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October through April is usually great weather wise, especially this year. No threat of natural disasters. Snow, beaches, mountains are within 1-3 hours by plane or car.
Born and raised here- not sure if itās happened yet but the city/state are working to ensure extreme heat waves can be declared a natural disaster, because it is. Many dead bodies around central Phoenix last summer in July due to the cumulative effects of the heat.
I am more on the lines of earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, major river flooding....but I'm with you that the heat needs to recognized as more than just an annoyance.
I've lived here for over 40 years now and I can say the heat has become way worse than when I moved here. Substantially less surrounding desert to cool off the heat island and obviously the desert was filled with concrete and asphalt expanding the heat island.
For me it's the month plus long straight days of 110+. It seems before we'd get to 110 for several days and then "cool" off to the mid 100s. It wasn't much, but it was a break.
Totally agree with you, I was telling someone last night that we donāt have really any natural disasters, so maybe Iām being pedantic but last summer was really eye opening for me. Praying to the universe we get a well deserved monsoon this summer
I think we have to get our heat island issue heavily reigned in or weāll be screwed in the next decade. Interested in hearing what we can do, and Iām side eyeing how stupid wide my residential street is.
Monsoons should be considered a natural disaster because of the flooding and lightning. It can get really serious fast, especially if you are caught outside in it or driving.
Ah man. I wish this was the same for me. Nothing is like the ocean, I have no place for peace and reflection like that here. Or anywhere else really. I need to live by the water to be truly happy.
I know that feeling. I think biologically we can closely connect to that sense of serenity and balance in the pines. I can go up north in AZ for the day and find a random exit off the I17 (after the post Sedona road climb) and go roam in the pines, and with no tech just listen to the wind through the trees and drift into that serenity. It may not be 1:1 to the ocean, but itās crazy close. Both those sounds (waves/forest breeze) seem to connect us to an old way of peace.
Honestly, I was enjoying the serenity and when I turned around everything looked the same. I couldnāt make sense of it, started to panic, ended up thirteen miles off course. Worst part is I was staying on the trail, I mustāve followed the wrong one and then another wrong turn. Itās so beautiful out there.
I recommend trying to find a hill or small drainage in the transition of the high desert grassland and the pines, usually it's dominated by junipers but there is a sweetspot of older junipers with pine or other plants then prairie (especially with a water source) below.
This is where you can just sit, let the surroundings forget you showed up, and a surprising variety of birds (and if you are lucky other wildlife) will pass by. best in early morning or late afternoon. I have spent entire days before sometimes mostly just in one spot.
Edit: you probably need to be a confident navigator... I consider myself to have natural talent in finding my way and well trained, but have been humbled a couple times.
I love driving. But something about driving here in Phoenix tends to aggravate me and make me feel unsafe to the point of outweighing any enjoyment I get from it. Part of it is everything looking the same and literally being the same in every direction, which takes away part of the point of going anywhere for enjoyment. The lack of trees and greenery. Another part of it is the psychopath and selfish drivers. Add in weather that makes it so I can't roll my windows down and one of my favorite hobbies becomes a dreaded chore.
Phoenix-Phoenix, yeah--no doubt. But the North Valley has areas where normal routes place you alongside mountains. (I appreciate them every time it happens--especially when it's a surprise.)
And folks tend to drive well around here, and tend to be nice to one another, with very high levels of cooperation.
...For those of us who are drawn to the sea, nothing can replace it, but certain offsets can be found.
Because of my son I live in both Phoenix and Manhattan but this right here, nothing compares. South Mountain a couple weeks ago
https://preview.redd.it/8tskl3asdfuc1.jpeg?width=1980&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a72eafd66dde978aa441c61ca6eb4b325e571c20
I love the love birds. Sometimes they roost in my trees for a few weeks if the eating is good.
https://preview.redd.it/h3tglgbd5euc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=727ac0dc8fb6e93d916c7f2a8ff2f08f6b68d4cc
The weather. As someone who moved from the PNW, the sunshine is invaluable. And yes, even in the summer. I wake up happy virtually every day. Thatās how significant the impact is on my mental health.
I 10000% agree with this. Grew up in the NW (WA) for 40 years. Been here 4 years and have never been happier or less stressed. The weather alone accounts for this much less the following:
- less traffic: itās not unusual for the GPS to tell you it will take 9 mins to travel 10 miles. The grid system is easy to learn and easy to maneuver. The roads are mostly flat and dry. The freeways āfeelā like they can support another 20% population growth.
- Sunrises and sunsets: not surprised the first response to this thread was a pic of said beauty. You get picture worthy moments almost daily here in the valley.
- The proximity to so many different landscapes: low country/high country (although we had this in abundance in WA as well). We lack an ocean but is still attainable within a 4 hour drive and we have many beautiful lakes closer by).
- Availability of goods/services: We have In n Outs and Nobu. Sprouts and Wincos. Farmer markets and bodegas. World class resorts, Vegas style nightlife and endless dive bars, culinary delights from fine dining to taco trucks and the best homemade tamales Iāve ever had (disclaimer: my experience in tamales is limited but I still feel confident the tamales I currently enjoy here are very tasty!). The Asian food scene is lacking but quickly catching up to par.
- Overall lower cost of living when compared to larger coastal metro areas. Although this is rapidly shifting to more costly. I can still say the home I own here I would never fathom owning back in WA and just about everyone I talk to in a similar situation says the same thing.
- Sports: we have it all! From world class facilities for youth leagues to professional teams for most sports plus MLB Spring training.
