In October of 2005, we made the move from Calgary, AB to Tucson, AZ. Jay was born and raised in Canada, while I was from the U.S. (Army brat!) After meeting (online!) and marrying, we lived in the Calgary for three years before deciding to come back to the states. Neither one of us had ever been to Tucson before, but we sold our home in Alberta, loaded up the U-Haul with all our belongings and our pets, and made the journey down. We bought a house almost immediately in Oro Valley, and have not regretted it for a second. While Canada is an amazing country, it is COLD during those winter months.
You may ask—”why Tucson over Phoenix”? Having lived in Southern California for many years, I tend to equate it to the difference between Los Angeles and San Diego. While LA and Phoenix have a lot to offer (including smog, traffic, high population, frantic pace), San Diego and Tucson in my opinion are much more beautiful than their mega city counterparts, but still have LOTS to offer. In addition, the summers are generally cooler in Tucson than Phoenix (by about 5-10 degrees F) , and we experience a much more active monsoon (rainy) season. There are some days during when yes, it is HOT, but if you plan your activities in the morning or after the sun goes down, you will be fine. I have grown quite acclimated to the weather and now I actually love the summer!
Tucson, Arizona and the adjacent cities of Oro Valley and Marana are located in the lush Sonoran desert, where temperatures range average a gorgeous 74 degrees Fahrenheit (23 Celsius ) October through April. Home to several world class golf courses and top spas (including Oprah’s favorite spa- Miraval), Tucson also offers year round hiking, cycling, rock climbing and equestrian sports. A vibrant art community and some of the globally most respected observatories, along with famous events such as the Tour de Tucson cycling event round out the amazing opportunities that the Tucson area offers. Only a day’s drive to other US hot spots such as San Diego, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon ensure there is something for everyone. Did we mention Mexico’s Puerto Penasco beach village on the Sea of Cortez is only a 4 hour drive?? The Tucson area (including Oro Valley , Catalina and Marana) has outdoor activities galore, culinary delights for all palates, all ranges of shopping from local dime stores to Tiffany & Co.—you will find it here.
Did you know that Tucson is considered a “foodie” city? Our beautiful city hosts a wide variety of cuisine from around the world. We have lots of favorites—including El Charro Cafe (the nation’s oldest Mexican restaurant— continuously operated by the same family since 1922!), Kingfisher Bar and Grill (amazing seafood!!!!) and Vivace Restaurant (absolutely divine Italian fare) to name a few. Tucson has made WalletHub’s Foodie list for the last several years—and you can find almost every type of food at all price points throughout the city.
Another very cool thing about Tucson is the diverse architecture you can find when looking for a home. We have everything from classic adobe to mid-century modern, luxe modern homes, territorial, Santa Fe and more. The views from many homes in the Tucson area is nothing short of phenomenal—offering stunning mountain or natural desert vistas. Tucson is surrounded by four mountain ranges, and virtually and place you go in the city you will at least catch a glimpse of one of them. If you are thinking of purchasing a home in the Tucson area, please feel free to reach out to us anytime. We have sold hundreds of homes in the area and would love to find the perfect one for you. 🙂
Enjoy exploring the area—we hope you love it as much as we do!