When it comes to excellent places to live, it’s hard to beat everything that Arizona has to offer. Whether you’ve lived here your whole life or your new to the Southwest, here’s a few reasons why the Grand Canyon State is simply amazing:

  1. The scenery here is spectacular.

Richard Schneider/Flickr Chances are, if you type Arizona into a search engine, one of the first images you’ll see is a breathtaking landscape. There’s plenty more!

  1. And it’s not limited to desert landscapes.

Deborah Lee Soltesz/Flickr When most people hear Arizona’s name uttered, the first image that comes to mind is often a desert but there’s so much more to our state! You can find lush forests, wetlands, and even an alpine tundra here.

  1. While we’re talking about scenery, some of the world’s most iconic landscapes are sitting right in our backyard.

Saad Akhtar/Flickr Have you ever heard of the Grand Canyon or Monument Valley? That’s just the start of a long list of breathtakingly beautiful places found here.

  1. Enjoy a day out on the trail.

Luis Tamayo/Flickr We have hundreds of miles of hiking trails that everyone can enjoy, from super short hikes to the 800-mile trek on the Arizona Trail. Plus, since our state’s environments are so diverse, the weather is always accommodating to outdoor activities.

  1. Arizona has some amazingly delicious foods.

Alan English CPA/Flickr In the mood for traditional, Sonoran Mexican food? We have plenty of options. Or maybe you’re craving something a little more unique or reminiscent of your home state? We have you covered!

  1. Step into history when you visit an old Western saloon, a historic homestead, or even a one-room schoolhouse.

Alan English CPA/Flickr You can find any of these in big cities or even the smallest of small towns.

  1. Some of those places are even haunted with troubled ghosts.

Monster/Flickr Book a stay at a haunted hotel or check out a ghost tour of your favorite Arizona city!

  1. Our sunsets are second to none!

Miguel Folch/Flickr They are simply the best.

  1. Arizona is also home to some of the darkest skies in the country, so enjoy watching the stars.

Bureau of Land Management/Flickr Drive for awhile outside any Arizona city and you’re bound to find deep, dark skies with glittering stars. We also have a growing number of certified International Dark Sky places that feature the darkest night skies you will ever see.

  1. Our storms show off the drama of Mother Nature.

Abbeenormal/Flickr

  1. Our highways are perfect for a long, relaxing drive.

CEBImagery/Flickr Since Arizona is so large and our cities and towns sprawl across the state, you’ll find our roads are the perfect location for scenic rides.

  1. Our small towns are unique, quirky, and charming.

Alan Levine/Flickr There’s no one identity of Arizona small towns, so you’re bound to come across some cool little places when traveling through the state.

Want to take a peek at some of the places that make Arizona the coolest state in the nation? Read 13 Things To Do In Arizona When You Thought You’ve Done Everything for places that show off just how amazing our state is.

Richard Schneider/Flickr

Chances are, if you type Arizona into a search engine, one of the first images you’ll see is a breathtaking landscape. There’s plenty more!

Deborah Lee Soltesz/Flickr

When most people hear Arizona’s name uttered, the first image that comes to mind is often a desert but there’s so much more to our state! You can find lush forests, wetlands, and even an alpine tundra here.

Saad Akhtar/Flickr

Have you ever heard of the Grand Canyon or Monument Valley? That’s just the start of a long list of breathtakingly beautiful places found here.

Luis Tamayo/Flickr

We have hundreds of miles of hiking trails that everyone can enjoy, from super short hikes to the 800-mile trek on the Arizona Trail. Plus, since our state’s environments are so diverse, the weather is always accommodating to outdoor activities.

Alan English CPA/Flickr

In the mood for traditional, Sonoran Mexican food? We have plenty of options. Or maybe you’re craving something a little more unique or reminiscent of your home state? We have you covered!

You can find any of these in big cities or even the smallest of small towns.

Monster/Flickr

Book a stay at a haunted hotel or check out a ghost tour of your favorite Arizona city!

Miguel Folch/Flickr

They are simply the best.

Bureau of Land Management/Flickr

Drive for awhile outside any Arizona city and you’re bound to find deep, dark skies with glittering stars. We also have a growing number of certified International Dark Sky places that feature the darkest night skies you will ever see.

Abbeenormal/Flickr

CEBImagery/Flickr

Since Arizona is so large and our cities and towns sprawl across the state, you’ll find our roads are the perfect location for scenic rides.

Alan Levine/Flickr

There’s no one identity of Arizona small towns, so you’re bound to come across some cool little places when traveling through the state.

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