When most Americans talk about Arizona, the key words that pop up tend to be “dirt,” “hot,” “sun,” and maybe something related to Sheriff Joe, all of which makes the state seem like a complete drag. That’s definitely not true, so here’s a look at ten of the lesser appreciated aspects of Arizona.
- Arizona has a long history of contribution to space study and exploration.
InSapphoWeTrust/Flickr We’ve had a hand in everything from the official sighting of Pluto to providing landing training grounds to Mars exploration.
- Cactus League spring training happens here.
Dave R/Flickr Baseball fans! Like knowing that your team is all set at the start of another season? You can thank our warm and sunny spring training weather for that.
- Lettuce production is key.
Peter Haden/Flickr Enjoy eating a tasty salad mid-winter? The main ingredient, lettuce, is Arizona’s largest crop and Yuma and the surrounding area produces about 90% of the leafy greens each winter for the country.
- A burgeoning food scene.
The Roaming Boomers/Flickr Sure, you’ll still find a ridiculous number of chains strewn across cities and towns but there’s still plenty of independently-owned restaurants and food trucks that will give you a mouth watering meal.
- Craft beers are amazing and award-winning.
Lauren Topor/Flickr I don’t drink but I rely on friends and family who do to let me know that Arizona breweries make some tasty drinks that will satisfy connoisseurs. Plus, a number of them, like Four Peaks Brewery, have won awards and other recognitions.
- Arizona is also more than just dirt.
US Forest Service, Coconino National Forest/Flickr People are regularly surprised we have mountains, forests, wetlands, and—gasp—snow!
- The landscapes, duh.
Jerry and Pat Donaho/Flickr Arizona is beautiful. There’s not much else to say there without trying to become the state’s next bard.
- A large majority of that land is also protected.
Alan English CPA/Flickr Enjoy those ode-worthy landscapes? We have 22 national parks plus 30 state parks and so much open space. Hopefully it stays that way.
- Low cost of living.
Images Money/Flickr While the actual cost will vary depending on where in the state you live, in general, Arizonans enjoy a lower cost of living than plenty of other Americans.
- We have culture—it just looks a little different.
Ms. Phoenix/Flickr Ugh, one of the complaints I often hear is that Arizona has no culture. We do! It’s just different from whatever uppity place those people come from. Historically, the state’s culture comes from its Indigenous residents plus the Mexicans and Americans who migrated here from other areas. Mix those traditionally Western cultures with food, arts, sports, and other more “modern” signs of American culture and you get Arizona.
What are some other reasons you think Arizona is unjustly underrated by the rest of the country?
InSapphoWeTrust/Flickr
We’ve had a hand in everything from the official sighting of Pluto to providing landing training grounds to Mars exploration.
Dave R/Flickr
Baseball fans! Like knowing that your team is all set at the start of another season? You can thank our warm and sunny spring training weather for that.
Peter Haden/Flickr
Enjoy eating a tasty salad mid-winter? The main ingredient, lettuce, is Arizona’s largest crop and Yuma and the surrounding area produces about 90% of the leafy greens each winter for the country.
The Roaming Boomers/Flickr
Sure, you’ll still find a ridiculous number of chains strewn across cities and towns but there’s still plenty of independently-owned restaurants and food trucks that will give you a mouth watering meal.
Lauren Topor/Flickr
I don’t drink but I rely on friends and family who do to let me know that Arizona breweries make some tasty drinks that will satisfy connoisseurs. Plus, a number of them, like Four Peaks Brewery, have won awards and other recognitions.
US Forest Service, Coconino National Forest/Flickr
People are regularly surprised we have mountains, forests, wetlands, and—gasp—snow!
Jerry and Pat Donaho/Flickr
Arizona is beautiful. There’s not much else to say there without trying to become the state’s next bard.
Alan English CPA/Flickr
Enjoy those ode-worthy landscapes? We have 22 national parks plus 30 state parks and so much open space. Hopefully it stays that way.
Images Money/Flickr
While the actual cost will vary depending on where in the state you live, in general, Arizonans enjoy a lower cost of living than plenty of other Americans.
Ms. Phoenix/Flickr
Ugh, one of the complaints I often hear is that Arizona has no culture. We do! It’s just different from whatever uppity place those people come from. Historically, the state’s culture comes from its Indigenous residents plus the Mexicans and Americans who migrated here from other areas. Mix those traditionally Western cultures with food, arts, sports, and other more “modern” signs of American culture and you get Arizona.
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