Archive for May, 2010

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Gifted Children Will Be at Home in Paradise Valley Schools

Friday, May 28th, 2010

While all parents rightfully think their child is exceptional, some children truly are gifted intellectually and benefit from a differentiated type of educational curriculum and teaching style. If you’re looking at homes or other residential real estate for sale in Paradise Valley and you’ve been told your child is gifted, you should consider looking into the Paradise Valley Unified School District’s Self-contained gifted program. The program is currently located at one elementary school, with plans for expansion if there is enough demand.

Paradise Valley’s self-contained gifted program is designed for high-achieving, highly gifted students (generally in the top 3 percent of the population) whose needs may not be met by the other gifted programs offered in the school district. Recognizing that gifted students have unique educational needs, the program lets students approach the learning experience with an expanded curiosity, allowing them to often work two or more years beyond their grade level. Flexibly paced, the program focuses on higher-level thinking skills, individual creativity and problem-solving, but it also keeps the children appropriately socialized through inclusive participation in grade-level special areas, activities and field trips.

With a total enrollment of over 33,000 students, the Paradise Valley district is the seventh largest school district in Arizona. The district’s 98-square-mile boundaries include a significant portion of homes in northeast Phoenix as well as a portion of homes in north Scottsdale, and extend from Seventh Avenue on the west to Pima Road on the east. The southern boundary is Northern Avenue, with the northern boundary being Jomax Road.

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Tucson’s Plentiful Arts Real Estate

Friday, May 28th, 2010

There are a number of reasons that all across the City of Tucson real estate, land and homes, are so eagerly sought after by families, individuals and those enjoying an active, high-end retirement lifestyle. Here’s one: there’s so much to do!

Tucson Museum of Art - Photo by glindsay65

From ballet to the theater to the symphony, Tucson is a haven for those interested in the arts. In fact, Tucson is one of a select number of cities of its size that has its own ballet company – Ballet Tucson, professional theater – Arizona Theatre Company, symphony – Tucson Sympony Orchestra and an opera company – Arizona Opera. Art-lovers will appreciate the Tucson Museum of Art, the University of Arizona Museum of Art and the nationally acclaimed Center for Creative Photography. It’s also good to know that there are more than 35 art galleries in Tucson’s downtown district alone. If music is more your thing, no problem; the AVA Amphitheater at Casino del Sol hosts top touring entertainers in a beautiful open-air venue, and the Desert Diamond Casino regularly brings in music headliners and other events. Meanwhile, the historic Rialto Theatre offers concerts featuring a broad array of performers including comedians, heavy metal, hip hop, jazz, flamenco, country, rock bands and jam bands.

Public art is everywhere in Tucson, including outdoor sculpture at El Presidio Park and a sculpture of Father Kino, a famous Jesuit missionary, at the northwest corner of Kino Boulevard and Winsett Street. If you’re a mural aficionado, there are more murals at the El Rio Neighborhood Center than at any other location in Tucson, but if you’ve got a snake phobia, you might want to avoid “The Snake Bridge,” located on East Broadway Boulevard, west of Euclid Avenue. This controversial work is a functioning pedestrian bridge in the shape of a diamondback rattlesnake.

For more information on the arts in Tucson, visit www.visittucson.org.

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Drive Route 66 to Explore Arizona’s Finest Real Estate

Friday, May 28th, 2010

There are a number of reasons that calling Arizona home is a goal for many individuals and families. From the gorgeous Grand Canyon in the north to the high Sonoran desert of central Arizona to the stunning saguaro forests of Tucson and southern Arizona, Arizona boasts 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.

Back in the day, Route 66 was considered the Main Street of America, and Arizona is home to the longest original stretch of the much-ballyhooed Mother Road…and much of it is still preserved by local residents.

To check out a sampling of some of Route 66’s many sites, take a few days and consider starting your trip in Lake Havasu City, home to the historic London Bridge, then head north about an hour’s drive to Oatman, an old gold-mining camp. Stroll the buckboard street and visit the Oatman Hotel, where movie stars Clark Gable and Carole Lombard honeymooned. Enjoy staged gunfights, take an authentic stagecoach ride or watch the four-legged settlers of the town – i.e., the wild burros that wander the street. Next, take the scenic drive through the Black Mountains and mosey on into Kingman, which is also home to the Route 66 Museum. If the hungries hit, grab a bite in one of the old trailer-type diners and then be sure to stop in Peach Springs, home to the Hualapai Indian tribal headquarters.

