Our 1,400 sq.ft. 1 bedroom Casita is located on our private 2 1/2 acre pristine Sonoran Desert property - a truly unofficial Nature Conservancy. Come take a tour:
ENTER OUR 2 1/2 ACRE PROPERTY: Our private driveway between large desert trees & Saguaro, past a red split-rail western fence on the right and our "corral--type" metal gate, as you drive over the red-rock gravel area you are facing the west side of the Casita.
Casita has a 1 car garage and large open area parking. From outside the garage, walking to the right under the arch you walk alongside the garage wall (covered with lush green plants growing to its roof-line) and have your first look to the west at our full Sonoran Desert. Past the garage, to the left, you enter through the two low Mexican wooden gates onto the north portion of our three sided private Casita patio.
THE PATIO: The extra-wide patios "wraps-around" on three sides of the Casita. Each side has at least one table and plenty of comfortable chairs.
You entered into the north patio; if you "turn-around" and look over our property to the north, you can see our home, and in the distance you can see Lone Mountain with its hiking trails. To your right your are looking at our western desert, part of our large corral and will see the sun setting over California. The southern patio overlooks our southern property and leads to a large private enclosed cactus garden (with prime desert cactus specimens and its own seating areas). Adjacent and to the southwest is our small "Studio" building (available as a separate Casita extension "guest quarters" with a full kitchen, bathroom, walk-in closet etc.)
ENTERING THE CASITA ITSELF: In the middle of the west patio is the entrance to the Casita living quarters. Through large double-glass sliding doors you enter into the west "wing" of the "L-shaped" carpeted living room. There are large sliding glass "picture" windows throughout the living room's "outer walls."
In the far right corner is a large comfortable chair and ottoman; with book shelves, books and an audio system. Under one set of large windows is a "day-bed", the top doubling as another "couch" or bed (twin mattresses - the bottom one is a hidden twin that can be pulled-out and raised. This side of the "L" wing has an antique western desk with wired & wireless internet modem, art work and bookshelves, leading to the bedroom door.
Throughout the entire carpeted living room are ceiling fans, real-wood ceiling vegas, colorful art-work and recessed ceiling lights.
LOOKING TO THE LEFT WING in the corner where the two living room "wings" meet is a wood burning fireplace, large wood vega mantle, in front of which are two comfortable chairs with small tables and lamps; double glass sliding windows look out over the north and west patios showing beautiful desert views.
Beyond this "corner area" are two couches with a large glass table facing across to a literal wall of recessed book-shelves. This includes a flat-screen television with Direct TV and HBO. Numerous books from our private collection featuring a great variety of topics. There are also cassette, DVD films & CD music disks available. There are also local maps, menus and other related materials for local and state-wide traveling information.
FULL ELECTRIC KITCHEN: Now walk into our open space dining area and into a large open 3 sided kitchen with lots of appliances and a double window over the sink (facing the east); the kitchen plenty of recessed ceiling lights and a ceiling fan. The electric kitchen (save on restaurant costs) has a 4 burner stove top, oven and built-in microwave; dishwasher; lots of pots and pans, glasses (wine, water etc.), dishes, "silverware", double kitchen sinks, garbage disposal and reverse osmosis water dispenser; large refrigerator with ice & water dispensers (both using reverse osmosis water) with an adjacent large floor-to-ceiling well-stocked walk-in pantry.
THE BATHROOM: Walking out-of the open kitchen, past the hall closet, into the well-lit bathroom with high clerestory windows for daytime light; two sinks and corner Jacuzzi bathtub; including a separate large walk-in tiled shower with tile seat, and a private lavatory with sliding "vest-pocket door" for privacy. The shower and lavatory have safety rails. There is also a "hidden" wall iron and ironing board. Behind two "shutter" doors is your private washer/dryer. There is also a "linen closet" with extra towels, sheets, etc.
CARPETED WALK-IN CLOSET entered through the opposite corner of the bathroom, it features a series of long wood rods for hanging clothing, plus a hotel-type luggage rack and extra shelves with numerous additional blankets, pillows etc., above and beyond those already in on the king-size bed.
THE BEDROOM: enter through the bathroom door or from the living's room "L" wing, you find your King size bed, with
lamps and tables on each side, a ceiling fan with light above, with a second flat screen TV with Direct TV and HBO sitting atop a large chest of drawers, and including a large sliding glass screened picture window looking out into your private cactus garden, and southern desert beyond.
