KEY TAKEAWAYS
▸ The city of Glendale, AZ, offers potential residents a lower-cost alternative to Phoenix with its own vibrant culture.
▸ Sports, shopping, outdoors, and arts enthusiasts alike will find plenty of things to do in Glendale.
▸ If Glendale is your moving destination, take a look at local self-storage options to help you save space while you relocate.
When you think of Arizona, you likely think of one of three things: dry heat, deserts, and Phoenix. If the first two are your ideal environment and you’d like to relocate there, but you’re looking to move somewhere other than the most popular city in the area, it’s worth checking out Arizona’s hidden gem: the city of Glendale.
While it doesn’t have the name recognition of Arizona’s capital, Glendale offers residents a much lower cost of living while being a good place to live on its own. Sports, culture, nightlife, and shopping enthusiasts alike will find plenty to love just nine miles from Phoenix. Here, we’ll go over some of the most attractive things to do in Glendale, Arizona, alongside some of its most appealing features and opportunities for those looking for a Southwestern move.
Sports stadiums and entertainment venues
Sports fans looking to move to Glendale are in luck; it’s home to State Farm Stadium, where the Arizona Cardinals play NFL home games and occasionally host the Super Bowl, and Desert Diamond Arena, the former home of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes. Both stadiums host other sports games and large touring concerts for music fans to enjoy, with State Farm Stadium hosting everyone from The Weeknd to the Rolling Stones in the last couple of years.
If attending sports events and concerts is a priority for you, living in Glendale will make it that much easier to get to these popular venues. Whether you hope to take in a daytime soccer game or cheer on your favorite musician by night, keep an eye on the stadiums’ event calendars and be sure to get to any event early to find parking. State Farm Stadium, in particular, has an ingenious system of suggesting the most efficient direction for cars to take from each parking spot.
Places to shop
From fashion to function, you’ll find plenty of options to upgrade your closet and your home life when shopping in Glendale. Arrowhead Towne Center offers a classic shopping mall experience with 154 stores to meet all your retail therapy needs, as well as restaurants and a movie theater when you’re hungry or want to be entertained. For a more urban experience with nightlife and dining options, head to the Westgate Entertainment District, anchored around Desert Diamond Arena.
Malls and shopping districts alike offer familiar storefronts, but you’ll also find unique local boutiques and shops for handpicked fashion finds. If you’re looking to get out and celebrate seasons and holidays, these centers often have festivals and seasonal events for adults and families alike to come together.
Historic downtown Glendale and its events
A small-town suburb like Glendale is nice to visit and even nicer to live in. Historic downtown Glendale is charming and walkable, giving you an easy opportunity to experience its many offerings.
Visitors and residents alike can explore the Catlin Court Historic District, an area with many historic houses and connections to the city’s initial growth. You’ll find nine more historic districts throughout the city if you’re an aspiring Glendale history buff.
As with any small town worth visiting, Glendale offers a handful of local restaurants and cafes downtown, making it easy to meet up with friends and make new ones. You’ll also find plenty of monthly events to keep you visiting the area, such as the Glendale Glitters event around the holiday season.
Outdoor activities, hiking trails, and parks
Outdoors enthusiasts of all types and skill levels will find plenty to enjoy in Glendale. Arizona’s desert parks offer many ways to get outside and stay active, from hiking and running trails to botanical gardens. Thunderbird Conservation Park gives hikers of all experience levels an opportunity to experience local flora and fauna and beautiful views of the Arizona landscape, from the brief and easy Chuckwalla trail to the three-mile, high-difficulty Cholla Loop.
Sahuaro Ranch Park is a historic ranch that appeals to a more casual crowd, boasting everything from picnic areas to playgrounds; you may even see a peacock or two while exploring among the ranch buildings and recreational areas. If you’d rather find a more low-key way to get outside, Glendale has several golf courses and recreation centers to keep you moving, and if you’d like to bring your family along, look into the many family-friendly playgrounds and casual sports facilities in the area.
Art museums, galleries, and theatre
If your idea of a good time has less to do with hiking and more to do with experiencing the arts, you’re in luck; Glendale caters to its more artistic residents with galleries, museums, and performance spaces. The West Valley Art Museum in Peoria is a short drive away, offering rotating exhibits and permanent collections to experience, and the Bead Museum in the heart of Glendale is dedicated to showcasing how beads and jewelry have been important to many cultures throughout history.
If your art tastes are more local, downtown Glendale offers plenty of local art galleries and art walks to help connect artists with patrons and customers. You can also take in (or even audition for) community theater shows for kids and adults alike, and take part in annual festivals celebrating the many cultures that make Glendale what it is.
Attractions for the whole family
Families will find many places and activities for all ages to enjoy throughout Glendale. The nearby Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park in Phoenix gives visitors a peek at how animals of all kinds live on land and sea, showcasing over 600 exotic and endangered species on 100 acres of land. There’s even a roller coaster on-site for thrill-seeking kids to get their adrenaline pumping.
