David Thomas, ABR, ePro, Realtor, Gilbert, AZ

AHWATUKEE

Ahwatukee - it is quite a mouthful. A word from the Crow Indians meaning the "house of my dreams". Very appropriate for an area which houses many beautiful neighborhoods and outstanding custom estates.

Wrapping around the eastern and southern edge of South Mountain, Ahwatukee and the Ahwatukee Foothills are both technically located in south east Phoenix. The mountain however, forms a barrier that gives the impression that they are a distinct entity. This barrier - South Mountain - is also the largest city park in the nation. Residents not only can open their backdoor to enjoy all that nature has to offer in the form of hiking, jogging, mountain biking, and picnicking, but can also relax and feast their eyes on the spectacular views. Spring time is a wonderful time to visit South Mountain Park to enjoy the beautiful desert wild flowers that bloom on the hills.

With a population topping 85,000 Ahwatukee has come a long way from that first house built in 1921 for a wealthy dentist. The area has grown exponentially in part because of its beauty, in part for its proximity to Phoenix and the growing employment centers in neighboring Chandler, and in part due to the excelling schools provided by the Kyrene school district and Tempe Union High school. All this growth has brought a wide range of shops and restaurants making it unnecessary for residents to use the freeway system that connects Ahwatukee to the rest of the Valley. Residents have no reason to wander far from the "home of their dreams"

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AHWATUKEE

Ahwatukee - it is quite a mouthful. A word from the Crow Indians meaning the "house of my dreams". Very appropriate for an area which houses many beautiful neighborhoods and outstanding custom estates.

Wrapping around the eastern and southern edge of South Mountain, Ahwatukee and the Ahwatukee Foothills are both technically located in south east Phoenix. The mountain however, forms a barrier that gives the impression that they are a distinct entity. This barrier - South Mountain - is also the largest city park in the nation. Residents not only can open their backdoor to enjoy all that nature has to offer in the form of hiking, jogging, mountain biking, and picnicking, but can also relax and feast their eyes on the spectacular views. Spring time is a wonderful time to visit South Mountain Park to enjoy the beautiful desert wild flowers that bloom on the hills.

With a population topping 85,000 Ahwatukee has come a long way from that first house built in 1921 for a wealthy dentist. The area has grown exponentially in part because of its beauty, in part for its proximity to Phoenix and the growing employment centers in neighboring Chandler, and in part due to the excelling schools provided by the Kyrene school district and Tempe Union High school. All this growth has brought a wide range of shops and restaurants making it unnecessary for residents to use the freeway system that connects Ahwatukee to the rest of the Valley. Residents have no reason to wander far from the "home of their dreams"

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Ocotillo

Named after the curious southwestern desert plant Fouquira Splendens, also known as Flamingsword, Jacob's Staff or Coachwhip, Ocotillo the plant and the master planned community share a few things in common.

Ocotillo the plant looks for most of the year like an arrangement of large, spiny dead sticks, but add water and a miracle occurs. The dead sticks suddenly turn a lush green as they become covered with small leaves and out of the tips grow a shooting flame of orange flowers.

Ocotillo the community grew out of the desert of south Chandler in 1986 and was fed by reclaimed water. Covering 1,900 acres it now boasts 167 acres of pristine lakes, cascading waterfalls and 33 miles of shoreline. Ocotillo's internationally acclaimed golf course features more water hazards than any other. For non-golfers there are lush green parks and walking trails.

With a combination of luxury mansions bordering the water, single family detached homes, condominiums and even a retirement community, Ocotillo offers something for everyone. Restaurants, upscale shopping, great schools and employment including Orbital, Intel, Wells Fargo gives you everything you need right at home. If you have to travel, a network of freeways extend to the rest of the valley.

Designated as one of the best places to live in the Valley by the Arizona Republic, Ocotillo is both a power house and a crown jewel flaming like a beacon over the rest of the valley

TROON NORTH

March 16, 1878 at the Portland Arms Hotel in Troon, on the rocky, windswept and scrub strewn coastline of western Scotland, a group of determined golfers met to form what would become the Royal Troon Golf Club. Meanwhile, in the territory of Arizona in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, a stagecoach stop was serving equally determined travelers at Reata Pass. Why should such wildly different yet oddly similar places share the same name?

While the differences may be obvious, the cold Scottish coastline versus the Southwest desert, there are similarities as well. Certainly, their names Scottsdale and Scotland are obvious. And then there are their terrains. Both have ruggedly beautiful landscapes, strewn with granite boulders, both contain rolling vistas, although one has ocean views while the other is of soaring mountains. And last but not least, both contain internationally acclaimed golf courses.

Remnants of the Old West still remain as the restaurant at Reata Pass continues to serve up steaks and cool drinks. Time has brought many changes though as now just around the corner you find the acclaimed Four Seasons Hotel, luxury multi-million dollar mansions, more affordable homes, condos and yes - golf. Desert Highlands, a private residential golf community with a Jack Nicklaus designed golf course, Estancia, Troon and Troon North, both Tom Weiskopf designed courses are centerpieces of this magnificent area.

So how did Troon Scottsdale get its name? Suffice it to say that Tom Weiskopf, the designer of the original Troon course, won the 1976 British Open and incorporated many design similarities from the Scottish course.

However it was named, the lush high desert, the restaurants, the proximity to shopping, the views and the golf make living in Troon a destination that is unparalleled.

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• Troon North Golf Club
• Four Seasons Resort at Troon North

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Giada De Laurentiis is coming to Kierland Commons on Saturday, October 18th from 12 - 2pm to sign her new book Giada's Kitchen: New Italian Favorites. This is a ticketed event. To get a ticket you need to buy the book from Sur La Table (where the signing is to be held). The tickets/books we be available starting October 1st. This is a limited space event so if you want to meet Giada hurry over to Kierland Commons to pick up the book.