Northwest Phoenix

[observer53]

Originally Posted by BuckeyeBoyDJ

If you look at the Phoenix Urban Villages map the North Mountain Village area extends west of I17 to 43rd Ave but I agree that the real North Mountain area is east of I17. I call anything west of I17 within a few miles of Metrocenter the "Metrocenter Area".

Most people either don't know those villages exist, or if they do, don't know their boundaries (I would not have known this one for sure) . If you say "North Mountain" to long time residents (like me) they think North Mountain Park, which is considerably east of where the OP is looking. I use that "Metrocenter area" descriptor too.

[grmi66]

Not to get too off topic but I climbed to Phoenix's highpoint last month and from where I was you could draw a straight line to the marquee at the outlets in Anthem when I looked eastward.

I might be optimistic, but I think that as gas prices continue to go up along with a new found appreciation for late 60's & early 70's architecture the MetroCenter area has a decent shot of bouncing back. It's one of the few places in the valley that puts you within 30 minutes of everything. I like to go trail running and peak bagging so my criteria is different than most people. From Metrocenter I can be at South Mountain, Camelback, the White Tanks, the Estrellas, all the peaks around Lake Pleasant, the peaks around Anthem & Cave Creek all in 30 minutes or so. Within 20 minutes of Thunderbird Park, Sonoran Mtn Preserve, Squaw Peak, Lookout Mountain and Dreamy Draw. Shaw Butte & North Mountain are 10 minutes away. This is what makes Phoenix unique for me, you can live in the middle of one of the largest metro areas in the country, yet able to escape into the desert in a half an hour.