ARIZONA

13 reasons to be thankful you live in Arizona

From the Arizona Strip to the mountains of Bisbee, so much to appreciate.

Roger Naylor

Special for The Republic

Catalina State Park features a series of desert trails set against the backdrop of soaring mountains in Tucson.

It’s that time of year when we ponder things we’re thankful for. At the top of my list is the fact that I wake up every morning in Arizona. And while it’s easy to appreciate the obvious aspects that make Arizona such a special place, today I'm focusing on smaller, more easily overlooked facets.

Here are some simple things I’m thankful for in this remarkable state.

Nellie E. Saloon

Better known as the Desert Bar, this western Arizona outpost can only be reached via a rough, 5-mile dirt road outside of Parker. The Nellie E. occupies the site of an old mining camp, a terraced oasis spread across rocky hills. Everything operates by solar power, and the bar is open only from noon to sunset Saturdays and Sundays from October through April. Bands perform through the day and the burgers are tender slabs of beef charred from the grill and seasoned with a fine spice of remoteness. There are other food options, but if you think I’m going to drive across a dusty desert and NOT order a burger, you don’t know me at all.

Details: www.thedesertbar.com.

Civilian Conservation Corps

This Depression-era project put young men to work and forever improved the infrastructure of Arizona. They built roads, trails, shelters, dams, campgrounds and lookout towers still in use today. If you’ve hiked at South Mountain, Chiricahua National Monument, Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon and dozens of other spots, you’ve enjoyed their handiwork. They built the spectacular River Trail at the bottom of Grand Canyon and the rest houses along the Bright Angel Trail. It’s a remarkable legacy for guys who were just happy to have a job.

Mr. G Drive In: I eagerly anticipate every Yuma visit because I get to swing by this mom-and-pop joint. I hone in on Mr. G’s addictive bean and rice burritos, rolled tacos and thin but flavorful salsa. It’s a simple meal that makes me ridiculously happy. And here’s the thing: With its rich cultural blend and strong agricultural base, Yuma has evolved into a great destination for foodies. There are many terrific restaurants. But my cravings are decidedly less refined. Almost all the food I yearn for is served in a plastic basket. Is that weird?

Details: www.bgfamilyltdpartnership.com.

Sedona swine trails

The Hogs are some of the best hiking in Sedona as they cross high ledges with staggering views.

A network of trails tucked in the red rocks behind Chapel of the Holy Cross with names like Hog Heaven, High on the Hog, Hogwash, Pigtail and Peccary yield some of the best hiking in Sedona as they cross high ledges with staggering views. I'm especially thankful that the trails symbolize a new spirit of cooperation between the Forest Service and the mountain-bike community.

The Hogs were social trails, used for years but technically illegal. Yet instead of trying to eradicate the pathways, the Forest Service put together a plan to adopt them. The trails were rebuilt and improved and signs were installed. That’s been happening in Sedona for a while now. Hangover, Hiline, Chuckwagon, Mescal and Slim Shady are just a few former bike trails that have been officially adopted. All are beautiful, but I find myself most often rambling around on the Hogs.

Details: www.fs.usda.gov/coconino.

Lake Havasu’s tiny lighthouses

London Bridge is the main piece of architecture in Lake Havasu City, but that’s no reason to overlook the miniature lighthouses dotting the shoreline. Built to light the lake for boater safety, each of the 18 small structures replicates well-known lighthouses. And they’re adorable — about a third the size of the originals, they look like a lighthouse had a litter of kitten lighthouses.

Details:www.golakehavasu.com.

Burros of Oatman

Burros are Oatman's best known ambassadors.

The former mining town of Oatman sags in a state of happy repose, casual, picturesque and decidedly weird. A handful of historical buildings fronted by wooden sidewalks are strung along Route 66 southwest of Kingman. The burg’s most famous residents are its four-legged ambassadors. A herd of burros from the surrounding hills wander into Oatman daily. They loiter in the street, blocking traffic while shaking down tourists. Route 66 sees all sorts of traffic but only in Arizona is it ruled by burros.

Naked Guy bookstore

In this stare-at-our-phone age, a sprawling, musty bookstore with 180,000 titles is a delight. As a bonus, Reader’s Oasis Books in Quartzsite is owned by Paul Winer, better known as the Naked Bookstore Guy. Winer, 72, shows up for work au natural, save for a skimpy thong and sandals. Kind of makes you want to stare at your phone, right? But I always admire someone marching to the beat of a different drummer, even if he’s marching without pants.

Details: 928-927-6551.

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Copper Queen Saloon

The first time I saw a flash flood, I jumped in. My only excuse is that I was 19 and didn’t know it was a flash flood. A buddy and I were driving through the Mule Mountains outside of Bisbee one summer when we spotted an enormous waterfall. We clambered down into what I now recognize as an arroyo and made our way back to the cascade. It was breathtaking. But standing there at sunset, we noticed water gathering around us. What had been a few pools turned into a fast-moving stream.

We scrambled back toward the car with darkness falling and water rising and it was ticklish business. We got free of the arroyo, now a torrent, with seconds to spare. Soaking wet, exhausted and exhilarated, we drove into Bisbee and snagged a room at the Copper Queen. After cleaning up, we walked downstairs to that fine old saloon and drank many beers, celebrating the fact that we were young and stupid and alive. The saloon is spiffier now but I still enjoy stopping for a cold one. I toast being not so young, probably just as stupid and still alive.

Details: www.copperqueen.com.

Mr. D’z homemade root beer

The root beer is homemade at Mr. D'z Route 66 Diner in Kingman.

Oprah Winfrey liked the creamy caramel root beer from Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner in Kingman so much that she made it one of her Favorite Things. But it was on my list, and that of many other Arizona travelers, long before Oprah made it official.

Details: www.mrdzrt66diner.com.

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Pipe Spring National Monument

Pipe Spring is a 40-acre speck amid the nearly 8,000 square miles of the isolated Arizona Strip. But so much history revolves around this rare water source, including Winsor Castle, as the old Mormon fort was known. It’s well worth the long, long drive.

Details: www.nps.gov/pisp.

Clarkdale gazebo

Here’s what makes Clarkdale cool. The most significant structure in town isn’t a stately courthouse or statue. It's a gazebo. The graceful shelter anchors Town Park, a swath of green space that is the heart and soul of Clarkdale. Celebrations, festivities and parades revolve around the gazebo. Town Park infuses Clarkdale with the small-town-America, hipster-Mayberry vibe cherished by residents and visitors alike.

Details: www.clarkdale.az.gov.

Catalina State Park

On the northern edge of Tucson, this park covers 5,500 acres in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Trails peel off from a common parking area and ramble across arroyos into picturesque desert against the backdrop of towering mountains. A small, volunteer-run snack shop sits at the trailhead and it serves ice cream. That means you can walk off a desert trail and be eating an ice-cream sandwich before you’re even back at your car. If that’s not a fantastic way to start a day, I don’t know what is.

Details: azstateparks.com/Parks/CATA.

Geographic and altitude diversity

If you don’t like the season you’re having in Arizona, you can find another one just down the road. There are very few places in this state where you can’t warm up or cool down dramatically just by driving an hour or two. Man, I love this place!

Find the reporter at www.rogernaylor.com. Or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RogerNaylorinAZ or Twitter @AZRogerNaylor.