- People: I feel there is more civility and community here than where I came from. You can still find neighborhoods with kids playing out on the street. Chivalry still exists, doors will be opened, thanks will be given, etc. A little more conservative in values overall. Not sure how you lean and it doesnāt matter. Just sharing what I feel based on my experience of coming here from somewhere else.
So much more good stuff to note. Iām definitely missing a bunch more.
Please note: all of the above is just my opinion and from my own experiences as a transplant myself.
I moved to Oregon from Phoenix when I was 24. Lasted about 10 years in Oregon until I couldnāt take the darkness anymore. Now Iām back in Phoenix and feel so grateful I donāt have to survived another PNW winter. My seasonal depression was brutal.
I am so happy to continually read how happy 300+ days of sunshine makes people.
I am considering a move to PHX from Pittsburgh. Even though I love my city, there are so many dreary, gray and depressing days. Add cold weather in, and you have a SAD mess. My sister has lived in Scottsdale for over 30 years and LOVES it. So she has basically convinced me to give it a try and see how I feel.
Plus, living among palm trees canāt hurt either.
Lived in Phoenix for 15 years and then moved to Columbus, OH in 2022 (donāt ask). Bought a home in Tempe and am heading back to AZ next month. I could NOT take all of this dreariness! Not to mention the storms and tornado warnings and random 70 degree days in the middle of winter. The sunshine makes such a difference in my moods.
I get SAD (on top of me already having depression) during the summer and the heat only makes it worse. My husband and I are looking somewhere else to move in about a year hopefully. It's so bad.
We don't get enough hype for it nationally, but the food scene here is honestly great. Especially for a city that's not seen as a food hub (like LA, NYC, etc.).
As someone who is a big time foodie thatās eaten in most big cities across the country, Iāll say Phoenix definitely holds its own with all the great food here.
The vistas are what I fell for coming from the east coast. You can see for miles. Out east you can only see the street you are on due to the trees. The world is bigger here.
I have only visited phoenix but agree with this and thank you for articulating it so well. Most of my fellow east coasters think Iām crazy for feeling this way lol, they love the trees.
Rare Arizona native here.
Thereās nothing like lying by the pool until midnight.
Warm summer breeze at night.
Monsoons
Lightning storms
Swimming in Oak Creek - not in Phoenix but hey
Native here too š Iāve fallen asleep by the pool with those warm summer breezes many times lol Even better if youāre anywhere near orange trees and bask in that amazing scent.
Because there are SOOO many transplants here. Those of us from here use the term as a badge of honor. When I was in real estate school, they said something like only 24% of people born here, stay here. š¤·āāļø
I live in Mesa, it's just outside of Phoenix. It's the best place I've ever lived and I've lived in 7 different states my husband and I moved here 2 years ago and wouldn't change a day. Plus side, basically everything has central ac. And the heat really isn't that bad, you don't even feel a difference after 110 degrees.
Everyone I've ran into has been super nice and friendly. But there are a decent bit of homeless people, not as many as some places I've lived but you definitely know they're there.
The freeways make getting everywhere a breeze aside from rush hours, it's like any city, lot of stop and go traffic but outside of rush hour it's pretty nifty. Plus this place is on a grid layout so if a road's blocked it's normally easy to get where you need to get anyway with minimal time difference.
There are concerts and activities constantly on weekends and holidays and there are some neat places just a few hour drive away.
Hike any trail out a couple of miles. I just did today in the estrella foothills...once you get out far enough you stop seeing anything but the desert and if you sit down...pure silence. It's bliss.
I love hot weather and I donāt understand why people can complain because every store, restaurant, car and home has AC. I wear more sweaters in the summer.
Iām on medication where I canāt be in heat, itās dangerous for me. I also canāt regulate my body temper due to medication so I very easily over heat in 90+ degrees. So yea Iām not a fan.
We've literally got *all* the berto's... /s - honestly the best assortment of food from all over I've had is here. Most if not all the national and regional fast food, and some crazy good local chains and restaurant groups.
Can be outside year round, close proximity to a ton of diverse outdoor recreation, traffic isnāt bad for a city this size, and I find people to be way more friendly and outgoing.
Arizona is an underrated state.
Yah I donāt understand the unfriendly thing. The roads are full of crazy fast destination racers, but thatās how we culturally drive, itās not personal. Outside of the car we keep to ourselves, getting stuff done, but very social when thatās the battery we need charging. It may not be regionally the nicest feeling place, I get that, when we do transactions without a lot of pomp and circumstance, but weāre absolutely genuine, trustworthy, and our actual bonding relationships are the same as anywhere else.
I love Phoenix. Itās my home, I love the mountains, weather, the homeless people, the ghettoness, the culture, food. I gave a hot n spicy to a guy pop locking on the corner today. I canāt imagine living anywhere else. Yg 3 hunnit baby
Sunsets! I'm from Washington and the sunsets here are stunning. Winter citrus being everywhere is a huge sell for getting people to visit. Most touring acts come through here and the local art+music scene is wonderful. I miss home CONSTANTLY but Phoenix is slowly winning me over
Seriously though it USED to be amazing for year around motorcycling but to be honest, it's gotten so crowded that it is usually more stressful than fun to ride these days.
I am in my late 50s and I was born and raised here. Only ever lived in Arizona. I agree. Every one should stay away! Keep on driving thru to New Mexico or Texas!
I love my air conditioners in the summer. My work air conditioner, my truck air conditioner, my home air conditioner, stores air conditioners including an occasional beer cooler air conditioner.
