What makes Arizona great? Readers respond

Arizona routinely makes national headlines, for the good and the bad.

There is plenty in Arizona that needs fixed or outright overhauled, but it's Thanksgiving. Let's step back, take a breath and count the blessings that Arizona offers.

We asked Arizonans to share what makes our state the greatest spot in the country to call home:

Ugliest dogs to prettiest women

Lifestyle! Arizona’s a great place to live, work and play. Most of all I love the open spaces. We have 92 wilderness areas, 26 peaks over 10,000 feet high; 31 state parks and 25 national parks and monuments. Only one of the Seven Wonders of the World is a canyon, and we have it.

Our beautiful Sonoran Desert has the most diverse plant and animal life of any desert in the world. We have elevations ranging from over 12,600 feet to sea level and you can visit both in a day. Ninety percent of the people live in only 2 percent of the land so there’s no shortage of open space.

We’re not the “Sunshine State,” but Yuma has 91 percent sunny days, Phoenix has 86 percent and in Flagstaff the sun shines 79 percent of the time. The so-called “Sunshine State” can claim only 73 percent and has alligators running wild.

I’ve only been in Arizona since 1939, but I think I can say with some credibility that this state has the fastest horses, ugliest dogs, the strongest whiskey, the finest vineyards, the prettiest women and the friendliest people in these United States.

— Marshall Trimble is Arizona's state historian.

A young and growing state

I’m grateful that Phoenix is such a young city. Compared to other major metro regions across the country, Phoenix is still in its adolescence.

Like most teenagers, we can act a little immature from time to time. And like teens, we often suffer from a lack of self-confidence, are over-concerned about our image and constantly questioning whether others find us desirable.

But as we grow up we get a chance like few other big cities to create a modern economy that can be a model of excellence, one that will become a desired destination for all.

Signs of that foundation are all around us: Arizona State’s rise as a premiere research institute; a community college system among the best in the nation; and the birth of charter schools all mixed with an entrepreneurial business climate and spirit that is second to none.

As those forces come together, we’ll have the core tools we need to build great things. We may go through growing pains from time to time, but I’m grateful to be living in a city that is young, energetic, optimistic and still in control of its own destiny.

— Don Henninger is a Scottsdale resident and owner of DH Advisors.

Love the diversity

When I think of what makes Arizona a great place to live one word pops out – diversity. Its physical attributes allow me, within a short distance, to enjoy the mountains with snow in winter and cooling forests in summer, beautiful desert year round, and as much shoreline around our lakes as California has on the ocean.

While remaining “All American,” the state has absorbed the Hispanic culture from the south and our own American Indian culture from within. A person looking for a place to retire has no end of choices, the huge metropolis, friendly suburbs or the beautiful rural areas such as the Verde Valley.

I was born in Phoenix in 1940 and have, with the exception of four years in the Marine Corps, lived here my entire life. At age 5, I remember tagging along with dad to go dove hunting at 19th and Grand avenues, so I have watched the state as it grew. I’ve never wanted to live anywhere else.

— Jim Barber is a Mesa resident.

An incredible place to bike

There exists a certain irony that an African American man such as myself would elect to live in a state where, according to the 2005-2007 American Community Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, African Americans make up less than 4 percent of the population.

Funerals, weddings, and church are certain to be among the few times Blacks are likely to be in the majority. Yet there exists a common denominator that I have found that transcends ethnicity and makes Arizona one of the best places to live, irrespective of race. And that for me is the weather and the state’s ever-growing commitment to bike lanes.

As a “roadie,” I join the rank of thousands for whom cycling brings a joy that borders on the ineffable. Black, white, etc. all know the challenges associated with the activity we love and the respect. The thrill of the burn when ascending a hill that seems to have no end in sight and the elation that comes from descending  so fast that there exists a concern of taking flight.

This fascination is concomitant with the belief that motorists are growing in their willingness to share the road with cyclists; be they on elite feather weight carbon fiber frames or heavy steel framers, the joy of riding in Arizona transcends the machine.

To your journey!

