Archives for September 2012

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team Enjoy the Cruise in one of these five ways: 1.  1 ½ Hour Narrated Nature Cruise During this 6 mile cruise you may see desert bighorn sheep, bald eagles and a host of other animals viewed from the decks of the Dolly! We also touch on the beautiful flora from the stately Saguaro cacti to the microscopic organism called desert varnish. An unforgettable vista of volcanic “welded Tuff” canyons and 1300 foot cliffs awaits you on CanyonLake. This awe-inspiring “Diamond in the Rough” is one of Arizonas’ best-kept secrets! This cruise is recommended for guests of all ages. 2. 2-1/2 Hour Twilight Dinner Cruise Our dinner cruises offer all of the grandeur of the daily cruise plus the ambiance of the twilight. Observe CanyonLake wildlife as they settle in for the evening. Our dinner cruise route extends another three to four miles upriver from our typical nature cruise, allowing guests different views and cliffs in excess of 1200’! While the sunset, moon and the stars take you to a special place both mentally and spiritually! Whether a romantic evening of two, or a unique and exceptional setting for any occasion. 3. 2-1/2 Hour Twilight Astronomy Dinner Cruise Our astronomy dinner cruises offer all of the magnificence of the dinner cruise plus the knowledge and insight provided by our Astronomy expert, Dr. Sky, Steve Kates. Dr. Sky breaks down the solar system as you view the night sky aboard the Dolly. His mission is to encourage people to look up to the heavens with awe and curiosity. Dr. Sky will be available for questions throughout the evening as he interprets the constellations in a way that all can understand. 4. Special Cruises Caroling Cruise Join the Dolly Crew, Santa and a host of helpers for a 90 minute cruise as we cruise through the canyon. Sing Christmas carols, visit with Santa and more. Hot chocolate, apple cider and cookies are included. Children 4 and under are complimentary (as long as they don’t participate in the meal) Please indicate any non-paying children when booking your reservation.  Parade of Lights Dinner Cruise The Dolly Steamboat leads the parade of boats in the annual cruise. Complete dinner also includes: Grilled chicken breast, side salad, baked potato, vegetable du jour, dinner rolls and apple pie for dessert. Drinks included are iced tea, lemonade and coffee. Please note that this Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is for informational purposes and not intended to take the place of a licensed Scottsdale Real Estate Agent. The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the buying and selling of Luxury homes in Arizona. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes in Scottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Estates for Sale in Scottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team The new Desert Belle is a 143 passenger, two level boat. It has a partial lower level air-conditioned section and includes two bathrooms and a snack bar.   Originally launched in 1964, the Desert Belle has been plowing the waters of SaguaroLake for over forty years. Relax in air-conditioned comfort on one of her 90 minute narrated public cruises and see exotic Arizona wildlife, towering canyon walls, and dramatic desert vistas. The perfect spot to bring out-of-town guests. Private cruises are also available for an unforgettable wedding, birthday, anniversary, or office party. Whatever you choose, The Desert Belle is a unique way to enjoy all the beauty that Arizona has to offer.   Arizona’s Best Kept Secret! This relaxing, narrated cruise is entertaining as well educational for nature lovers of all ages! SaguaroLake is located within the TontoNational Forest, just 20 minutes from Mesa, Arizona. Experience the magnificence of both desert beauty and natural wildlife of one of the Valley’s hidden treasures, spectacular SaguaroLake. Witness the flora and fauna first-hand, as you navigate pristine Sonoran desert canyons. Watch birds of prey soaring high on desert thermals as you photograph breath-taking desert vistas.   Along the way, we’ll see:

