Archive for June, 2011

Follow Hot Rods Along Route 66 to Scottsdale

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

When you think of iconic American roads, instantly you think of Route 66. And possibly the only thing more iconic than Route 66 are the gorgeous hot rods that traveled along it. The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association holds annual events in Scottsdale, Arizona, that combines the Route 66 and hot rods into some of the biggest automotive events. Gary Meadors, a famed hot rod enthusiast, started The Goodguys in 1983 and it has since become America’s largest group for show cars and customizations.  

The Spring Nationals in March and the Southwest Nationals, drawing to a close in November, feature thousands of hot rods, super speedways, and hundreds of vendors at outdoor stadium events. Scottsdale homes attract vintage car enthusiasts from around the world who want to live in an area that caters to hot rod enthusiasts. One of the benefits of Scottsdale’s dry and temperate climate is that it helps keep vehicles rust-free.  There is a car show or car swap going on in Scottsdale on any given weekend and many weekdays. It’s no wonder that Scottsdale “gear heads” start young, considering that the Disney movie Cars is based on real people and places along Route 66 through Arizona.  

Scottsdale recently opened The GRG International Auto Museum at the Scottsdale Pavilion. It features the world’s largest collection of Ford Shelby GT and one of the most distinctive American cars, billionaire and eccentric Howard Hughes’ 36 Lincoln V-12 Model K Aero Mobile. If you are looking to buy a piece of automobile history, look no further than the 41st Annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction which will take place in January 2012 or one of the many other smaller car shows which take place in Scottsdale throughout the year. The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company specializes in providing products and services to collector car owners, collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.  Known as the “The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions”, Barrett-Jackson has been headquartered in Scottsdale since 1971 but also holds auctions in Palm Beach, Fla., Orange County, Calif. and Las Vegas.  

If you are wondering how to get your vintage hot rod to Scottsdale to experience the drag races or travel Route 66 or perhaps how to get the vintage hot rod you just had to have back home, don’t worry because there are many auto transport companies that specialize in shipping vintage automobiles located in Scottsdale.  If you are a car collector, car enthusiast, or enjoy a big part of America’s history, Scottsdale, Arizona is the place for you.

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Arizona is Home to Cacti but also Camels

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011

If you are thinking of moving to Arizona, looking at real estate or Arizona homes for sale, then chances are you are also interested in learning some of the history of this great state. Arizona, the Grand Canyon State, is a land filled with not just magnificent scenery and beautiful homes, but also dramatic legends – some based on fact, some based on fiction and some based on dreams. The story that many people have heard about camels making a home in Arizona and carousing across the desert is, in fact, based on facts.   

Let’s start out in Quartzsite, Arizona, about half-way between Phoenix and the California border along I-10. Quartzsite is located about 125 miles from Phoenix and almost 300 miles from Tucson. The town is now home to a wealth of winter residents, and it’s also where numerous well-attended gem and mineral shows take place every year. But over one hundred years ago, Quartzsite was where camels met cacti.  



According to Arizona Oddities, the thing most people notice right away when they enter the Quartzsite Pioneer Cemetery is a stone pyramid topped by a copper camel, and there’s quite a story behind its presence. The cairn marks the gravesite of a famed camel driver known as “Hi Jolly,” whose birth name was Philip Tedro, a Greek born in Syria. As an adult, Tedro had converted to Islam and changed his name to Hadji Ali.  

Hadji Ali came to the United States in the 1850s or 1860s (various reports have different dates) to act as a camel driver for the U.S. Army which was in the midst of an ill-fated attempt to use the animals as “beasts of burden” for military purposes in the deserts of the Southwest. Once here in Arizona, the locals had a ton of trouble pronouncing “Hadji Ali” so they shortened it to Hi Jolly.  

Hi Jolly served with the Army until the camel experiment was abandoned and the camels were either sold off to private enterprises or turned loose in the desert. One of camels became known as the Red Ghost, and legend has it that when Hi Jolly died, he was out in the desert hunting for the renegade animal. No one knows for sure if that’s true, but it does make for an interesting story.  

Hi Jolly died near Quartzsite in 1902, and in 1934, in recognition of his service to the U.S. Army, the Arizona Department of Transportation erected a monument over his grave. His memory is preserved every year when Quartzsite stages Hi Jolly Days and Camelmania in his honor.

Photo by Jeremy Butler

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Scottsdale is a Great Place for Birds and Birdwatchers

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

Scottsdale is truly a birdwatcher’s paradise. Bird watching is one of the most popular lifetime hobbies around the world because it is fun and challenging at any age. Arizona is one of the premier bird watching states, possibly due in part to the warm Arizona climate that birds enjoy as much as the people do.  Much like the “snowbirds” who move to Scottsdale homes for the unique environment and great golf, birds migrate from the northern United States and Canada.  

You can often watch endangered and migrating birds enjoying the greens, nature and ponds along with golfers and resort goers at Sonoran Desert, FireSky Resort & Spa and The Phoenician. If you enjoy the outdoors, many bird watching locals are along Scottsdale’s famous hiking trails and nature spots like Lost Dog Wash Trail, Pinnacle Peak Trail, and Nursery Tank Trail.  

If you don’t know anything about bird watching, don’t worry it is never too late to introduce yourself to this unique hobby. TheDesert Botanical Garden has been educating visitors and the public about the desert plants of the Southwestern United States and the world since 1939. The Garden is a wonderful place to hold a wedding or business event because it has both indoor and outdoor spaces including open air pavilions.  

Scottsdale, Arizona, has many attractions that make it worth exploring from outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and golfing to indoor activities such as world-class shopping, art museums, and spas. Whichever activity you are enjoying at the moment, take the time to look out for a heron or osprey, enjoying the warm weather and wonderful climate along with you.

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Joya Spa is Indulgent Experience in Paradise Valley

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011

Looking at some of the beautiful Paradise Valley homes for sale? If so, you might be interested in learning about the superb amenities nestled inside the exclusive Paradise Valley enclaves. Part of the Phoenix metropolitan area, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley are both filled with many luxury homes as well as world-class resorts, one of which is the Intercontinental Montelucia Resort and Spa.  

The Montelucia boasts a wealth of amazing amenities including the renowned Joya Spa, designed by award-winning spa designer Sylvia Sepielli. Inspired by the deserts of Morocco, she has created a one-of-a-kind pampering experience that uses indigenous materials and incorporates the best of cultural traditions.  

The Joya Spa extends over more than 31,000 square feet, including 19 sumptuous treatment rooms, plush lounges and a peaceful spa pool terrace. Luxury suites include the private Grand Palace Suite, an 850-square-foot suite with a king-size daybed, whirlpool, fireplace and floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening to the pool terrace.  

In addition, Joya Spa is host to Arizona’s only authentic Hamam, a luxurious bathing ritual designed to relax the senses on a profound level. Whether experiencing a meditative moment in the Hamam or lounging on the terrace gazing at the majesties of Camelback Mountain, every corner of Joya Spa is simply sublime, to wit, the private rooftop pool terrace (complete with cabanas and spectacular views), a top-of-the-line fitness center (with a group exercise motion studio and a refreshing juice bar) and the Joya Terrace, which proves that healthful and indulgent are no longer mutually exclusive.  

From luxurious jewelry pieces to skin care and makeup, organic perfume oil to wellness programs, musical selections to personalized adventures with friends or loved ones, Joya Spa has truly refined the art of customization.  

Source: www.icmontelucia.com. Information used with permission.    

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