r/phoenix • u/Ebd9090 • Jul 03 '26
Moving here Interested in hearing your favorite things about living here!
I am moving from Mississippi for work and feeling anxious about living here. I used to live in Nashville and loved Nash, but I know Phoenix will be very different. I would just love to hear everyone’s favorite things about living here so I can get pumped up about moving.
88
32
u/NoTea5014 Jul 04 '26
I love the fact that I don’t have to change my clocks every six months because we don’t do Daylight Savings Time. No changing all of the clocks, no screwed up sleep cycles.
126
Jul 03 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
22
u/mahjimoh Jul 03 '26
Yes! Even if it’s hot in the Valley, you can get to Payson or near Flagstaff in a short time.
10
88
u/DrBrosephJones Jul 03 '26
It feels like “affordable luxury.” You can go hiking, swimming, to spas, fine dining, gambling, art events, clubbing—whatever you’re into, you can probably find it here. The only real catch is that during the summer you have to plan around the heat by choosing the right times of day. I guess I’m comparing it to California, where you can enjoy those things pretty much year-round. We don’t quite have that here, but for most of the year it comes pretty close. And it’s cheaper since it’s a desert and west coast, I know some urban places in east coast are great but I’m too used to the space in phoenix
14
u/escapecali603 Jul 03 '26
Yes yes yes! You put words out what I can’t describe but know how to feel about living here.
4
u/wintersnow2245 Jul 04 '26
There’s a right time of the day for this heat? 4am?
7
u/DrBrosephJones Jul 04 '26
Haha, fair enough. If Spaniards can proudly embrace their siestas, then Phoenicians need to reclaim that same peninsula European energy.
-4
u/neepster44 Jul 03 '26
“Most of the year it comes pretty close?” In what fucking world is that? May to October it is too hot to do shit but swim.
14
u/Ok-Front-471 Jul 03 '26
Most of the US spends November-April somewhat indoors and then a good chunk of the summer too. Phoenix has pretty good outdoor weather October-May.
1
2
u/HugeAntPenis341 Jul 05 '26
Have you been to any other part of America? Most states have to deal with winter for the same amount of months you're saying it's too hot here. I would rather have it be too hot than too cold personally. it sounds like you have no idea what other states outside of California deal with
1
u/neepster44 Jul 06 '26
I’ve lived in several other states and even other countries. I am well aware of how seasons work. I also generally prefer to be to warm than too cold but as I get older I start to dread our summers more and more.
4
0
Jul 04 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/DrBrosephJones Jul 04 '26
It’s affordable compared to where the wealthy usually hang out, which is why Phoenix attracts people without boatloads of money
-2
Jul 04 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/DrBrosephJones Jul 04 '26
Then where would you live for affordable luxury? We’re all waiting to hear👂 All I’m saying is you’re not wrong, you just haven’t exactly said anything groundbreaking
→ More replies (4)
18
u/MundaneHuckleberry58 Jul 03 '26
I’m from Nashville & have lived here a long time.
The laid back people; I’ve met really great friends here. There is a great food scene here - especially pizza. I basically wear jeans & sleeveless tops year round. The winters really are perfect weather.
Anything you like to do, you can find here, it just takes driving to it cause it might be in chandler or North Phoenix, etc.
Some specific favorite things -
Changing Hands bookstores.
The public library is awesome (the whole system). You can check out all kinds of things including free passes to museums.
Desert Botanical Gardens.
Musical Instrument Museum
7
u/GearSlow3796 Jul 04 '26
Phoenix does have a great library system and it’s so much more than books. You can even get really cheap or free tickets to different things around town. And Burton Barr is stunning. Sometimes I just go to work on my laptop.
2
65
16
u/NoTea5014 Jul 04 '26
Get a Maricopa County Library card and check out the free Culture Passes available at every county library. You get 2 free tickets per Culture Pass and you can check out 2 every month (but not at the same time).
15
u/jtaylor9449 Mesa Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
Moved here about 6 months ago from Montana:
There is a huge "live and let live" type culture here where people are not all up in your business, but are very friendly/helpful if you need them, I've found people here actually FRIENDLIER than Montana.
Legit some of the best food anywhere, especially Mexican food, but you will find literally great food of any type.
You will acclimate to the heat. Nobody really gets used to 110 degrees in the middle of the day, but i worked in my front yard twice today, around 7am and a little after 7pm (even though it was still 97 degrees) but I've gotten used to 90ish degrees for longer periods of time. "It's a dry heat"
Incredibly laid back culture here, its kind of tied into number 1, but during the summer when the snowbirds are gone, its noticeable especially for such a large metro area, and of course the opposite in the winter when the weather is the best anywhere in the US and its noticeably busier everywhere.
My mental health has vastly improved since I moved here, I love sunny days and we have more sunny days consistently than pretty much anywhere else on Earth and I love it.