• Geological Formations – The beauty created by wind and water over millions of years on the desert landscape
• Flora – Prickly pear, barrel, jumping cholla and majestic Saguaro cacti, mesquite, ironwood and Arizona’s state tree, the Palo Verde
• Desert fauna – Both predators and prey, including ring-tailed cats, bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes, javalina, bighorn sheep and deer
• Avian Species – Vultures, falcons, eagles, hawks and many others to catch your eye

Please note that this Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is for informational purposes and not intended to take the place of a licensed Scottsdale Real Estate Agent. The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the buying and selling of Luxury homes in Arizona. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes in Scottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Estates for Sale in Scottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team Indulge yourself in Scottsdale Arizona. A one-of-a-kind vacation pleasure. It’s a place to refresh, fill the senses and to test your adventurous side. Just imagine any desire and when the sun rises, it all comes to life. ScottsdaleAz is simply gorgeous, worldclass and passionate. Its purpose is to entertain you. Southwestern style. When it comes to golf, the Scottsdale area has no rival. Names like Troon, the Boulders, Grayhawk and Legend Trail come quickly to mind. Many of the highest ranked golf courses in the world are right here in Greater Scottsdale. Perhaps it’s the beauty of the lush green against SonoranDesert charm. Maybe it’s the 300 days annually of sky blue sunshine. Whatever the attraction, Scottsdale is a golf paradise that beckons visitors from around the world. Adventurous recreation in and around Scottsdale Az. Hot air balloon in quiet solitude where panoramic views are even more spectacular than below. Float the shimmering Salt River and its soft rapids. Bike the SonoranDesert trails, water ski SaguaroLake and glide the skies. Jeep tour into nature and ancient Indian history. The tour up Apache Trail is amazing and once was described by President Theodore Roosevelt as the best scenic view of nature in America. And if you enjoy gaming excitement, several local casinos offer Las Vegas style gambling and entertainment. In Scottsdale there’s always a new way to enjoy Arizona pleasure. When the shopping urge strikes, head to Scottsdale. Shopping is worldclass and abundant. Discover more than 125 famous art galleries where you’ll be amazed with the finest paintings, sculptures and unique creations. The boutiques along 5th Avenue in downtown Scottsdale will entertain your urge for hours. Big and little store shopping can be enjoyed at Scottsdale Fashion Square with its endless shops and delightful restaurants. For the unique experience try the Bogotá of Scottsdale designed with Old Italian flavor. Or the Pedregal Festival Market Place fashioned after Old Morocco. At sunrise, relaxing recreation in Scottsdale begins. Hike the tranquility and experience mountain and desert views. The stately Saguaro, gigantic boulders of natural granite and springtime cactus blooms. Ride the trails, see the sights, experience the culture, golf in the fresh air or simply lounge by the pool and soak-in the sunshine and the quiet pleasure Scottsdale has to offer. At night Scottsdale really shines. Award-winning famous restaurants will tantalize your palette. A hayride to a cowboy cookout where you can gaze at the stars. Perhaps the theatre or a concert. A stroll in downtown Scottsdale. Nightlife and clubbing abounds with dancing and romantic adventure. And there’s NFL, Major League Baseball and the annual New Year’s Fiesta Bowl for the sports enthusiast. Please note that this Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is for informational purposes and not intended to take the place of a licensed Scottsdale Real Estate Agent. The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the buying and selling of Luxury homes in Arizona. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes in Scottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Estates for Sale in Scottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.

