az: Tucson Snowstorm - 02/12/13 09:09 AM
 
 
Tucson Snowstorm
 

Tucson is known for many things.  We've got great Mexican food, beautiful mountains, and hot summers.  Golf, cycling and hiking are world class.  But Tucson is definitely not known for snow.  In fact, most people move here to get away from the "white stuff".  It typically only snows here about once every 3-4 years.  So twice in one week is simply unheard of but that's what happened.  Saturday it snowed in many areas around town.
Yesterday, it snowed again.  I've been out photographing the "white stuff" three times in just the last few days. … (6 comments)

az: Snow on the Mountains...Exactly where it should be. - 12/12/11 04:21 PM

Snow on the Mountains...Exactly where it should be.
 
One of the greatest things about southern Arizona is the lack of snow.  Every year I take my kids on the 45 minute drive up the mountain to play in the snow.  We build a snow man, throw snowballs, make snow angels and even go sledding.  Then we leave.
 
My 2 year old enjoying his first snowball fight
The best part about it is that I rarely touch snow more than three times per year, including vacations.  And I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I do see snow … (7 comments)

az: Tucson: The Best Place to Photograph Lightning - 09/07/11 08:07 AM

Tucson: The Best Place to Photograph Lightning
Tucson is the best place to photograph lightning.  I grew up here in Tucson, Arizona.  I moved here when I was 9 months old and lived here until I was nineteen.  Huge monsoon storms filled with incredible lightning displays were a common sight during the summer months.  I never realized how rare this was outside of Tucson until I moved away.  What I thought was no big deal was something that I missed during the years away from my hometown.  I moved back in 1999 and have enjoyed these awesome storms ever since.
(11 comments)

az: Did you know Saguaros can Glow? - 06/09/11 03:38 PM

Did you know Saguaros can Glow?
I'll apologize ahead of time about the cheezy title.  Saguaros and some other cactus actually can glow.  This happens just after sunset and just before sunrise.  When the sun is behind the cactus at the right angle the suns rays will hit the semi translucent needles making them appear to glow.  Some of my favorite pictures are taken from this angle.
 

 
The cholla cactus actually lights up even more due to the very transparent needles.  Many other types of cactus have a needle that is too dense.
 

 
I … (7 comments)

az: Sabino Canyon, Tucson's Retreat from the Heat - 05/16/11 09:07 AM

Sabino Canyon, Tucson's Retreat from the Heat
 
Sabino Canyon is located in the Catalina Mountains on the north side of Tucson, Arizona.  It is a heavily visited park with many swimming holes amongst the rich desert and creekside vegetation.  Tucsonans have long visited the canyon to enjoy a picnic, view wildlife, hike on the many trails, see the amazing views, and cool off in one of the many pools of water.
Directions:  From Tanque Verde Road, go north on Sabino Canyon Road for just over 4 miles to the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area.  Here you will find a large … (1 comments)

az: Tucson's Secret Hideaway: Madera Canyon - 05/15/11 09:20 AM

 
Tucson's Secret Hideaway: Madera Canyon
 
Located about an hour south of Tucson in the Santa Rita Mountains, Madera Canyon is one of the area's most beautiful canyons.  Wildlife abounds along the seasonal stream.  Quaint cabins and B & Bs welcome visitors.  And trails spread across the mountainside.  Madera Canyon is truly a beautiful oasis overlooking the southwestern desert.
Directions: From Tucson, take I-19 south to Continental Road.  Go east on Continental Road to Whitehouse Canyon Road.  Go east and then south about 11 miles to Madera Canyon.  
 

Madera Canyon is beautiful just about anytime of … (2 comments)

az: The Best Lakes in Arizona - 05/14/11 01:41 PM

 
The Best Lakes in Arizona
 
I took a trip to Canyon Lake yesterday for a great day of waterskiing.  The weather was fantastic, the water was mostly smooth, and even though it had been three years I still was able to tear it up.  I even had people on the Canyon Lake tour boat taking pictures of me.  Today, I am paying the price as this old body feels pain in all the areas I haven't used in those three years.  
I have spent a good part of my life waterskiing and boating the many lakes in … (2 comments)

