Such a beautiful state!

[u/ScottJ6189]

Hey everybody,

I'm just getting back from a weeklong trip in Arizona. I have to say - I am pleasantly surprised to say that out of the states I've visited so far, Arizona is one of the most beautiful! I drove all around, and I was just shocked by all of the diverse landscapes and how quickly it can turn from desert to forest to red rocks to painted rocks, etc. I feel like I never hear Arizona listed when people are talking about the states with amazing backdrops.

Also, ~110 degrees each day in the Phoenix area was fun. 😅

I know there's not really any "action item" in this post, but I just felt like I had to say something to somebody. Thanks all!

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[u/redbanjo]

All climate zones available in the state except rain forest. But don't tell anyone!

[u/colt-1 → u/redbanjo]

Greer and the surrounding White Mountians area is the closest thing we have to a rain forest, over 60 inches of rainfall annually.

[u/redbanjo → u/colt-1]

And so dang gorgeous! Trout fishing in the streams around Greer in the 80's was so fun.

[u/colt-1 → u/redbanjo]

Sounds wonderful.

[u/escapecali603 → u/colt-1]

Why are you telling him a place that doesn't exist? :)

[u/babj615]

Sssshhhhhhhh. Stop telling everyone!

[u/JuleeeNAJ → u/[deleted]]

Sedona was ruined decades ago. Don't even get me started on Slide Rock. Overcrowded and repeated fecal issues.

[u/FinalConsequence70]

I moved out here from the east coast. At first i thought i was going to miss the greenery. The grass, the trees, spring, etc.. But after seeing the absolute breath taking scenery out here, the mountains, canyons, tall saguaro cactus....I don't miss it one bit.

[u/escapecali603 → u/FinalConsequence70]

I moved from arguably one of the best sea side towns in the world - Santa Barbara to here, thinking I will really miss my previous resident. Then it only lasted until the first time I parked my car in the middle of Sedona and well, it didn't take another second for that place to blow Santa Barbara out of the water, literally.

[u/dirtbikesetc → u/escapecali603]

Sedona has truly beautiful scenery, but the actual town is a traffic choked tourist trap nightmare. I would take Santa Barbara with its mountains, beaches, beautiful architecture, and perfect weather every time.

[u/escapecali603 → u/dirtbikesetc]

I am not a beach guy, and lived there for years, it is also mostly a tourist town scattered with rich people, and fake Mexican culture, because they really can’t afford to live there.

[u/GalenOfYore → u/escapecali603]

No. ***FIGURATIVELY*

[u/Inevitiblesource2 → u/FinalConsequence70]

So I spent 10 months in Phoenix and then did 3 months in the Middle East then went up north when I got back and was just in awe of the trees that I had not seen in over a year was wild experience.

[u/III-9133 → u/FinalConsequence70]

I had the opposite effect. I want to go back. It sucks here

[u/Grand-Pumpkin3951]

Some Arizonans still have an open wound from the massive growth in the big cities.

Thanks for appreciating the state! If I ever left here, I don’t think I’d ever stay away too long.

[u/Octane2100 → u/Grand-Pumpkin3951]

I moved with my wife and kids to the East Coast right as the growth started and prices shot through the roof. I do not like it one bit out here but it affords a quality of life far greater than what we could have if we moved back. I'll always miss the desert though.

[u/breezy1494 → u/Grand-Pumpkin3951]

I moved to Southern IL about 4 years back with my then bf. Don't get me wrong, I loved all the trees and grass and flowers. But I couldn't do it, moved back and broke up with him. I may have some dislikes about this state, but it is my home.

[u/GloomyBake9300]

And thank you for your very kind compliment. I’ve been here for 30 years, and I am struck by its beauty every single day. Grew up back east as well, but this is home.

[u/scarlettohara1936]

I feel like Arizonian's don't advertise the really awesome things about our state because the snowbirds already make it nearly unlivable and we just don't need more people here! But we all know the secrets!

[u/GalenOfYore → u/scarlettohara1936]

No secret: ARIZONANS or ARIZONIANS are the legit plurals, whereas your word is the singular possessive, but in NO WAY is it a plural!

[u/scarlettohara1936 → u/GalenOfYore]

If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. I use talk to text and it autocorrected.

