North Phoenix

North Phoenix is a broad, fast-growing swath of the city stretching up toward the Loop 101 and beyond, taking in established areas like Deer Valley and newer master-planned districts such as Norterra. It has long combined aviation and industry — Deer Valley Airport is one of the busiest general-aviation fields in the country — with sprawling residential growth. As the metro area has pushed north, the area has filled in with neighborhoods, retail, and employers. It feels newer and more open than the urban core.

Outdoor access is a defining feature. The Sonoran Desert is right at the doorstep, with mountain preserves and trail systems offering hiking and mountain biking among saguaros and desert washes. Large regional and city preserves on the north side give residents quick escapes into rugged terrain, and the desert landscape shapes the look and feel of the whole area. Golf courses and parks are woven throughout the neighborhoods.

Commercially, north Phoenix has matured well beyond strip retail. Norterra's Shops and surrounding centers offer dining, theaters, and shopping, and the area's restaurant scene has grown with everything from craft breweries to family spots and upscale newcomers. Major employers and healthcare campuses have followed the population north, and community events, farmers markets, and seasonal festivals keep the calendar active.

The north side is pleasant most of the year, with fall through spring ideal for hiking and outdoor dining and summer best handled at dawn. A well-rounded day might start with a desert-preserve hike, move to brunch and shopping around Norterra or Deer Valley, and finish with dinner and a movie or a brewery stop on the north side.