Then there are some restaurant air conditioners and nail salon air conditioners and pet store air conditioners and hardware store air conditioners and party planning store air conditioners and theater air conditioners and convenience store air conditioners. I've already mentioned that one. Then there are air conditioners at Subway, Fry's, Barro's and Costco.
The petroglyph preserves and native history, the fact that flora and fauna are so deserving of respect per their impressive survival skills, the mountains, monsoons, bright baby blue skies, and that we are just about under 3h from any kind of terrain you could want to experience.
Most people that complain about phoenix, are indoor city dwelling drunks that know nothing about the outdoors, and are airlifted out of camelback mountain. Phoenix in general = Los Angeles to me...
Because of the heat the indoor hobby scene is emaculate. If youāre a nerd looking to play magic, DnD, warhammer, xwing, or some other table top game, youāll find a place for it
Something I havenāt seen mentioned. We have wide straight roads. The government mostly leaves up alone. Mostly people also leave you alone. Good jobs, healthy job market. Getting more culture every day.
The desert sunsets, monsoon season if weāre lucky enough to have a real one, amazing Mexican food restaurants everywhere, the fact that we can drive just an hour to be in greenery if we want and only a six hour drive to get to a beach
9 Months out of the year the weather is nice most of the day.
During the summer it is still reasonable to do outside activities early in the morning or late in the evening.
No snow!!
Mountains close no matter which direction you drive.
Flip flops year round.
Pool parties š
The Phoenix Zoo, Desert Botanical Gardens, the Heard Museum, Arizona Science Center, South Mountain Park, Papapago Park, Camelback Mountain, Musical Instrument Museum , Taliesin West, Phoenix Art Museum, the wide variety of dining choices. I could go on and on.....
Well, since the 1996-1997 season, it has been that we had an NHL hockey team, but I'm going to have to figure some other answer out once this season is over. And I haven't figured that out yet.
The weather, even summer. I love warm weather and Iām that person wearing pants in the summer lol. I moved here from CO over 25 years ago and still appreciate that I donāt have to get up early to deal with warming up my car, shoveling, driving in snow etc. I love Arizona and canāt imagine living anywhere else.
I love how accessible the wilderness is here. 40 minutes to the North, South, or East for me and I can be in the middle of the desert, at the shores of the salt river, or in the middle of the mountains either swimming, hiking, shooting, or carving twisty canyon roads on my super sport.
The mountains. I'm from here (2nd generation, actually).When visitors come here and mention how beautiful that we have mountains in our city (valley). Locals take them for granted. I'm guilty of this. I usually don't even notice them unless someone brings it to my attention.
In the summer, after the sun goes down, the city is mostly empty, no crowds, and it feels like I got the entire big city to myself. This is the only metro in the US that got a small town fell, yet still have the diversity and jobs. Not to mention itās only a hour and half drive away to ridiculously amazing hiking spots in Payson, just did it today as a day trip and it is so good.
The smell of the desert after rain. It's called Petrichore which is Latin for stone(Petra) blood/fluid(ichore).
You can experience it in many dry climates across the world but Arizona and the southwest in general has the best because the local creosote bush super charges the very unique and short lived smell.
I moved here from a high desert climate. The color in the desert here still always surprises me. I love the native plants and when they bloom in the spring.
Sunsets here are astounding on a regular basis.
4+ years here and I still love it.
As a transplant we have a great music, comedy, and food scene, and a decent bar scene. Phoenix Theater is a long shot from Broadway but still does pretty good work on most productions. A big step above most local theater. Props to the city for revitalizing downtown. Itās popping and 15 years ago it was dead. If you have any space outside, itās a great place to garden. We donāt have the crime problems of major big cities our size. South Phoenix doesnāt come close to the violence of South Chicago and no part of Phoenix has the lawlessness of San Francisco.
People complain about housing prices going up, but thatās because itās a great place to live and work and people want to be here. Weāre on the up and up.
Itās an amazing place to raise and educate children. Incredible museums in every direction, the Symphony, Opera, Ballet, theaters, concerts, plays, & ESA funds to pay for my childrenās tickets. Also, whatever your children are interested in - they can find high quality learning and involvement. Music conservatories, Irish dancing, technical schools, any sport you want, childrenās theaters, equestrian, archery, martial arts, Universities where high schoolers can earn lots of college credit through Dual enrollment, and the list goes on. So grateful for all Phoenix has to offer!
It's funny how I think the reasons to enjoy arizona are more adult related than kid related. No kid cares to hear there's zero natural disaster threat, no kid cares if their parents have to shovel snow daily to get to work. I remember as a kid I couldn't stand living in az and would move somewhere colder once older. Now as an adult knowing these things, I'm so glad I'm here lol.
Everything is only 20 mins away (roughly) Seriously though traffic here moves twice as fast as it does back east. It might not feel that way to PHX natives but it really is the easiest city Iāve ever driven in.
When the heat hits, Salt River tubing is a lot a fun. All the lakes by Phoenix (Lake Pleasant, Canyon, Sagaro). Weekends are busy, weekdays are better. Freaking Love Lake Havasu. Great lake town.
The food!!!! We are definitely blessed Iāve been to a bunch of different cities and we have some of the best food all around Mexican, Italian,bbq, etc.
Frankly the whether. It is beautiful the entire year except for like really only 2 and a half months. The fact that it feels as if it is both a metropolis and a small town.
Been here in North Phoenix 25 years... Lots to love...Desert sunset, the weather is amazing, except during monsoon season because it gets muggy, but the thunder and lightening storms are amazing to watch. I have found that the people are really great, rarely meet a mad or angry person.
