no shortage Valley of the Sun

BY PAULA HUBBS COHEN

Purchase a full-time home here, rent an Airbnb, splurge on a resort hotel or buy a wintertime retreat — whatever your lifestyle pleasure, there’s always something fun to do in the aptly named Valley of the Sun.

Hiking and biking: With some 300 days of sunshine each year, this desert paradise is an outdoor-lover’s dream come true; indeed, tens of thousands of residents and visitors alike enjoy an almost-daily ritual of basking in the beauty of the area’s desertscape and mountainside trails. Hikers (and in many cases, mountain-bikers) can savor the grandeur of Mother Nature while ascending to the summit of South Mountain, strolling the trails of the majestic McDowell Mountain Preserve or taking in Valley-wide views found along the iconic rocky landscapes of Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak and Mummy Mountain.

Some of these rugged wonders are located in city Preserves, some are in county parks, but all showcase just how special a place the Phoenix area is to put down roots and purchase a home. Cautions: Some trails are only for the fittest, others are familyfriendly, some allow dogs, some prohibit dogs, etc. Be sure to check the appropriate website for the scoop on the trail you’re getting ready to tackle. you stand in awe of Sonoran Desert scenery or drop a putt for par on lush grassy greens — there’s truly a course (or two or three…) for everyone.

Museums: When the weather’s too warm even for the most ardent golfers and/or hikers, lots of folks like to visit one of the area’s numerous museums. Here in the Phoenix metro area, you can appreciate the magnificence of indigenous artworks and culture, laugh and learn via a whole bunch of kid-centric science experiments or find yourself emotionally gobsmacked by the sight and sounds of some of the finest and most unusual musical instruments in the world. For history buffs, Phoenix’s past is preserved in several ruin sites, including the city-owned Pueblo Grande Museum and Archeological Park located near 46th Street and East Washington Street. And PS, we swear we’re not making this up: There are even stunning museum exhibitions inside Terminals 3 and 4 at Sky Harbor International Airport.

Mercury (WNBA), Arizona Cardinals (NFL) and the Arizona Coyotes (NHL). Indoor football fans like to cheer on the Arizona Rattlers, while soccer aficionados are lovin’ the newbies in town: Phoenix Rising FC. Of course, collegiate sports-nuts have rallied ‘round ASU athletics for decades, while Grand Canyon University’s ‘Lopes regularly draw huge crowds for basketball games.

Fore! World-famous for being a top golf destination, Phoenix and neighboring communities are home to nearly 200 golf courses, many of them designed by renowned virtuosos of the sport. Here, you can drive the ball past towering saguaros as

Lakes: If water-sports are what float your proverbial boat, residents and visitors in the Phoenix metro-plex enjoy easy access to a variety of lakes including Lake Pleasant in North Peoria where you can go paddleboarding, kayaking, water- and jet-skiing, boating, stargazing and scuba diving — yes, scuba diving in the desert. A sampling of additional scenic lakes includes Canyon Lake (50 miles east of Phoenix); Saguaro Lake (30 miles north of Mesa); and Roosevelt Lake (approximately 85 miles from Mesa).

Sports: Hometowners love to shoot the breeze about the Phoenix Suns (NBA), Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB), Phoenix

Batter up! Every March, local communities swell with ballcap-wearing baseball fans as pretty much everybody in town goes gaga over MLB Spring Training. That’s because there are 10 Spring Training stadiums dotted across the Valley where some 15 teams play 200+ games throughout the month of March. Holy cow — that's a lotta baseball!

More Info

cactusleague.com fs.usda.gov maricopacountyparks.net phoenix.gov/parks visitphoenix.com

Home should be a place that reflects your needs, embodies your style and enables you to live your best life. It’s why Cachet is committed to building high-quality Arizona homes and inspiring communities that embrace the qualities you desire most.