Arizona Lifestyle Options
Banner Health Locations: Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Page, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City, Sun City West
Gilbert, Arizona
Banner Gateway Medical Center
Banner Home Care
Banner Hospice
Gilbert, Ariz., a suburban city in the Valley of the Sun, is one of the the fastest 
growing communities in the country. With a population approaching 180,000, the Town of Gilbert has worked hard to preserve the small-town atmosphere while supporting the growth of high-tech industry. Because Phoenix is located only 21 miles away, Gilbert has big-city amenities nearby, however Gilbert is a perfectly-sized community with amenities all its own. Parks, recreation centers, a performing arts center, restaurants, horse trails, fishing, boating and local businesses are all within walking distance. Two large shopping malls are less than 10 miles from downtown Gilbert.
The cost of living mirrors the national average and is comparable to surrounding cities. With a variety of community lifestyles, there is affordable housing to suit everyone.
Gilbert's school system continues to grow with the city and is served by three school districts: Gilbert School District, Chandler School District and Higley School District. Even in this rapidly expanding area, schools maintain quality education. Achievement test scores at all levels exceed the state and national average.
Whether the choice is open spaces in the desert, lakes and mountains, big city excitement in Phoenix, or a friendly small town, it is all here in Gilbert, Ariz.
Glendale, Ariz.
Banner Thunderbird Medical Center
Glendale is a dynamic city located in the rapidly growing northwest section of the Phoenix metropolitan area and is known for its excellent educational and medical institutions, beautiful neighborhoods and a diversified economic base. Glendale is also home to the NHL Phoenix Coyotes and home of the NFL Arizona Cardinals, Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and the 2008 Super Bowl.
Growth in Glendale is supported by five highly regarded elementary and secondary school districts whose academic test results compare favorably with other schools in the state. In addition, Glendale's own Campus Connection includes four institutions of higher learning: Midwestern University (Osteopathic medicine and pharmacy), the internationally recognized Thunderbird-Garvin School of International Management, Glendale Community College and Arizona State University - West.
With easy access to all that the Greater Phoenix area offers, Glendale represents an incredible combination of small-town living with urban amenities. Historic Downtown Glendale incorporates two distinct neighborhoods that are home to more than 90 specialty and antique shops. Although the area is seamless to stroll on foot, the difference in neighborhoods is revealed in the red-brick, main-street-style buildings of Old Towne versus the charming bungalows-turned-shops of Catlin Court. Although the area was named one of the 10 best places to go antiquing nationally by both USA Today and Sunset Magazine, the area still feels like a secret only you have discovered. And recreational opportunities abound in the area around Glendale - boating, fishing and water sports are available at 10,000-acre Lake Pleasant, while White Tanks Mountain Regional Park offers hikers a chance to discover ancient Indian petroglyphs or trek to a scenic desert waterfall. From work to play, Glendale has it all.
Mesa, Ariz.
Banner Baywood Medical Center
Banner Heart Hospital
Banner Desert Medical Center
Cardon Children's Medical Center
Founded in 1878 by Mormon Pioneers, the city of Mesa was built on a plateau overlooking an expansive valley. The word mesa has it origins in the Spanish language and its literal translation is "table top." The city is located just 15 miles from Phoenix and is home to more than 430,000 people. The city has numerous historic areas including the Temple District. This area of town surrounds the Later Day Saints(LDS or Mormon) Temple, which was built in 1927. The temple and its visitor's center attract more than two million visitors each year.
Other area attractions include the many museums and art galleries, year-round golfing, and historic Hohokam Indian sites. Spend an evening with the Mesa Symphony Orchestra or attending a play performed by the Southwest Shakespeare Company. If you like baseball, Mesa is the Spring Training home of the Chicago Cubs.
Nearby areas offer mega shopping malls, numerous factory outlets, wonderful restaurants of every sort, dozens of top-rated golf courses, Indian Gaming centers, medical services, and many more attractions including Biosphere II, Boyce Thompson Arboretum, the Arizona Science Center, Kartchner Caverns, Saguaro and Canyon Lakes and of course, the beautiful Grand Canyon.
Phoenix, Ariz.