— Ahmad Daniels is a Tempe resident.

Check out these Phoenix-area bike paths:

75 degrees on Thanksgiving 

I am thankful to be living in this great state where there are still areas of vast open land yet to be explored and where opportunity is just around the corner. A state where one can go to the grocery store on a Sunday afternoon and run into their local politicians, who will take the time to have a 20-minute conversation while standing in the bread aisle.

Like many, I am also thankful to be able to go outside and enjoy 75-degree weather on Thanksgiving Day, and know that if I did want to enjoy the snow slopes, a quick trip up the mountain is not a far journey.

As a taxpayer, I am thankful to live in a state that is known for being in the top 10 when it comes to income tax rates. Most of all, I am thankful to live in a state where folks can still carry guns and our basic freedoms are still considered sacred and not under attack.

— Buster Johnson is a Lake Havasu City resident and Mohave County supervisor.

Thin blood means we can't leave!

The things that make Arizona a great place to live include the stunning views of the mountains; being able to hike those mountains; the palm trees; and really, the whole desert.  And more than just the land, there is opportunity. There are so many things to do and see — both natural and man made.

But mostly, the reason that we live here is that something changed in our bodies over the course of the relentless high temperatures in the summer.  It may have something to do with our blood thinning.  Whatever it is, we can’t withstand temperatures below about 40 degrees anymore, so we can't leave.

— Dominic Verstegen is a Phoenix resident and azcentral contributor.

Fierce independence makes us great

Ultimately, it is the people of Arizona that make it a great place to live. Yes, we have an amazing climate, one of the Natural Wonders of the World and a time zone that doesn’t change. But it’s us, the people of Arizona, with our strong belief in individualism that make this place like no other.

Who else but Arizonans could elect the first Mexican-born American to be governor (with the name of Castro, for goodness sake) then pass a bill (SB 1070) that offends nearly every Hispanic in our state?  But that’s us Arizonans. When President Taft rejected Arizona’s first constitution because of a recall of judges, Arizonans dutifully removed it, then reinstated it in their first election after statehood.

And lest you think Arizona is a bastion of conservatism, remember that we approved a woman’s right to vote eight years before national suffrage. Yes, we’re a diverse group of conservatives, liberals and maybe even a few wackos but we’re Arizonans first and foremost, proud to be from the great state of Arizona.

— Dave Bachmann is a teacher and Sun City resident.

Arizona: Then and now

Arizona has it all

Arizonans have a lot to be thankful for because we have it all. Some states are known for one particular thing, not Arizona. We have the Grand Canyon/Hoover Dam on our northern border as is Monument Valley and don’t forget the Painted Desert. We have the Snowbowl and the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff, which is a short drive from the Valley when the Valley heat becomes too much.

This is the destination for the beloved “snowbirds” that arrive every year about this time. They fly in from all around the globe, but primarily from areas buried in snow. This time of year the Valley is bustling with activities because we have the arts, the crafts and enough professional sports to keep those enthusiasts busy.

Our fair state sells more boats than any other state because so many that live here take their boats out on the lakes during weekends. We have an abundance of wildlife. There’s the roadrunner, the coyote and the Gila monster of which the latter may be colorful but is dangerous. Tombstone is the town that is "too tough to die," which is a day trip away as are towns in the mountains.

— Darell Tapp is a Gilbert resident.

Home "by choice" to many

Arizona has been my home since moving from Michigan in 1982, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. We’re not without challenges politically, socially and economically but the quality of life here is amazing and worth the fight to keep, maintain and enhance.

There’s many great things about Arizona — our unique desert environment, hiking and biking trails surrounded by beautiful mountain vistas, blue skies, sunshine and wide open spaces. Where else can you water ski and snow ski on the same day? We have saguaro cacti and forest pines. But it’s not just our natural assets that set us apart.

Our built environment offers diverse neighborhoods and connectivity — Tempe Town Lake, Indian Bend Wash, a vast network of canals, vibrant central cities and rural gems. Geotourism opportunities abound, from Sedona’s red rocks to the wondrous Grand Canyon, to Tucson’s world-renowned Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. We boast top-rated public universities and an engaged business community that’s forging partnerships with government agencies to strengthen our communities.

