Greenery at Monterey attracts Scottish couple

Alan Thorburn and Michele Grieg can tell you where to find the best view and the best breakfast on Mount Charleston. They can give you directions to a morning jazz spot tucked away somewhere beyond Jean. But when they started looking for a vacation home, they went straight to Monterey at the Las Vegas Country Club.

"Perhaps it is the golf course and the trees that remind me of Scotland," Michelle Grieg said. "The greenery here can't be found anywhere else in Las Vegas."

Originally from Scotland, the couple travel to Las Vegas several times each year and have explored neighborhoods across the valley. The central, just-off-the-Strip location of Monterey's legendary golf-course community appeals to their need to feel right at home and their love of travel, they said.

"This is a peaceful and secure setting," said Thorburn, whose work as a business and home decorator led him to appreciate the layout of the one- and two-bedroom condominium and townhome designs.

"We're at the very center of Las Vegas, close to the Strip and to neighborhood shops and cultural centers."

Grieg and Thorburn chose a two-bedroom, Pebble Beach I floor plan. Fully furnished and decorated by Danielle Hawthorne of Parker Rose Design as part of Monterey's designer package, the condominium offers views of the community.

"Parker Rose did a fabulous job. The color selection complements the serenity of Monterey," Thorburn said. "Very clean, classic lines."

Monterey's one- to two-bedroom floor plans offer architectural highlights that may include a private patio or balcony, formal entry, oversized walk-in closets, multiple secondary storage spaces or built-in bookshelves. Other interior highlights include high-grade flooring, stainless-steel sinks, maple cabinetry, ceiling fans and custom window treatments. Most models come equipped with a full-size washer and dryer.

A hydro-massage spa and five swimming pools -- some secluded, others with views of the golf course and nearby Strip properties -- are outdoor features of the community. Other amenities include a fitness center and picnic areas with gas barbecues. Residents can access private streets encircling the golf course for fitness and recreation. The community has 24-hour gated access with uniformed patrol.

Prices start in the $160,000s. For a limited time, buyers may opt for a $10,000 flexible incentive on floor plans not included in the furniture package incentive program. Certain restrictions apply.

To visit, take Interstate 15 and exit Sahara Avenue east, turn right on Paradise Road and left on Karen Avenue. Enter the community through the Las Vegas Country Club gate on Karen Avenue, located between Paradise Road and Maryland Parkway.

The sales center is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For more information, call 796-9700 or visit montereylvcc.com.