We Arizonans can be pretty divisive on a lot of things about the state but we actually have more shared experiences than we want to admit. There’s plenty of things that we could add to this list but let’s start with 12 activities.
- Visited the Grand Canyon.
Howard Ignatius/Flickr Maybe it was during a school trip, a family vacation, or an epic hiking expedition before your knees started giving out on you. Everyone who has lived in Arizona has little excuse for not visiting one of the world’s greatest natural wonders.
- Got your kicks on Route 66.
Dileep Kaluaratchie/Flickr How many of you had the chance to drive on Route 66 before the 40 was built? I was born too late to enjoy its true beauty but at least I can still drive along parts of the highway.
- Tube the Salt River.
Becca Kumar/Flickr I personally haven’t done this one in years but it can be fun if you don’t mind floating under the summer sun for a couple hours.
- Eat a chimi.
Kevin Spencer/Flickr I love Mexican food but I have to admit that I just had my first chimi this year. It was surprisingly less heavy than I expected and was ridiculously tasty. At least two restaurants here have claimed to be the creators of the chimichanga sometime between the 1920s and 1940s, and plenty of others have created it into their own signature dish.
- Enjoyed a round of country dancing.
Lois Elling/Flickr Maybe you enjoyed line dancing at a bar or two-stepping with your sweetie. I had to square dance in junior high, so you can imagine how fun that was for 13-year-olds in gym clothes.
- Walked along the banks of Oak Creek.
Devon Christopher Adams/Flickr Or a day fishing like this guy.
- Camped along Mogollon Rim.
dog.breath/Flickr The last time I went camping on the Rim was with a youth group in my teens at the tail end of monsoon season. My bunkmate and I slept in a military pup tent and it started to rain. The tent was only water-resistant so we each had to sleep away from the sides of the tent to prevent our gear from getting wet. Fun times!
- Walked along dusty Allen Street in Tombstone.
Mr.TinDC/Flickr Spending the day walking in this historic town is as fascinating as it seems!
- Watched a rodeo.
Pete Gregoire/Flickr When he was much younger, my grandfather was a bullrider for a time.
- Experience a summer night without air conditioning.
Greg Hirson/Flickr As long as your home is well-insulated and you have some kind of air flow, sleeping in a 90-degree room doesn’t feel that bad.
- For a certain generation of kids, it meant watching “The Wallace and Ladmo Show” and dreaming of getting that coveted Ladmo Bag.
Dan/Flickr You know you booed whenever Gerald came on the screen.
- Explore one of Arizona’s many caves and caverns, such as Kartchner Caverns pictured below.
M P R/Flickr An alternative is to tour one of Arizona’s old mines.
What other things do you think a true Zonie has done at least once?
Howard Ignatius/Flickr
Maybe it was during a school trip, a family vacation, or an epic hiking expedition before your knees started giving out on you. Everyone who has lived in Arizona has little excuse for not visiting one of the world’s greatest natural wonders.
Dileep Kaluaratchie/Flickr
How many of you had the chance to drive on Route 66 before the 40 was built? I was born too late to enjoy its true beauty but at least I can still drive along parts of the highway.
Becca Kumar/Flickr
I personally haven’t done this one in years but it can be fun if you don’t mind floating under the summer sun for a couple hours.
Kevin Spencer/Flickr
I love Mexican food but I have to admit that I just had my first chimi this year. It was surprisingly less heavy than I expected and was ridiculously tasty. At least two restaurants here have claimed to be the creators of the chimichanga sometime between the 1920s and 1940s, and plenty of others have created it into their own signature dish.
Lois Elling/Flickr
Maybe you enjoyed line dancing at a bar or two-stepping with your sweetie. I had to square dance in junior high, so you can imagine how fun that was for 13-year-olds in gym clothes.
Devon Christopher Adams/Flickr
Or a day fishing like this guy.
dog.breath/Flickr
The last time I went camping on the Rim was with a youth group in my teens at the tail end of monsoon season. My bunkmate and I slept in a military pup tent and it started to rain. The tent was only water-resistant so we each had to sleep away from the sides of the tent to prevent our gear from getting wet. Fun times!
Mr.TinDC/Flickr
Spending the day walking in this historic town is as fascinating as it seems!
Pete Gregoire/Flickr
When he was much younger, my grandfather was a bullrider for a time.
Greg Hirson/Flickr
As long as your home is well-insulated and you have some kind of air flow, sleeping in a 90-degree room doesn’t feel that bad.
Dan/Flickr
You know you booed whenever Gerald came on the screen.
M P R/Flickr
An alternative is to tour one of Arizona’s old mines.
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