From Niagara Falls to Phoenix (Flagstaff: apartment, how much, home)

[Falls14303]

I spent last week in downtown Phoenix; the purpose of my trip was to run the Arizona Marathon (which was a great time!). The more I walked around, spent time around Roosevelt Row and the Garfield neighbourhood, felt the warm sun, even met some nice people. I could see myself living there. There are things happening in Phoenix, new housing construction, new ideas and new businesses opening. Where I've lived most of my life seems to be the home of big dreams that just never happen. I didn't realize how isolated I felt here and how much time I spent looking for one job/one apartment/one thing that would change the reality of bad luck here.
Then I went out to Phoenix and realized there's so much more out there. I would love to be somewhere affordable (it's just me so a studio apartment suits me just fine - I don't need a car either; I love the outdoors hiking or walking/running and the Y downtown in Phoenix is awesome.

However, this is January - when I left to go to Phoenix it was -25 wind-chill in Niagara Falls and it'd been that way for nearly two weeks. Landing in Phoenix felt like paradise in comparison. My question is...and I already know the partial answer - what's it like there between, say, May and October? I'm well aware of the heat but is it something where you can go walking or jogging at 6am and be fine? Can you get out and walk during the day despite the heat or is it truly unbearable? If you're new to Phoenix, is there anything you learned after moving there that made you think 'if I had known this before moving out there, I would have reconsidered'?

This is my second post on here so I'm hoping to engage in some good discussion with everyone. Thanks!

[phx1205]

You will get responses from 2 groups of people: Those that don’t mind the heat and will tell you no problem to go walking/jogging in the morning and evening; and those that tell you that it is so miserable you will not want to leave your apartment for 4 months straight.

So really the only for you to know how you feel about it is to come out for a week or two in July. See for yourself if you like it and can handle it. That is the only way for you to know.

[BIG CATS]

Oh, here come the "I visited and love it" New Yorkers. Come here in late June when its 118 out and walk around. All week.

[DetroitN8V]

Thanks for sharing your positive experience! I think you're right. There's a lot going on and it's a pretty cool place to be. It's definitely hot in the spring and summer, but not nearly as miserable as the cold, snow and gloom IMO and life certainly goes on despite the heat. Come for a return visit in the summer and see for yourself. That's really the only way to know how you'll feel about it. Everyone has different tolerances to weather.

[Ponderosa]

I visited Niagara Falls in the summer a couple years back. Aside from the pot holes in the roads, it was paradise compared to Phoenix in summer as well as most of spring and fall. Those summer days will make a shut in out of you and even if you go out, you will fight the crowds and the traffic. There are far too many people here already for the resources available such as roads and recreation and everyday is a struggle to find personal space.

[kitshipp]

It's hot as hell but your body will acclimate (hopefully).

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by kitshipp

It's hot as hell but your body will acclimate (hopefully).

Somewhat. But then you sit around in December and January cold and shivering and bundled up in layers until 11 am because you are "acclimated". Then it's back to bundling after 4. The weather is only really nice for a couple weeks in March and again in October and lately we have had record heat even then.

[cgl77]

I don't know what the agenda is for these replies, but during the summer it is in the 80s at 6AM and plenty of people go out then for hiking, walking, bike riding. Do you want to do those things at noon? No.

[More Rock]

The positives of summer are guaranteed wonderful mornings to go out at 430am-830am, and much less traffic. Summers are also when you take your trips, to the Mogollon Rim, White Mountains, Flagstaff, or even Summerhaven.

[kitshipp]

Originally Posted by More Rock

The positives of summer are guaranteed wonderful mornings to go out at 430am-830am, and much less traffic. Summers are also when you take your trips, to the Mogollon Rim, White Mountains, Flagstaff, or even Summerhaven.

Yes, that's another plus. While there are negatives to the heat, the drop in traffic is noticeable and very much welcomed. And it's just a quick 2 hour trip to cooler weather.