great option if you can handle the climate at your primary residence most of the year, and just need a reprieve for a few weeks. A variation of the timeshare option is RV living – year-round, or a few weeks at a time. Imagine summers nestled creek side beneath the shade of towering pine trees and winter basking in the sun adjacent to your favorite trailhead.

What makes Phoenix Sky Harbor America’s friendliest airport?

Arizona Living, Phoenix, Traveling to/from

These days, plane travel is not as friendly as it once was, unless your itinerary includes Phoenix Sky Harbor, which touts itself as “America’s Friendliest Airport.” Can an airport really be friendly? And what makes the largest airport in Arizona so friendly that they can boast it is the friendliest in the country?

This is what a few recent passengers said about their Sky Harbor experience on the consumer review site, yelp.com:

Friendly TSA staffers moved big lines along quickly; even the drug sniffing dog at security was nice!
Everything feels modern and clean for such a high-traffic airport. The restrooms are spotless and taken care of.
Overall, this terminal is spacious, clean, has helpful staff, and it takes about 10-15 minutes to get through security. The food options are ample, and it’s a pretty great representation of Phoenix.

A little research revealed the following traits that help support Phoenix Sky Harbor’s claim America’s friendliest airport.

Courteous and helpful people

People are the face of any business, and Sky Harbor’s front line consists of a deep roster of super happy volunteers called “Navigators.” Awaiting you in purple suit coats around nearly every corner, they are a great resource to help you find your way around the airport, from a good place to grab a bagel or the nearest smoking area. Sky Harbor’s helpful culture extends to ticket agents, TSA personnel, shuttle drivers and others, too.

Central Location

Sky Harbor Airport is conveniently located in central Arizona where several interstate highways and “loops” converge, approximately fifteen minutes from both downtown Phoenix and downtown Tempe. The cities of Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Scottsdale, and Mesa are less than 30 minutes from Sky Harbor, as are many key attractions such as professional sporting arenas, world famous golf courses and universities.

Efficient Layout

Sky Harbor consists of three terminals (Terminal 2, Terminal 3 & Terminal 4); each hosting from three to seven airlines. (Map of terminals.) Terminal 1 no longer exists. The terminals are arranged in a neat row, from west to east, with an oval track sort of driveway connecting all three on both the north and south sides.

Clearly marked passenger pick up and drop off lanes hug the curb closest to each terminal on the bottom level, just beyond the hands-free doors next to the shiny baggage claim carousels. Outer lanes have stops for rental car agencies, Valley Metro buses and tour companies. You can also catch the PHX Sky Train free of charge to a nearby light rail connecting point.

Since each terminal has own security checkpoints, moving between the terminals is rarely necessary. When you need to do so, such as to make a connecting flight on a separate airline, a free shuttle whisks you from one terminal to another.

Convenient and Affordable Parking Options

If you need to park at Sky Harbor for just a few days, consider the garage attached to your airline’s terminal. The $25 daily maximum fee will put you in a spot just a couple hundred feet from the elevator. Choose the proper floor for ticketing or boarding and you’ll be at your gate in no time. If you are dropping off or picking someone up, the cost is only $4 an hour for spots right next to the elevator. If you want to save some dough and don’t mind shuttling a quarter mile to the terminal, park in the East or West Economy lot. Rates are $9 a day (or $11 for a covered spot).

Pet Patch, Paw Pad & Bone Yard

Sky Harbor boasts three pet parks for Fido and Fluffy to re-hydrate, stretch their paws, and most importantly, take a poddy break. Plastic bags are conveniently provided for cleaning up after your pet.

The Pet Patch is located just east of terminal 2. The Paw Pad is located outside the west doors of terminal 3. The Bone Yard is on the west side of terminal 4, just outside of baggage claim.

There are also two pet parks near the Sky Train stations. Park & Bark is near the economy east parking stop. Park ‘n Play is on the northwest corner of the 44th street stop.

As airports go, few can boast that they are truly friendly. But, Phoenix Sky Harbor lays claim to being “America’s Friendliest Airport” and backs it up with its top notch people, location, layout and parking.

Tempe Appeals To Youthful Boomers

Arizona Living, Things to Do

Not Your Typical Retirement Community

If you are looking for a place to spend your pre- and post-retirement years with great weather, a youthful vibe and plenty to do, put Tempe, AZ on your shortlist.

While Tempe is home to Arizona State University (ASU) and happens to be the state’s largest college town, some recent changes are getting the attention of boomers looking to relocate.

Housing Options

Tempe Town Lake Condo — Condominiums on the north shore of Tempe Town Lake offer convenience and views. /Paul Fiarkoski.

Tempe offers a nice blend of old and new. Tall, mature trees shade many of the parks and neighborhoods in the more established parts of town. Most of the houses were built prior to the modern building boom, resulting in fewer cookie cutter homes. And since most of the homes were built before HOAs were commonplace, homeowners enjoy freedoms not available to folks in some newer communities. Those less inclined to live in a single family home can choose from a multitude of established or newer apartments, condos or townhomes.

To leverage the city’s leading edge infrastructure and educated labor pool, businesses invested in high-tech buildings. This is most evident along the shores of the man-made Tempe Town Lake, where shiny glass and steel mid-rise office buildings glisten in the sun.

Transportation

Regardless of your preferred mode of transportation, getting around and away from Tempe is as easy as it gets. Wide, well-marked bike lanes adorn most major thoroughfares for recreational or commuter cyclists. When four wheels are needed, you will find the streets a cinch to navigate and free or low cost parking plentiful. Travel to nearby Phoenix or other cities is quick and easy via your choice of freeways or Valley Metro bus routes or light rail line that cuts through the university and downtown Tempe. As of 2013, Tempe residents can take the train to or from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, a mere 10 miles from central Tempe.

Active Lifestyle

Tempe continually earns high marks for a lively culture of entertainment and recreation. Fine arts productions at the ASU Gammage Auditorium and non-profit Tempe Center for the Arts rival any in the state. A variety of restaurants, pubs and novelty shops line the Downtown Tempe district adjacent to campus. Downtown comes to life with a slate of festivals, parades and art fairs. For a more suburban shopping and dining experience, check out Tempe Marketplace or the Arizona Mills mall.

Tempe Valley Metro — Valley Metro light rail line whisks passengers from multiple Tempe stations to popular destinations throughout the Valley./Paul Fiarkoski.

Like sports? Most Tempe residents are less than 15 minutes from three of the area’s ten MLB Spring Training stadiums. Plus, the ASU Sun Devils host other Division 1 college teams from around the country in some of the most iconic facilities in the region. Tempe Beach Park plays host to a number of sporting competitions year round, including the Ironman Triathlon each year in November. Tempe is also home to the NFL Arizona Cardinals training facility.

If you are more athlete than spectator, you will appreciate the network of fitness trails winding throughout the town. Hike a mountain in the middle of downtown. Work on your golf game at one of several professionally designed golf courses. You can even paddle or sail the 225-acre Tempe Town Lake year round. Away from the bustling downtown/university area, Kiwanis Park & Rec Center is Tempe’s not so hidden gem for recreation.

Secluded retirement communities loaded with amenities are nice, but if you might prefer a more youthful, urban lifestyle, Tempe may be just what you’re looking for.

Tempe Particulars

Climate

January average Hi/Low: 69/39
July average Hi/Low: 105/75

Population: 167,277 (25% age 50 & up)
Median age: 34
Median household income: $64,346
Average home price: $ 181,617
Average rent: $ 1,340/mo

Data Source: realtor.com Market Overview & Information https://www.realtor.com/local/Tempe_AZ