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28 November 2022
2022 is drawing to a close. When we reflect on the year that has passed and the year to come, we can’t help but be grateful for the many wonderful things that make us proud to call Arizona our home. Here are 12 things (in no particular order) we love and will continue to love about Arizona for many years to come.
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No space on Grand Avenue is exempt from the presence of public art. A multicolored sidewalk on Grand Avenue and McKinley Street is shaded by trees covered in afghans, and puffballs hang from the branches. You can also find plenty of murals nearby if that doesn’t interest you. Along Grand, you’ll also find artist studios and mom-and-pop shops where workspaces and storefronts are intertwined. Visit Grand Avenue Records for records, Belhaus for coffee and local artwork, and Pueblo for new plant babies.
When it comes to Phoenix’s options for sipping, the word “bar” just doesn’t do it justice, and I’m not just talking about the typical top contenders like Bitter & Twisted or Little Rituals. So instead, if you’re looking for an elevated drink: The Rooftop at Cambria Hotel Downtown in Roosevelt Row Arts District, the 13th Floor of the historic Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Phoenix, or Lustre Rooftop Bar at Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix.
There’s a theory that the longer you live in Arizona, the more sunset photos you have on your camera roll. However, even those photos cannot truly capture the beauty of the state’s natural wonders. So when we drive past the beautiful mountain views from the freeway, we still find myself oohing and aahing out our car window.
It is convenient to order online but more rewarding to visit a bookstore. When you enter a bookstore, you feel a sense of promise. Maybe I’ll find a new (or used!) book to get lost in or a nonfiction book that will educate or inspire on those shelves. My happy places are Changing Hands in Phoenix and Tempe and Bright Side Bookshop in Flagstaff. They are so welcoming and passionate about helping customers find a new treasure. Leave empty-handed; we dare you. A favorite bookstore isn’t just a place for shopping; it’s also a place for the community.
Our favorite thing about Phoenix is that you never run out of things to do. Try not to take our professional teams for granted; cheer on the Cardinals, Suns, Diamondbacks, and Coyotes. Every type of music fan will find something to enjoy – from must-see acts at Rebel Lounge to underground acts at Valley Bar to unforgettable shows at The Van Buren.
Mother Road decommissioned in 1985, but its 359 miles of Americana continue to thrive. The vintage charm of Route 66’s roadside attractions and historic downtowns attract travelers worldwide – including those headed to the Grand Canyon. In addition, Arizona’s Route 66 towns boast limestone caverns, a meteorite impact site, a championship golf course, an observatory where Pluto was discovered, and free-roaming burros, seemingly countless trading posts and diners.
If you’re training for a 5K, or a marathon or want fresh air, the Valley is full of awesome running and walking paths. Canals, Chaparral Park in Scottsdale, around the buttes at Papago park, South Mountain, Camelback Mountain — the list goes on and on.
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There is rarely a day in Phoenix when you don’t meet someone contributing to this city’s vibrant, colorful culture. First, artist Antoinette Cauley brought a whole gallery of paintings back from Germany. Then, the Phoenix Art Museum presented a lowrider exhibition. Each day, muralists claim more blank walls. Phoenix truly wants to be beautiful – and it shows.
It’s not just where you go to buy produce. You can connect with people and hear their stories there. Discover how some vendors got their start and be endlessly amazed. Marvin Williamson built a food business to avoid wasting brisket. Angelica Urrego was able to reconnect with her culture through Arepa Babe. From two friends in an apartment, Stone Grindz Chocolate has grown to become an international brand.
In recent years, the Verde Valley has become a hot spot for Arizona wine lovers. Old Town Cottonwood is walkable, with many choices nearby. However, you’re missing out on a unique experience if you’ve never been wine-tasting in southern Arizona. Outdoor tasting areas at Flying Leap (try the sassy white blend Trio), Rune, and Los Milics offer views of mountains and rolling grasslands. Pronghorn Pizza wagon is located at Dos Cabezas WineWorks.
There are plenty of refreshing getaways in Arizona. Within a few hours, you can meditate near a vortex in Sedona, walk through the pine trees in Flagstaff, or wander among saguaro cacti in Tucson. Of course, you can always return home after a long day of exploring in the comfort of your own home.
Whether you prefer the saguaro-dotted Sonoran landscapes of Phoenix and Tucson or the vast pine forests of Flagstaff, Arizona has a scenic vista for you. Among the many exciting ways to experience the state’s natural beauty are horseback rides, hot air balloon rides that offer unparalleled views of mountains and deserts, pink Jeep tours of Sedona red rocks, and helicopter tours of the Grand Canyon.
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Arizona is already home to some of the most spectacular landscapes in the country, and now one of its lesser-known natural wonders is getting national recognition. On October 20, 2026, Chiricahua National Monument was officially elevated to national park status. The designation makes Chiricahua Arizona’s fourth national park and the 64th national park in the United States. Located in southeastern Arizona’s Cochise County, near the town of Willcox, Chiricahua National Park is famous for its towering rock columns, gravity-defying balanced boulders, and extraordinary volcanic landscape. Although the area has been federally protected for more than a century, its new designation
Imagine a bird with a wingspan stretching nearly ten feet, soaring effortlessly above the Grand Canyon. It’s one of North America’s largest flying birds, capable of traveling enormous distances on rising currents of warm air. And just a few decades ago, the species nearly disappeared forever. The California condor is one of America’s most remarkable conservation success stories, and despite its name, Arizona has played a major role in bringing this magnificent bird back from the brink of extinction. Through captive breeding, carefully managed releases, wildlife monitoring, and cooperation between conservation organizations, Arizona helped establish a second wild population of
Imagine taking your children to a neighborhood playground on a sunny Arizona afternoon when you notice something moving through the grass nearby. At first, you might think it’s someone’s dog. But as it gets closer, you realize you’re looking at a coyote. Should you be alarmed? Why is a wild animal wandering around a playground in broad daylight? Isn’t it supposed to be hiding somewhere in the desert? Believe it or not, spotting a coyote in an unexpected place is not particularly unusual, especially in Arizona. Coyotes are among North America’s most adaptable wild animals, and they’ve become remarkably successful
Finding a rattlesnake in your yard can be alarming, especially if you have children or pets. But before you reach for a shovel or try to chase the snake away, remember one important thing: the safest rattlesnake encounter is usually the one where you keep your distance. Rattlesnakes are a natural part of life in Arizona, particularly in neighborhoods near washes, mountains, desert preserves, and undeveloped land. While their venom makes them potentially dangerous, rattlesnakes generally aren’t looking for a confrontation with people. Most would much rather escape than fight. If one turns up in your yard, knowing what to
