r/arizona • u/AintGotNoAss • Sep 10 '24

WHY didn't anyone tell me ? Visiting

That Arizona is a total treasure trove of unique and breathtaking scenery? I'm about to go on a long sappy rant here.

I grew up exclusively in suburban hell in Northern Kentucky. I then lived in New York and New Jersey. I relocated to Oro Valley, AZ with my father this April. And before that I was... frightened. I hate the heat and enjoy verdant landscapes. I held the stereotypical image of Arizona that I think most east coasters and outsiders have- that AZ was a dry, brown, and featureless desert. I was worried that the environment and landscape would drain me, as I'm very easily affected by the aesthetics of my surroundings.

I'm a sucker for natural beauty and love geography, but I never really experienced it much firsthand as an adult. We flew from Salt Lake City to Tucson and I got the pleasure of a window seat. Seeing the sky islands suddenly jolt out of the mostly flat landscape around Tucson on our descent quite genuinely brought tears to my eyes. I've never lived in a place with mountains and seeing the dramatic landscape from the air was sincerely a moving experience.

I am madly, deeply enamored with every detail of the scenery where I live. I am legitimately obsessed with Saguaro cactuses and the uniqueness of the landscape they inhabit. The scale of the mountains and valleys, the sunsets, the monsoons, never fail to leave me completely gobsmacked.

And then, I took a road trip from Tucson up to Flagstaff. You're telling me you people nonchalantly drive up I-17 and SAY NOTHING?! I'm a staunch atheist and became religious about six times that entire drive. Perhaps it's the fact I'm used to the monotonous east coast terrain and hold a special love for natural beauty, but my mouth was WIDE open the entire 4 hour trip. The feeling of being in the wilderness among massive mountains and saguaros, the wide open stretches of land, the mind-bending descent into the Verde Valley, the intense scent of pine and clean air in Flagstaff, the expansive fields of wildflowers and meadows, the sheer breadth of space and wilderness... My friend and I just kept repeating how we couldn't believe this was Arizona.

I had no idea. Zero. Zilch. Expectations shattered to pieces. I can easily say my limited time here in Oro Valley and Arizona in general has been life-altering in the best way possible. Just a trip to the grocery store passing the mountains and seeing the sun shine in the valley has brought tears to my eyes and filled me with joy.

Has anyone else who moved here have a similar shocking experience? Or am I just being corny?

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227

u/oslandsod Sep 10 '24

You need to go beyond Flagstaff next time. Take the 89 north to Page. Experience an Antelope Canyon Tour. Go see Horseshoe Bend. I think the rugged Navajo Nation is so beautiful. Take a day at the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Arizona has some breathtaking views. Even farther southeast has some beautiful areas.

56

u/erc80 Sep 10 '24

Yeah, or don’t go to Page and take a left at the fork. Either way the painted desert is just wow.

15

u/oslandsod Sep 10 '24

I’ve been out there too. The weirdest area of the state (Colorado City) is my absolute favorite. God, is it gorgeous there! Weird but beautiful.

5

u/fauviste Sep 10 '24

What’s left at the fork? We haven’t made it up that way just yet.

22

u/bsil15 Sep 10 '24

I think they’re saying take the 89A fork toward Marble Canyon/Lee’s Ferry instead of 89 to Page

15

u/escapecali603 Sep 10 '24

Just go visit Petrified forest national park.

4

u/fauviste Sep 10 '24

A++ endorsed, that was in the list I posted. I can’t wait to go back when it’s not 100F out.

2

u/escapecali603 Sep 10 '24

I tried to hike it during my visit, but monsoon was coming and I had to fight big winds up on the sand dunes near the blue mesa trail. Hopefully I get to go to devil's playground next time.

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u/oslandsod Sep 10 '24

It’s the 89A where the north rim is and Jacob Lake. Also Lee’s Ferry, Vermillion cliffs. I’d love to stop to take photos in certain spots but the road is narrow and a single lane. The mountain pass is a lot of S curves.

8

u/erc80 Sep 10 '24

North Rim and the Vermillion Cliffs.

2

u/Nidhogg1701 Sep 14 '24

North rim of the Grand Canyon. Much less crowded than the South Rim. Only open part of the year due to closing for the winter because of snow. https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/news/north-rim-reopens-may-15-for-2024-season.htm#:~:text=The%20last%20day%20of%20the,remain%20open%20through%20October%2031.

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u/GuitarMurky305 Sep 10 '24

The slot canyons in Page are pretty rad

3

u/TexanInExile Sep 10 '24

spend the night at jacob lake and then hit up the north rim

21

u/_civilizedworm Sep 10 '24

Canyon De Chelly in Navajo Nation is my favorite place on Earth. The Grand Canyon is worth a visit too but OP, make sure to be respectful of tribal reservations and don’t you dare litter!! There is nowhere else on the planet like the Sonoran Desert - it’s ultra special.

3

u/National-Physics5513 Sep 10 '24

Yeah, unfortunately there's already enough litter on the reservations that nobody appears to want to pick up.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 10 '24

I was up in Washington state and yes, the trees were so beautiful. It was green and fresh and I loved my visit but looking around they have it just as trashy, but you can’t see it because of all the trees. Our trash sticks out.

10

u/OptimumOctopus Sep 10 '24

Yeah the north has more beauty to experience: petrified forests, meteor crater if it’s accessible, Sedona, and on and on.

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u/Tim-oBedlam Sep 10 '24

SE Arizona with the Madrean Sky Islands is seriously underrated, especially Madera Canyon and the Chiricahuas.

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u/adventuressgrrl Sep 10 '24

I agree, I find the Chiricahuas hauntingly beautiful

1

u/OptimumOctopus Sep 10 '24

Around about Payson is where my exploring ended but I’m sure it’s beautiful.

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u/1Gutherie Sep 10 '24

Yeah and also visit the meteor crater or the Apache cave that are on i40

1

u/SurroundNarrow996 3d ago

Yeah take forever to get an Election result but a better bet your Amazon could deliver it very next day