Overview

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Walkability
The Catalina Foothills is an area where you will probably spend more time in the car, but most daily stops are still an easy drive away! The more spread-out setup also means many neighborhoods have a quieter feel, larger lots, and more room between homes. Instead of the crowded streets of Downtown Tucson, you will find winding roads, desert landscaping, and mountain views. Plus, outdoor recreation is a big part of the area, with hiking trails, walking paths, and scenic spots easy to reach throughout the Foothills.


Restaurants and Bars

There are plenty of places to eat and grab a drink throughout the Foothills!

A few local favorites include:

• Tavolino Ristorante Italiano (one of our favorites!)

• Contigo Latin Kitchen

• Flying V Bar & Grill

• Fini's Landing

• Tinajas Wine & Beer

• Presta Coffee Roasters

• Ren Coffeehouse


 

Instead of busy nightclubs and bar hopping, you are more likely to find restaurant patios, wine bars, resort bars, and relaxed neighborhood hangouts!

Local Nature

 

This might be one of the best parts of living in the Foothills! The Santa Catalina Mountains are right outside your door, and there are plenty of places to hike and enjoy the desert!

Popular outdoor spots include:
* Sabino Canyon Recreation Area – One of Tucson's most popular places for hiking, walking, and desert views.
* Pima Canyon Trail -A scenic trail on the west side of the Foothills that heads into the mountains.
* Ventana Canyon Trail – A popular hiking area on the east side of the Foothills.
* Rillito River Park – Great for walking, biking, and connecting to Tucson's larger Loop trail system.

And if hiking is not your thing, just driving through the area gives you plenty of mountain and desert scenery!



Shopping and Amenities
You do not have to head into central Tucson every time you need to shop or grab dinner. The Foothills has several shopping areas spread throughout the neighborhood.

Some popular spots include:
* La Encantada – An outdoor shopping center with restaurants, clothing stores, home stores, and beautiful mountain views.
* St. Philip's Plaza – Home to restaurants, shops, a farmers market, and regular community events.
* Plaza Palomino – A smaller outdoor shopping center with local shops, restaurants, and services.
* River Center – A convenient spot for restaurants, shopping, and everyday errands.
You will also find grocery stores, gyms, medical offices, coffee shops, banks, spas, golf courses, and resorts throughout the area.

Schools
Much of the Catalina Foothills is served by Catalina Foothills School District #16.
Schools in the district include:

* Catalina Foothills High School
* Esperero Canyon Middle School
* Orange Grove Middle School
* Canyon View Elementary School
* Manzanita Elementary School
* Sunrise Drive Elementary School
* Ventana Vista Elementary School

There are also several private and charter school options in and around the area.
School boundaries can vary depending on the property, so you should always check the exact school district and school assignment for a home they are considering.

What Are the Homes Like
There is a much wider mix of homes in the Catalina Foothills than people sometimes expect. You can find large luxury homes, custom desert homes, older ranch-style houses, condos, townhomes, and gated communities.
Some homes sit high on the hills and have wide mountain or city views. Others are tucked into quieter desert neighborhoods. The land can also be very different from one property to another. Buyers may want to look at things like steep driveways, washes, drainage, private roads, lot size, and the direction the home faces. Even homes just a few streets apart can have completely different views!


What Is It Like to Live Here?
The Catalina Foothills is a great option for people who want to stay close to Tucson while having more space and easy access to the desert.
The mountains feel close, many neighborhoods are quiet, and hiking is never far away! The biggest tradeoff is that you will probably drive more than you would in Downtown Tucson or some of the central neighborhoods.
But if mountain views, outdoor space, nearby trails, restaurants, shopping, and quieter neighborhoods are high on your list, there is a lot to love about the Catalina Foothills!