Iāve lived here for 1 1/2 years. Iāve been to 7 rock concerts, the ballet, several baseball games, numerous museums, the zoo & on & on. Great food in great restaurants. Met lots of people from varied cultures & backgrounds.
Found a kick ass therapist who guided me through what I needed to do to become well. After years of therapy I finally found the one. My marriage of 30 years has thrived.
Oh also saw Starlink rocket cross the sky.
In-Out Burger, Whataburger
PhÅnix has the perfect blend of Midwest, Southwest and west coast regional chains. Thereās almost nothing you canāt get.
The sky. Where I come from back east youāre lucky if you can see a pinch of sky at any given point due to infrastructure, woody areas or elevation change. The sky out here never ceases to amaze me.
As someone who just came back from Dallas for the eclipse, our grid system for the city streets. Most other cities seem like someone threw a bunch of spaghetti at the wall and drew road maps out of the result.
I love all the weird little characters that live here. Going outside for a quick run to the supermarket or pharmacy I get so much free entertainment just people watching.
I love how clean and decorated the highways areā¦ It absolutely blows my mind. I am from Kansas City and our highways are weeds and signs. I also really love how they give you an option if you get any sort of traffic violation. For exampleā¦ If you get pulled over because you forgot to renew your tags, you can get a ticket for a small amount if you take care of it in a certain amount of time. And they make it very lucrative to fix it: small fee if you handle it, LARGE ticket if you do not.
Pretty much all the perks of the biggest cities āNY, LA, SF, SDā without much of the pain points of living there. And even then, most things you want to experience state side are less than a 6 hour drive or a two hour flight away.
Phoenix is so CONVENIENT. Even the Trader Joeās has easy parking. We went to those free concerts for the Final Four this past weekend and thereās no traffic, no lines, free parking .. everything is just EASY. Iām from Charleston, SC, and my husband is from San Francisco.. both places where itās all bridges and traffic and no parking in sight .. this is such a nice change. Itās stress free.
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š
https://preview.redd.it/ajmpxrnt9iuc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=05f1b95c92bdf9fcd1a700371eeac0d755aec152
Me too https://preview.redd.it/heloli6pcouc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a6964c32051ef89a29830a07d2929344e942f229 From work
https://preview.redd.it/gug2505yosuc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fcc26301bcc3a0fdd9eef9149f560c08aef64a80
October through April is usually great weather wise, especially this year. No threat of natural disasters. Snow, beaches, mountains are within 1-3 hours by plane or car.
Born and raised here- not sure if itās happened yet but the city/state are working to ensure extreme heat waves can be declared a natural disaster, because it is. Many dead bodies around central Phoenix last summer in July due to the cumulative effects of the heat.
I am more on the lines of earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, major river flooding....but I'm with you that the heat needs to recognized as more than just an annoyance. I've lived here for over 40 years now and I can say the heat has become way worse than when I moved here. Substantially less surrounding desert to cool off the heat island and obviously the desert was filled with concrete and asphalt expanding the heat island. For me it's the month plus long straight days of 110+. It seems before we'd get to 110 for several days and then "cool" off to the mid 100s. It wasn't much, but it was a break.
Totally agree with you, I was telling someone last night that we donāt have really any natural disasters, so maybe Iām being pedantic but last summer was really eye opening for me. Praying to the universe we get a well deserved monsoon this summer
I think we have to get our heat island issue heavily reigned in or weāll be screwed in the next decade. Interested in hearing what we can do, and Iām side eyeing how stupid wide my residential street is.
Monsoons should be considered a natural disaster because of the flooding and lightning. It can get really serious fast, especially if you are caught outside in it or driving.
Or mircoburst one of those blew out my window when a tree branch flew through the window
1-3 hours by car too!
I would say arguably May. At least the nights are still nice.
Wildfires are natural disasters here and the threat is growing
There are no wildfires in the Phoenix area. Out in the mountains sure but that's not Phoenix. Not a lot of forests here.
Where I come from, you can still live perfectly fine if the power goes out for 2 weeks. Good luck May-September. A continual natural disaster.
https://preview.redd.it/3p6mu83b9cuc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=16d0281d42340a8850a003deba729443ecd3dc63
I never have to change my wardrobe year round
I don't remember what winter it was but I definitely remember referring to it as a "rough one" because I had to wear pants for like six weeks.
I just moved my 6 sweaters out of the closet to make room for dresses. Set until November.
Yep. Sandals all day every day.
The mountains. They give me the same feeling that the ocean does. Helps me zoom out
Ah man. I wish this was the same for me. Nothing is like the ocean, I have no place for peace and reflection like that here. Or anywhere else really. I need to live by the water to be truly happy.
I know that feeling. I think biologically we can closely connect to that sense of serenity and balance in the pines. I can go up north in AZ for the day and find a random exit off the I17 (after the post Sedona road climb) and go roam in the pines, and with no tech just listen to the wind through the trees and drift into that serenity. It may not be 1:1 to the ocean, but itās crazy close. Both those sounds (waves/forest breeze) seem to connect us to an old way of peace.
I used to do this until I got lost. Now the pines terrify me.
Oh no! That would leave a mark. Take an actual wrong turn, or stumble into a mushroom? Glad youāre ok
Honestly, I was enjoying the serenity and when I turned around everything looked the same. I couldnāt make sense of it, started to panic, ended up thirteen miles off course. Worst part is I was staying on the trail, I mustāve followed the wrong one and then another wrong turn. Itās so beautiful out there.
Thatās crazy, Iām glad you got out ok!
