Tucson, Arizona is well-known for its laidback ambience and year-round fabulous weather. If you are looking to purchase a luxury Tucson home for sale then you are bound to enjoy the area’s sun-kissed days and starlit nights.
Here are some statistics on the weather in sunny Tucson, Arizona.
January:
* Average high/low: 63/37 Fahrenheit; 18/04 Celsius
* Rainfall: 0.75 inches
* Relative Humidity Percentage: 42
February:
* Average high/low: 68/40 Fahrenheit; 20/05 Celsius
* Rainfall: 0.93 inches
* Relative Humidity Percentage: 37
March:
* Average high/low: 72/43 Fahrenheit; 23/07 Celsius
* Rainfall: 0.57 inches
* Relative Humidity Percentage: 30
April:
* Average high/low: 82/50 Fahrenheit; 27/10 Celsius
* Rainfall: 0.43 inches
* Relative Humidity Percentage: 23
May:
* Average high/low: 90/58 Fahrenheit; 32/14 Celsius
* Rainfall: 0.19 inches
* Relative Humidity Percentage: 17
June:
* Average high/low: 99/66 Fahrenheit; 38/20 Celsius
* Rainfall: 0.14 inches
* Relative Humidity Percentage: 16
July:
* Average high/low: 99/74 Fahrenheit; 37/23 Celsius
* Rainfall: 1.93 inches
* Relative Humidity Percentage: 32
August:
* Average high/low: 97/72 Fahrenheit; 36/22 Celsius
* Rainfall: 2.22 inches
* Relative Humidity Percentage: 38
September:
* Average high/low: 95/68 Fahrenheit; 34/20 Celsius
* Rainfall: 1.36 inches
* Relative Humidity Percentage: 32
October:
* Average high/low: 84/57 Fahrenheit; 29/14 Celsius
* Rainfall: 0.75 inches
* Relative Humidity Percentage: 31
November:
* Average high/low: 74/44 Fahrenheit; 23/08 Celsius
* Rainfall: 0.52 inches
* Relative Humidity Percentage: 30
December:
* Average high/low: 66/39 Fahrenheit; 18/04 Celsius
* Rainfall: 0.84 inches
* Relative Humidity Percentage: 40
Yearly Average:
* Average high/low: 82/54 Fahrenheit; 28/13 Celsius
* Rainfall: 0.63 inches
* Relative Humidity Percentage: 31
*Source: www.VisitTucson.org;used with permission.
If you’re looking to purchase some Tucson real estate or a home in sunny Arizona, you’ll be glad to know that Tucson is well ahead of the curve when it comes to “Green” living and technology. Here are just a few of the many environmentally responsible happenings in Tucson, Arizona.
* In 2007, Tucson was named one of 13 “Solar Cities” in the United States, and awarded a half-million-dollar grant to better implement solar energy. The three-phase plan includes installation of solar panels and water heaters at large city facilities, readying more facilities for future solar installations and initiating a solar education program in the community. The program also aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 25 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.
* In May 2008, Washington D.C. “think tank” The Brookings Institution ranked Tucson the 17th-lowest carbon-emitter among the one hundred largest metro cities in the country. The study analyzed each city’s per-person production of carbon dioxide from household energy use and vehicle traffic.
* A May 2008 American Lung Association survey listed Tucson as No. 6 in the country for clean air. The survey examined each city’s production of particle pollution – ash, soot, diesel exhaust, chemicals, metals and aerosols.
* A recent Deloitte survey found that nearly half of all travelers try to be environmentally friendly when they’re traveling. To accommodate these eco-conscious travelers, Tucson’s hospitality industry has stepped up to the plate and gone well beyond simple recycling.
* Tucson’s Reid Park Zoo is setting Southern Arizona’s “Green” standard with the opening of its LEED Platinum-certified Conservation Learning Center. The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum designation is a rarity, and the Conservation Learning Center will be the first building in Southern Arizona to earn the title (and just the second in Arizona). The Zoo’s new 10,000-square-foot Learning Center uses 80 percent less energy than the average building and includes shade-rich design and orientation, recycled steel beams, polystyrene and poured concrete walls, solar panels, rammed earth construction, scrap cotton and blue-jeans insulation, rooftop rainwater harvesting and much more.
*Source: www.VisitTucson.org;used with permission.
