Arizona

Arizona, at 113,642 square miles (294,332 square kilometers), is the sixth largest state in the US. Of course, the state has to be large enough to contain the Grand Canyon and all of the other spectacular scenery it is blessed with (including its 27 state parks, three national parks, and various national monuments and recreational areas).

Being a science fiction fan means I'm fascinated by Arizona's Barringer Crater (aka the Meteor Crater). The crater was created by the impact of – you guessed it – a meteor more than 20,000 years ago, and the crater is about 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) in diameter and 174-meters (570-feet) deep. Located so near to the interstate (I-40), about halfway between two great tourist locations (the Grand Canyon and the Petrified Forest National Park), and less than an hour from Flagstaff, it's easy to reach.

Though I am also fascinated by Petrified Forest National Park (and its petrified wood), and the desert landscape is great, I have to admit that my favorite place is the Grand Canyon. Pictures are nice but don't really do the place justice. There's something unmatchable about being able to stand on the edge of the abyss, surveying the multi-hued rocks that stretch for miles in both directions, and looking down to the greenery and flowing river (the Colorado) below.

Two other features of this state of 5,580,811 plus people, which I really enjoy, are the sunshine and the dryness. Overall, temperatures in the state can dip as low as 17F (-8C) and go as high as 120F (47C) – but heat is much easier to handle without humidity. Though Arizona has a lot of desert, there is a good deal of vegetation in the state: forests of pine (ponderosa and pinyon) as well as juniper, oak, shrubs, Joshua trees, and assorted cacti (barrel, prickly pear, and saguaro). And I rather like the little gecko lizards, though I can do without the tarantulas and scorpions.

So what can you do with this much sun? Stay at a ranch! Golf at one of the state's more than 300 golf courses! Or visit one of the more than 20 spas! And, you can also do a combination of these activities, as there are golf resorts, spa resorts, and ranch spas.

And, yes, you can even ski in Arizona at locations such as Arizona Snowbowl, Sunrise Park Resort, Mount Lemmon Ski Valley, and Elk Ridge Ski and Outdoor Recreation Area. And there is water for all of your favorite liquid activities, such as boating, fishing, or waterskiing, as the northwest area of the state shares the huge, clear, manmade Lake Mead and the Lake Mead National Recreation Area with neighboring Nevada.

Fans of the Wild West, whether young or old, will particularly love Arizona. Who among Old West fans could skip out on a trip to Tombstone and its famous OK Corral (yes, it exists!).

For those with an interest in Native American culture, Arizona holds many fascinating historical sites, particularly ruins of ancient cliff-dwelling Pueblo communities, such as Navajo National Monument (NM) in the northeast and Tonto NM and Montezuma Castle NM in the central area. It is not just history: about one third of this stunning state belongs to Native American peoples from 21 tribes.

With such features, it's not surprising that among Arizona's economic leaders is tourism (along with mining, agriculture, hi-tech, and manufacturing).

And with such incredible features, it is no wonder that Arizona's motto is Ditat Deus – God Enriches.

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