We want to retire in Arizona from Calgary AB

[slumbert55]

Originally Posted by drb85650

I've lived in Phoenix, Kingman, Flagstaff and Sierra Vista. That pretty much covers 75% of the state geographically and weatherwise. I've traveled the rest of the state as a driver in all times of the year.
IMO...
Kingman....windy year round. Over 100 in the summer and cold in the winter. But the location is good if you like gambling or boating with all the Californians on the river.
Flagstaff....beautiful area. expensive. lack of water makes building on acreage a water hauling proposition. 85 feels like 100 at that altitude and the area is capable of some brutal winter snows.
Phoenix....terrific suburbs, lousy downtown area. The heat goes on and on and on. You will get tired of it, trust me. Unless you can afford a exclusive gated area in north Scottsdale,Cave Creek or CareFree, be prepared to have relatively rough neighborhoods close to you. Lots of crime on the west side especially. But I still miss it.
Sierra Vista....perfect climate, not too hot, winters are mild, maybe one snow per year for a few hours on the ground. All the activities you mentioned are either in the immediate area or within an hours drive. Currently lacks alot of shopping, but breaking ground on more within a couple of months.
One's I've not lived in but am familiar with via driving jobs.
Safford....nice farming community. Remote.
Holbrook/Winslow ....2 areas seldom mentioned. Frankly, buttugly when you drive through on the interstate. Holbrook has alot of history via old rt.66, cheap housing and land. Windy, hot as Phoenix in the summer alot of days, cold winters. Winslow...old railroad town. Lots of old company houses, quaint areas. They keep trying to revive it, maybe someday. Again, lots of rt.66 history, and of course "Take it easy" by the Eagles too....very cold, colder than Flagstaff alot of nights in the winter, over 100 during the days alot in the summer. In a river valley, fog, ice...but wide open spaces and cheap cheap cheap.
New River....everybody, and I mean everybody passes thru here on the way to Flagstaff. Not much cooler except at night.
Sedona....beautiful. expensive.
Cottonwood, verde valley....bedroom community for workers in Sedona. Nice climate, hilly. Close enough to Phoenix for easy daytrips.
Williams....less expensive alternative to Flagstaff. But no water. Buy in the city limits or be prepared to haul water, really no big deal up there. Cold winters, beautiful summers.
Prescott....crowded. Traffic nightmare. Pretty setting. did I mention crowded and traffic?
Prescott Valley....alot like Kingman, not quite as hot. Windy, cold winters. Lots of traffic. did I mention windy?
Wickenberg....nice area. Lots of "hidden" old money people there. Check out Dupont Registry for Wickenberg listings. Unfortunately, it's also the main arterial for everybody from Phoenix going to Vegas or Laughlin.
Snowflake....if you really want to be away from most everything, and don't mind a touch of religion.
Payson/Showlow....read Flagstaff or Williams.
Bisbee....want to relive the 70's? old hippies, artsy fartsy types and lots of liberalistic thought, to the extreme. Throw in some bikers, a few rednecks from surrounding areas, tourist and it redefines the term eclectic.
Nogales/Douglas....for that true on the border feeling. High crime. Nogales is hilly, pretty in a way. Douglas....flat, old, ugly. Douglas gets snow several times a winter and is usually colder than other surrounding areas. did I mention crime?
Tucson....phoenix without the sprawl. some beautiful old areas, but you have to look for them. Don't judge it by the interstate view.
Yuma....Can we say heat? Not even warm there until it's triple digits and none of them are 0's. Again, don't judge by the interstate view. Get off and drive into town, go south....main drag has every restaurant/fast food/shopping you can imagine. And green green green fields of cabbage, lettuce.....all hidden from the interstate. But, it's surrounded by quite ugly desert, sanddunes full of 'zonies and californians. Nice thing is you can be in San Diego by brunch.
Quartzsite.....you really want to be around 75,000 people over 65 driving 25 in a 55, rv's and beige crown victorias? same with suncity. too many hearses.

That's a few choices. And next will be the opposing viewpoint/flamers. Just one guys opinion that's lived in or been thru alot, those areas. Feel free to pm if you want more detail on any of 'em.

you about hit em on the head, only thing in quartzsite you didn't mention the heat, did i mention that you didn't mention the heat.

[observer53]

Since the OP started this thread a year ago and hasn't been back to C-D since January, I suspect they've made a decision.