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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.

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.

Snowbird in Arizona Without Leaving the State