Whether you’re visiting or looking to purchase one of the many beautiful Tucson homes for sale in “Old Pueblo,” there is plenty of information available to help you with your vacation or your search for just the right luxury home. Here are a few FAQs (“Frequently Asked Questions”) about Tucson.
Where is Tucson in relation to Phoenix, Arizona?
Tucson is located at an elevation of approximately 2,400 feet above sea level in the southern part of Arizona, between Phoenix and the Mexican border along Interstate 10. Depending on how it’s measured, the distance between Tucson and Phoenix is roughly 100-120 miles. At the posted speed limit, the easy drive along Interstate 10 usually takes about two hours, give or take a few minutes depending on your exact destination.
What is the population of Metropolitan Tucson?
When it was founded in 1775, Tucson’s population was just over 3,000. By 1920, the population had grown to 20,292. Today, roughly one million people call Tucson home.
How hot does it get in Tucson?
The annual average temperature for Tucson is a high of 82 degrees Fahrenheit/28 degrees Celsius, and a low of 55 degrees Fahrenheit/13 degrees Celsius. The average high temperature during the middle of the summer is 100 degrees Fahrenheit/38 degrees Celsius.
What is the Tucson time zone?
The Tucson time zone is Mountain Standard Time (MST). As with almost all of Arizona, Tucson clocks do not change for daylight savings time.
Can I fly into Tucson?
It’s easy to fly into Tucson easy since Tucson is served by several airlines with nonstop service and connections around the world. Visit www.tucsonairport.org for more information.
How far is it from Tucson to Sedona, Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon?
It is approximately 230 miles from Tucson to Sedona, approximately 260 miles from Tucson to Flagstaff and approximately 340 miles from Tucson to the Grand Canyon.
*Source for most information: www.VisitTucson.org;used with permission.
Nestled near Interstate 10 just northwest of Tucson real estate, the town of Marana enjoys a wealth of beautiful Arizona homes and real estate, along with a plethora of championship golf courses. In fact, golf enthusiasts will be delighted to know that the Marana is home to more than just stunning scenery and solitude: it truly boasts some of the state’s finest places to play golf.
One of the most prominent courses in Marana is the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain located on the grounds of the luxurious Ritz-Carlton at Dove Mountain hotel. With 27 holes designed by Jack Nicklaus and breathtaking views of the Tortolita Mountains in the distance, this highly touted, saguaro-ensconced course made Golfweek magazine’s 2010 list of “Best Resort Golf Courses” and “Best Courses You Can Play – Arizona,” and it also received several accolades in 2009. The resort is the current home of the World Golf Championships’ Accenture Match Play Championship, which brings 64 of the top players in the world to town each February.
Looking for an unusual setting for your game? Check out the Pines Golf Club at Marana, a unique 18-hole layout that came to fruition about ten years ago. After plans for an old sand and gravel quarry were abandoned, ten holes from the adjacent popular golf club were relocated in the quarry and the other eight holes were redesigned around the pit. The result is the state’s first quarry course, which not only offers challenges with its varying elevation and multitude of trees, but also appealing vistas of the surrounding desert and mountains. The holes range in difficulty, so golfers of all levels will enjoy this outing.
Over at the Gallery Golf Club, which was home to the Accenture Match Play Championship in 2007 and 2008, links-lovers can choose either the North or South course. Both of these award-winning, high Sonoran desert treats have gained national attention for the experiences they provide. They made Golfweek’s “Best Residential Courses” list, with the North ranked at No. 84 and the South at No. 88. Additionally, the South snagged the No. 31 spot on Golfweek’s “Best New Courses” list. As for “America’s 100 Greatest Courses – Best in Arizona,” the North nabbed the No. 11 spot while the South came in at No. 25.
The Santa Catalina Mountain foothills near Tucson, Arizona 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.
Conveniently located off of Interstate 10 just northwest of Tucson, Arizona real estate is the town of Marana. Marana combines the suburban feeling of living in a smaller town with the knowledge that the city of Tucson is less than a half-hour’s drive away. A wealth of luxury homes and real estate are available in Marana, along with a plethora of things to do and see.
For example, the Ironwood Forest Natural Monument, located not far from Marana, is home to over 100,000 acres of protected land. The monument includes a huge concentration of Ironwood trees, hence, its name. In addition, it consists of over 200 Hohokam and Paleoindian archaeological sites, which provide great opportunities for people looking to see a piece of the history of Arizona.
