1. Epic Thanksgiving Barbecues
People further north may be huddled inside praying that it won’t sleet too hard, but Arizonans know that Thanksgiving means hosting a gigantic, delicious outdoor barbeque.
Oh, and the flavors are way less bland out here, too: pass the green chiles-filled corn bread and chipotle sweet potatoes, please.
2. eegee’s Cherry Cider Frozen Fruit Drink
Okay, maybe you prefer Holly Berry, Galactic Grape, or classic Lemon, but you know what I mean. When it’s hot outside, eegee’s is basically air conditioning in a cup, and nothing else will satisfy.
3. Pool Parties That Start At 8 P.M.
Okay, everyone loves a pool party, but in Arizona, they’re an afternoon shindig. Rather than frying guests in the summer heat, Arizonans host their swim parties after dinner and enjoy them late into the night.
4. That Kit With The Dust Brush, Flashlight, And Bottle Of Water
Haboob preparedness is a real thing in Arizona. Laugh at the name all you want, but those dust storms get serious, and everyone in the state knows to pack a kit.
Getting stranded in the desert with a dust-filled automobile that won’t start isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time.
5. Keeping Pet Chickens Or A Cat Instead Of Using Insecticide
Ok, maybe some people in Arizona don’t have chickens or a cat, but they’re crazy because everyone knows that these guys make for the best scorpion repellant around.
Sure, you can spray toxic insecticides around your house, but many Arizonans handle their scorpion problem the all-natural (and cuddly) way.
6. Sweet, Refreshing Monsoon Season
People actually look forward to monsoons because the rain cools tempers the desert heat. Plus, some of those lightning storms are outrageously gorgeous—folks in Arizona are prone to sit and watch them like they’re fireworks displays.
7. Unmelted Shoes, Unexploded Tires
Melting shoes and exploding tires? Actual desert-living problems every Arizonan is deeply familiar with.
8. Parking Spots In Any Amount of Shade (Even If It’s A Way Farther Walk)
It doesn’t matter how much farther a walk it is or how scraggly and sad that little patch of shade may be, an Arizonan will make a beeline right for it.
9. Sedona Pride (Yes, Even More Than Grand Canyon Pride)
The rest of the nation may associate Arizona almost exclusively with the Grand Canyon—which Arizonans also love—but true Arizona pride lies in Sedona, where the hiking trails are endless and breathtaking, and the natural space is a little less overrun with tourists.
10. That Absolutely Unique Turquoise McDonald’s
Sedona has strict regulations for its buildings. All of the structures in town must blend into the natural surroundings to honor the landscape.
To that end, McDonald’s agreed to go turquoise in order to be part of the Sedona community, making it the only McDonald’s in the world with that particular color scheme and no golden arches in sight.
11. Quality Chihuahua Time
Sometimes it seems like everyone in Arizona owns a dog, and chihuahuas are the most common breed. It makes some sense: they’re compact, desert-heat ready, and incredibly cute.
12. Rocking Some Diamondbacks Gear, Especially In Los Angeles
Arizona boasts one of the best baseball teams in the country, and a running rivalry with the L.A. Dodgers means Arizonans love to show state pride—especially when they take a trip farther west.
13. Those Lifesaving Patio Misters At Restaurants
You know the ones: they make sitting outside not just bearable, but a pleasure, even in the blinding Arizona heat.
14. Trips To The Amazing Heard Museum
This living museum space celebrates native cultures and arts and hosts awesome events like the annual Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market, which has been going strong for 56 years.
15. A Practically Reptilian Level of Heat Tolerance
If you’re a transplant, you know you’ve become a real Arizonan when you find yourself unironically using phrases like, "Can you believe it's only going to be 95 on Thursday!”
16. Taking A Zonies Trip to San Diego
It may be a five-hour drive to the beach, but there’s nothing Arizonans love more than escaping that dry desert heat for a day or two of California surf. “Zonie” may have started as a San Diego dig against their neighbors, but Arizonans have come to own the phrase.
17. Declaring A Very Strong Opinion About Who Will Win The Duel In The Desert
Football is not taken lightly in Arizona, and no rivalry is more important than that of the University of Arizona Wildcats and Arizona State University Sun Devils. When the two play each other, the tensions get boiling hot.
18. Sipping A Malt At The Galaxy Diner
This old-school diner is a Route 66 icon. Constructed in the ‘50’s, it maintains that vintage vibe and is the best-beloved spot for breakfast in the whole state.
19. Going Out To The Dunes
The Imperial Sand Dunes in California (but super close to Yuma) are the preferred place for riding horses and ATVs out in the seemingly endless desertscape. Plus, they filmed parts of Star Wars there, so you can always pretend you’re in “Return of the Jedi.”
20. Swimming (But Only If It's Hot Enough)
If you’ll go in the water when it’s under 100 degrees outside, you’re not a true Arizonan. The 90s are clearly way too cold to even dip your toe in the water.
21. Wearing Shorts All Winter Long
What’s New Year’s Eve attire in Tucson? A cute top, a pair of shorts, and ankle boots. What, people elsewhere have to cover up with gigantic ugly coats? No, thanks.
22. All The Hiking, All The Time
Have some free time on the weekend? That means a hiking trip is in order. Just don’t forget to set your alarm for 4 A.M.—waking up crazy early is also part of the Arizona hiking experience.
23. Weekend Adventures in Rocky Point, Mexico
Arizonans love a weekend trip down to Rocky Point. Just grab your passport, hop in the car, and go get your snorkeling, fishing, and beachside relaxing on.
24. When Winter Finally Rolls Around
The only time of year when stepping outside at noon is a vaguely sane idea? Yeah, winter’s pretty popular in AZ.
25. Going Out On The Town In Tucson
Outsiders might think that Phoenix is the spot to check out, but Arizonans know that Tucson is the real deal for getting your nightlife on. Whether that means getting down on the Zen Rock dance floor or dining at Wildflower is up to you and your partners in crime.
26. Just Getting In The Car And Going Somewhere
With Route 66 so close, it’s not shocking that road trips are part of the culture in Arizona or that locals love the beautiful desert views, long straight roads, and that rushing sensation of freedom that come with a last-minute road trip.
27. Flip Flops As Perfectly Acceptable Work Attire
Work attire tends to be a little more casual in Arizona, and besides, it’s so hot nobody has the energy to be a snob.
28. Making Dry Heat Jokes Because How Else Do You Handle It?
“Well, at least it’s a dry heat” is the least funny and most expected claim anybody can make in Arizona, but it’s also repeated so often because… well, what else are you going to do about it?
29. Nibbling Cheese Crisps
Cheese crisps are a state favorite. It’s basically a quesadilla that hasn’t been folded over, and the treat is usually made with a blend of queso Oaxaca and Monterey Jack cheeses.
30. Learning About Healing Crystals
Okay, maybe this one is a bit of a stereotype, but more people are into crystals in Arizona than maybe anywhere else in the States. And it’s not really a surprise: the beautiful dunes out here would inspire a little mysticism in even the most hard-hearted of cynics.
What’s something in Arizona you can’t live without? Tell us in the comments below! 