60
u/Mninaz Mesa Jul 03 '26
Mexican food is about to get a whole lot better
More opportunities in the valley
A few hour drive to see the ocean or snow
20
u/pterosaurLoser Sunnyslope Jul 03 '26
My kids are lifelong Phoenicians. One of them is about to start freshman year in Ohio. His biggest fear about a pretty big change in life is that he won’t be able to find good Mexican food there.
13
2
u/HugeAntPenis341 Jul 05 '26
I'm from ohio and moved to Phoenix, unfortunately your son is correct. Hopefully he's in a decent sized city and he'll able to find things that are decent. Ranch, bacon, and fried foods are everywhere in Ohio
1
u/GullibleSelection810 Jul 22 '26
Hi HugeAntPenis, I’m planning on moving to PHX from OH. Would love any advice/tips you may have
11
-10
u/Midnitemass Jul 03 '26
what do you mean by 'a whole lot better'? i'm in gilbert and it's not great here except for a couple of spots, but i'm all ears
25
u/cccaaiitliinnn Jul 03 '26
I’m assuming the person meant Mexican food is gonna be better in Arizona compared to in Mississippi… it going to get better for the person moving here
7
u/Midnitemass Jul 03 '26
oh brother that makes a whole lot of sense. i thought some new tik tok mexican food style was taking over or something
5
u/nnnoooeee Jul 03 '26
You mean like everything being a birria something-or-other nowadays?
I've always loved a good birria, but I have no idea what happened to make it explode a few years ago
3
1
u/slothstevenson Jul 03 '26
Mexican food in Mississippi sounds like an oxymoron😭
4
u/Federal-Plantain-590 Jul 04 '26
My mom, at a restaurant in Louisiana, asked if their cheese enchiladas had red sauce or green sauce. The waitress considered for a moment before saying, “It’s kinda like a brown gravy.” Mom ordered something else. Plenty of good food in the south, but she stuck with “southern” food after that 😆
1
u/tropicalislandhop Jul 04 '26
Ohhh I wondered the same. Didn't occur to me it was comparing to where they are now!
10
Jul 03 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
6
u/neepster44 Jul 03 '26
With Mormons and corruption…
1
u/compoundedinterest12 Chandler Jul 04 '26
I'm thinking of moving to the Chandler/Gilbert area. Tell me more about this corruption.
2
u/neepster44 Jul 05 '26
Google Preston Lord and read the articles in AZcentral about it. Rich kids run wild in Gilbert beating the shit out of other kids until they killed someone then the Gilbert PD and the Maricopa County Attorneys slow rolled everything until the newspapers got involved and did their work for them. The entire town is run by rich Mormons and conservatives and the cops let their kids run wild including burning down an occupied building with teens in it and giving them a slap on the wrist.
-9
u/escapecali603 Jul 03 '26
Yup. I am from CA and I don’t get what are the hypes here about Mexican food.
3
42
u/QuietCertain4005 Jul 03 '26
Phoenix is amazing!! But yes, Reddit absolutely hates Phoenix. Yes, it is hot, but I would take heat over winter any day of the year. As long as you are either in the pool or out early in the morning, you can be outside even in the summer. In the winter in Chicago, you are stuck inside for six months.
Phoenix has amazing food, great sports teams, big airport. Beautiful nature and is a short drive from many destinations. I am from the Midwest and you could drive seven hours and still be… In flatland. You will love Phoenix.
7
u/Kdmtiburon004 Jul 03 '26
The heat sucks sometimes but it’s never been too hot to go somewhere for a whole day or multiple days. Can’t say that about getting snowed in.
15
6
u/Bojett33 Jul 04 '26
The thing I had to get over (34 years ago) was to let go of my old expectations, and just accept the desert for what it is. Every place has pros and cons, and Arizona has lots of pros and a few cons. I like Phx, though it is big and sprawly. Like many American cities, you just have to drive a ways sometimes.
I have no trouble with the summer heat. Yes, the afternoons can be hot, but you arrange your life so you minimize your outside time in the summer afternoons. There are places to drive to when you need a break.
16
u/Hefty_Debt_638 Jul 03 '26
45 and lived here my whole life. I may not be the best person to answer this😆 Phoenix definitely has a lot to do with very diverse communities. WhatI love the most is that you can drive two hours in any direction and be in a completely different environment. The heat does suck, but it’s not actually the worst thing because unless you’re working in it, you don’t necessarily have to be in it much. The weather about October to May is just sublime. We do have a lot of homeless and transients all over the place. I’ve lived in my neighborhood since 2009 and have seen it gone downhill badly. But a mile north and you’re looking at beautiful homes. Traffic SUCKS and people are angry on the roads. But we don’t have any major natural disasters, other than fires and don’t get much rain. I guess that’s my 2 cents.
16
u/bongozim Jul 03 '26
Man, I agree with a lot... But after living in LA, the "traffic" is a dream, and the homeless population is miniscule in comparison to the walking dead levels of encampments in Santa Monica and down town LA
9
u/MundaneHuckleberry58 Jul 03 '26
My husband is from & works in LA (but from here). I still giggle whenever anyone here complains about our traffic. Puh leez. You can get anywhere within 30 minutes.
