The beauty of the High Sierra /And she's looking out for you / The angels lay their clouds across his sky / They line up for him every night -- From "Sierra" by Boz Scaggs
You'll feel like you're almost on could nine, some 4,500 feet above sea level in the mountainous surroundings of Sierra Vista, Arizona. With spectacular panoramas of mountain views, Sierra Vista lives up to its name with relaxed ease. This little city affords its residents a peaceful lifestyle, with plenty of economic opportunity and friendly people. If you get bored, you can always meander through one of the ghost towns in the area or learn more about its Native American history. Or say "Hola" to neighboring Mexico, just 20 miles south of Sierra Vista. If you like the outdoors, then you will love an area that allows you to spend a great percentage of the year outside. Hiking, biking, and camping are favorites, and in an area known as the unofficial hummingbird capital of America, birding is also a popular pastime. Bird is the word.
Hi, Sierra
Moving here isn't even a little bit stressful. You will fill out a basic rental application, and the landlord will run a credit check. If you have a few issues on your credit file, include references from your landlord and proof of income. As long as your past financial issues don't include a history of creating your own rent-free apartment by skipping rent payments, it shouldn't be a problem. This is a pet-friendly area, so you won't have to leave Fluffy behind either.
What It will cost
Expect to pay somewhere between a tickle and a grin for a nice place that even has a pool. Tee-hee. The rents are extremely reasonable, especially when you factor in the overall cost of living and quality of life. There should be no major shocks, and if you come from one of the coasts, you might feel a bit giddy when you see these sticker prices.
In and Around the Neighborhoods
This city isn't big on designating neighborhoods and having associations. There are neighborhoods, but they are only real estate designations rather than actual dividing points among the citizens. Most of the locals don't even know they exist. You'll have a leg up on residents when you consider these areas:
Choctaw: This is a nice neighborhood that unfortunately has only a very few vacancies. If you can find an apartment rental here, though, it's a nice place to live. It's quiet and friendly.
City Center: You'll find decent vacancies here for all age groups. Be prepared to learn some bingo!
El Camino Real:In this part of Sierra Vista, you will find a haven for doctors, upper-level executives, and lawyer types. The rental market has a decent number of vacancies, but they tend to go fast. Be prepared to jump if something opens up. The question is, how high?
Chief Joseph: This is a newer area, with homes and apartments less than 20 years old. It's a great place for mid-level executive and professional types. The apartments are newer, and not only were they built within the last two decades, but many have been renovated within the last 10 years.$$$$
Foothills and Tacoma: These areas are popular with active-duty military people and their families. You will find a lot of vacancies here, and the places are pretty nice; most even have pools. Try negotiating a better rental agreement, but keep in mind that prices here are already reasonable. You don't want to get greedy!
Sierra Vista Estates: This is an area with many government workers, most at the city level. Those who don't work for the government are primarily mid- to upper-level executives and other professionals. There are plenty of vacancies here, so you can negotiate rates. The apartments are very nice, mostly 2 to 3 bedrooms and moderately sized.
Moson: This is a middle-of-the-road neighborhood, with a great deal of diversity among the residents. Many occupations are represented, and there is no set norm. This is an area popular with college graduates looking for a nice place to live while they pay off their student loans. There's a decent number of vacancies here, but not so many that you can wait to plop your security deposit down if you find something you like.
Schrader and Village Meadows: This area is home to a large number of military personnel, teachers, and other professionals. There are quite a few vacancies here, mostly because the apartment homes and houses are fairly small. Apartments here run 1 to 2 bedrooms as a norm.
Living in Sierra Vista
Life here is relaxed. This is an easy-going town that is far more focused on improving economic opportunities for the community as a whole than micromanaging the lives of individual citizens. This city, while it has all of the modern amenities, still has a great deal of the Old West vibe. You can expect a high quality of life, low cost of living, and the chance to get to know your neighbors. If you're into that whole Mr. Rogers comfort level with locals. People are friendly here but not overly intrusive.
Where to eat
For the most incredible authentic Mexican food you will ever eat, head over to La Casita on Fry. The food is spicy and freshly made. The enchiladas are perfect, and the salsa is made fresh daily. For great pizza and pasta, visit Delio's just off Highway 92. The pasta here is always perfectly cooked and the sauces are all homemade. If you are looking for a great burger and a lot of local ambiance, then you have to visit The Landmark Cafe on Fry. You aren't really considered a local until you have been here a few times. The burgers are great, and they have wonderful specials that change daily.
City attractions
This place has a ton of great things to do, but you simply can't miss The Cove. This water world is one of the most incredible water centers you can imagine. It's fun for the entire family, and if you have little ones, there's even a special children's lagoon where you can take them to play safely. Marco Polo for hours! If you are more inclined to hiking and biking, be sure to take in one of the many ghost towns in the immediate area. There are more than a dozen, and they have some fascinating histories. The Fairbank Historic Townsite is one of the most popular, and you also don't want to miss the Charleston site.
If you have an interest in the Native American history of the area, there are several councils, museums, and historic sites that will help you with this. This is the home of the Cochise Stronghold, which the Apache Nation used as a barrier against the U.S. Cavalry. There are campsites, hiking trails, and a few great places for mountain biking. Should you run into any bears, don't feed them. They might try to steal your picnic basket--or worse.
The Clovis archaeological site might grab your interest if you fancy yourself an Indiana Jones type, whip or no whip. One of only a handful of archaeological sites of the Clovis people who resided here more than 12,000 years ago, this is a popular hiking and camping site. Who knows? You might just find a bone from a woolly mammoth if you look hard enough!
Because of the mild climate, this is a prime birding location for bird watchers across America. Tourism picks up for the migration of tens of thousands of song birds as they make their way north for summer and then south for winter. This also serves as a warning to those who like backyard bird feeders. A lot of birds may get used to it, so unless you want to deal with thousands of birds making a pit stop by your home, rethink the bird feeder idea. Otherwise, get your bird on!
