My brother attended Arizona State University and spent parts of five years in Phoenix. I've told him that when he graduated he had three options: 1) come home, 2) stay in Phoenix, or 3) move to someplace crazy. He opted for number 3) which turned out to be Bangkok. 2) though...I think for all the talk about moving to Florida or Texas or Nashville or Charlotte or Raleigh...Phoenix is the place to move. Arizona as a whole is a fascinating state and I love the desert vibe. Everything looks cool. It's a booming area because it's a cool area.
As a traveler, I don't believe Arizona has a ton going on...which is fine. I'd move here before I'd travel here. There's some great golf courses, there's some great natural landscapes...and that's about it. Otherwise, you sit back and enjoy the weather. If I had an opportunity to relocate here for work, I would. But I wouldn't travel here.
As for the states top attraction, I have a different opinion than most on the Grand Canyon...I think it's just a giant hole in the ground. If you are going there be sure to book mule rides and lodgings in advance so you at least have something to do while you are there otherwise you'll just be staring a a giant hole in the ground. It's impressive, it's just not as "active" as nature that I prefer like a Yosemite or Yellowstone.
As a traveler, I don't believe Arizona has a ton going on...which is fine. I'd move here before I'd travel here. There's some great golf courses, there's some great natural landscapes...and that's about it. Otherwise, you sit back and enjoy the weather. If I had an opportunity to relocate here for work, I would. But I wouldn't travel here.
As for the states top attraction, I have a different opinion than most on the Grand Canyon...I think it's just a giant hole in the ground. If you are going there be sure to book mule rides and lodgings in advance so you at least have something to do while you are there otherwise you'll just be staring a a giant hole in the ground. It's impressive, it's just not as "active" as nature that I prefer like a Yosemite or Yellowstone.
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The images below are from an early morning drive out of Phoenix to Winslow on AZ Route 87. Depending upon which way you are heading out of Phoenix, the city can turn to natural landscape relatively quick. You can be ten minutes from Tempe and you are in a natural area where you can hike away from all the city noise. The first hour on Route 87 is a great drive - the landscape changes several times from desert, to mountain, to plains, and the vegetation changes with the environment. Every fifteen to twenty minutes it felt as though we had driven to a new area even though we were on the same road in the same state. Fortunately, the road is two-lane most of the drive so you don't get stuck behind slow drivers and can enjoy the drive.
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Standin' on the corner in Winslow, Arizona...
And just like that the Eagles made a small town in Arizona a must stop along Interstate 40. Situated an hour east of Flagstaff and an hour west of Painted Desert, Winslow is a quick on/off stop. There's quite a few road trippers that include the Eagles' statues on their travel itinerary and you won't be the only one walking through this small town.
And just like that the Eagles made a small town in Arizona a must stop along Interstate 40. Situated an hour east of Flagstaff and an hour west of Painted Desert, Winslow is a quick on/off stop. There's quite a few road trippers that include the Eagles' statues on their travel itinerary and you won't be the only one walking through this small town.
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There's not much more Winslow beyond the Eagles' tribute statues but the town does have that classic western vibe to it. The main street looks like it hasn't changed in over seventy years and a few old, abandoned buildings add to the town's character. We came through around ten in the morning and there wasn't much open in terms of a quick coffee, etc.
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I visited the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest as part of a 2003 Cross Country Trip and left very disappointed - that's to be expected after seeing the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone. If not for my dad having a US Parks Pass we would have skipped this site - I don't believe it's worth the $25 admission. The park is easy to access, literally right off I-40, and there's a small drive into the park, less than five miles, that provides a vista to view the painted desert. There's no Petrified Forest but you can read about how trees in the area were filled with minerals over millions of years in the Park Museum. We spent about thirty minutes driving through the park, which was plenty of time.
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