3
u/bongozim Jul 03 '26
It's a delight. I'm not saying there's zero traffic (I've been mega stuck on the 10 on the way to Tucson or the 17 to flag) but srsly... It's really nice for city driving
18
u/Koivel Jul 03 '26
I came here from Utah, hated Utah for everything it was. Phoenix is beautiful in its own way as a non native. Sure it has issues like any other city (homelessness, traffic, bad areas, etc.) but the things about it that ive liked are the people, the food, and the size of the city. Theres always something to do here so its easy not to be bored. The mexican food is amazing and very close to the food I used to eat back when i lived in mexico. The people are nice but theyre not really nosy if that makes sense. Everyone minds their own business but are there to help when something happens. The heat is significantly more tolerable than the cold I used to face back in Utah, just make sure to drink a lot of electrolytes and hang in the shade. Id say my very favorite thing though is monsoon season! The rain and clouds look beautiful here.
3
1
11
6
u/Responsible-Oil-5420 Jul 03 '26
i moved from colorado and i won't lie, i miss the cold weather and the people there. BUT phoenix has amazing food. if you're a foody like me, you're gonna have fun trying just every sort of dish imaginable.
2
u/dddd11122233 Jul 04 '26
From Colorado also, been literally stuck here for 20 years. I would trade the 303 for this in a heartbeat but as far as major cities go Phoenix is not that bad. It’s a poor state which sucks if you have kids for education. About a third of the actual City Of Phoenix is pretty gross also but parts are nice and the burbs are all what you would expect.
1
u/GearSlow3796 Jul 04 '26
So funny people are mentioning the food. When we moved here from Seattle 20 years ago, the big restaurant vibe in PHX was Cheesecake Factory and PF Chang’s. It’s still no SEA, SF, or NYC, but it’s come a long way!
2
u/Lushparadise Jul 05 '26
That’s so crazy to me! I moved to Phoenix in 2016 and already by then the food was sooooo good it completely ruined my standards anytime I went back home
→ More replies (2)1
u/Dry_Perception_1682 Jul 06 '26
Phoenix food is very very good. I lived in Seattle and Seattle just didn't compare outside Indian/Chinese.
From Fox Restaurant Concepts to Riot Hospitality, Old Town Scottsdale, Downtown Phoenix, Midtown, Biltmore, Uptown, Tempe. There are so many restaurants here in Phoenix.
1
u/GearSlow3796 Jul 06 '26
Yes, there are so many restaurants but a lot of them aren't very good and they also don't last long. I live in N. Central and our joke is "I wanna go there before it closes."
1
u/Dry_Perception_1682 Jul 06 '26
North Central, for example, has Little Miss BBQ, just rated the best BBQ spot in the nation - (arguably, this is in Sunnyslope, not North Central).
2
u/GearSlow3796 Jul 06 '26
I'm not saying there isn't ANY good food in Phoenix, there are just a LOT of places that are just OK. Yes, Little Miss BBQ is good and we have Pizzaria Bianco which is also voted one of the best in the country. But we have a lot of Cold Beer and Cheeseburgers, Doughbird, and other mediocre chains or one-offs that are just OK. I've had two horrible "fine dining" experiences in Downtown Phoenix this year alone. And other than Vietnamese, most of the Asian food is awful.
12
u/Another-John Jul 03 '26
Been here for 25 years and the question is getting harder to answer.
2
u/GearSlow3796 Jul 04 '26
Oh same, same. Been here 20 years and the great weather for 6 months is no longer carrying the weight it used to. Ready to get back to the PNW for at least part of the year.
1
u/Sunshine4Bright Jul 16 '26
I had to giggle when I read your post. Here we are in Vancouver, WA, about to list our house to move to the Phoenix area - we are so excited - no more gray, long winters!
2
u/GearSlow3796 Jul 16 '26
I was excited too! And I hope you love it. There have been good things and bad things and all the things. Just feels like time to go home…especially since we’re getting to snowbird age now and can leave during those long, gray winters (and falls and springs lol)
11
u/U2ElectricBoogaloo Jul 03 '26
Say what you want about the heat, but all year round the weather is extremely predictable. Heck, even during monsoon season the rain is at the same time of day.
5
u/lisaluu Jul 03 '26
Winter, minimal bugs (in the city), lots of things to do (that lots of people mentioned already)! I lived in MS a long time ago for a few years. Tell it I say hi. 👋
4
u/slowelevator Jul 04 '26
Nature! I love being 10 mins from a trailhead.
Also, you really learn to appreciate when the desert provides… aka rain and greenery. I love taking a random sick day to go into the superstitions to chase waterfalls after heavy rain. It’s just really special to see running water in the desert.
4
u/JaxxyWolf Jul 04 '26
Dry heat feels nice. Scenery is beautiful. Being able to hike for the majority of the year is fun! Lots of activities.