The greatest thing about Arizona is the people who live here. It’s our home by choice and we’re working together to ensure its environmental quality and economic vitality long into the future.

— Diane Brossart is president and CEO of Arizona Forward in Phoenix.

It's the people making a difference

I am a cry baby. I cry easily because I see so much beauty in the people I meet. I have seen a lot of beauty in Arizona. Oh yes, we live in a state where you can find miles of wide-open land, majestic red rocks, snow-capped mountain, mysterious and grand canyons, caves, cotton and copper cultivated from the backs and spirits of 22 Native American tribes and Mexican ancestors.

But it’s the heart of our community that makes Arizona great. As a former television reporter and a current philanthropic adviser, I have seen the best of humanity and the change that one grant, one hand, even one toothbrush can make. During an annual Back-to-School Clothing Drive in Phoenix, our community’s poorest children are provided new uniforms and shoes, but it was the toothbrush that overjoyed one girl. It meant she didn’t have to share with her brothers anymore.

That made me cry. I cried because that made her so happy. I cried because I couldn’t believe that a state could be so rich yet so poor. Yet there are thousands of people that work hard to close the gap so that everyone can thrive and love this God-enriched land.

— Kim Covington is senior philanthropic adviser for community initiatives at the Arizona Community Foundation in Phoenix and an azcentral contributor.

In 200 words?!?

It is literally impossible to write what makes Arizona great in 200 words!  So, I'm going to list the things that make me thankful to be in Arizona:

The Grand Canyon, Arcosanti, Petrified Natural Forest, Rainbow Bridge, Sedona, Apache Trail, Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Phoenix Zoo, Colossal Cave, Kartchner Caverns, Tombstone, Bisbee, Desert Botanical Garden, Salt River Canyon, Superstition Mountains, London Bridge and Lake Havasu City; the annual Route 66 Fun Run, Chase Ballpark, Tovrea Castle, Mystery Castle, Mount Graham, Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Old Tucson Studios, Pima Air Museum, San Xavier Del Bac, Kitt Peak Observatory, standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona, La Posada Restaurant and Museum, Tonto National Forest, Colorado River, old mines, scenic two-lane highways, Fountain Hills, hiking, water and snow skiing, tubing the Salt, the Dunes (the AZ side anyway), Heard Museum, little towns like Baghdad, Wikieup, Young, Clifton, Ehrenburg amd Quartzite.  And so much more.

— Jim Ruiz is a Mesa resident.

Top 10 moments of Arizona pride:

Oh, the people you'll meet and places you'll go

Arizona’s diversity makes it great – landscapes, ecosystems, plants, animals and people.

Our state is fortunate to have the biologically rich Sonoran Desert, as well as one of the seven natural wonders of the world, Grand Canyon.

If we took a journey from Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument to Monument Valley, from the Blue Range Primitive Area to the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, we would encounter its range of natural wonders, such as tiny pincushion cacti, majestic Douglas firs and Arizona’s only native palms.

We might hear the howl of a Mexican gray wolf or the “snore” of a Chiricahua leopard frog, smell creosote after a desert rain or the vanilla/butterscotch of a ponderosa pine up close, view the brilliant display of a velvet ant (really a wasp) or Harris hawks cooperatively hunting.

On our trip, we would cross rivers – the Verde, a “green artery” of life through the heart of our state, and the San Pedro, sometimes but a trickle supporting one of the most important riparian areas in our country.

The people we meet will speak various languages, come from urban and rural settings, and have arrived just last week or been here since time immemorial. I am grateful Arizona, and all its diversity, is my home.

— Sandy Bahr is director of the Sierra Club's Grand Canyon Chapter.

Immigrants and opportunity

God has enriched Arizona to be a land of opportunity. Like the stone rejected, as easterners moved through to California, we became the cornerstone of 20th Century growth and success.

