Arizona - One of America’s most beautiful states
Arizona was a special place for my grandmother. She had a sister who lived in Flagstaff for many years, and my grandmother went to visit her there several times. My grandmother loved it there, and when she got too old to travel that far, she would wish that she could go back again. My grandmother would tell me stories about the beauty of the state, about the Grand Canyon, and about the Indians that lived there.
From what my grandmother told me and from what I have learned about Arizona through the years, it is one of our most beautiful states. Very hot, but beautiful, although some places in Arizona do get snow. My grandmother has pictures of my aunt’s house with two feet of snow in front of it! Arizona is one of the four corners states, sitting south and east of the Colorado River. It borders New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and California, and touches Colorado. It also borders Mexico. Arizona is best known for its desert, heat, and many cacti. The winters are mild although snow is possible in some places.
Arizona is the home of one of the seven natural wonders of the world—the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is a colorful, steep gorge, carved out by the Colorado River. It is in Grand Canyon National Park, one of the first national parks in the United States. The Grand Canyon is about 277 miles long and ranges in width from four to eighteen miles. The depth of the Grand Canyon is more than one mile. My grandmother has pictures of her and other family members riding donkeys through the canyon! I’ll always remember what she told me about one of her experiences while at the Grand Canyon. She told me that standing there and seeing it she could hear the voice of God speaking to her. She had a great appreciation for the beauty of nature, and seeing the Grand Canyon was one of the most memorable experiences of her life.
Another favorite land formation that my grandmother loved seeing was the Painted Desert. The Painted Desert stretches across most of northern Arizona and along the Colorado River. It is famous for its bright red rocks that are especially beautiful when it turns into shades of violet, blue, and red at sunset or sunrise.
There are other sights to see and cities to visit in Arizona, including Tucson, Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa. For more information about Arizona and the many state and national parks to visit, search online or contact your local travel agent. Hopefully one day I will take a trip myself and see all that my grandmother got to see.