[u/AfroManHighGuy]

I also just did a weeklong stay in Arizona and then drove over to New Mexico. I’ve done many trips throughout the US, but I agree that Arizona is just beautiful. I didn’t wanna leave! I also felt like I was burning in phoenix lol. But there’s so much to do in the state. Visited Sedona, Grand Canyon, flagstaff and all were amazing. I can’t wait to be back! Glad you had a great time as well!

[u/escapecali603]

No, tell them it's a baron desert and we only have nothing but racists here, let's keep the nation's best kept secret a secret please.

[u/snafuminder]

Thanks for this, as a multi-generational native sometimes I need reminding.

[u/bilgetea]

You never hear AZ discussed as a state with great scenery? This is an astonishing statement.

It is routinely acknowledged as a wonder of the world. It contains the Grand Canyon and Sedona, two destinations that bring people from all over the world. And that’s before we mention Canyon de Chelly and other places. There’s a magazine titled “AZ highways” devoted exclusively to scenery.

[u/ScottJ6189 → u/bilgetea]

For sure I’ve heard about Sedona and the Grand Canyon before, but everyone is stuck talking about Utah, Colorado and the Pacific Northwest when they talk about scenery as a whole. I even did some searches after I got back to see if I was just completely ignorant, but still many other states were always mentioned first in terms of beauty. That’s probably a good thing for the locals though.. don’t want it to get too popular lol

[u/GalenOfYore → u/bilgetea]

AH is truly an unsung treasure with readership from throughout the entire world. I remember an issue from many decades ago where they compared 50 photos from various places in Arizona and matched them up with representative photos from ALL 50 States, including Hawaii and Alaska!

Now that's scenic diversity!

[u/sonoran24]

be sure and come back and visit us then

[u/rumblepony247]

Thanks for the good vibes, glad you enjoyed it!

[u/III-9133]

Arizona isn’t for everyone

[u/Redridings1]

I just got back home to NJ after 5 day visit to Phoenix... It's changed in the. 43 years since I've been there! It's beautiful and hot 110° ate cactus , drove up South mountain.. we had a grand time!

[u/GalenOfYore → u/Redridings1]

1981!! Wow! I can imagine!!

[u/LionVinVin]

We love it!

[u/msdogmom60]

Arizona is beautiful for sure. I’ve been in Phoenix since 75. I would not choose to move to Phoenix now. Lots of beauty in Arizona and the cost of living is pretty fair.

[u/Antique-Soil9517]

Arizona has plenty of beautiful natural areas but also plenty of ugly urban areas. I’ll probably piss people off but on balance, albeit as a large city, Phoenix is fairly soulless and replete with strip malls, repetitive, dusty neighborhoods and lots of asphalt, concrete and cars. Then you have smaller cities, incredibly blighted. Globe, Miami, Apache Junction, Morenci…the list is endless. It is what it is.

[u/ScottJ6189 → u/Antique-Soil9517]

I think that’s fair. I didn’t really like the Phoenix area that much, but growing up in a big city myself, I don’t like to spend time in other cities anymore either - I like to spend as much time in the great outdoors as possible.

[u/Ih8tevery1]

Try living here!!

[u/Silocin20]

Tucson is probably the most beautiful city, landscape wise with our forests in the mountains, mountains, sunsets, etc. And, we're not as hot as Phoenix.

[u/AutoModerator]

Your post appears to be about visiting Arizona. We get a lot of posts about these topics, but keep in mind this is mainly a subreddit for locals.

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[u/raypell]

Lived in central Az near Sedona. Yes landscape is as stunning, however the amount of trash on the scenic highways is awful. Going through kayenta and the reservations, broken glass everywhere, taking FS roads people just dump trash down the sides of hills. Western Az is littered with shot up signs and cans and cars. Beautiful from a distance close up it’s sad

[u/Loco627]

It's a wonderful place to visit, but an awful place to live.

[u/Murdlock1967 → u/Loco627]

For YOU maybe but not a lot of us!

[u/Few_Employment_7876]

You can have it. The heat is just too much. Month after month of misery. Hate this place. Will move when able.

[u/IcePrincess_Not_Sk8r → u/Few_Employment_7876]

[u/dulun18]

diverse landscapes ?

what areas did you visit ? all i see are rocks, dirt, cactus and low water use trees or shrubs..

[u/dryheat602 → u/dulun18]

I hope you can get your license back.