Your family can live their Roald Dahl dreams by taking a tour of the Cerreta Candy Company, which showcases the history of local candymakers and gives out free samples throughout. Glendale is also home to plenty of bowling alleys, arcades, and other entertainment centers for a fun day out with the family, and several family restaurants offer a delicious meal while catering to all ages. You can even beat the heat with seasonal splash pads and water features during the summer.
Dining, bars, and nightlife
Young adults and urban professionals hoping for a good time out on the town will find good eats and lively social spots all throughout Glendale. Whatever your taste buds are craving, you’ll be satisfied with fast casual, food truck, and sit-down options from authentic Mexican food to tasty barbecue. If upscale dining is more your speed, take a date to a local steakhouse (or enjoy it on your own; we won’t judge you).
The Westgate district has a vibrant nightlife scene, offering bars and clubs for a variety of music and drink tastes. If you’re more of a beer or cider enthusiast, craft beer spots and local breweries abound downtown, and if you’re an aspiring chef yourself, local farmers’ markets offer plenty of fresh local produce to work with.
Is Glendale, AZ a good place to live?
Activities alone shouldn’t be the main reason you move somewhere, but living in Glendale has many benefits aside from its entertainment, sports, and lifestyle offerings. Here are a few reasons why it’s worth considering a move:
- Affordability. According to Payscale’s affordability index, the cost of living in Glendale is about 4% higher than the national average; this comes in lower than Phoenix’s 7%, and is offset by local healthcare costing 5% less than the national average.
- Location. Glendale is just a few miles from Phoenix, giving residents easy access to the city without its costs. Long-distance travel is simple as well, with the Glendale Airport right outside the busiest parts of town.
- Job opportunities. With two stadiums bringing sports and entertainment to town, there are plenty of jobs to support both local industries. Many other markets and employers take advantage of the lower cost of office and factory space to open offices in town as well.
- A community feel. Despite being just a few miles from Phoenix, Glendale offers a more laid-back small-town charm with family-friendly and adult-oriented activities all throughout. A diverse selection of neighborhoods caters to a variety of backgrounds and lifestyles.
- A comfortable dry heat. Arizona is a hot place to live, but its lack of humidity makes summer much more tolerable. You’ll be motivated to get out and hike, picnic, play sports, and explore all around the city.
- Plenty of options for education. Public elementary, middle, and high schools throughout Glendale offer many programs, curricula, and activities to help kids succeed, and university and community colleges alike are great for those seeking continuing education.
As with many suburban areas, Glendale is constantly growing and developing, and you’ll likely find a lower cost of living the sooner you commit to a move.
How do I make the most of my move to Glendale with self-storage?
Choosing a city to move to is just one part of the moving process. If you’re moving to Glendale, you’ll have to plan out your move-in date, research apartments and homes, and secure some storage space to help you both before and after you move. Luckily, Sparefoot makes it easy to find affordable storage near you that meets your needs.
Here are a few ways that renting a self-storage unit in Glendale can make a move that much easier:
- Storing your stuff as a new resident. If you’re making the move before you’ve committed to a place to live, renting a storage unit will give you space to put your belongings while you make a decision. This extra space will help you organize your stuff and stage your move, and keeping your rental agreement up will help you keep your belongings safe if your new home isn’t big enough.
- Storing seasonal objects. When the weather gets colder and outdoor and sports activities become less frequent, a storage unit is the perfect place to put your gear while you’re not using it. Seasonal decorations can also find a home in a storage unit while you wait for an annual festival to come back around.
- Storing collectibles. If you don’t have room to display antiques or art that you purchase from local Glendale shops, a climate-controlled storage unit will keep them safe from the elements while you make space for them at home.
- Storing recreational equipment. Between desert camping, hiking, and cycling adventures, a storage unit is a good place to keep your gear while it’s not being used.
- Organizing your home. Smaller homes are more affordable by nature, but you may have too much stuff to fit into a small apartment. Luckily, a storage unit can help save space while you organize and figure out what to keep.
- Storing things for temporary residents. If you’re only looking to stay in town for a season, such as to experience the Glendale Glitters festival, a storage unit can help secure everything you may not be using while you enjoy the festivities.
How do I find the right storage unit for my needs in Glendale?
By now, you’ve seen the variety of experiences Glendale has to offer for all kinds of people and families. It’s a beautiful town to visit and explore, and if you’re looking to become a resident, you’ll find plenty of reasons to stay. If it’s the right place for you, you won’t be disappointed once you move there.
Looking for some storage solutions as a prospective or future resident? Need to save space in your new Glendale apartment? Use Sparefoot’s built-in search tool to help find storage units with the features you want at the prices you need.
Peter Lalush