Over in Seligman, enjoy a snack at the quirky Snowcap, a Route 66 nostalgia-lover’s delight. Drive to Williams to overnight, then travel north to Grand Canyon National Park or board the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams for a picturesque trip to the Grand Canyon Village. Spend the day and night in Flagstaff, where the main drag is Route 66. Savor a juicy burger and a thick milkshake at the Galaxy Diner on Route 66 and two-step the night away at the Museum Club, a rustic Route 66 roadhouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The next morning, drive to Winslow and take your picture at the Standin’ on the Corner State Park. “The Corner” was made famous by the Eagles song “Take it Easy,” which is what you’ll be doing every single day on your Route 66 road trip.

For more information on planning a trip down Route 66’s memory lane, visit the Arizona Office of Tourism.

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Whisper Rock is Spectacular Scottsdale Real Estate

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

A golf-lover’s dream come true, the gated community of Whisper Rock Estates offers residents a luxuriously laidback golf-focused lifestyle par excellence…no pun intended. Boasting 800 acres of prime Scottsdale real estate, Whisper Rock features spectacular custom homes built on multi-acre sites as well as sumptuous lock-and-leave villas for those who prefer to spend their summers in a cooler clime.

No matter the size of the lot, Whisper Rock homes are intimately snuggled into the lush high Sonoran setting, taking full advantage of the visually arresting views of the stunning rock formation for which the community is named. In fact, each site is specifically designed to enjoy Arizona’s wow-worthy crimson-hued sunsets and the pristine desert landscape that is unique to this part of the southwest — centuries-old saguaros, awe-inspiring boulder-strewn terrain and surprisingly shady mesquite, juniper and palo verde trees. The diverse, yet complementary, architectural motifs are soft, subtle and sophisticated, with a heavy influence from Native American and Latin American styles, reflecting similar environmental conditions. Personalized homeowner services are available, ensuring you have plenty of time to check out the many nearby amenities, in particular the Whisper Rock Golf Club.

Developed separately from the residential community, the Whisper Rock Golf Club is an exclusive golf club where membership is not based on property ownership, but instead is based on a sponsorship and invitation-only basis. A non-equity, right-to-use Club, membership is limited to 290 golf memberships per 18-holes so that members enjoy the best possible access to the courses.

Speaking of which, the Club consists of two first-rate courses: the Lower Course and the Upper Course. Opened in March of 2001, the Lower Course was designed by architect Gary Stephenson and perennial PGA Tour leader and ASU graduate Phil Mickelson (Mickelson graduated from ASU in 1992 with a degree in Psychology). The Tom Fazio-designed Upper Course opened four years later, in January of 2005. The Lower Course is the first course designed by Mickelson, and he has referred to it as a “second-shot course. We don’t have the same second-shot two times in a row.” The layout features lots of grass, desert trees, shallow bunkers and numerous elevation changes, most notably on the par-5 number-three that drops 40 feet from tee to green. Cognizant of the fact that many pro and scratch golfers are members, the Upper Course keeps everybody intrigued with its 81 bunkers and five sets of tees, ranging from approximately 5,300 yards to over 7,500 yards.

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Desert Botanical Gardens Call Phoenix Home

Thursday, May 27th, 2010

If you’re considering purchasing a home, land or real estate in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley or one of the many surrounding communities, chances are you’re interested in some of the cultural activities in the area. Lucky for you, Phoenix, Arizona is home to a number of wonderful cultural venues, one of which is the Desert Botanical Garden.

Designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride,” the privately funded, non-profit Desert Botanical Garden is one of 36 botanical gardens in the United States accredited by the American Association of Museums. Founded in 1939, the Botanical Garden sits on 145 acres, has more than 50,000 plants on display and is home to one of the finest and most diverse collections of succulent plants in the Southwest. It is the only botanical garden in the world whose mission is to focus solely on desert plants and is one of only a few whose collections comprise a library, an herbarium, living specimens and rare and endangered plants.

Designated as a National Resource Collection, the Garden’s herbarium is a collection of preserved plant specimens that serves as a lasting record and includes important desert plant collections of early Arizona botanists and current research staff. Along with all this, the Desert Botanical Garden has five thematic trails that illustrate a variety of topics.

Special events: The Desert Botanical Garden celebrates spring with its annual butterfly exhibit and wildflower blooms. During the fall, each weekend is dedicated to celebrating different plants and cultures of the new world as part of the Fabulous Fall Festivals and Mariposa Monarca. The winter holiday season is celebrated with Las Noches de las Luminarias, an event that has grown from one weekend in December to 19 nights during the month.

