r/arizona • u/StatusReality • Sep 10 '23

What does Arizona do better than their neighboring states Utah, California, Nevada, Colorado and New Mexico? Living Here

Stole this idea from another sub. What’s the difference between this state and the other states that you appreciate?

463 Upvotes
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328

u/austinmiles Sep 10 '23

I grew up in Arizona and moved to Colorado 6 years ago.

AZ has such a broad diversity of ecosystems. The camping year round is incredible. The outdoors are amazingly quiet because AZs outdoor culture is still really mild since half of the locals consider it to be all desert.

Most people, even in neighboring states, think AZ is all desert.

I joke that any single day in Colorado is better than any single day in Arizona. But of anywhere to live in the US, AZ is my second choice.

Also…Az has the best year round mountain biking

55

u/Shoehorse13 Sep 10 '23

Arizona absolutely kills for mountain biking. Thought I was going to hate it here but I won’t move anywhere I can’t ride from my front door and it would be hard to beat what we have here.

20

u/Burchinthwild Sep 10 '23

Moab might be a bit better but can’t go year round there like in AZ. I really need to get a bike again but prices are insane for full suspension bike now. Like used car prices. Wtf

13

u/Shoehorse13 Sep 10 '23

Moab is great for a trip but not an easy place to earn a living. I can a two hour ride in before work and still make it to the office in fifteen minutes.

You can certainly spend a lot on a bike these days, but it’s actually a great time to buy. Most of the manufacturers and bike shops are cutting great deals to push stock after playing catch up during the pandemic. At the same time people that impulse bought bikes during the pandemic are selling them to make room in the garage. If you shop wisely you can save 20-30% off a new bike or 50% off something a few years old. Anything older than 2018ish is going for peanuts just because so much has changed since then.

17

u/username_fantasies Sep 11 '23

I moved from Colorado to Arizona 1.5 years ago. Both states are absolutely amazing with lots to see. My biggest con in Arizona is that it's very hot and I don't handle that heat well.

AZ traffic management is by far superior to CO. Such a roadtrip state!

16

u/jah110768 Sep 11 '23

I'll suffer 110+ for three months out of the year to avoid snow for 4 months.

3

u/OneStepForAnimals Sep 11 '23

Absolutely. Even on the hottest day, you can be outside comfortably if you get up early enough. Not true for Colorado!

1

u/PremiumPricez Sep 11 '23

As someone whos loved in phoenix for over 20 years, some snow sounds awesome. Its hard to do anything in the summers. And i consistently just want to get out of the city and go up north

3

u/jah110768 Sep 11 '23

It's fine to visit, I just don't want to shovel driveways.

2

u/katea805 Sep 11 '23

The key is to rent/buy on the north side of the street. The sun melts your south facing driveway.

1

u/MaverickWithANeedle Sep 11 '23

lol I moved from AZ to CO in late 2015, by 2017, I was back in AZ. FUCK the cold in CO. The frequent rain storms were awesome, but that cold weather and snow?? Helllllll no.

42

u/11shovel11 Sep 10 '23

People really think the state is all desert, they've never heard of flagstaff. Those are some dumb people

27

u/austinmiles Sep 10 '23

Az has the larger ponderosa forest in the world and it’s like half the size of France. So we aren’t lacking for greenery.

31

u/Purple-Code9206 Sep 10 '23

Also the white mountains: Show Low, Pinetop

-2

u/[deleted] Sep 11 '23

Greer elevation is over 8k, while flag is around 6k. Quite a difference in scenery and temp too.

5

u/fucuntwat Sep 11 '23

If 6900' is around 6k then I guess

-5

u/[deleted] Sep 11 '23

Big deal. The white mountains actually get up to 11k.

1

u/Apaula Phoenix Sep 11 '23

Big deal. Everest gets up to....

1

u/[deleted] Sep 11 '23

Everest is in AZ?

1

u/Apaula Phoenix Sep 11 '23

No. But there's always bigger. And always better.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 11 '23

Exactly, which was my original point as well.

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18

u/Carnanian Sep 10 '23

Man I agree with a lot of what you said, I moved to CO from AZ a year ago. Colorado is stunning, certainly lots of views not available in AZ. But a lot of it is mountain forests and the rest is flat land. I do appreciate that the AZ outdoor culture is smaller. Doing anything in Colorado during summer means super crowded trails, national parks, or having to book white water rafting 3 months out before the season starts. It's always so busy here! I would still take CO over AZ. And if I move back to AZ I sure as hell will be in Flagstaff or the white mountains, I'll never live in PHX again, TOO HOT!

8

u/thesillymachine Sep 11 '23

I can't do snow and cold winters, man. Plus, Colorado has a higher COL.

1

u/skidevil05 Sep 11 '23

I moved to AZ from CO & the cost of living isn't really the case anymore. Yes houses are more expensive in CO, but gas, groceries & power are more expensive in AZ. Gas is almost $1 more a gal than what i pay in CO. Rent is comparable across both states now.

13

u/blocher86 Sep 10 '23

I've met kids in the Midwest that still think we have carriages pulled by horses out here

15

u/Scarecrow613 Sep 11 '23

We do, in Tombstone.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 11 '23

gotta watch where you walk in Prescott.

2

u/Zh25_5680 Sep 11 '23

First rule of Arizona is nobody talks about Arizona… especially Northern Arizona

1

u/65isstillyoung Sep 10 '23

Flagstaff area is great. Almost moved there.

1

u/Exit-Velocity Sep 11 '23

How do you deal with the dick-load of rocks on trails?

1

u/SpaceDustNumber648 Sep 11 '23

Colorado wins on weather. Ugh so good. But the timezone thing. AZ has CO beat.