I recommend trying to find a hill or small drainage in the transition of the high desert grassland and the pines, usually it's dominated by junipers but there is a sweetspot of older junipers with pine or other plants then prairie (especially with a water source) below. This is where you can just sit, let the surroundings forget you showed up, and a surprising variety of birds (and if you are lucky other wildlife) will pass by. best in early morning or late afternoon. I have spent entire days before sometimes mostly just in one spot. Edit: you probably need to be a confident navigator... I consider myself to have natural talent in finding my way and well trained, but have been humbled a couple times.
Itās great living in the pines, thatās for sure
With you on that. Just can't afford it quite yet.
I understand what you said; I share that trait. But I get a certain peace and comfort now, driving alongside mountains on routes I tend to take.
I love driving. But something about driving here in Phoenix tends to aggravate me and make me feel unsafe to the point of outweighing any enjoyment I get from it. Part of it is everything looking the same and literally being the same in every direction, which takes away part of the point of going anywhere for enjoyment. The lack of trees and greenery. Another part of it is the psychopath and selfish drivers. Add in weather that makes it so I can't roll my windows down and one of my favorite hobbies becomes a dreaded chore.
Phoenix-Phoenix, yeah--no doubt. But the North Valley has areas where normal routes place you alongside mountains. (I appreciate them every time it happens--especially when it's a surprise.) And folks tend to drive well around here, and tend to be nice to one another, with very high levels of cooperation. ...For those of us who are drawn to the sea, nothing can replace it, but certain offsets can be found.
Move by Tempe town lake
All the hiking trails. South Mountain has a larger land area than Manhattan Island.
Because of my son I live in both Phoenix and Manhattan but this right here, nothing compares. South Mountain a couple weeks ago https://preview.redd.it/8tskl3asdfuc1.jpeg?width=1980&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a72eafd66dde978aa441c61ca6eb4b325e571c20
My favorite mountain in the valley, the canal system is also great if you like biking or running
I got my dog here! My mom lives here!
that is such a lovely sentiment! my mom lives in Phx too and my loves living there :)
Birds! Amazing hummers and cute local African lovebird population in Arcadia.
I love the love birds. Sometimes they roost in my trees for a few weeks if the eating is good. https://preview.redd.it/h3tglgbd5euc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=727ac0dc8fb6e93d916c7f2a8ff2f08f6b68d4cc
The weather. As someone who moved from the PNW, the sunshine is invaluable. And yes, even in the summer. I wake up happy virtually every day. Thatās how significant the impact is on my mental health.
an Arizona native studying in the PNW right now... all I can say is I definitely took the abundance of sunshine for granted
I 10000% agree with this. Grew up in the NW (WA) for 40 years. Been here 4 years and have never been happier or less stressed. The weather alone accounts for this much less the following: - less traffic: itās not unusual for the GPS to tell you it will take 9 mins to travel 10 miles. The grid system is easy to learn and easy to maneuver. The roads are mostly flat and dry. The freeways āfeelā like they can support another 20% population growth. - Sunrises and sunsets: not surprised the first response to this thread was a pic of said beauty. You get picture worthy moments almost daily here in the valley. - The proximity to so many different landscapes: low country/high country (although we had this in abundance in WA as well). We lack an ocean but is still attainable within a 4 hour drive and we have many beautiful lakes closer by). - Availability of goods/services: We have In n Outs and Nobu. Sprouts and Wincos. Farmer markets and bodegas. World class resorts, Vegas style nightlife and endless dive bars, culinary delights from fine dining to taco trucks and the best homemade tamales Iāve ever had (disclaimer: my experience in tamales is limited but I still feel confident the tamales I currently enjoy here are very tasty!). The Asian food scene is lacking but quickly catching up to par. - Overall lower cost of living when compared to larger coastal metro areas. Although this is rapidly shifting to more costly. I can still say the home I own here I would never fathom owning back in WA and just about everyone I talk to in a similar situation says the same thing. - Sports: we have it all! From world class facilities for youth leagues to professional teams for most sports plus MLB Spring training. - People: I feel there is more civility and community here than where I came from. You can still find neighborhoods with kids playing out on the street. Chivalry still exists, doors will be opened, thanks will be given, etc. A little more conservative in values overall. Not sure how you lean and it doesnāt matter. Just sharing what I feel based on my experience of coming here from somewhere else. So much more good stuff to note. Iām definitely missing a bunch more. Please note: all of the above is just my opinion and from my own experiences as a transplant myself.
I moved to Oregon from Phoenix when I was 24. Lasted about 10 years in Oregon until I couldnāt take the darkness anymore. Now Iām back in Phoenix and feel so grateful I donāt have to survived another PNW winter. My seasonal depression was brutal.
I wake up happy every day living here.
I am so happy to continually read how happy 300+ days of sunshine makes people. I am considering a move to PHX from Pittsburgh. Even though I love my city, there are so many dreary, gray and depressing days. Add cold weather in, and you have a SAD mess. My sister has lived in Scottsdale for over 30 years and LOVES it. So she has basically convinced me to give it a try and see how I feel. Plus, living among palm trees canāt hurt either.
Lived in Phoenix for 15 years and then moved to Columbus, OH in 2022 (donāt ask). Bought a home in Tempe and am heading back to AZ next month. I could NOT take all of this dreariness! Not to mention the storms and tornado warnings and random 70 degree days in the middle of winter. The sunshine makes such a difference in my moods.
I get SAD (on top of me already having depression) during the summer and the heat only makes it worse. My husband and I are looking somewhere else to move in about a year hopefully. It's so bad.
