One of the things that agonizes me about traveling is taking the little things at home for granted; the combination of bed, pillows, and sheets are just right for a good night’s sleep, the coffee mugs are in a specific spot for easy access and home smells like home. When I leave the state, I miss these little things, but also the many things that make Arizona home. Here are a few things that top that list:
- Wide open spaces
Monica D. Spencer/Flickr When I traveled to the East Coast and to the Pacific Northwest, I missed this most. The concept of space outside of Arizona (and the Southwest in general) turned vertical and the trees, buildings, and proximity of people to me was almost claustrophobic.
- Seeing rugged mountains along the horizon
Chris Bickham/Flickr There’s something comforting about seeing a mountain–any mountain–in the distance.
- The views
turcottes78/Flickr Where else would you be able to see a view like this?
Michael Wilson/Flickr Or this?
Nicholas A. Tonelli/Flickr Or this? (All in one state!)
- The sun
Sheila Dee/Flickr Maybe I’m less appreciative of it in the middle of summer, but plenty of places don’t have sunlight like us!
- And speaking of the sun…sunrises and sunsets.
puliarfanita/Flickr Beautiful.
- Our night skies
mypubliclands/Flickr Arizona has some of the darkest skies in the country and there’s nothing quite like the gorgeous view of the Milky Way while camping. Hey, you can even (kind of) see the stars while in Phoenix, so that’s a plus.
- The smells: deserts, forests, food, groves, everything.
Wikimedia Commons Other places don’t smell quite as sweet as Arizona does.
- The food!
Alan English CPA/Flickr
Hayden Blackey/Flickr I’m hungry just thinking about it.
- Even halfway decent salsa is hard to find in plenty of other places.
Frances/Flickr Add more chiles, please.
- The variety of climates
Grand Canyon National Park/Flickr If you crave different weather, you can get it by driving about two hours in any direction. But I think I might be part reptile, so I prefer the heat.
- When the first summer or winter storms hit
Jasper Nance/Flickr You know everyone will be trying to get a decent picture of the first dust storm or snowfall of the season.
- Finding silence
Michael Wilson/Flickr Finding a place where natural silence exists is difficult in this world, but there’s plenty of places around the state to find and revel in it. Hopefully it stays that way.
If you left the state for any length of time, what did you miss most? I’d like to read your thoughts in the comments section below.
Monica D. Spencer/Flickr
When I traveled to the East Coast and to the Pacific Northwest, I missed this most. The concept of space outside of Arizona (and the Southwest in general) turned vertical and the trees, buildings, and proximity of people to me was almost claustrophobic.
Chris Bickham/Flickr
There’s something comforting about seeing a mountain–any mountain–in the distance.
turcottes78/Flickr
Where else would you be able to see a view like this?
Michael Wilson/Flickr
Or this?
Nicholas A. Tonelli/Flickr
Or this? (All in one state!)
Sheila Dee/Flickr
Maybe I’m less appreciative of it in the middle of summer, but plenty of places don’t have sunlight like us!
puliarfanita/Flickr
Beautiful.
mypubliclands/Flickr
Arizona has some of the darkest skies in the country and there’s nothing quite like the gorgeous view of the Milky Way while camping. Hey, you can even (kind of) see the stars while in Phoenix, so that’s a plus.
Wikimedia Commons
Other places don’t smell quite as sweet as Arizona does.
Alan English CPA/Flickr
Hayden Blackey/Flickr
I’m hungry just thinking about it.
Frances/Flickr
Add more chiles, please.
Grand Canyon National Park/Flickr
If you crave different weather, you can get it by driving about two hours in any direction. But I think I might be part reptile, so I prefer the heat.
Jasper Nance/Flickr
You know everyone will be trying to get a decent picture of the first dust storm or snowfall of the season.
Finding a place where natural silence exists is difficult in this world, but there’s plenty of places around the state to find and revel in it. Hopefully it stays that way.
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