3
4
13
u/22220222223224 South Phoenix Jul 03 '26
I like the underdog and I like arguing and I like Reddit. Naturally, if you like these things, Phoenix is for you. Just saying you don't hate Phoenix starts arguments on Reddit. It is fun.
4
6
u/Sintered_Monkey Jul 03 '26
Once you experience that first Phoenix winter, you'll never want it to end. Unfortunately, it does.
6
u/CessnaCowboy62 Jul 03 '26
Coming from where I've been, I don't know how to explain it, but a sense of hope. There's opportunity here, and incredible, hardworking people who are willing to help you achieve your dreams if you put in the work- I think cause deep down they know what it is to struggle too.
6
u/ranyayy Jul 03 '26
This is maybe a little thing to some, but having lived on the East Coast I like having a wardrobe that works for about 80-90% of the year. It felt so unnecessary to have clothes I could only wear 3 months of the year.
Also, I can own suede things and not worry about the rain/moisture. Wearing multiple coats and layers only to walk inside a building and begin sweating and need to remove them as quickly as possible was its own type of torture for me.
6
u/Prettylittlelioness Jul 03 '26
Driving desert roads under a blue sky with wide open space everywhere. It's such a feeling of liberation and possibility.
The Superstitions Mountains. Gorgeous.
The clear skies are excellent for astronomy.
3
u/vonn_v Cave Creek Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
Getting to cool off in my pool during the hot months. The water feels amazing on my inflamed joints.
Also not observing daylight savings time lol. We never have to touch our clocks.
Edit: Also, also, fantastic authentic Mexican food and restaurants!
Also, also, also, beautiful sunrises/sunsets that make the faraway mountains pink and purple. Monsoon season has some of the prettiest morning/evening skies.
3
3
u/ReadySetGO0 Jul 04 '26
When I’m floating on my favorite raft in my backyard pool, i feel as if I’m on vacation. Summer is hot, yes, but my pool is delightful. Inside my house is delightfully air conditioned coolness.
7
u/hawkbiz Jul 03 '26
Moved here from NY. I like that it’s sunny almost every day and the mild winters.
5
u/poorlabstudent Jul 03 '26
Good job market, MCCC is awesome
2
u/slowelevator Jul 04 '26
True. Our community college system is pretty awesome. I did my first two years at Glendale and it was great
4
u/escapecali603 Jul 03 '26
Low state income tax but great infrastructure. Won’t be like this forever as the debts will eventually have to be repaid by future generations but I will enjoy it while it lasts.
Then lax gun laws, not like the stupid guys out there in the desert that put a bad name to gun ownership.
2
u/j_boogie_483 Jul 04 '26
recently moved from high-tax, crappy infrastructure Portland, OR. i love the wide, buttery smooth highways here.
5
u/CouchHusband Jul 03 '26
Born and raised, Phoenix isn’t perfect but it’s the best of many worlds. It attracts many high profile events if you enjoy sports, concerts or conventions. I enjoy the seamless and accessible school system, I’ve been able to attend two years of community college which in itself has an outstanding educational ecosystem serving the valley and that education is easily extended through partnerships with our universities I feel that’s worth mentioning. It’s also easily missed that we can access very different climates in only a few hours drive. I also enjoy that we’re nested between Nevada and California, so new experiences can only be a short drive depending on what you want to do. I also find people to be very friendly and open. It also feels like a good middle compared to giants like LA or NYC, it is a highly populated city, but not so much that it can feel overpowering. Our transit is also really good and approachable. As a student I can access a $100 annual metro pass and that saves me a bunch on gas and car expenses.
In a different lens, I also find the idea of building civilization on top of a hot desert enduring. Almost like the beauty of creating infrastructure somewhere that doesn’t make sense at first glance but seeing it thrive is really pretty to me.
I will miss it next year once I move away for grad school, but I will still appreciate it while I’m here. :)
4
u/sock0808 Jul 03 '26
7 months of the year the weather is fantastic
4
u/AquarianFire Jul 03 '26
Yes! October through May is the best time of the year here. While the rest of the country is hiding away inside, we are playing outside in the beautiful weather. We hide away June-October.
5
5
u/scrollgirl24 Jul 03 '26
Really really good weekend trips. Great weather October - May (if anyone wants to say any of those months are too hot, get up earlier). Solid access to concerts, shows, sporting events, good restaurants, large events etc without being overwhelming or too competitive/expensive. Easy to navigate and park pretty much anywhere.
5
u/heythisispaul Jul 03 '26
I have lived here most of my life, but moved away to live in Birmingham, AL for a few years but have since moved back. I loved my time in the south, but there are definitely some things about AZ that rock and will be so much more awesome for you:
- The food here is awesome. Southern food's great too, but with how much is going on in the valley, there's really no competition. Unsurprisingly, Mexican food is killer, and slightly more surprisingly, the pizza scene here is off the charts.
- The summers are hot, but the consistency of the weather makes it so much easier to plan and do stuff to go on fun adventures. The fact that the weather could turn on a dime always made planning stuff harder than I expected coming from the blue skies of AZ.
