Posts Tagged ‘Tucson houses’

Tucson Houses The Santa Catalina Mountains

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

The Santa Catalina Mountain foothills near Tucson houses the aptly named community of Catalina Foothills. This community boasts a wealth of luxury homes and real estate from intimate luxury homes to multi-million-dollar estates nestled right up against the mountains, Catalina Foothills has something to capture everyone’s interest.  

Shopping in Catalina Foothills is an experience unlike that offered in many other places in Arizona. With plenty of ritzy stores and restaurants, the upscale shopper will feel right at home among the flourishing boutiques and fine dining establishments. No matter what you set out to purchase, Catalina Foothills provides you with a variety of scintillating options.  

Catalina Foothills is mainly served by the Catalina Foothills School District, which is widely regarded as offering a top-tier public education. From highly rated elementary schools to the excelling Catalina Foothills High School, children educated in the Catalina Foothills School District graduate with a valuable education and countless opportunities ahead of them.  

Catalina Foothills has many benefits that come from living next to a magnificent mountain range. Mt. Lemmon, the largest peak in the range, has numerous fun experiences for people of all ages. From skiing in the winter to sensational places to picnic all year-round, a trip to Mt. Lemmon is well worth anyone’s while. Near the top of the mountain sits the little community of Summerhaven, which boasts comfy-cozy respites from the cold where visitors and residents alike can enjoy mouth-watering homemade pizza, scrumptious fresh-baked cookies and delicious hot chocolate. The community continues to recover from a devastating fire which ravaged it in 2003, and the sight of the town thriving so well after such a tragedy is not only beautiful, but also truly inspiring.  

In addition to the wonders of Mt. Lemmon, outdoors enthusiasts will love everything about Sabino Canyon, located just a proverbial hop, skip and jump from Catalina Foothills. The trails of Sabino Canyon range from easy to challenging, but they all share one thing in common: every trail provides the hiker with stunning scenery set amidst the majesties of Mother Nature. Other canyons in the area include Ventana Canyon and Pima Canyon, which varies from 2,900 feet above sea level to 7,255 feet above sea level.

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Tucson Houses the Great Saguaro Cactus

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

Saguaro National Park is a magnificent desert preserve that protects some of the most impressive forests of these majestic cacti – and it’s located right on the edge of modern-day Tucson, Arizona. The Park is just one of many reasons so many individuals, couples and families of all ages love purchasing a home or real estate in Tucson, Marana and Oro Valley area – they get to enjoy life in this stunning desert environment.

Saguaros (pronounced “Sa – WAH – ro”) are only found in the Sonoran Desert, and in fact, a silhouette of this towering plant is a universal symbol of the American West. Lucky Tucsonians and their guests have plenty of opportunities to savor a spectacular scene of thousands of these statuesque desert-dwellers as they clamber across the rugged landscape, in particular in the two districts of the sprawling Saguaro National Park.

Along with breathtaking drive-by scenery, the Park offers more than 165 miles of hiking trails, and by “hiking,” we mean that a hike at Saguaro National Park can be an easy stroll on a short interpretive nature trail or a day-long wilderness trek for the most experienced outdoor enthusiasts. Both districts of Saguaro National Park boast a variety of trails, with more information to be found on their website.

A bit about saguaros, courtesy of the National Park Service: Saguaros are extremely slow-growing, with local studies showing a growth rate of only one to 1.5 inches in the first eight years of life. At Saguaro National Park, branches normally begin to appear when a saguaro reaches 50 to 70 years of age, while in areas of lower precipitation; it may take up to 100 years before arms appear.

An adult saguaro is generally considered to be about 125 years of age and may weigh six tons or more and be as tall as 50 feet. The average life span of a saguaro is in the range of 150 – 175 years of age; however, biologists believe that some plants may live over 200 years.

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Old Tucson Studios Houses Many Years of Hollywood History

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

Only about fifteen minutes from Tucson at the base of the Tucson Mountains lays a well-preserved slice of Americana: Old Tucson Studios. An old frontier town that transports visitors back to a time when gunfighters ruled the proverbial roost, this multi-acre site has been the scene of some of Hollywood’s most famous western-genre movies, many of them filmed by legends such as John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and more. In fact, many illustrious television and movie stars have walked Old Tucson’s historic real estate thanks to more than 70 years of film and television history.

Photo by: James G. Howes

As you walk the same dusty byways, be sure to watch one of the regular cowboy gunfights, including how-do-they-do-that stunts such as falling off rooftops. When you’re ready to rest for a spell, mosey indoors and enjoy one of the saloon-style musical revues or family-friendly comedies. If the weather’s nice, you might want to take a miniature train ride into the beautiful desert surrounding the park.

Also on site is the Old Tucson Story Museum, home to the amazing history of Old Tucson Studios. Inside, visitors can see original costumes worn by the stars of “old time” television series including Little House on the Prairie and Bonanza. When the hungries hit, no problem – Big Jake serves up plenty of barbecue at the Grand Palace Saloon.

Located at 201 South Kinney Road, Old Tucson Studios is open daily, weather permitting. Selected Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the year are designated Limited Operations/Tour Only Days.

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