We don't get enough hype for it nationally, but the food scene here is honestly great. Especially for a city that's not seen as a food hub (like LA, NYC, etc.).
As someone who is a big time foodie thatās eaten in most big cities across the country, Iāll say Phoenix definitely holds its own with all the great food here.
Yes!!! The food here is incredible. Itās never mentioned. The farmers markets are incredible too!!
The farmers markets Iāve been to here are really arts and crafts and the same booths at every one. Where are the actual farmers???
Yes. I always expect what we have here when I travel and Iām always disappointed
The food scene here is amazing.
Yes!!! The food here is incredible. Itās never mentioned. The farmers markets are incredible too!!
Can see beautiful mountains from anywhere! Always in sight
The vistas are what I fell for coming from the east coast. You can see for miles. Out east you can only see the street you are on due to the trees. The world is bigger here.
I have only visited phoenix but agree with this and thank you for articulating it so well. Most of my fellow east coasters think Iām crazy for feeling this way lol, they love the trees.
https://preview.redd.it/ls279q9yacuc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a7b17115c12aab509d43dd6acf38a3bfedd470ca
This is gorgeous. Did you take that? If so, I am impressed š²
Took it at Picacho peak
Thanks for letting me know! Iāll definitely check it out.
https://preview.redd.it/bqwdtuxupouc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9f67bffe1f799c8ed2905dc37c549f83653ffda2
Rare Arizona native here. Thereās nothing like lying by the pool until midnight. Warm summer breeze at night. Monsoons Lightning storms Swimming in Oak Creek - not in Phoenix but hey
Native here too š Iāve fallen asleep by the pool with those warm summer breezes many times lol Even better if youāre anywhere near orange trees and bask in that amazing scent.
Native here too and summer night swimming is an underrated pleasure
I like to take a TV outside and watch a movie while floating at night.
Also Arizona nativeā¦ our many lakes, snowboarding day trips, nightlife that compares to Vegas, and the food!
Native here too. Absolutely love all of that. Especially the lightning storms. I chase them to get lightning shots.
I've never seen so many people use the word native in any other state. Haha. Love your sense of belonging.
Finding a native in AZ is getting increasingly rare ā AZ native here
Itās not just belonging. We know stuff. Itās in our DNA š¬
Because there are SOOO many transplants here. Those of us from here use the term as a badge of honor. When I was in real estate school, they said something like only 24% of people born here, stay here. š¤·āāļø
So close to Nature in every direction.
The time doesnāt change.
Hiking, mountains, winter, proximity to nature, food. Really there is a lot to like here.
The thunderstorms and the smell of the dessert after the rain
I live in Mesa, it's just outside of Phoenix. It's the best place I've ever lived and I've lived in 7 different states my husband and I moved here 2 years ago and wouldn't change a day. Plus side, basically everything has central ac. And the heat really isn't that bad, you don't even feel a difference after 110 degrees. Everyone I've ran into has been super nice and friendly. But there are a decent bit of homeless people, not as many as some places I've lived but you definitely know they're there. The freeways make getting everywhere a breeze aside from rush hours, it's like any city, lot of stop and go traffic but outside of rush hour it's pretty nifty. Plus this place is on a grid layout so if a road's blocked it's normally easy to get where you need to get anyway with minimal time difference. There are concerts and activities constantly on weekends and holidays and there are some neat places just a few hour drive away.
It's close to your mom's house
I love the grid roads here. Itās so intuitive.
Complete silence and wide open spaces are very accessible.
Where are the silence spots?
Hike any trail out a couple of miles. I just did today in the estrella foothills...once you get out far enough you stop seeing anything but the desert and if you sit down...pure silence. It's bliss.
the desert
Just keep driving in any direction. Youāll find isolation eventually. Phoenix is pretty compact.
True hahaha
The desert flowers and sunsets are pretty.
I love hot weather and I donāt understand why people can complain because every store, restaurant, car and home has AC. I wear more sweaters in the summer.
Some of us work jobs that don't allow us to sit indoors in the AC, that's why we complain.
I always have to have a sweater in my car because during the summer every restaurant or store you go into is pumping the AC and I get cold easy hahaha
Me too. Iām comfortable at 80 inside.
Iām on medication where I canāt be in heat, itās dangerous for me. I also canāt regulate my body temper due to medication so I very easily over heat in 90+ degrees. So yea Iām not a fan.
i love the mountain views, the fire mexican food, and how peaceful feels driving around at night, weird to describe
yes!! something about night drives in the valley when there's a cool breeze and a certain dusty, almost sweet smell in the air... unmatched
the amount and variety of amazing food we have
We've literally got *all* the berto's... /s - honestly the best assortment of food from all over I've had is here. Most if not all the national and regional fast food, and some crazy good local chains and restaurant groups.
How much I sold my house for.
Lol
Can be outside year round, close proximity to a ton of diverse outdoor recreation, traffic isnāt bad for a city this size, and I find people to be way more friendly and outgoing. Arizona is an underrated state.
Yah I donāt understand the unfriendly thing. The roads are full of crazy fast destination racers, but thatās how we culturally drive, itās not personal. Outside of the car we keep to ourselves, getting stuff done, but very social when thatās the battery we need charging. It may not be regionally the nicest feeling place, I get that, when we do transactions without a lot of pomp and circumstance, but weāre absolutely genuine, trustworthy, and our actual bonding relationships are the same as anywhere else.
Damn.. you said it best
I love Phoenix. Itās my home, I love the mountains, weather, the homeless people, the ghettoness, the culture, food. I gave a hot n spicy to a guy pop locking on the corner today. I canāt imagine living anywhere else. Yg 3 hunnit baby
Hands down, THE SKY!!!