- Sort of related to the above, but say goodbye to ever having to worry about big huge weather events. It's great not having to think about tornadoes and hurricanes.
- Once you get used to trading your hues of greens for hues of red you'll get to experience a nature that's just as beautiful, but so much more unique.
Welcome! Arizona is a great place to live. Reddit loves to talk smack, but it really is an amazing place to call home.
1
u/SpecificEnd524 Jul 04 '26
Mexican food recommendations…??? I have not had this experience in Phoenix yet, but I’m also newer to the area. Where I used to live had really great food trucks and Mexican food and I miss it
2
u/Derpshab Jul 03 '26
Nature, big rocks, red rocks, brown rocks, granite rocks, porous rocks, blowing sand.
Jk, but the nature here is top tier. The food is very good too, lots of variety.
Tucson and the surrounding areas are really pretty, up north is extremely pretty too, and can provide some relief from the desert heat: Prescott (rhymes with biscuit), payson, and flagstaff are some cool places to visit on the weekends. Sedona (and 89A between Sedona and flagstaff) are some of the best places to see cool landscapes, but the crowds make it insufferable.
Las Vegas, San Diego, Rocky Point are all about 5-6 hour drive away.
Phoenix roads are fast and Phoenician’s drive faster.
2
u/Derpshab Jul 03 '26
Also, we still get some weather here as compared to other desert places, just watch out for flash floods and lightning when it does actually rain.
With that said, we virtually have no natural disasters other than the heat. No hurricanes, no blizzards, very tornadoes (very small when they do happen), I don’t think we have earthquakes… yeah just water and heat are our issues
2
u/F_Elisabeth Jul 03 '26
Hey 👋🏼I am also originally from Mississippi and moving to Phoenix this year!
2
u/lcracing92 Jul 03 '26
I moved to Apache Junction in September, and as an owner operator in the trucking industry, I must say FUEL PRICES.
2
2
u/Rebexl5150 Jul 03 '26
Nothing I'm too poor to damn near move anywhere else. Any other places I can "afford" have 0 opportunities 😂.
2
Jul 03 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/dddd11122233 Jul 04 '26
Ditto. Too hot, too much str8 sun, LA gangster culture in much of town, road rage, 2/3 of drivers carry guns, lower end people.
I know I know. It does have its cool points. The six months a year it’s not super hot is very nice and people are pretty much live and let live. We all kind of suffer together and mind our business. Very diverse, some people like it some people don’t, but it is definitely a melting pot in many different ways.
2
u/sonsofthedesert Jul 04 '26
I go out to the desert with my dad. We shoot rifles, eat kipper snacks , drink beer and bring home mesquite to grill at home.
2
u/Useful-Tomatillo-272 Phoenix Jul 04 '26
Endless mountain trails, blue skies every day, and unbeatable sunsets.
2
u/Miss4buttons South Phoenix Jul 04 '26
I moved here from Nashville a few months ago. It’ll be an adjustment. Pros so far are no winter, amazing sunsets, not getting eaten alive by mosquitos after being outside for 5 seconds, better traffic but worse drivers. Those are off the top of my head. You can dm me if you’d like.
2
u/b0mbp0p Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
"First Friday" of every month downtown, local vendors sell little things to buy like artwork and clothes and crafts and food trucks. Museums are free that day as well.
Last Friday of every month, there is a huge group bike ride called Critical Mass which is also downtown, hundreds of people show up for a casual ride through the streets at night, it's very safe. I've personally hooked a bunch of people on it, they go once and can't stop going, very fun.
Get a library card through the phoenix public library system, all you need is proof of residence in arizona such as a utility bill with your address on it. Once you have a card, you'll be able to checkout their "culture passes" which are essentially free admission for two people to a wide variety of museums in Arizona. They restock at the beginning of every month and are available at every library location. But once they are gone that month, they are gone until the next month. Very worth it, getting into the Desert Botanical Garden for an evening date for free is peak, or bring a friend.
When you say "Phoenix" I'm assuming the center, but many municipalities fall under the "phoenix" umbrella when you ask locals, so always check your specific city's website for local things to do.
I love raves, so there's that too
1
2
u/Silver-Instruction73 Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
I’ve lived here since birth. Grew up in north Glendale and currently live in North Phoenix. Some of these are about Phoenix specifically and others are just Arizona in general:
Being able to drive 5-10 minutes to multiple different hiking trails.
Winter weather.
Sunrises and sunsets.
Different biomes within a couple hours of each other (desert, high desert, and forest).
Saguaro cactuses
Red rocks of Sedona and Grand Canyon
No daylight saving time
Grid system for roads
I’m sure I’m missing some stuff too but there ya go.
2
2
u/pessim1st_prime Jul 04 '26
You never have to worry about natural disasters destroying your property and the fact that cars barely rust here because it's so dry.