By Joe Szabo, Scottsdale Real Estate Team Scottsdale Area Lakes. Sitting at the northern reaches of the scenic SonoranDesert in the Salt RiverValley, the Phoenix area is known for its arid climate as well as for its gorgeous desert landscapes accented by several small mountain ranges surrounding the city. Both locals and visitors alike often head to the area’s lakes to cool off and enjoy a variety of water recreation activities. The lakes are truly hidden gems, offering a spectacular oasis of sparkling blue waters in this desert landscape. Canyon Lake. Canyon Lake is the smallest of four lakes that were created by damming the Salt River. What the lake lacks in size, it makes up for in natural beauty. CanyonLake is surrounded by red rock formations and canyon walls, providing visitors with a spectacular backdrop to savor while they enjoy a range of recreational activities on the lake. CanyonLake is conveniently located just sixteen miles from Apache Junction, along a scenic route marked by ancient cliff dwellings and the SuperstitionMountains From the Phoenix area, you can reach CanyonLake in less than an hour. Across the lake’s 28 miles of shoreline, it is common to see people swimming, camping, picnicking, and simply lounging by the water’s edge and enjoying the view. The lake is also popular for boating, jet skiing, water skiing, and windsurfing, with easy water access at the full service CampMarina. The lake is home to a variety of fish including walleye, large mouth bass, yellow bass, rainbow trout, and more, making it ideal for a fishing trip. While you are visiting CanyonLake, keep your eyes open for abundant wildlife, such as big horn sheep, javelina, and deer. Saguaro Lake. SaguaroLake was also formed as a result of damming the Salt River. This picturesque lake enjoys a convenient location just 47 miles from downtown Phoenix and is set amidst the beautiful TontoNational Forest. There is a nominal entrance fee to SaguaroLake, but the fee is well worth the experience of spending some time on the lake. The beautiful blue waters of the lake sparkle against the pink and yellow outcroppings of rocks and cliffs on the shoreline, creating an enchanting setting for a day on the lake. The lake is one of the deepest in the area, reaching 118 feet in some areas. With its depth, SaguaroLake is often one of the coolest and most refreshing in the area to enjoy water recreation. The Butcher Jones’ picnic and swimming area and the Saguaro Del Norte Recreation Area are hugely popular places for locals and visitors to cool off on hot summer days. With over 1,200 water-covered acres, SaguaroLake is also popular for boats as well as jet skiers. The lake is a fisherman’s haven, filled with brown and rainbow trout, yellow and large mouth bass, walleye, crappie, and more. Visitors to the lake are often rewarded with glimpses of wildlife like big horn sheep, eagles, mule deer, and more. After a great day on the lake, the Saguaro Lake Restaurant overlooking the SaguaroLakeMarina offers exceptional sunset views of the lake as well as delicious meals. Lake Pleasant. Lake Pleasant is the largest lake in the Phoenix area, featuring over 10,000 water-covered acres and an impressive 50 miles of shoreline. This lake is just thirty miles north of Phoenix, making it convenient for locals and visitors to access. With much of the lake waters supplied by the Aqua Fria River which is fed by rain and melted snow from northern Arizona, the waters are typically cool and refreshing even in the warmest of summer months. With so much room on the water at LakePleasant, this lake is the preferred destination for those with boating in mind. It is not uncommon to see the lake filled with water skiers, jet skiers, canoes, kayaks, and other watercraft on warm days. The lake is also a top fishing spot in the area, with some of the biggest fish in the area angled here. Some of the fish you can find here include striped bass, white and black crappie, channel catfish, and more. Other popular activities at LakePleasant including tent and RV camping, picnicking, and hiking. Tempe Town Lake. Tempe Town Lake is a small 2-mile long lake. Located in the heart of the Valley of the Sun, TempeTownLake is convenient to residents and visitors to the Phoenix area. The lake was formed by damming part of the normally dry Salt River between Phoenix and Tempe, AZ. This incredibly popular urban lake sets along the edges of Downtown Tempe and ArizonaSateUniversity. Surrounding the lake, you will find grassy knolls that are popular for lounging around and enjoying lake views as well as picnicking. There are also paved sidewalks around this two mile lake, making it a great spot for skating, walking and jogging. While small, you can enjoy a variety of boating activities on TempeTownLake, such as rowing, sailing, and paddling. Watercraft rentals are available through Rio Lago Cruise Company. TempeTownLake is stocked with rainbow trout annually and has a natural population of largemouth bass. The several small amphitheaters and the Tempe Center for the Arts on the lake. Several events are held at the lake during the year including outdoor concerts, the4^th of July Celebration and the Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade held during the holiday season. Please note that this Scottsdale Real Estate Blog is for informational purposes and not intended to take the place of a licensed Scottsdale Real Estate Agent. The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area in the buying and selling of Luxury homes in Arizona. Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers and best real estate agent for Luxury Homes in Scottsdale, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020, info@ScottsdaleRealEstateTeam.com or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com to find out more about Scottsdale Homes for Sale and Estates for Sale in Scottsdale and to search the Scottsdale MLS for Scottsdale Home Listings.