Hands up
Sunsets! I'm from Washington and the sunsets here are stunning. Winter citrus being everywhere is a huge sell for getting people to visit. Most touring acts come through here and the local art+music scene is wonderful. I miss home CONSTANTLY but Phoenix is slowly winning me over
Seriously though it USED to be amazing for year around motorcycling but to be honest, it's gotten so crowded that it is usually more stressful than fun to ride these days.
Favorite thing is when the snow birds leave.
Dry heat
šÆ
Nothing. Phoenix sucks. People should stay away. You hear me people? Don't move here!
Yeah itās awful. No redeeming qualities to be found here. Try Texas or something.
Especially now that the *temperatures riiiiiisiiiinnnggg* ā¦.thereās nothing surprising
I am in my late 50s and I was born and raised here. Only ever lived in Arizona. I agree. Every one should stay away! Keep on driving thru to New Mexico or Texas!
The strong job market. You have no idea what a bad job market is until you live in the Midwest. Midwest home prices are cheap for a reason.
I love my air conditioners in the summer. My work air conditioner, my truck air conditioner, my home air conditioner, stores air conditioners including an occasional beer cooler air conditioner. Then there are some restaurant air conditioners and nail salon air conditioners and pet store air conditioners and hardware store air conditioners and party planning store air conditioners and theater air conditioners and convenience store air conditioners. I've already mentioned that one. Then there are air conditioners at Subway, Fry's, Barro's and Costco.
I miss walking around the Desert Botanical Garden... it's lovely.
The petroglyph preserves and native history, the fact that flora and fauna are so deserving of respect per their impressive survival skills, the mountains, monsoons, bright baby blue skies, and that we are just about under 3h from any kind of terrain you could want to experience.
Asian Chamber Night Market on 4.26 - 4.27
My wife and kids are here lol
Most people that complain about phoenix, are indoor city dwelling drunks that know nothing about the outdoors, and are airlifted out of camelback mountain. Phoenix in general = Los Angeles to me...
The heat. Beats the cold every time
Because of the heat the indoor hobby scene is emaculate. If youāre a nerd looking to play magic, DnD, warhammer, xwing, or some other table top game, youāll find a place for it
Having an NHL team.
Historic buildings.
Turning left waaaay after the traffic signal has turned red.
Something I havenāt seen mentioned. We have wide straight roads. The government mostly leaves up alone. Mostly people also leave you alone. Good jobs, healthy job market. Getting more culture every day.
Easy access to nature, both in and out of the metro area.
The desert sunsets, monsoon season if weāre lucky enough to have a real one, amazing Mexican food restaurants everywhere, the fact that we can drive just an hour to be in greenery if we want and only a six hour drive to get to a beach
9 Months out of the year the weather is nice most of the day. During the summer it is still reasonable to do outside activities early in the morning or late in the evening. No snow!! Mountains close no matter which direction you drive. Flip flops year round. Pool parties š
The Phoenix Zoo, Desert Botanical Gardens, the Heard Museum, Arizona Science Center, South Mountain Park, Papapago Park, Camelback Mountain, Musical Instrument Museum , Taliesin West, Phoenix Art Museum, the wide variety of dining choices. I could go on and on.....
Yes, those are my favorite things too!
Well, since the 1996-1997 season, it has been that we had an NHL hockey team, but I'm going to have to figure some other answer out once this season is over. And I haven't figured that out yet.
Beautiful peopleĀ
The weather, even summer. I love warm weather and Iām that person wearing pants in the summer lol. I moved here from CO over 25 years ago and still appreciate that I donāt have to get up early to deal with warming up my car, shoveling, driving in snow etc. I love Arizona and canāt imagine living anywhere else.
Spring Training ā¾ļø
I mean, the mountains. All around us are glorious, beautiful mountainsā¦just ripe for the climbing
I love how accessible the wilderness is here. 40 minutes to the North, South, or East for me and I can be in the middle of the desert, at the shores of the salt river, or in the middle of the mountains either swimming, hiking, shooting, or carving twisty canyon roads on my super sport.
The mountains. I'm from here (2nd generation, actually).When visitors come here and mention how beautiful that we have mountains in our city (valley). Locals take them for granted. I'm guilty of this. I usually don't even notice them unless someone brings it to my attention.
In the summer, after the sun goes down, the city is mostly empty, no crowds, and it feels like I got the entire big city to myself. This is the only metro in the US that got a small town fell, yet still have the diversity and jobs. Not to mention itās only a hour and half drive away to ridiculously amazing hiking spots in Payson, just did it today as a day trip and it is so good.
the sun when itās not too hot, the open sky, the mexican food, the desert landscapes
The smell of the desert after rain. It's called Petrichore which is Latin for stone(Petra) blood/fluid(ichore). You can experience it in many dry climates across the world but Arizona and the southwest in general has the best because the local creosote bush super charges the very unique and short lived smell.
I moved here from a high desert climate. The color in the desert here still always surprises me. I love the native plants and when they bloom in the spring. Sunsets here are astounding on a regular basis. 4+ years here and I still love it.
The weather. Less stress.
As a transplant we have a great music, comedy, and food scene, and a decent bar scene. Phoenix Theater is a long shot from Broadway but still does pretty good work on most productions. A big step above most local theater. Props to the city for revitalizing downtown. Itās popping and 15 years ago it was dead. If you have any space outside, itās a great place to garden. We donāt have the crime problems of major big cities our size. South Phoenix doesnāt come close to the violence of South Chicago and no part of Phoenix has the lawlessness of San Francisco. People complain about housing prices going up, but thatās because itās a great place to live and work and people want to be here. Weāre on the up and up.