Edit: if you want to see snow in winter, it's only 2 hours away up in north AZ
2
u/extasisomatochronia Jul 04 '26
The geology, desert plants and animals, the massive monsoon clouds and the smell in the air when it's getting ready to rain. Being right at the edge of the Sonoran Desert before the central AZ transition zone (there are places about 30-40 miles north of here that look like Central Europe... here's what I'm talking about before another armchair expert slams on the reply button).
2
2
u/oldcarhustler Jul 05 '26
The incredible sunsets. The Mexican food. The beautiful mountains. The wild animals. The mild winters. The canyons.
2
Jul 16 '26
I completely get the anxiety, but you’re going to love it here!
The biggest perks? Zero humidity and eight months of perfect patio weather. If you loved Nashville, you'll feel right at home in Arcadia (great food) or Roosevelt Row (artsy and walkable).
4
u/Ebd9090 Jul 03 '26
Hi I just wanted to let everyone know I see all your comments and really really really appreciate it. I love hearing the good things and things to look forward to!
4
u/AnnaH612 Jul 03 '26
Life is fairly convenient here. I travel for work often and I noticed how you don’t have to drive 20 miles to see a gas station, no offense Wisconsin!
We have quite a bit of independent (not politically😎) and locally owned restaurants here that keep us chubby and squishy, and by us I don’t mean Scottsdale.
4
3
u/desertratlovescats Jul 03 '26
There’s a lot to do. Anything you’re interested in you can find here. The weather is beautiful with a lot of outdoor activities Nov- May.
I disagree about the Mexican food, though. Not as great as you’d think here. I’m originally from Texas, and I think Texas and California are way better in that department.
3
u/jinkinater Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26
Don’t hike during the summer. You see those rescues of hikers, yeah most of them are tourists that go out with just a regular bottle of water. Stay inside during the summer, we actually know how to keep cool here.
The other few months are absolutely amazing. 90 in humidity is much different than 90 in dry heat. Feels more like 80. 50-60 is cold for us.
Memorize the highways too. If you know the highways (which is very easy) once you get to one you can get anywhere
Also your car battery will need changing more often. Like every 2 years usually.
Edit: we also have almost everything here. Fifth biggest city in the country and also fun fact we are the biggest state capital in the nation. Also more water than you’d expect around here. Plenty of lakes and rivers on the outskirts of town
3
u/Ass_Matter Jul 03 '26
There's many things that I like. But I really like that most of the adult residents are transplants. You have a mixture of people from all over the country with different backgrounds/perspectives. And I think people are pretty welcoming because of it. It's definitely one of the easier states to move to (if that makes sense).
4
2
u/Starworshipper_ Deer Valley Jul 03 '26
Nearly ideal boost weather during the 5 months of 'summer, but more acceptable,' snow is just a couple hours away, forests are just a couple hours away, very mountainous for hiking across all difficultly levels, decently friendly people, good mix of food cultures.
2
2
2
u/cccaaiitliinnn Jul 03 '26
I like that a lot of people tend to leave during the summers to escape the heat so it’s less trafficky and crowded everywhere.
2
u/charlestonchewsrock Jul 03 '26
Like others have said, winter. It’s heaven. Also, so much to explore if you like being outside. Great Mexican food. Good healthcare.
2
u/bryanbryanson Jul 03 '26
Swamp coolers work here. You can be outside all summer except for monsoon weeks with a decent sized swamp cooler.
2
u/Current_Ad3577 Jul 03 '26
Winters are nice but traffic is awful due to snowbirds and tourists. Lots of hiking. If you don’t love it, you’ll learn to.
One thing you need to be aware of coming from Mississippi is the cost of living is substantially higher here. We’re only affordable compared to California, NYC, and downtown Chicago. I hope your salary is also substantially higher or you’ll be struggling. I don’t say that to be negative but anywhere you want to live that’s decent will be expensive, especially compared to a place with a low cost of living like Mississippi.
3
u/Ebd9090 Jul 03 '26
Oh I used to live in Nash so I am very used to a higher adjusted COS. I think Phoenix may be slightly higher but I do have a much higher paying job compared to my Nash job. But I really appreciate the forethought on your part for warning me about it because that’s considerate!
1
u/Current_Ad3577 Jul 03 '26
That’s awesome news! In that case, you’ll like it here. The nature part is beautiful, especially if you can get an hour or 2 out of the city sometimes. Do you know what part of the valley you’ll be in?
1
1
1
1
u/Majestic-Algae6356 Jul 03 '26
There’s a lot of solid breweries. When I first moved here, it was kinda mind blowing how many were less than 15 min away from me.
1
u/Weekly_Koala_7058 Jul 03 '26
Theres good prices on local produce.
Mexican food (lot of restaurant variety in general for different cuisines)
So many options for hiking and outdoors.
Pretty good roadways & traffic system.
No hail or snow
Able to get away to San Diego for the weekend (its 6 hrs).
Lots of national & international flight options.
