Name: From the Grand Canyon to Stevie Nicks, here are 131 reasons why we love Arizona
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From the Grand Canyon to Stevie Nicks, here are 131 reasons why we love Arizona

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Arizona RepublicView CommentsEditor's note: This list was originally published before the pandemic. Please take COVID-19 safety precautions seriously and check restrictions and guidelines before you visit any locations or landmarks.We'll put it simply: Arizona, we love you.&nbsp;But to mark , we're not just saying we love the Grand Canyon State, we're counting the ways. One hundred and thirty-one of them.From the beauty of Arizona's three national parks and four national monuments to the state's world-class arts institutions and dining scene, there's no shortage of things to love about this desert refuge.&nbsp;Here are 131&nbsp;reasons why we love Arizona.&nbsp;1. Three words: .2. And that's not even our only really big hole in the ground. There's also the, where a 150-foot-wide iron-nickel meteorite slammed to Earth some 50,000 years ago.3. And&nbsp; is no slouch either.4. No sunsets beat our sunsets. Yeah California, we said it.5. Our bright and beautiful skies are so spectacular, in fact, that they inspired our state flag.6. They also served as inspo for the Phoenix Suns’ purple and orange color scheme.7. Small wonder it’s easy to find .8. But for those who are really serious about it, there’s the .9. It’s home to several , including the architect’s own, Taliesin West.10. If you can see one of the Valley’s iconic mountain ranges, you can (probably) find your way home.I went on a hunt for the&nbsp;Arizona sound:11. Sunshine. That’s it. That’s the reason.&nbsp;12. is easier than you might think. Thanks in no small part to the aforementioned sunshine.13. ! No, really.14. Harkins Theatres’ popcorn is&nbsp;the best popcorn in the world.15. The is the perfect place for a moment of zen.16. It’s’s homebase.&nbsp;17. There’s something magical about the smell of desert creosote after rainfall.&nbsp;18. has provided entertainment for 100 years and counting.&nbsp;19. Nobody does weird and wonderful quite like we do. Case in point: .&nbsp;19. is a place dedicated to preserving cactus. Talk about monumental.20. Need a complete change of scenery? We’ve got pine trees, sand dunes and just about everything in between.21. We take our beer seriously. And .&nbsp;22. Same goes for mead. .23. The VNSA Book Sale keeps us well-read, and on a budget.24. Internationally renowned muralist El Mac’s work brightens walls across metro Phoenix.25. Tool's and his winery call the state home.&nbsp;26. When it comes to roadside attractions, what tops the ?27. Arizona’s first poet laureate, , never fails to inspire us.28. Pop culture means business. .Arizona's iconic cactus:29.. Maybe? Kinda.&nbsp;30. Arcologist Paolo Soleri’s experimental city, , still stands and is home to a creative community.31. The is a beacon for blues artists.&nbsp;32. Grammy-nominated blues musician .33. Yayoi Kusama’s light installation "You Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Storm of Fireflies"&nbsp;never fails to delight at .34. We have our own in Lake Havasu City.35. Every year, , the Arizona State University graduate and player for the Arizona Cardinals who left the NFL to join the U.S. Army.&nbsp;36. You can find a new way of seeing things at any of light throughout the state.37. isn’t just a dormant volcano east of Flagstaff. It’s also a much buzzed about work of art that Turrell has been transforming for decades.38..&nbsp;39. From , our public art astounds.&nbsp;40. Very important: .&nbsp;41. is a rare example of Brutalist architecture in Arizona — and the longtime music venue’s stage rotates.42. The famous Circle K from ""&nbsp;is still standing and serving up Polar Pops.43.. Including the 1976 "."44. And obviously we can’t leave out the Coen Brothers’ "Raising Arizona."45. Eat your heart out, Bruce Wayne. .46.&nbsp;47. Sorry, have you seen the Colorado River?&nbsp;48. There are&nbsp;free-roaming herd of horses on the lower Salt and Verde rivers east of Phoenix.&nbsp;49. And .50. But .51. Don't be jealous, but .52. Those stalactites though. .53. Our state flower is the blossom.&nbsp;54. Arizona is also one of the only places in the world where the grows.&nbsp;55. Chasing waterfalls is highly encouraged. See: .&nbsp;&nbsp;56. We're home to. No contest.&nbsp;57..58. Route 66 runs right through the state. And fun fact, you can still get your kicks on it.59. Legend has it the .&nbsp;60. . It's the best. Just ask Martha Stewart or Jimmy Kimmel.&nbsp;From Cambodian to southwestern-style:61. But you might be surprised to learn that — especially when it comes to family-owned Chicago-inspired pie.&nbsp;62. Wanna go to Vegas? It's closer than you might think.&nbsp;63. Scottsdale-based Sweet Republic makes some of the county's best ice cream.64. The Musical Instrument Museum houses thousands of instruments.&nbsp;65. We know .66. Ballet Arizona artistic director Ib Andersen is part of a select international group of dance professionals cleared to stage performances by his late mentor, George Balanchine.67. There’s not just one but two operas in the state: Arizona Opera and Phoenix Opera. Talk about a high note.&nbsp;68. Some of our history is cake-shaped. Drive past to see what we mean.&nbsp;69. Yeah, we have one of the biggest cities in the country. But .70. Take Bisbee, for instance, a former mining town that’s now a hub for creatives.71. Same goes for Miami (yes, Arizona has its own).&nbsp;72. Not only are the trails at beautiful, they also offer a wealth of information about the natural landscape that surrounds us.&nbsp;73. There’s no better people-watching than First Friday in downtown Phoenix.74. But if visual art is what you’re looking for, the gallery and museum scene is much more than an art walk.