Other activities: The Garden offers a variety of lectures and workshops on desert landscaping and horticulture, nature art and photography, botanical art and illustration, health and wellness and natural history. In addition, the Garden features specialized tours, an outdoor café, a gift and plant shop and many activities for children and families.

If You Go:

Desert Botanical Garden is located at 1201 North Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, Arizona 85008. Phone: 480-941-1225

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Tucson is Home to Rich Religious and Cultural History

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

There are a number of reasons that homes, land and real estate in Tucson, including the outlying foothills, are so eagerly sought after by families, individuals and those enjoying an active, high-end retirement lifestyle. Here’s one: there’s so much to do!

One of the most fascinating aspects of Tucson’s cultural history is related to its deep roots in religion. Listed as a National Historic Landmark, Mission San Xavier del Bac was founded as a Catholic mission by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692 and was once part of a chain of churches that stretched from northern Mexico to the western U.S. This brilliant white structure is often referred to as the “White Dove of the Desert” and the “Sistine Chapel of North America” for the intricate paintings on the walls and ceiling. It is the oldest intact European structure in Arizona, with construction of the current church beginning in 1783 and finishing in 1797.

Widely considered to be the finest example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States, there is no admission charge to visit Mission San Xavier del Bac. While the interior of the church is filled with magnificent statuary and mural paintings, the church retains its original purpose of ministering to the religious needs of its parishioners. Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity now teach at the school and reside in the convent.

Artistic details: According to the Mission’s website, the architect, Ignacio Gaona, is credited with building another church in Caborca, Sonora, Mexico, but little is known about the people who decorated the interior. The artwork was most likely created by artists from Queretero in New Spain (now Mexico). The sculpture was created in guild workshops and carried by donkey through the Pimeria Alta to its destination at the Mission.

Mission San Xavier del Bac is nine miles south of downtown Tucson, Arizona just off of Interstate 19. Take exit 92 (San Xavier Road) and follow the signs. For more information on Mission San Xavier del Bac, visit their website or www.visittucson.org.

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Scottsdale Mountain is Home for Outdoor Enthusiasts

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

Sporting a super-private location, the master-planned community of Scottsdale Mountain is an exclusive guard-gated enclave just north of Shea Boulevard on 136th Street. Tucked tight against the fabulous foothills of the McDowell Mountain Preserve, homes in Scottsdale Mountain are designed to be convenient for every lifestyle, especially for people who enjoy active outdoor pursuits such as hiking, biking and jogging…or simply savoring the many majesties of Mother Nature.

Nearly every piece of elegant Scottsdale Mountain real estate features stunning views of the lush Sonoran desert and the surrounding mountains with their stands of stately saguaros, rocky hillsides and boldly rugged terrain. Quite a number of elevated homesites also boast magnificent views of a shimmering blanket of twinkling city lights encompassing the sprawling metropolitan areas of Phoenix, Scottsdale and as far east as Mesa.

Flattered by a variety of Arizona-inspired architectural styles, the homes in Scottsdale Mountain range from gorgeous single family homes designed and built by well-respected high-end production homebuilders to sensational homes built by highly regarded semi-custom builders. Along with the single-family beauties, snuggled deep inside the community is The Overlook, an intimate neighborhood of luxury townhomes that is spot-on perfect for singles, couples, executives or winter visitors (hmm, lock and leave, anyone?). In addition, Scottsdale Mountain is host to dramatic large-enveloped custom sites that wow with sumptuous sophisticated estates flaunting a panorama of spectacular all-around views.

Idyllic community amenities include immaculately maintained tennis courts, a relaxing spa and a wealth of open desert buffer zones. Just a proverbial hop, skip and jump away, and voila – it’s the renowned Mayo Clinic, host to arguably some of the world’s most premier medical facilities. Scottsdale’s fine dining and shopping venues and the upscale boutiques, eateries, specialty shops and arts districts of Fountain Hills are practically around the corner, and for those whose pleasure is desert mountain hiking and biking, a network of parks and trails is also close-by. In fact, residents often ‘take a hike’ to marvel at one of Arizona’s breathtaking crimson-hued sunsets or gather for an evening of stargazing underneath truly awe-inspiring velvet-black skies.

Another wonderful feature of Scottsdale Mountain is its access to the Scottsdale Unified School District’s top-rated network of public schools. Children who live within Scottsdale Mountain’s generous boundaries are associated with Scottsdale Unified’s Anasazi Elementary School, Mountainside Middle School and Desert Mountain High School. The district’s touts itself as “Arizona’s Most Excelling School District.”

