Recently Accepted to UA, A Couple Qs (Tucson: apartment complex, home)

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

I'm gonna talk to the Gods and make sure you get a torrential rain on your move-in day, too, so you can get your fill!

LOL . . . good one, Sierra. Keep me posted on the date!

[azhiker]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

I'm gonna talk to the Gods and make sure you get a torrential rain on your move-in day, too, so you can get your fill!

Yeah, send him a little monsoon goodness.

[vegaspilgrim]

Tucson is in a hot desert climate, but of the hot desert climates, Tucson has the best climate (...if that makes any sense ). Tucson is DRAMATICALLY more comfortable during the summer, especially during the monsoon season, than Phoenix (if that's what you've already experienced). The monsoon season in Tucson is absolutely amazing. It smells great! There were many days last summer when Phoenix waas 110 degrees, humid but not a drop of rain, whereas Tucson was 85 and raining. The desert around Tucson greens up during the monsoon season. During the rest of the year the daytime high is normally a few degrees cooler than Phoenix and it doesn't stay as hot for as long of a period during the day. Temperatures cool off at night a lot.

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

Tucson is in a hot desert climate, but of the hot desert climates, Tucson has the best climate (...if that makes any sense ). Tucson is DRAMATICALLY more comfortable during the summer, especially during the monsoon season, than Phoenix (if that's what you've already experienced). The monsoon season in Tucson is absolutely amazing. It smells great! There were many days last summer when Phoenix waas 110 degrees, humid but not a drop of rain, whereas Tucson was 85 and raining. The desert around Tucson greens up during the monsoon season. During the rest of the year the daytime high is normally a few degrees cooler than Phoenix and it doesn't stay as hot for as long of a period during the day. Temperatures cool off at night a lot.

Beautifully stated, Vegaspilgrim.

Thankfully, in most cases the temperature gap between Tucson and Phoenix is greater than you mentioned . . . quite often between 10 to 15 degrees cooler mainly due to the higher elevation and smaller size.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by Bummer

LOL . . . good one, Sierra. Keep me posted on the date!

I'll make sure it's a date I'm out of town. As you know, I hate the monsoons.

[Mi_Mom]

Originally Posted by azhiker

Yeah, send him a little monsoon goodness.

Ooooh that's purty!

[psulions2007]

I agree Mi!

[AZWildcat]

Hello and congrats on getting into the Atmospheric Sciences program. Let me first tell you that I attended the UA and proceeded to work there for about 10 years. I love the atmosphere on campus, it is a very accepting and open place with a lot of opportunity.

As for the sunshine, well you are out of luck. There will be lots of sun, but most likely you will be too busy in the labs doing research to notice.

La Aldea is a nice apt complex that they just built in the last couple of years, it is on the western perimeter of campus. The complex would be about a 10 minute walk to the Physics and Atmospheric Sciences building. As for parking on campus, it is at a premium. Since you dislike the heat so much I would suggest getting a spot in one of the parking garages, that will run about $500 for an annual permit. As far as I know, La Aldea doesn't have it's own parking garage, but it is located directly next the campus Tyndall Garage. You can get surface parking lots for less money and there is a lot one street south of the PAS building.

The closest grocery store is a Safeway at Broadway/Campbell (it is too far to walk in the heat, you will want to drive there). They just remodeled the store a couple of years ago, so it is very nice but usually crowded due to the proximty to campus. There is also the Food Co-op on 4th Ave, if you are more interested in organic options that might be a better place for you. A couple of miles east down Broadway you will find a Target.

There are a number of bars on both University Blvd and on 4th Ave, there are Irish pubs, gay bars, coffee houses, cafes, mexican restaurants, pretty much anything you could want you can find by campus.

Good luck with your move to Tucson!

[Mi_Mom]

Originally Posted by AZWildcat

Hello and congrats on getting into the Atmospheric Sciences program. Let me first tell you that I attended the UA and proceeded to work there for about 10 years. I love the atmosphere on campus, it is a very accepting and open place with a lot of opportunity.

As for the sunshine, well you are out of luck. There will be lots of sun, but most likely you will be too busy in the labs doing research to notice.

La Aldea is a nice apt complex that they just built in the last couple of years, it is on the western perimeter of campus. The complex would be about a 10 minute walk to the Physics and Atmospheric Sciences building. As for parking on campus, it is at a premium. Since you dislike the heat so much I would suggest getting a spot in one of the parking garages, that will run about $500 for an annual permit. As far as I know, La Aldea doesn't have it's own parking garage, but it is located directly next the campus Tyndall Garage. You can get surface parking lots for less money and there is a lot one street south of the PAS building.

The closest grocery store is a Safeway at Broadway/Campbell (it is too far to walk in the heat, you will want to drive there). They just remodeled the store a couple of years ago, so it is very nice but usually crowded due to the proximty to campus. There is also the Food Co-op on 4th Ave, if you are more interested in organic options that might be a better place for you. A couple of miles east down Broadway you will find a Target.

There are a number of bars on both University Blvd and on 4th Ave, there are Irish pubs, gay bars, coffee houses, cafes, mexican restaurants, pretty much anything you could want you can find by campus.

Good luck with your move to Tucson!

Excellent post!! Thank you for posting this!!

[psulions2007]

Thanks AZ! That was very helpful! I'll probably end up juggling between Trader Joe's and Safeway or Fry's (whichever I perceive to be better) for my foods.

Recently, I've been reading up on biking through the city. This sounds good in general, but I have never biked in a large city (usually small neighborhoods, park-like bike paths)....but if I could bike from my apt to campus, that would cut time, save money, and give me a nice workout!

I've recently looked at an apartment complex at the corner of Fort Lowell and Country Club called Winterhaven Terrace (mentioned in another thread). I've looked at pics of this area and Google StreetView and it seems very green! (I <3 Greenery lol)...so it's promising...I'm just not sure about crime in the area or how safe it would be to bike from there to campus (the distance doesn't really bother me other than the PAS building is on the complete opposite side of campus). If I biked down Fort Lowell to Tucson...then down to Speedway...then over to Park and down to PAS...I'm not sure a) if that's the best idea ever or b) if there is a better way or c) if I should just take my car.

Thoughts?