Retiring in Arizona

Sun City West, an active adult community west of Phoenix, has seven resident golf courses plus access to surrounding public courses, and the Phoenix metro area as a whole has more than 200 golf courses. Many municipal courses in Scottsdale and Mesa offer senior rate structures for early tee times.

The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix spans 140 acres and displays more than 50,000 desert plants, with senior discount admission and a robust calendar of guided walks. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension runs a Maricopa County Master Gardener program with monthly volunteer events and public plant clinics.

The City of Scottsdale maintains eight outdoor lighted pickleball courts at Ashler Hills Park and additional courts at Vista del Camino Park, with organized adult leagues open to all ages. Phoenix's 15 senior centers offer pickleball programming, and private facilities like Center Court Pickleball Club provide indoor play for year-round comfort.

The Phoenix Art Museum is the largest art museum in the Southwest, with a senior admission rate and free first Friday evenings. Scottsdale's arts district along Main Street and Marshall Way includes more than 80 galleries and hosts a Thursday evening ArtWalk from October through May.

The City of Phoenix Human Services Department operates 15 senior centers throughout the city for adults 18 and older, offering fitness classes, social events, nutrition programs, and benefits counseling. Scottsdale's Senior Services division also runs two senior centers and a robust calendar of clubs and day trips.

South Mountain Park in Phoenix covers more than 16,000 acres and has over 50 miles of trails ranging from paved accessible paths to challenging ridgelines. Sedona's Red Rock State Park and Oak Creek Canyon offer well-marked trails through dramatic sandstone country, about two hours north of Phoenix.

Arizona Game and Fish Department issues fishing licenses with a reduced annual fee for residents 70 and older who meet income guidelines, and free combination hunt/fish licenses for low-income seniors. Saguaro Lake, Lake Pleasant, and Canyon Lake northeast of Phoenix all have public fishing access and boat ramps.

Lake Pleasant Regional Park, about 30 miles north of Phoenix, has a full-service marina, multiple public boat ramps, and rentals for motorized and non-motorized watercraft. Saguaro Lake within the Tonto National Forest also has a marina with boat rentals and a public launch ramp.