Desert Ridge Fitness Fun

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Fireside Comm Center photoDesert Ridge is home to many active adults and families as evidenced by the many residents out and about most days of the year.  Within the larger community of Desert Ridge are miles of well-maintained walking paths, which wind throughout the beautiful neighborhoods of Aviano, Fireside, Sanctuary, Lockwood Estates and the JW Marriott.  Every part of Desert Ridge can be reached by bicycle, thanks to the miles of bike lanes present throughout these communities.

Popular Aviano Park is a destination in its own right, but also is popular with fitness enthusiasts due to its manicured soccer fields, walking paths, sand volleyball courts, and an extra-large, shaded adventure playground.  Nearby Fireside Park also has nearby walking paths and two different shaded playgrounds.  Both Aviano and Fireside have their own private community centers.  Aviano’s center has a large pool, spa, tennis courts, and workout facility.  Fireside’s community center features a large pool with beach entry, as well as a fully-equipped fitness facility.  The new community of Sanctuary will also have its own community center when it is completed later in 2016.

The Reach 11 Recreation Area is adjacent to Desert Ridge to the west.  This 1,500-acre park has 18 miles of seven-foot wide, groomed, multi-use trails that bisect the entire park.   The Reach 11 Sports Complex has 17 lighted, international soccer fields.  Desert Ridge is also home to the beautiful Wildfire Golf Club, with its two award-winning courses:  the Palmer Signature Course and the Faldo Championship Course.

Desert Ridge is also conveniently located to many nearby hiking trails.  The Barrier Free Access Nature Trail is just south of Desert Ridge.   This multipurpose trail is used by equestrians, bicyclists, and hikers.  Just northwest of Desert Ridge is the newly opened Apache Wash Trailhead off of Sonoran Desert Drive.  This beautiful area features over 20 miles of trails perfect for beginning and intermediate level hikers.  The trails are shared by mountain bike cyclists, hikers and horseback riders, and the views from the summits are absolutely incredible.   Finally, Pinnacle Peak Park, approximately 10 miles to the east of Desert Ridge, features a 3.5-mile round-trip trail that is popular with everyone, from families to trail runners, thanks to its meticulously maintained wide trails and gorgeous vistas.

The Desert Ridge area is also home to many indoor fitness centers. Underground Fitness is a personal training studio located on Tatum Blvd, just west of the Desert Ridge shopping center.   A bit further west is the very well-equipped Mountainside Fitness, which features a full roster of group exercise classes, a state-of-the-art weight room and a large childcare facility.  Southeast of Desert Ridge is Lifetime Fitness which provides all types of fitness activities, from group fitness classes to swimming and basketball, in a luxury gym environment.  Amenzone Fitness is in nearby DC Ranch for CrossFit fans.

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Why Buy in Desert Ridge?

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Aviano community entrance photoDesert Ridge is recognized as one of the most popular residential areas in North Phoenix.  There are many reasons for this area’s popularity.

First, as we say in real estate, location, location, location.   Desert Ridge has a very convenient location, as this community is literally minutes from both the Loop 101 and State Route 51 freeways.  These freeways will take you to downtown Phoenix, Sky Harbor International Airport, Arizona State University, or any of the outlying cities in the Valley of the Sun quickly and conveniently, while bypassing traffic on surface streets.   Desert Ridge is also conveniently located to dozens of restaurants, shopping centers and entertainment venues.

Namely, Desert Ridge Marketplace, a gorgeous outdoor mall with over 50 retail stores, over 25 restaurants, a grocery store, two drugstores, as well as a movie theatre, arcade and play center for kids, provides endless options for dining, shopping and entertainment.  Next door to Desert Ridge Marketplace is High Street, another outdoor mall with trendy restaurants, bars and shops, along with luxury loft-style apartments above the retail spaces.  The Scottsdale 101 shopping center is just minutes away and is home to several restaurants, a movie theatre, Whole Foods, and stores such as Bed Bath and Beyond, Babies R Us, and the Container Store.

Another factor contributing to the popularity of Desert Ridge as a place in which to live is its network of high-performing schools.  The A plus rated school district of Paradise Valley Unified serves the schools in the Desert Ridge area.  All highly-rated schools, Desert Trails Elementary, Wildfire Elementary and Fireside Elementary serve grades preschool through sixth, while Explorer Middle School serves seventh and eighth grade students.  Pinnacle High School is the high school for the Desert Ridge area, and is a nationally recognized school.  While PVUSD does offer open enrollment, the popularity of these schools has resulted in waiting lists for at least two of the elementary schools, unless the students actually reside in Desert Ridge.  Therefore, buying a home in Desert Ridge ensures your children will be able to attend these award-winning schools regardless of any wait list scenario.

Finally, the beautiful common areas and parks in the Desert Ridge community also make this a place both the fitness-minded and families will enjoy.  From the miles of walking paths throughout all of the neighborhoods, to its multiple common areas and community clubhouses with fitness centers, Desert Ridge is a community that is enjoyed on a daily basis by its residents.  Desert Ridge is also a magnet for families thanks to Cashman Park with its newly-remodeled shaded playground with top-notch play equipment, Aviano Community Park with its extra-large adventure playground complete with zip line and spider web climber, as well as Fireside Community Park with its two shaded playground areas and a climbing wall.