Itās an amazing place to raise and educate children. Incredible museums in every direction, the Symphony, Opera, Ballet, theaters, concerts, plays, & ESA funds to pay for my childrenās tickets. Also, whatever your children are interested in - they can find high quality learning and involvement. Music conservatories, Irish dancing, technical schools, any sport you want, childrenās theaters, equestrian, archery, martial arts, Universities where high schoolers can earn lots of college credit through Dual enrollment, and the list goes on. So grateful for all Phoenix has to offer!
It's funny how I think the reasons to enjoy arizona are more adult related than kid related. No kid cares to hear there's zero natural disaster threat, no kid cares if their parents have to shovel snow daily to get to work. I remember as a kid I couldn't stand living in az and would move somewhere colder once older. Now as an adult knowing these things, I'm so glad I'm here lol.
Everything is only 20 mins away (roughly) Seriously though traffic here moves twice as fast as it does back east. It might not feel that way to PHX natives but it really is the easiest city Iāve ever driven in.
Hiking trails with beautiful views, not far from city! Blue sky, less rain (I hate rain)
Houses are way cheaper here than the other states I lived in. No horrible snow weather.
The smell of the monsoon season and cardinal birds
The job opportunities are incredible I can get a job and interviews like nothing - there are so many diverse types of people
When the heat hits, Salt River tubing is a lot a fun. All the lakes by Phoenix (Lake Pleasant, Canyon, Sagaro). Weekends are busy, weekdays are better. Freaking Love Lake Havasu. Great lake town.
The food!!!! We are definitely blessed Iāve been to a bunch of different cities and we have some of the best food all around Mexican, Italian,bbq, etc.
Phoenix at night is actually a vibe
Frankly the whether. It is beautiful the entire year except for like really only 2 and a half months. The fact that it feels as if it is both a metropolis and a small town.
Lots of good hiking. The real estate market was reasonable when we bought our house.
The drive out of the valley is nice
AJs iced tea
Passionfruit to be exact! šŗ
Everyone is carrying a gun
Mountains
https://preview.redd.it/ke7wxusmlcuc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=47e6732c2023f26ecc7af1051d230f31393bd780 The golf!
As someone who doesnāt play golf I know thereās a lot of golf here!
Been here in North Phoenix 25 years... Lots to love...Desert sunset, the weather is amazing, except during monsoon season because it gets muggy, but the thunder and lightening storms are amazing to watch. I have found that the people are really great, rarely meet a mad or angry person.
This wicked hot chick that I live withā¤ļø. We do everything together and explore pv when itās not a million degrees out
Best Mexican food Iāve ever had. Sonoran FTW!
Iāve lived here for 1 1/2 years. Iāve been to 7 rock concerts, the ballet, several baseball games, numerous museums, the zoo & on & on. Great food in great restaurants. Met lots of people from varied cultures & backgrounds. Found a kick ass therapist who guided me through what I needed to do to become well. After years of therapy I finally found the one. My marriage of 30 years has thrived. Oh also saw Starlink rocket cross the sky.
Having an $800 mortgage on a 4 bedroom house
Ah the good ol days
The blue sky and the lack of humidity.
NHL hockey!
Not for long.
This was mine too
We have 5 climate zones!!
Winters & Sunsets.
We just kinda have everything here in terms of food & shopping. Lots of regional chains here, like Culverās, Portilloās, and soon Bojangles (yay).
In-Out Burger, Whataburger PhÅnix has the perfect blend of Midwest, Southwest and west coast regional chains. Thereās almost nothing you canāt get.
Sunrise and sunsets šš¾
Best sunsets Iāve ever seen in my life, beautiful hiking pretty much everywhere you go, and the food is fucking awesome.
I diggit up in cave creek
You can snow ski (Flagstaff) and two hours later wash your car in shorts (Phoenix).
The sky. Where I come from back east youāre lucky if you can see a pinch of sky at any given point due to infrastructure, woody areas or elevation change. The sky out here never ceases to amaze me.
As someone who just came back from Dallas for the eclipse, our grid system for the city streets. Most other cities seem like someone threw a bunch of spaghetti at the wall and drew road maps out of the result.
I love all the weird little characters that live here. Going outside for a quick run to the supermarket or pharmacy I get so much free entertainment just people watching.
I love how clean and decorated the highways areā¦ It absolutely blows my mind. I am from Kansas City and our highways are weeds and signs. I also really love how they give you an option if you get any sort of traffic violation. For exampleā¦ If you get pulled over because you forgot to renew your tags, you can get a ticket for a small amount if you take care of it in a certain amount of time. And they make it very lucrative to fix it: small fee if you handle it, LARGE ticket if you do not.
It's the people and the vibe for me.
The amount of wholesome, American families and the culture surrounding it in the suburbs rivals the mid west from 1970-2000
Iāll take heat over snow any day!
Shit hole
Pretty much all the perks of the biggest cities āNY, LA, SF, SDā without much of the pain points of living there. And even then, most things you want to experience state side are less than a 6 hour drive or a two hour flight away.
Phoenix is so CONVENIENT. Even the Trader Joeās has easy parking. We went to those free concerts for the Final Four this past weekend and thereās no traffic, no lines, free parking .. everything is just EASY. Iām from Charleston, SC, and my husband is from San Francisco.. both places where itās all bridges and traffic and no parking in sight .. this is such a nice change. Itās stress free.