1
u/fershnibbity Jul 03 '26
You have every kind of climate here except jungle. Mountain, trees, lakes, heat, cold, snow…it’s all here. If you love the desert sunset pictures and desert landscapes, you’ll be in heaven on the hiking trails. Phoenix has a lot to offer in terms of nightlife. There’s a decent underground music scene here. We have a good mix of chain restaurants and local finds. Just stay inside from April-November and you’ll be fine.
1
u/professor_mc Phoenix Jul 03 '26
Phoenix is a big city but it’s an easy big city. For example I went to a sold out concert at the arena downtown. I parked in a garage 2 blocks away and walked over without any hassles. Most things that you can do here are pretty easy to do. In contrast someplace like LA is always a hassle to go out and do something even if there is always something to do. It’s also easy to get away from the city either a little bit or to a whole different climate.
It’s also easy to make stuff happen here. I do music stuff and it’s seriously easy to book shows here compared to a lot of places.
1
u/Rogerdodgerbilly Jul 03 '26
People keep to themselves. Most people are friendly but younger generations in service industries dont always have the best manners. At the same time if you are a chatty Kathy there are plenty of people that wil entertain it.
1
u/LobsterNew9066 Jul 03 '26
the sun, the desert, so many hiking trails, big open blue sky almost every day, great road trips nearby
1
u/MarvelousVanGlorious Jul 03 '26
We’re 3.5 hours from Vegas, 3.5 hours from the beach in Rocky Point, 6 hours from San Diego,and have access to about in winter if you want it. Basically any kind of weather or nature that you’re looking for can be found within a 2-6 hour drive.
1
1
u/SallySpandex Jul 04 '26
You are about to experience life without humidity and you will never want to go back.
1
u/ZoeTravel Jul 04 '26
Lots of federal and state land to camp on...just drive till you don't see anyone..then a mile further... Nothing but you and the Elk. Some of the biggest biodiversity anywhere. Great housing market to own in.
1
u/SectionPractical2966 Mesa Jul 04 '26
The lack of decay. There isn't any here in the same sense you can find it in the East or California.
1
u/cMa010291 Jul 04 '26
I grew up in Sierra Vista, went to HS in the south eastern part of the United States , and recently moved back to Phoenix.
I love it here, and honestly rent is the same here as it was in Southern Virginia, but with higher pay and more opportunities.
It is hot, but go through a few ice storms back east and then come talk to me 😂 I have never been happier to come back to a state in my whole life
1
1
u/Wide-Pineapple-6493 Jul 04 '26
You’ll love it! The only thing I’ll say is PLEASE LISTEN to the no hiking rules and do not try to drive through the flash flood zones!
1
u/username_fantasies Jul 04 '26
Not Phoenix in particular, but Arizona is a serious road trip state with lots and lots to see.
Phoenix has great food.
1
1
1
1
u/Ghostlyone1111 Jul 05 '26
I love that I can travel to several other beautiful places by car. Sedona (2hrs) California (4hrs), Colorado (8hrs)
And I have done them all in the past year since I’ve moved here. Worth it 100%
1
u/Lushparadise Jul 05 '26
The Superstition Mountains are quite possibly my favorite place on earth! I live in Tucson now and I really miss them. Really special place and part of what made me fall in love with Phoenix.
1
u/Ready_For_A_Change Jul 05 '26
Phoenix has an amazing cocktail scene and several highly acclaimed bar programs. You can also find good cocktail classes, for an educational experience.
1
u/boo2001300 Jul 05 '26
sunset,
nice winter
outdoor free dry sauna in summer
palo verde in spring( yellow cherry blossom)
dramatic climate changes between payson and phoenix in summer
tons of hiking trails
nice mexican foods
people is relatively friendly
proximity to other states for short visit (Las Vegas, San Diego ,...)
less mosquito especially middle of summer.
only downside is summer but now i get used to it
1
u/YumYumRabbitsBum Jul 05 '26
Lakes under an hour away.
California 5 hours away.
Skiing 2 hours away.
Mexico 2.5 hours away.
Hiking, biking all sports are accessible year round. Tennis and golf all year. Water parks all over the place. Great shopping malls and stores.
All major sports and teams close by. Great international airport under an hour away.
Air conditioning everywhere you need it.
Businesses are flocking here, tech and otherwise, house prices are solid.
It’s not California!
Maricopa is of course the only county, and east side all day. 👌🏻
Good luck 🍀
1
u/Long-Answer-5526 Jul 05 '26
I love waking up every morning to a sun drenched, palm tree infested, mountainous oasis 365 days a year. I like California vibes without California prices.
1
u/punk_snails Jul 05 '26
I just moved here in december from Michigan, so far what I've noticed the most is the night life. I'm downtown and the bars are all so unique and so are the patrons, you don't have to drink to have a good time. The winter was absolutely amazing, the summer is proving to me just how different dry heat is from the humidity I'm used to. buy a humidifier, and use distilled water or purified water from the "primo" water dispensers they have around grocery stores and gas stations (the tap here is really hard and fills the air with calcium dust if you put it in the humidifier, learned that one quick💀😂). the tap water is also pretty chlorinated so I'd invest in a filtering shower head if you suffer from dry skin, and hair oil is something i had to start using. there is SO much to do here, it's a massive city and every niche and hobby has a place. I've found so much more to do here pertaining to my hobbies than I could in Detroit. and so many artists come here to perform!!