Community is an integral part of Marana’s atmosphere, and monthly activities held at Silverbell District Park help bring together people of all ages. The “In The Park!” series features such events as “Music In The Park!,” “Movie In The Park!,” and “Live Theater In The Park!”. Marana’s eight other parks are spread throughout the town and provide places to have a picnic, enjoy the outdoors or play with your kids. Speaking of kids, Marana is served by the Marana Unified School District, whose sixteen schools offer a solid foundation for the education of children who attend them.
When it’s time to savor some fun in the sun – in a cool way –, Breakers Water Park contains dozens of water attractions, including numerous slippery slides and a rollicking wave pool. In fact, Breakers Bay, which holds over one million gallons of water, is the largest wave pool in Arizona and offers the perfect way to chill out during Arizona’s hot summer months.
For those who love to golf, Marana features several golf courses, each with their own level of difficulty. The most prominent golf course is at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, home to the World Golf Championships – Accenture Match Play Championship. This tournament, which has seen some of the greatest golfers in the world come to Marana to compete, has traditionally been held in February. The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club is part of the Ritz-Carlton at Dove Mountain, a 250-room luxury resort hotel nestled inside the community of Dove Mountain.
Horseback riding is as much a part of the American West as sunsets, saguaros and sagebrush. In Tucson and Southern Arizona you can saddle up at a resort, a guest ranch, a public stable or at a specific horseback riding business. In this part of Arizona, Tucson and horse property go hand in hand.
Catering to pretty much every skill level, most of these outfits offer horsemanship lessons and wrangler-guided trips (often complete with a yummy trailside breakfast or a delicious picnic lunch) for both individuals and groups. Specialty rides, such as sunrise, sunset and moonlight rides, are especially delightful. Whether you choose a half-day jaunt, a longer trail ride, a group or solo journey, riding horseback is the real Western way to explore the Tucson landscape.
Here are some resources from www.VisitTucson.org to help you plan your horseback riding adventure:
Guest Ranches
Circle Z Ranch
P.O. Box 194
Patagonia, AZ 85624
65 miles south of Tucson
(888) 854-2525
Must be a guest to ride horses
Grapevine Canyon Ranch
P.O. Box 302
Pearce, AZ 85625
80 miles southeast of Tucson
(800) 245-9202
Must be a guest to ride horses
Price Canyon Ranch
Douglas, AZ
150 miles southeast of Tucson
(800) 727-0065
Must be a guest to ride horses
Rancho de la Osa Guest Ranch
1 La Osa Ranch Road
Sasabe, AZ 85633
65 miles southwest of Tucson
(800) 872-6240
Must be a guest to ride horses
Tanque Verde Ranch
14301 E. Speedway Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85748
(888) 574-3833
Must be a guest to ride horses
Triangle T Guest Ranch
P.O. Box 218 (I-10, exit 318)
Dragoon, AZ 85609
60 miles east of Tucson
(866) 586-7533
Stables are open to the public
White Stallion Ranch
9251 W. Twin Peaks Road
Tucson, AZ 85743
(888) 977-2624
Must be a guest to ride horses
Horseback Riding Businesses
Arizona Horseback Experience
16 Coyote Court
Sonoita, AZ 85637
50 miles southeast of Tucson
(520) 455-5696
Cocoraque Ranch
3199 N. Reservation Road
Tucson, AZ 85743
(520) 682-8594 or (520) 405-5884
Spanish Trail Outfitters
8500 E. Ocotillo Drive
Tucson, AZ 85750
(520) 749-0167
Stables
La Posta Quemada Ranch, Colossal Cave Mountain Park
16721 E. Old Spanish Trail
Vail, AZ 85641
(520) 647-3450
Old Tucson Studios
201 S. Kinney Road
Tucson, AZ 85735
(520) 437-8280
Pantano Riding Stables
4450 S. Houghton Road
Tucson, AZ 85730
(520) 298-8980
Pusch Ridge Stables
13700 N. Oracle Road
Tucson, AZ 85739-4262
(520) 825-1664
Source: Tucson Convention and Visitor’s Bureau website, www.VisitTucson.org . Information used with permission.
Whether you’re heading out on a full-fledged shopping spree or just looking for that one special, much-needed item, the stores, boutiques and shops located all around the Tucson real estate provide the ultimate shopping experience. In fact, scattered across the city are a number of beautiful indoor malls, as well as conveniently located individual stores.