Arizona’s climate and magnificent natural beauty are unsurpassed. The Native peoples knew we had a good thing as they were the finest stewards of it.  Soon, our copper industry and agriculture became the backbone of the state’s growth. Manufacturing, tourism and commerce followed.

Arizona has never been a closed society. Immigration — the Irish in Bisbee, our Japanese farmers, the Chinese who built our railroads, our Mormon pioneers, the Italian craftsmen, our Middle Eastern purveyors, the Mexican and Eastern Europeans who worked our mines and our fields, the Spanish who founded Tucson — augmented Arizona’s foundation.  The immigrant built Arizona.

Today, one can move here and quickly become a captain of commerce. Our rich military tradition has allowed former servicemen to strengthen the state with their acumen and some, in a nanosecond, have become leaders in Congress. All have enriched Arizona.  We should be grateful for their toil. “Ditat Deus” y  Adelante!

— Ernest Calderón is an attorney in Phoenix. 

Places that make Arizona great

The Grand Canyon. Rafting the Colorado. The view from atop Humphrey's Peak. Wading in the forks of the Black and White rivers. The Chiricahuas. Big Balanced Rock. Coati mundi. Mountain lions. Black bears. Mexican gray wolves. Hannagan's Meadow. Oregon Pipe National Monument. Saguaros. Canyon De Chelly. West Clear Creek. Jerome. Bisbee. Birds. Lots of birds. Clay Thompson. Edward Abbey. The D-Backs. The Red-Birds. This is my partial list. What is yours?

— Brian Minnick is a teacher at Mountain Trail Middle School in the Paradise Valley Unified School District.

Top 10 Arizona hikes:

Forward-thinking Arizona

Since I just returned from Washington, D.C., where I talked to our senators’ offices about our great state, I will share the message they received. Arizona is a great state because forward thinking officials planned and addressed water issues years before this 21 year drought started.

I am thankful I live in a state with beautiful deserts that teach us about nature, resiliency and survival, because we’ll need that knowledge as the climate continues to heat up.

I am grateful for our abundant sunshine that can turn us into a solar powerhouse if we dedicate ourselves to renewables.

I am glad I live in a state with Native American tribes that have lived here for centuries and can teach us to respect the land and adapt, just as they have done.

And finally, I am grateful to be living in a state with two senators who both acknowledge climate change and have tried to address it with legislation in the past. It gives me hope. We have a lot going for us now and in the future.

— Suzanne Tveit is a Phoenix resident and retired business consultant.

Arizona is accepting

I’m thankful that Arizona, or at least my corner of it in Scottsdale, welcomes new ideas and newcomers while respecting treasured legends and landscapes.

I’ve lived and worked in other metropolitan areas, and found it hard to break into volunteer leadership due to the presence of long-standing political, societal or family cliques. Here, all you need do is raise your hand, say you want to make a difference and get to work by joining committees, commissions, churches or clubs.

Scottsdale’s renowned innovations have come from ordinary citizens who have banded together to advocate for extraordinary ideas. Creating the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt Flood Control Project and the 30,000-acre McDowell Sonoran Preserve, banning billboards, serving fellow residents in need at Vista Del Camino and celebrating Western heritage at Scottsdale’s Museum of the West are just a few examples of public-private partnerships that celebrate our natural and human environment while improving quality of life for all residents and visitors.

I hope that Arizonans continue to welcome and respect all individuals, their ideas and independent spirit, and work together to preserve our natural and human assets. We can do this by avoiding domination by any one party, special interest group or fad.

— Joan Fudala is a Scottsdale resident and community historian/author.

Don't miss our welcome wagon

When we moved to Phoenix from a large western city in 1973, knowing no one, we were immediately struck by the generosity of spirit of new acquaintances. It was easy to forge new relationships because people were welcoming and inclusive. Strangers would smile and extend a greeting, offering assistance whenever they thought it might be useful. It was a powerful lesson for newcomers who were accustomed to benign indifference.

