18 Undeniable Reasons Why Everyone Should Love Arizona
By Monica Spencer|Updated on September 25, 2020(Originally published September 20, 2020)
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Monica Spencer
Author
Monica is a Diné (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tódich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com.
Simply put, Arizona is one of the most photogenic places in the United States. Arizona natives and recent transplants can agree that we have gorgeous, federally-protected landscapes, climates for all kinds of activities, a diverse population, and ridiculously delicious regional foods. What more could you ask for in a home state? Here are 18 reasons to love Arizona:
If there's anything that will make you fall in love with Arizona, it's the sunsets. Nature uses every color in her palette to create a masterpiece each evening and you can never take a bad picture of the sunsets here.
Not to brag but we have some pretty amazing starry nights. That’s probably why we’re home to more than a couple dozen observatories, many open to the public.
Feel like hiking? There are more than 300 trails scattered across the state and with several different climates, you can find a trail if it’s too hot or too cold wherever you are right now.
Does this even need an introduction? Arizona is home to one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon, which shows off one of the many beautiful sights Arizona has to offer.
Most people see pictures of Antelope Canyon and think it’s either abstract art or not real. Yes, it is real and, yes, it is a beauty. Seriously, can this state be any more picture perfect?
There are a handful of places you can get a taste of the Wild West here but none quite takes the cake like Tombstone. The former boomtown was once the home of the famous deputy marshal Wyatt Earp.
Unhealthy, yes, but we don’t know of anyone who would turn down delicious, steaming hot fry bread. In fact, Phoenix alone has a handful of restaurants where you can buy authentic fry bread.
Drive around any city or town in Arizona and you’re bound to run into a half dozen Mexican restaurants within a couple minutes. Go cheap with Filiberto’s at 3AM or pay more for an upscale experience.
We love heat, especially when it’s in our mouths. Arizona has several huge salsa festivals each year where you can eat anything from exceptionally mild corn salsas to a mouth burning, pure chile salsa while raising money for local charities.
What do you get when you wrap a hot dog in bacon and add toppings like pinto beans, jalapenos, onions, tomatoes, mayo, and mustard? You’ve got one of the tastiest hot dogs you’ll ever eat: the Sonoran hot dog.
Arizona is home to more than one dozen teams during the spring training season, including the Cubs, the Dodgers, and our hometown favorite, the Diamondbacks. These pre-season games also tend to be less expensive than during the regular season!
Arizona is one of the only states in the nation that does not observe Daylight Savings Time. We (not so secretly) chuckle as the rest of the country struggles to adjust their body clocks each spring because we’re waking up at our usual time every day.
In the spring and fall, you can quite literally go from a morning of playing in the snow in Flagstaff to swimming outdoors several hours later in Phoenix. Talk about a variety of weekend activities!
For any transplant from the Northeast or the Midwest, the main allure for moving to Arizona is how many sunny days we get each year. 296 in Phoenix, 284 in Tucson, 276 in Flagstaff, and 313 in Yuma. Just be sure to stock up on your sunscreen!
If that doesn’t convince you that Arizona is the place to be (and love), then nothing will. Did we leave anything off? Here are some of the amazing places to visit in Arizona and the best AZ restaurants to try the amazing food that was mentioned.
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Reasons To Love Arizona
Leah|September 25, 2020
What are the best things about living in Arizona?
It's no question that many people consider living in Arizona the best decision they ever made. There are a lot of best things about Arizona, it's hard to list every single one. Other than the many sunny days to brighten your life, the weather is also great. Sure, the summertime temps are pretty high, but dry - not humid. It's the fall, winter, and spring that are spectacular. The temps are comfortable during the day and mildly chilly at night. Arizona is full of great outdoor recreation because of that, you can have fun year-round. The food and culture scenes are great, and there's lots of space to explore.
What is Arizona known for?
Life in Arizona comes with many perks that are well-known throughout the world. Arizona is known for being a desert state, and while that is true for a large amount of it, there are also mountains, forests, and snowy peaks within the state. The most famous part of Arizona is undoubtedly the Grand Canyon. This natural wonder has been featured in tons of media and is one of the most widely known national parks in the world. Arizona is known for loving Mexican food, and that's certainly no lie. Most everyone has a favorite local Mexican restaurant they claim is the best of the best - and they just might all be right!
What are the weirdest things about Arizona?
Along with the good reputation Arizona has, there are weird quirks and stereotypes about the state, as well. If you aren't used to living in a desert, you might want to get acquainted with some of the desert dwellers that you might spot in your home. People expect the occasional spider, but you have to be wary of coming across a scorpion as well, especially at night. Many Arizona residents are still upset Pluto was removed from the list of planets - something most people don't really think about. That's because Pluto was discovered in an observatory right here in the Grand Canyon State, and it's hard to give up the pride of such a big discovery.