If you’re looking for an artsy shopping adventure, head over to Fourth Avenue between Broadway and Speedway, which is a well-known environment for both dining and shopping. This area is home to vintage clothing stores, locally owned bookstores (imagine that!), custom furniture stores, funky thrift stores and pretty much everything in-between. Fourth Avenue truly comes alive at night as people come out to enjoy everything it has to offer. Twice a year, Fourth Avenue plays host to a fun-filled street fair which allows people to set up their own exhibits; this is often one of the most talked-about events in the city of Tucson.
If you’re looking for a more traditional shopping experience, one really nice mall to visit is the Foothills Mall, located in (where else?) the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The Foothills Mall contains not just nearly 100 stores, but also a play area for the littlest shoppers, a dynamite food court and a fifteen-screen multiplex movie theater.
Other malls in Tucson include El Con Mall, Park Place Mall, the Tucson Mall and La Encantada, which is an open-air shopping center featuring dozens of eateries, boutiques and shops. La Encantada, which is part of the Westcor shopping center chain, hosts events such as the Summer Concert Series, which brings live music and dancing every other Friday to one of the mall’s courtyards, and the Movies in the Courtyard Series, which shows a free movie and provides free popcorn on the last Saturday of every month. All you have to do is bring your own blanket.
Who knew?
According to the Tucson Convention and Visitor’s Bureau website, Tucson’s plethora of classic Sonoran desert vegetation, rolling grasslands, high mountains and warm winters all combine to make southeastern Arizona a bird-watchers’ paradise. In fact, more than 500 species of birds call the area home, hummingbirds can be seen year-round and specialty birds like the the Red-Faced Warbler, the Grey Hawk and Vermilion Flycatchers can be found within a short drive of metropolitan Tucson.
Get this — during the fall and spring migration it is possible to see 150 or more species in a single day…that’s amazing! Summer brings spectacular rarities including hummingbird species found nowhere else in the United States, while wintertime brings more than 20,000 Sandhill Cranes, myriad species of waterfowl, sparrows and raptors…all of whom are seeking the warm temperatures and sunny skies of the scenic Tucson real estate.
Several local communities host birding festivals throughout the year in celebration of the outstanding bird life found in this ultra-scenic area, and you can view a complete list of Tucson-area birding sites on the Tucson Audubon Society website, www.tucsonaudubon.org.
Additional resources for bird-ophiles include:
* Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
* Madera Canyon
* Sweetwater Wetland
* Agua Caliente Park
* Catalina State Park
* Saguaro National Park West
* Sierra Vista Birders Guide
* Las Cienegas NCA - Watchable Wildlife
* Southern Arizona Bird Observatory
* Nature Conservancy’s Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve
* Tubac Birding
* Birding the Anza Trail at Tubac
* Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge
* Tucson Audubon Society’s Rare Bird Alert
* Tucson Audubon Society
* The Nature Conservancy Arizona
* Southern Arizona Bird Observatory
*Source: www.VisitTucson.org; information used with permission.
Known by many as the “Old Pueblo,” the city of Tucson, Arizona has a history reaching back hundreds of years, well before Arizona officially became a state in 1912. In fact, the territory of Arizona was established in 1863, and Tucson served as the territorial capital for a full decade, from 1867 to 1877. Since its humble beginnings, it has grown to become Arizona’s second largest city and currently Tucson houses over one million residents in the metropolitan area and one of the state’s three public universities, the University of Arizona. Here is a brief overview of how the city is governed.
City government: First, an important resource is the website, which is home to a wealth of information and insights into the governing structure of Tucson.
The city of Tucson is divided into six wards, each of which elects a representative to the City Council, which is run by the Mayor. Every two years, three of the wards hold re-elections, for terms of four years each. The city of Tucson also employs a City Manager to take care of the myriad of professional managerial tasks associated with running a city the size of Tucson.
Using an online map, you can enter your zip code on the website listed above and determine in which ward you live. To stay abreast of governmental goings-on, you can review the Council’s agendas and meeting schedules so that you can be fully informed and take a more active role in Tucson’s government. In addition, you can read biographies and information related to each elected official. With this resource available to the public, anyone can easily stay informed and up-to-date.
County government: Tucson is located in Pima County, which is governed by a Board of Supervisors. The County is divided into five districts.
State and United States government: As a city in Arizona, Tucson is also governed by Arizona’s state officers, including the Governor, Attorney General and two United States Senators. In regards to the U.S. House of Representatives, the majority of Tucson falls under Arizona District 8, although some parts of Tucson fall under Arizona District 7.