Over the years, we have adopted this principle as we befriended others. It was an effective approach as we became involved in our city, especially as volunteers at Crisis Nursery, a health foundation and a tutoring program. We tried to pass along this model to our children as they grew into adults and parents in their own right.

The underlying rationale for such behavior lies in our glorious weather (even when it is hot) and the measured pace of life in Arizona. Residents have honed a benevolent tradition over the years that is ingrained in our metropolitan life style. It is one of the area’s best attributes and it makes me proud to be a Phoenician.

— Judith Kunkel is a Paradise Valley resident and community volunteer.

Families giving back:

Lonely desert roads, beer and D-backs

I can drive on a lonely desert road, later at night, and see a thousand stars in the sky.

I can hike a trail in Greer and see bears and deer.

I can bike along a canal in Phoenix and pass by one historic neighborhood after another.

I can get up to Mount Lemon and eat a terrific pie.

I can walk around Flagstaff and enjoy the many breweries.

I can take a quick trip to Safford and enjoy the Salsa Trail or I can make it shorter and eat at Los Dos Molinos in Mesa.

I can get up to Seven Falls in Sabino Canyon and cool off on a hot summer day, after hiking the Telephone Pole Trail.

I can stop on my way to Durango and be blown away by that first full glimpse of Monument Valley.

I can have a beer and a 'dog at a DBacks game.

— Mike McClellan is a Gilbert resident.

Hanging onto our Western roots

Arizona’s diverse ecosystems make it a great place to live if you enjoy nature.

Arizonans treasured outdoor spaces and thousands of acres have been preserved in their pristine state. From the lush cactus forests of the Sonoran Desert to the dense pine forests in the high country, our state has something for everyone.

Arizona also has diverse wildlife that thrives in urban areas including bobcats, coyotes, and javelina. Hummingbirds, wrens, and woodpeckers nest in urban landscapes, while Harris hawks and great horned owls soar overhead.

There are many outstanding national and state parks including the Grand Canyon and Karchner Caverns.  Its many lakes and forests offer fishing and camping opportunities. The state has millions of miles of hiking trails. The Arizona Trail, which bisects the state, presents serious hikers with a unique challenge--traversing its entire length.

The state has retained its Western roots by creating equestrian trails and its cities and preserves are bike friendly. As a result, horse owners and cyclists have many trails from which to choose. Arizonans are fortunate that we have the opportunity to experience this diversity, so strap on your boots and head outside.

— Christine Schild is a retired attorney and Scottsdale resident.

Many great, few irascible, leaders

Arizona has been blessed with outstanding leadership since we became a state, from Governor Hunt, Hayden, Goldwater, McCain, Arpaio and our recent governors. Of course, we have had a couple of irascible ones, think Meecham and Pearce.

We have outstanding geography, from the Grand Canyon on the north to our Southern deserts.

And our fabled "Five C's", cattle, copper, citrus, cotton and climate.

These all add up to make Arizona a great place to visit, to live and to retire.

Yes, we have problems, but we aren't afraid to face them. Illegal immigration, pockets of poverty and education, which is not always up to adequate standards. But today is better than yesterday, and tomorrow will be better than today.

— Jerry Miles is former mayor of Fountain Hills.

We learn from others but carve our own path

Arizona is great in part because of its past, present and future potential. Over the years, the initiative process and clean elections system — though not perfect — have afforded Arizonans the ability to be more directly involved in state policies and politics.

The fiercely independent streak that describes many residents in our state today provides an opportunity to break away from partisan rhetoric and towards collaboration and cooperation.

And as a state that is still relatively young, we have the chance to learn from the collective experiences of others but yet carve our own path for infrastructure and other needs.

Combine these factors with the ethic of small business entrepreneurship and strong philanthropic leadership, one of the natural wonders of the world and year-round neighborhood events, quiet rural settings and fast growing municipalities, a place where many young adults and others move to secure employment, find an affordable home and start a family and throw in the world’s oldest rodeo and an intense college football rivalry, and it is easy to see why Arizona is a great place to call home.

— Diane Brown is executive director of Arizona Public Interest Research Group in Phoenix.