az: Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona - 05/09/11 07:48 AM

Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona
 
Saguaro National Park is divided into two seperate locations on the outskirts of Tucson, Arizona.  Each side has it's own visitor center.  The Saguaro National Park Rincon District is located at the base of the Rincon Mountains on the east side of Tucson.  The Saguaro National Park Tucson Mountain District is located in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains on the west side of Tucson.  Saguaro National Park has a total of over 90,000 acres.  It is fantastic place for hiking, cycling, horseback riding, viewing wildlife and enjoying an incredible sunset.  It is … (4 comments)

az: Light Trails on Mount Lemmon - 05/06/11 09:16 AM

Light Trails on Mount Lemmon
 
Light Trails can be some of the most fun things to photograph.  On a recent trip up to Mount Lemmon, located in the Catalina Mountains on the north side of Tucson, I decided to pull over and take some pictures of some Light Trails with the Tucson city lights in the distance.  The sun had just set so there was still just a touch of color in the sky.  

Mount Lemmon is a common getaway for Tucsonans.  A forty-five minute drive in the summer time can take one from 100 degree weather … (3 comments)

az: Space Day at The Pima Air and Space Museum - 05/03/11 05:30 AM
The Pima Air and Space Museum is located Southeast of Tucson at 6000 E. Valencia Road.  It is one of the museums of its kind in the world.  The Pima Air and Space Museum has over 300 aircraft and 125,000 artifacts.  They even have John F. Kennedy's Air Force One, a B-29 Superfortress, and an SR-71 Blackbird.


The Pima Air and Space Museum also offers tours of the Davis Monthan Air Force Base Boneyard.  
This Friday, May 6th, 2011, is Space Day at The Pima Air and Space Museum.  All activities at the museum are free with a … (2 comments)

az: Another stunning sunset in Tucson, Arizona - 04/24/11 06:17 AM
Another stunning sunset in Tucson, Arizona

I took my one year old son, Jacob, with me on a short hike near my house.  He was heavy (my shoulders still hurt) and he wouldn't stop playing with my camera strap around my neck while I was trying to take pictures.  But the sunset was awesome, the weather was perfect, and then he fell asleep on the hike back.  I tried to take the child backpack off without waking him to get a picture but he woke up.  
I count myself lucky to live in a place that has such stunning … (2 comments)

az: Last night's sunset in Saguaro National Park - 04/06/11 07:28 AM
This was last night's sunset in Saguaro National Park.  It is my favorite location to take pictures.  The park is actually divided into two parts.  The smaller, but more visited, park is on the west side of Tucson in the Tucson Mountains.  The larger park is on the east side of Tucson at the base of the Rincon Mountains.  I recommend visiting both since they are quite different.  

I have been finding more time in recent years, partially in thanks to a slower real estate market, to spend more time on photography.  The funny thing is that my career … (1 comments)

az: Tucson has the best sunsets - 04/04/11 07:20 AM
Tucson has the best sunsets.  I might be just a little biased, having grown up in Tucson.  When I was a kid I didn't realize that other places don't have the amazing colors that only a desert sky can produce.  
About 5 years ago I was at a family reunion in Colorado.  I had just started getting more into photography and was very interested in learning more.  My uncle had been into photography for many years.  I spent a lot of time trying to learn as much as possible from a much more advanced photographer.  On one hike around a … (8 comments)

az: Time to Invest in Real Estate - 03/29/11 08:07 AM
Is it time to invest in real estate?  I get this question a lot.  What most people are asking is if we have hit the bottom of the market.  They are trying to time it just right to not lose money.  This is the wrong way to look at investing.  In fact this is not investing, it's speculating.  
So what is the difference between investing and speculating?  Speculating is buying something in hopes that it will go up in value.  Investing is buying something for its return, regardless of if it goes up or down in value.  
For Investment … (5 comments)

az: My First Blog - 11/19/08 05:08 AM
Welcome to my Blog.  I'm just getting my feet wet so please bear with me.  For a real quick introduction.  My name is Greg McCown.  I am 35, have a beautiful wife, four great kids, and I am in real estate.  I both sell real estate and invest in it.  I have been selling real estate for almost 14 years and really enjoy it.  I have also been investing in real estate for almost 14 years.  I own quite a few rental properties and have done fix-ups, vacation rentals, lots splits, and new custom spec homes.  I get a thrill out of finding a … (0 comments)

 
Greg McCown (Century 21 1st American)

Greg McCown

Tucson, AZ

More about me…

Century 21 1st American

Address: 8830 E. Speedway, Tucson, AZ, 85710

Office: (520) 296-5491

Mobile: (520) 907-6760



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