Arizona has amazing landmarks as well as very rich, deep, and colorful roots

     Arizona will always be my true home. While growing up, I always wanted to know what it would be like to live in another state. I never really appreciated Arizona until a couple of years ago when I found there is no other state even close to Arizona. Looking back on my life, everything I know is associated with Arizona. I realized I could never feel more safe, secure, and proud in any other place but Arizona. It has such a great mixture of fun and history. I hope that the memories instilled in me will drive other people to experience what I have.

     There are many fun places to go. I live in Tucson, which has become such a great urban city. There are places to see movies (Park Place Mall), eat food (El Charro), go shopping (La Encantada), visit zoos (Reid Park), and hang out with friends. Tucson by far has the best Mexican food in the world. I know of someone who moved to Arizona from Mexico and says the Mexican food here is better. Beyond Tucson, though, Phoenix has even more to do. There are shopping malls, over twenty different art exhibits and museums, a great nightlife, and various park attractions. Phoenix is Arizona’s engine and is a huge business center. The city life is so diverse and offers many different options to suit any type of person. There also are the Universities of Arizona and Arizona State, which draw in teens from all over the country and world. The economic and city life in Arizona sounds great, but there is something else more beautiful, unique, and wondrous about Arizona many never appreciate.

     Arizona has amazing landmarks as well as very rich, deep, and colorful roots. Every time I am driving, I always have a gorgeous view of the mountains. I have had many people visiting from out of town tell me how amazing it is that Arizonans see these breathtaking views everyday. It was at these moments I would stop and look at the mountains and know how lucky I am. I can easily drive to the base of Mount Lemmon, take a scenic hike, and completely forget I live in the city. No one in New York City could do that.

     We are also home to the great Grand Canyon. It is a national landmark and has many legendary tall tales associated with it. It is wonderful to think that I can drive four hours and be able to visit the canyon everyone talks about and comes to see from all over the world. Another really cool natural landmark is Colossal Cave. Once inside, you can see stalagmites that have been growing for millions of years. It is nice and cold inside, which is great since it is so hot outside. You can also see the occasional bat. I also remember the bottomless pit, which is deep inside the cave. Everyone that I have spoken has said they’ve dropped a penny in it and never heard a sound come back.

     Places such as the Desert Museum, the Wildlife Museum, Old Tucson, San Xavier, and many exhibits of old Indian inhabitants really shape what Arizona is about. These are great places to learn and experience the beginnings of this wonderful state. I remember as a kid being so excited to take a picture of the huge polar bear in the Wildlife Museum. All the animals on display were once real and the experience is very hands on. It always felt like I would go back in time, when the animal was living. The Desert Museum, on the other hand, has animals that are actually alive. I love seeing the prairie dogs and snakes. There are also blocks of information along walls and rocks on the animals’ exhibits. At Old Tucson, I loved to play bandits and robbers at the “Wild West” stomping grounds. The Indian exhibits all around.

      Many people think Arizona is nothing but tumbleweeds, cowboys, and dirt. However, if those people were to come and visit, their view would definitely change. If a tourist wanted to find an urban city, Arizona has it. If a tourist wanted to visit a place of life, history, and beautiful nature, Arizona has it. To think that once there was a completely different culture roaming Arizona is just amazing. It has developed into such an amazing state. It is a getaway and economic staple all into one. If I were to make a description of Arizona, I could do it so that any type of person would be drawn to the fervid life of Arizona.