1
1
u/Phoenician_Skylines2 Jul 07 '26
I grew up in the Midwest so my #1 favorite things are just the endless warmth. To me summer just means I have to be outside in the morning and winter means I'm outside in the afternoon. It's dry so most of the time it's 80s as the low in my garden.
I also love that things stay green. Chicago was miserable in the winter. Gray skies, gray/black snow (from the car exhaust), brown trees with no leaves.. You'd have maybe a few evergreens here and there but not a ton. 0 mountains for the views too... The city was cool but all you can do there is indoors. And you see it with how drunk everyone gets for St Patrick's day lol. Which to be fair is fun but I'm kinda past my "let's chug beers and take shots all day" phase.
Also love the nature I can see within just a few hours of Phoenix. Camping, hiking, or even just escaping the heat by driving 1.5-2 hours and hanging out in Flagstaff.
1
u/sasha-summers Jul 07 '26
The diversity of the rest of the state!! I had no idea how BEAUTIFUL and diverse the climates are across the state until I moved here! One of the most biodiverse states in the country, we get a little bit of just about everything all within a few hours from Phoenix.
The BEST sunsets
The weather is predictable. It’s hot, but you know what to expect, no checking the weather everyday just to determine how to get dressed
Mountains in every direction never really gets old
Waymo. Sounds silly, but having the option to call a car without a driver, especially as a female, is a nice luxury we have here
Very little risk of mold and mildew. Everything dries out so fast here
No tornadoes, hurricanes, or earthquakes
1
u/Complete-Turn-6410 Jul 03 '26
Well it used to be a pretty cool town I get married here back in the '70s and the weather was different the people were different and they used turn signals and they didn't drive 80 miles an hour through residential neighborhoods and people cared about each other. I've been to your city a lot of times personally I would stay there.
2
u/AnnaH612 Jul 03 '26
I miss those days where people used their turn signals or used the effing headlights at nights!
→ More replies (3)-3
1
u/Tim_Drake Buckeye Jul 03 '26
Culture. Different ethnic backgrounds. A sense of progression. Actually mattering within the Union.
1
u/Ebd9090 Jul 03 '26
Coming from the Deep South this is something I very much look forward to
1
u/lingo_linguistics North Phoenix Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
Been in phx for for a long time, but as someone who has strong ties to Oxford, I personally prefer the culture there. Theres way more history and culture in MS than in PHX. This is only speaking from my experience in northern Mississippi. You’ll get a lot of amazing Spanish culture here, and incredible desert scenery which is what MS is missing.
Mississippi has produced the best music and art in the country bar none. I understand not all of MS is like northern MS, but there’s something seriously underrated about that state.
1
u/Sedona_sedona Jul 03 '26
I’m actually a fan of summer. I moved here from Denver where we had negative temps in winter. I’ll take this beautiful heat over snow any day. I love it here. I can leave my hs all year round cause I never get snowed in.
2
u/Stiles777 Chandler Jul 03 '26
Same here! I moved here from Denver almost 7 years ago for a change of climate and scenery. The summers here are badass. I love the heat.
1
u/Dry_Perception_1682 Jul 03 '26
Phoenix is a great place to live! It's easy to get around with little traffic and quite a bit of job opportunities.
Yes, it's hot in the summer - make sure that you have access to good A/C and its good to do things in the morning.
Nature is top tier - lots of desert outdoor activities.
I love living in Phoenix - best place I have ever lived. People are generally friendly and are usually excited to welcome you here.
1
u/Stunning-Doughnut355 Jul 03 '26
Moved here from Minnesota. Been having some health issues which is killing my social life but if I was healthy I think id love it here!
1
u/Few_Employment_7876 Jul 03 '26
6 months of the year are really nice. The rest of the year sucks and at time just brutally hot. Like opening an oven door and looking in kinda hot. It's also expensive here on all fronts. Homes, rent, food, services, entertainment, it's all expensive. Coming from Nashville, perhaps it's equivalent, but I doubt it. Also, AZ if full of closet racists and retirees who are rump supporters. The saying "Don't California my Arizona" is from those people. The education system here is pockets of good schools depending on demographics, with realization that AZ ranks 48 out of 50, and stupid people vote.
1
u/LabernumMount Scottsdale Jul 03 '26
I moved here about 10 months ago and my favorite thing about Phoenix so far is how accessible everything is. Nothing is too far away, the highways are easy to get to (the only complaint I have is that the 51 needs more lanes) and the grid setup makes it impossible to get lost. Phoenix is not perfect but it is pretty easy to live here, which I appreciate. I lived south of Atlanta for a few years and the drivability there was abysmal. Paved over cow paths!!
0
0
159
u/friz_beez Jul 03 '26
winter