In the prized area that is North Scottsdale sits the beautifully conceptualized Grayhawk real estate development with its 3,600 well-constructed homes (both condos and single family units). Spread across 4 square miles of manicured desert landscape, Grayhawk invites a sense of peaceful isolation from the hustling stress of urban life, but also provides its residents and visitors with ideal proximity to numerous outdoor activities and nightlife venues. A terrific combination of peaceful escape and nearby shopping, adventure, and dining render Grayhawk a unique residential development in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Grayhawk residents with a penchant for shopping are happy to find themselves with several retail storefronts at their service. The Grayhawk Plaza Shopping Center (which sits right at the intersection of Grayhawk Drive and Scottsdale Road) houses dozens of merchants and service providers within its sizable expanse. These include a Basha’s Grocery Store, a UPS Store, a Walgreen’s, and various cosmetic/wellness vendors, such as a salon, a nail parlor, and a GNC for all your vitamin and supplement needs. There is also a massage therapy business in the plaza.

Also near Grayhawk is Scottsdale’s famous WestWorld, an enormous equestrian center and events hub which is a huge draw for horse aficionados throughout the state. Horse shows, auctions, vehicle exhibitions, and various expos are regularly held in the enormous WestWorld venue. Equestrianism is on full display nearly three days for every four that pass each year.

Grayhawk homes sit very near the gorgeous McDowell Mountain Range, which is both a sight to behold and a popular hiking destination. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is pet-friendly, open to the public, and even features several guided hikes for those hoping to better acquaint themselves with desert ecology and Arizona topography. This natural wonder is truly one of North Scottsdale’s more remarkable treasures.

The dining scene around Grayhawk is diverse and high in quality, with dozens of excellent options from which to choose. Isabella’s Kitchen, Quill Creek Café, and Market Street Kitchen are among the area’s more popular restaurants, in no small part because two of those listed sit on the Grayhawk Golf Club premises. Speaking of which…

A splendid operation by any measure, the Grayhawk Golf Club (with its two 18-hole courses) is certainly the area’s activity centerpiece. Beautiful fairways, mountain views, excellent playing weather nearly year-round, a top-notch golf learning center, and an accommodating events office combine to make the Grayhawk Golf Club a case study in how this sort of business is best run. While there is no shortage of ways to spend your leisure hours in North Scottsdale, the Grayhawk Golf Club is understandably among the strongest of draws.