If Desert Ridge is on your list of communities to consider, I will utilize my extensive knowledge of the home values, as well as the market trends in Desert Ridge to help you find the best home for you and your family.

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Top Five Best Hikes in Scottsdale Arizona

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Pinnacle Peak TrailWhether you’re itching to get outside during Arizona’s temperate winter season, or to enjoy the cooler early summer mornings, heading out for a hike in Scottsdale is sure to be a fun adventure.  With over 120 miles of trails and almost a dozen trailheads in the city of Scottsdale as well as the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, there is a trail or a hike suitable for any fitness level.  In no special order of importance, here are five of the best hikes in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Brown’s Ranch, located at 30301 N. Alma School Parkway, is one of the city’s newest trailheads.  Featuring trails that are friendly to hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders and rock climbers, this trailhead connects to many miles of trails in the northern part of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.  The variety of different trails makes Brown’s Ranch one of the most popular areas to hike in Scottsdale.  A shorter hike is the Jane Rau Interpretative Trail, which is a half-mile loop suitable for all abilities and ages, named after a Scottsdale conservationist.  A longer hike with mountaintop views is the Brown’s Mountain Trail.  This trailhead has restrooms, a covered gathering area, hitching rails and water trough for horses, as well as drinking fountains (for both people and canines).

Gateway Trail, located at 18333 N. Thompson Peak Parkway, is a popular option for beginner and intermediate hikers.  This loop trail is 4.4 miles and offers fantastic scenery, with views of Thompson Peak and Camelback Mountain.  From this trailhead are several other trails.   The Bajada Trail, a short nature loop, is a perfect hike for children.    More advanced hikers can join the Windgate Pass Trail from the Gateway Loop, to link up to the Tom’s Thumb Trail.  The trailhead has shade ramadas, an amphitheater, and restrooms.  The trailhead is also equestrian-friendly with horse-trailer parking and hitching rails.

Tom’s Thumb, located off 23015 N. 128th Street, is a challenging hike with a reward of a phenomenal viewpoint at Tom’s Thumb, a 114-foot granite spire.  Hikers can access the thumb via Windgate Pass Trail from the Gateway Loop (an 11-mile round trip) or via this trailhead, about 4 miles round trip.  The Marcus Landslide Trail can also be accessed via this trailhead, for those wanting a flatter hike.  There are restrooms and shade ramadas, as well as ample parking.  There is no water at the trailhead, so be sure to take plenty with you.

Lost Dog Wash, located at 12601 N. 124th Street, is a very popular trailhead within the Preserve.  The main hike up to the overlook and back is approximately 4.25 miles round trip.  This is a good hike for beginner and intermediate hikers, and is a good option for children and dogs.  The Lost Dog Wash Trail also provides access to the nearby Taliesin Overlook.  The trailhead has restrooms, shade ramadas, water, and horse-trailer parking.

Finally, check out the Fraesfield Mountain and Granite Mountain trailheads, located at 13400 E. Rio Verde Drive and 31402 N. 136th St, respectively.  As the most recent trailheads in Scottsdale, they are more limited in amenities, with parking but no water or restrooms.  However, Fraesfield connects to great trails north and east of Fraesfield Mountain, including the Black Hill trails, and the Black Hill and Whiskey Bottle trails.  The Black Hill trail is an old Jeep road and is 2 miles each way.  The Whiskey Bottle trail is 2.9 miles each way with 210 feet elevation gain.   Granite Mountain offers access to the Granite Mountain Loop Trail, a 4.2 mile round trip hike, with a scenic lookout offering views of the Superstition Mountains and Red Mountain.

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North Scottsdale Public Parks

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north scottsdale park photoFamily friendly North Scottsdale as well as its communities of Sonoran Hills and Grayhawk, have several beautiful public parks for everyone to enjoy.  Ironwood Park, 18650 N. 94th Street, has amenities like a shaded playground and a lighted tennis court and lighted basketball court, making this a popular night-time destination.  Nearby Thompson Peak Park, 20199 N. 78th Place, has 4 lighted softball fields plus 2 full basketball courts, as well as a shaded playground.  Down the road is the community park of Grayhawk, which features a large playground as well as 2 baseball fields, 2 full basketball courts, 2 tennis courts, and 2 sand volleyball courts (all lighted) plus 2 soccer fields as well as a large open grass area.

Scenic Sonoran Hills Park, 7625 E. Williams Drive, features 10 acres of space, including a softball field, lighted tennis courts, 2 full lighted basketball courts, picnic areas as well as 2 separate playground areas for different age ranges.  To the east is the Florence Ely Nelson Desert Park, 8950 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd, which features amenities such as a multi-use room that can be reserved, as well as a spray pad, playground, full lighted basketball court, picnic areas as well as a desert botanical nature trail.   For the fitness-minded, Pinnacle Peak Park, 26802 N. 102nd Way, features a picturesque hike on a 1.75 mile trail (each way, no loop) with 1,300 feet elevation gain.  Rock climbing is also available in designated areas in this 150 acre park which also has a restroom, and 7 drop-in ramadas with picnic tables.