&nbsp;75. Tucson’s no slouch either when it comes to the arts. Fourth Avenue forever. And Congress Street, too.&nbsp;76. Speaking of Congress Street, the historic hotel located there is famous for its bar and nightlife scene as well as one most infamous guest: John Dillinger.&nbsp;77. Chicago can keep its veggie-topped dogs. Tucson has its own hot dog with a cult following. Meet the .&nbsp;78. Oh and don't forget about Arizona's most famous culinary invention: the chimichanga.79. For a more historic visual art experience, there’s a petroglyph preserve in Deer Valley.&nbsp;80. Thanks to Camelback Mountain, there's an epic summit in the middle of our biggest city.&nbsp;&nbsp;81. Yeah, we're known for being a desert but Prescott's lakes and otherworldly granite formations might have you fooled.&nbsp;82. We've got the world's only Last Chance store.&nbsp;83. might be the pride of North Dakota, but the addicting snack got its humble start here.&nbsp;84. Not to brag, but Arizona restaurants are kind of Food Network famous.&nbsp;85. Our chefs have also racked up dozens of nods from the James Beard Foundation, one of the highest accolades in the American culinary community.&nbsp;86. Our fast food burger game is strong. Proof? We have In-N-Out and Shake Shack.87. We have not seen a single murder hornet. Knock on wood.88. Sedona's red rocks, well, rock. Plus, have you ever experienced the power of a vortex?89. While the rest of America is covered in snow, Arizona farmers harvest fresh produce all winter long.&nbsp;90. Antelope Canyon, a world famous slot canyon outside of Page, is a photographer's paradise.&nbsp;91. Skiing? Yeah, we have that, too.&nbsp;92. California isn't the only state with amazing wildflowers. Every spring, .&nbsp;93. Forget bad airport food. changed the game.94. We’re close to . But far enough away that our bank account appreciates it.95. Our professional baseball stadium is air-conditioned and has a pool.&nbsp;96. Oh, and speaking of baseball, is kind of a big deal around here.&nbsp;97. There's nothing quite like cracking a beer at , a remote almost-entirely-outdoor dive.&nbsp;98. But it’s not the only .99. We gave the world . The famous feline and her cranky expression launched a thousand day-brightening memes.&nbsp;100. Former "Malcolm in the Middle" star . Seriously.&nbsp;101. Falling back? Springing forward? How about this: .&nbsp;102..&nbsp;103. A handful of top-notch wineries call , home.&nbsp;104. From CEOs to soul food pioneers, .&nbsp;105. The on Jan. 24, 1975.106. from north to south.&nbsp;107. The bolo tie is our official state neckwear.108. We have history in motion. on a section of standard-gauge track laid in 1911 to support the mining activity of Jerome.&nbsp;109. No one does fountains quite like us. The Fountain Hills fountain shoots 560 feet into the air at its full height.&nbsp;110. We're one of the states that makes up the Four Corners, the only place in the United States where four states meet.&nbsp;111. Look,.112. Farmworker and civil rights icon Cesar Chávez was born on March 31, 1927, in Arizona.&nbsp;113. Roasted turkey is cool but around here we celebrate Thanksgiving weekend with the Territorial Cup, the annual rivalry game between Arizona's public universities.114. Dropping a letter in the mailbox at the summit of Picketpost Mountain is an Arizona hiker's rite of passage.&nbsp;115. So is taking in the view from the top of , the tallest mountain in the state.116. We have an where 100-plus airliners sit in varying states of decay.&nbsp;117. Chickenjoy to the world. The state’s only .&nbsp;118. The is the only former Titan II missile complex open to the public.119. It used to be Arizona’s only high school for black students. Now, the .120. Even if you never find the, the views from the summit of the 5.8-mile Flatiron climb are a reward of their own.&nbsp;121. There are few hiking destinations more exclusive or memorable than .122. Monument Valley straddles the Arizona-Utah border and the sunrise over the iconic rock formations is stunning no matter which state you're in.&nbsp;123.&nbsp;Cowboys have bellied up to historic bars on&nbsp;&nbsp;for more than 100 years.124. We've hosted the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, College Football Playoff National Championship and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four.&nbsp;125. From Stinkweeds to Zia, our record stores keep us cool.&nbsp;126. We know we shouldn’t love a . But darn it, Arizona State Fair, you got us.127. The terror-inducing rides and free concerts at the fair? Those are perfect for before and after said corn dog.128. Yeah, cowboys are celebrated for their Old West wilding. But we remember , too.&nbsp;129. Contrary to what you might’ve heard, .&nbsp;130. Our native crops include superfoods such as tepary beans, which are still grown today by farmers including Ramona Button in the Gila River Indian Community.&nbsp;131. Recreational marijuana is legal. And so are these .Support local journalism..&nbsp;View Comments

Arizona RepublicView CommentsEditor's note: This list was originally published before the pandemic. Please take COVID-19 safety precautions seriously and check restrictions and guidelines before you visit any locations or landmarks.We'll put it simply: Arizona, we love you.&nbsp;But to mark , we're not just saying we love the Grand Canyon State, we're counting the ways. One hundred and thirty-one of them.From the beauty of Arizona's three national parks and four national monuments to the state's world-class arts institutions and dining scene, there's no shortage of things to love about this...

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Lauren Saria

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From the Grand Canyon to Stevie Nicks, here are 131 reasons why we love Arizona

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