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Phoenix is Home to Many Highly Rated Schools

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

There are a number of reasons that homes all across the City of Phoenix are so highly sought after by families. Here’s one: excellent schools. Chances are, if you’re looking to buy a home, land, condo or other residential Phoenix real estate, you’re already interested in checking out the local school district. While there are many exceptional private and charter schools, numerous Phoenix public schools are also highly rated by the Arizona Department of Education.

Details: The City of Phoenix is home 325 public schools in 30 school districts along with more than 200 charter and private schools. By visiting the City’s Youth and Education Programs Office website you will find information on school locations, district boundaries and attendance boundaries, as well as frequently requested maps. In fact, a complete listing of the public, private, and charter schools in Phoenix is available at Phoenix Maps Online. This feature also includes a mapping application and links to the individual school Web sites. To obtain detailed information about school districts or their educational programs, please visit the particular school district’s website or contact the school directly.

One important note is that even if your Phoenix home, condo or townhome is outside a district’s boundaries, per Arizona state law, you still have the opportunity to enroll your child in your public school of choice through the Open Enrollment process. Open Enrollment packets are usually available at any local school site or on the district’s website and there is a specified enrollment period, generally in the fall preceding the following school year. There are a limited number of schools that do not accept Open Enrollment students because those schools, or perhaps specific programs requested, are at full capacity. Please call the school or school district in which you are interested to check Open Enrollment availability.

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Paradise Valley Arizona is Home to Goldwater Memorial

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

There are a number of reasons that Paradise Valley real estate is all so highly sought after by individuals as well as families. Fabulous year-round weather, an upscale rural ambience, close to fine amenities and dramatic views of Camelback Mountain and Mummy Mountain – what more could you ask for?

How about a storied history of politicians and celebrities who have called Paradise Valley home?

One of the nation’s best-known Arizonans and politicians was Senator Barry Goldwater. For many, many years, Senator Goldwater owned a sprawling ranch-style home nestled high on a hilltop in the heart of Paradise Valley; his home was named Be-Nun-I-Kin, which is Navajo for “house on a hill.” This sun-kissed estate boasts 360-degree views of the entire Valley, including Phoenix and Scottsdale, and after his death, some of his acreage was eventually sub-divided into several view-rich homesites.

To honor the legacy of Senator Goldwater, the Town of Paradise Valley commissioned the first major work of art to commemorate the life of the late, great Arizonan who died in 1998 in his beloved hilltop home. On February 14, 2004, a one-and-one-half-times life-size statue sculpted by noted Arizona artist Joe Beeler was unveiled at the northeast corner of Tatum Boulevard and Lincoln Drive in Paradise Valley. Although the bronze statue is the focal point for the Memorial, the site is professionally landscaped with desert plantings and includes a pedestrian path inscribed with noteworthy quotes denoting some of Senator Goldwater’s lifetime beliefs.

Barry Goldwater was famous as a politician, a talented photographer and as an avid and skilled pilot. But above all he was a passionate American and Arizonan who loved the many unique features of his home state. According to the Town of Paradise Valley, this beautiful sculptural portrait and its natural desert setting speak eloquently of what was important to him.

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Arizona is Home to the Grandest Canyon of All

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

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, magnificent and undeniably beautiful, 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.

The South Rim

According to the Arizona Office of Tourism, due to its proximity to Flagstaff and Williams, the South Rim is the Canyon’s most popular destination. Grand Canyon Village features hotels and lodges, restaurants, a general store, a bank and a service station. The Grand Canyon Railway, a historic rail line out of Williams, brings visitors directly to Grand Canyon Village, which has a scattering of parking areas surrounding various viewpoints. But be forewarned: summer days and weekends can be extremely crowded and visitors are encouraged to skip the parking-space race and take the free shuttle busses instead.

The North Rim

Usually accessible from mid-May to mid-October, the North Rim is home to the rustic Grand Canyon Lodge, a general store, camper facilities and campgrounds. Additional campgrounds, lodging options and stores are available in Jacob Lake, which is outside the park and approximately 45 miles to the north.

A Sampling of Things to Do

(Please note that many of these options require advance reservations and/or permits)

Grand Canyon Tours: Explore the Grand Canyon with a guided tour or ride on the ground, in the air or atop an experienced mule.

Hiking: Enjoy an easy rim hike or a rigorous multi-day backpacking trip.

Rafting the Canyon: Choose from motorized or oar-powered expeditions ranging from four days to two weeks.

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