relocation (Phoenix, Flagstaff, Prescott: apartment complexes, rental, scorpions)

[mmdunlop]

I am considering moving to Prescott Arizona and would appreciate any comments about what life is like in this Town. I come from upstate NY where winters are terrible, horribly cold with a lot of snow and ice. Summers are nice but can be quite humid.

I don't mind the cooler weather but don't want the humidity. I do have a hightened fear of spiders and understand there are scorpions/tarantulas in Arizona, however, unsure if they life at the higher elevations. Snakes and other wild life don't bother me.

[Steve-o]

Yes, snakes and scorpions/tarantulas/etc live in all areas of AZ, more so in the south, but the northern half of the state is also crawling, so to speak. Just watch where you step, dont put your hands and feet where you cant see them and you should be fine. Scorpions wont attack you unless you really bother them or roll over on one, etc. Tarantulas are completely harmless and are quite shy, nothing to worry about. Snakes will bite if provoked too, but generally want absolutely nothing to do with you. A lady in AZ just died from a rattler bite, so absolute precaution is necessary when outdoors in the wild.

[BriansPerspective]

Hey mmdunlop, my wife is from upstate NY - Ballston Spa, near Albany. We came to Prescott for the same reasons. We were tired of the cold, cloudy winters. It's cool here in the winter (40-50), but the sun is almost always shining. I have personally never seen any scorpions in Prescott, but others have seen them. I have seen turantulas and snakes. The turantulas move about a mile an hour, so they're not overly threatening apart from their looks. I have only seen bull and king snakes, which are [i]good[/] snakes. Supposedly they eat rattle snakes. I have never seen a rattle snake here, but like Steve-o said, a 60-some year old lady in Pauldin got bit and died. It's very rare to die from a bite - I think she was by herself for a while before someone found her unconscious.

As for life here, we certainly love it. There are lots of posts in here touting the good and bad qualities of Prescott and the surrounding areas. Whether you like Prescott or not depends on what you are looking for in a place to live. If you have some specific questions, we can answer them. Or if you list some things that you are looking for in a city, we can tell you whether or not Prescott fits the items on your list.

Cheers,
Brian

[Gretchen B]

I agree with Brian - not overly scary here when it comes to bugs, snakes, etc. I have seen a few (5 in 6 years) scorpions around, but I think I'm the exception to the rule. Most people up here have never seen them. And I've only seen a couple of garden snakes in the road. I've got friends that are native-Prescottonians (if that's what you call us) who do a lot of hiking and they say they've never seen a rattler. I hope I never do!!!

Prescott will appeal to you if you like a town of about 35,000 with some historical character and a vibrant downtown centered around "Courthouse Square". When you include Prescott Valley and Chino Valley the population of the "tri-cities" area is about 85,000. We've got your typical big box stores here, but also many mom & pop stores and restaurants, too.

If you like a fast-paced city life, then Prescott probably isn't for you. But if you like a "mountain town" with a real community feel, then I think you'd probably want to check us out.

My favorite things, having moved here from the Midwest: MILD winters but with a little bit of snow occasionally, temperate summers, and extended spring and fall. The other thing I really like is the location. Lots of hiking, and we're only about an hour away from places like Sedona, and about 1-1/2 hrs away from Flagstaff (skiing) and Phoenix (palm trees).

My least favorite things: Quite a bit of traffic for the size of the community. Lots of commercial development - some of it impacting the scenery.

All in all, though, I'm so glad we moved here. Haven't regretted it yet!

[mmdunlop]

gretchen

how long have you lived in prescott? Do you rent or own? Has the altitude ever bothered you. What is the difference inl iving in prescott versus prescott valley or chino valley or Dewey?

Are there areas that are less suitable than others to live in. What are rental properties like (apartment complexes) and are there many?

Just a few questions.

Thanks