Banner Estrella Medical Center
Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center
Banner Behavioral Health Hospital
Phoenix is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States. Located in south-central Arizona, Phoenix is ideally situated for outdoor activities. The beaches of Rocky Point on the Sea of Cortez are three hours to the south. San Diego and Los Angeles are a one-hour airplane ride or six-hour drive to the West. Snow capped mountains and alpine terrain are within two hours of downtown Phoenix. No matter the outdoor activity you prefer, Phoenix is close enough to get you there.
The wealth of the area comes largely from its vast array of industry and manufacturers.
With the area's population growth, new trade opportunities, non-stop transatlantic flights, Phoenix's status as a transportation, distribution, and high-tech manufacturing hub is becoming more vital to the Southwest, and to the nation.
Phoenix is one of the real cultural centers of the southwest. The symphony is renowned, and Copper Square in downtown Phoenix offers art lovers museums and galleries featuring unique Native American art and history. Gourmets know that some of the best southwestern cuisine can be found in Phoenix.
If sports are your thing, the Valley of the Sun is your place boasting teams in all four major sports: Major League Baseball, National Football League, National Hockey League and National Basketball Association. Every spring, Cactus League Spring Training baseball arrives, and Phoenix International Raceway host two major races for NASCAR's Nextel Cup. Hiking and biking trails through desert landscapes and rugged mountains, coupled with the warm climate, help make Phoenix an outdoor lovers dream.
Golf is also a favorite pastime in Phoenix. It would take dedicated hackers years to play all of the more than 200 golf courses in the area. Players from around the country travel to Phoenix to play the world-class links.
Surrounded by the scenic landscape of the Sonoran Desert, Phoenix provides the excitement of the Old West within a thriving metropolitan area brimming with cultural activity.
Scottsdale, Ariz.
Banner Behavioral Health Hospital
Page, Ariz.
Page Hospital
Page was founded in the early 1960s with the building of the Glen Canyon Dam that created Lake Powell. Though it began as a temporary camp for construction workers, Page has emerged as a self-sufficient and progressive city. Growing at a rate of 6.8 percent per year, the average adult age in Page is 34 and the average age overall is only 19. With a low crime rate and an outdoor-focused, laid-back lifestyle and small-town atmosphere, Page is a charming and low-stress place to work and play.
Located in the center of canyon country, Page is just a short drive from the North and South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion National Park, Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly. Page lies in "the Hub of the Grand Circle" of major national parks and tourist attractions in the Four Corner states (Arizona, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico). Even so, Lake Powell is the center of recreational opportunities for Page. The lake has 1,960 miles of shoreline, which is longer than the entire west coast of the continental United States. There are 96 major canyons to explore as well as Rainbow Bridge National Monument that can be viewed via watercraft.
With 347 average days of sunshine annually, it is easy to make outdoor plans in Page. Annual events in the town include golf tournaments at Lake Powell National Golf Course, bass fishing tournaments, mountain bike racing, rodeos, Native American dance performances and pow wows, art shows and air shows with hot air balloons, vintage aircraft exhibitions and monster truck racing.
Sun City, Ariz.
Banner Boswell Medical Center
Many agree that Sun City, Arizona is a place of cleanliness and friendliness, a wide variety of interests and activities, an ideal adult community where all residents can be as active as they wish. Seven recreation centers, eight golf courses, three country clubs, two bowling centers, Sun Bowl, and Viewpoint Lake constitute one of the largest concentration of year-round recreational facilities in the United States.
Sun City is located within 10 miles of the NFL Cardinals University of Phoenix Stadium, the NHL Coyotes Jobing.com Arena, Major League Baseball spring training (Mariners, Padres, Rangers and Royals), Arrowhead Mall, Symphony of the West Valley, Challenger Space Center, West Valley Art Museum, Wildlife World Zoo, Arizona State University-West, Rio Salado College, Lake Pleasant and many other features.
Sun City West, Ariz.
Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center
With the success of the Del Webb retirement community Sun City, Del Webb created an equally attractive retirement community two miles west. Sun City West offers affordable housing and unmatched amenities. Residence have access to a number of recreation centers and activities that make Sun City West an ideal active adult retirement community.
More Information
For more information about the Arizona lifestyle, visit AZCentral.com.