In addition there are beautiful sunset views of the Sonoran desert, from inside or from the patios. Our property and surrounding areas are like an unofficial Sonoran Desert nature sanctuary - bird watching (resident or migrant cardinals, hawks, pygmy owls, doves, etc), numerous variety of cactus and desert plants. Professional painters and photographers have been our guests because of this special and unusual portion of the Sonoran Desert and its "visitors."
Setback from the road, all properties nearby are 2.5 or 5 acres; no multi-home developments or gated community.) Great bike trails, hiking & horseback riding trails (100+ miles; horse boarding separately available on our property - guests have brought their horses from as far away as Canada); privacy with a big 'desert' night sky.
Our property has updated landscaping - more saguaro cactus, desert plants and trees, flagstone pathways with benches in our desert park.
NOW ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE PROPERTY:
"THE STUDIO": our separate 750 sq.ft. "Studio Building" (HomeAway property #4157005). Also located on our 2 1/2 acres of Sonoran Desert, this free-standing building sleeps two, boasts large picture windows and glass doors (desert views), large walk-in closet with chest of drawers, small bathroom with shower, sinks and toilet; the living room, dining area and kitchen are all "open spaced". The kitchen includes a 4 burner electric stove & oven, full size refrigerator, microwave and small appliances, etc.
HORSE CORRAL: Also on our property and available for rental is our very large horse corral featuring large shades - 12x12x12 with metal roofing and water troughs. Property leads to riding and hiking trails (absolutely wonderful desert riding trails). We are in "horse country".
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS INCLUDE:
Horseback lessons and trail rides; numerous ethnic restaurants, shopping, food "super-markets" all within a close drive.
CACTUS LEAGUE BASEBALL: Spring Training baseball under the warm Arizona sun has been a tradition for devoted fans since 1947 when two teams first came here to prepare for the rigors of the long regular season. The Phoenix area was known for the 15 teams training in the Phoenix metropolitan area in the greatest concentration of professional baseball facilities found anywhere in the United States. For visitors, the Cactus League couldn't be more convenient, with short drive times between ballparks and an easy drive from our property. Truly, the Cactus League is the premier destination for baseball lovers. GOOGLE Arizona Cactus League for the Spring Training season.
GOLF: Scottsdale's world famous golf courses are all nearby (Legend Trails - 15 minutes; Troon North 15 minutes; TPC 20 minutes, etc.)
SCOTTSDALE AQUATIC CENTER and YMCA: Featuring lap pools, wading pools, and exercise rooms. Each are 15-20 minutes away.
HIKING & CYCLING: Incredible trails (flat and mountain) and the famous Scottsdale Desert Preserves - as close as "across the street" and others within 20 minutes or less. Some guests have come from the State of Washington, with their mountain bikes, to "year-after-year" cycle Scottsdale's famous trails.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM (MIM): The "only one in the world" - 20 minutes away.
WEST WORLD - Annual Arabian Horse Show and other horse events - 15 minutes away.
BARRETT JACKSON and other national auto show: - 15 minutes away.
MEDICAL DESTINATION - Pre & Post surgery. Scottsdale Healthcare :(Thompson Peak) - 15 minutes; MAYO: 15 minutes; Piper Surgery - 20 minutes
Healthcare South (Shea)- 15-20 minutes; Scottsdale (Osborn) - 20-25 minutes
Guests have called our property "healing" and "curative" - peaceful and serene - "nature" helping that which is "natural healing" within us.
CAVE CREEK & CAREFREE: Within 15-20 minutes drive; shopping, restaurants, cowboy bars and western dancing, bull-riding exhibitions etc.
SCOTTSDALE & PHOENIX: Cinemas, Phoenix zoo, Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens, churches, synagogues, live theater, symphony, ballet, parks, water-park, large variety of restaurants including 5-Star dining, museums, art galleries, casinos, recreation centers, beauty spas, scenic drives, sightseeing, Scottsdale City tennis courts & basket ball courts; hot air ballooning, ice-skating in the desert, water-tubing, banks, groceries & other activities; hot air ballooning, glider plane rides, horseback riding.
LARGE LAKES NEARBY: Bartlett Lake - 30 minutes; Lake Pleasant 40 minutes, with possible boat and 'skidoo' rentals.
Downtown Scottsdale -20 minutes; Phoenix in 45 minutes
Phoenix International airport - 45 minutes if no traffic.
Highway '101' (south and west- 15 minutes) & '51' (20 minutes).