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I also live in Colorado and have been to Arizona many times, and I must agree that AZ. as a whole has more dramatic landscape than CO, and while beautiful in it's own right, the Eastern Plains of CO. probably knocks CO. down a couple of notches for dramatics. To me, Utah has the most dramatic landscape of the interior mountain states, and has an almost alien look, more like Mars.
Last edited by Bellside High; 10-20-2018 at 10:09 PM..
Reason: Spelling
Colorado's mountain scenery gets a lot better away from I-70. The San Juan range in the southwestern part of the state near four corners is the most stunning range in the southern Rockies. It also has a good collection of mountain towns with a lot of charm found in Silverton, Ouray, and Telluride.
I-25 between Fort Collins and Pueblo is pretty much a contiguous corridor of cities and suburbs edged by farmland on one side and the Rockies in the other direction. People like to dog on Denver's location being on the high plains, but I love the drive into the city approaching from the plains with the city backdropped by a wall of mountains rising above the plains. I think it's a marvelous setting for a city.
I absolutely LOVE the scenery in Arizona. It's my favorite state to photograph, and Sororan desert sunsets are second to none. Orange skies, purples shaded mountain ranges, and hills silhouetted with saguaro cacti. This type of scenery is at it's prime outside Tucson and Saguaro National Park. AZ does have some blah parts, particularly along I-40 east of Flagstaff and I-10 west of Phoenix.
But Flagstaff is beautiful, like a little piece of Colorado in Arizona (with 12k peaks rather than the 14'er peaks in CO). It's got a similar mountain town vibe and scenery as some parts of Colorado. My favorite thing about Arizona is its diversity of climate range and scenery from sub-tropical desert valleys to alpine forests and snowy mountains ranges, on up into red rock and canyon country on the Colorado plateau. It's a sweet spot in the west, probably my favorite. I'd consider moving there but I'm being called back to New England after 7 years in the Southwest.
I also live in Colorado and have been to Arizona many times, and I must agree that AZ. as a whole has more dramatic landscape than CO, and while beautiful in it's own right, the Eastern Plains of CO. probably knocks CO. down a couple of notches for dramatics. To me, Utah has the most dramatic landscape of the interior mountain states, and has an almost alien look, more like Mars.
Lived in Arizona nearly 20 years and it does have some spectacular views, but Utah blew me away. I like Colorado a lot as well.
New Mexico lacking a Denver/Phoenix-like city is arguably it's biggest con. And it's a big, elephant in the room con.
True, but to some people that would be a draw... but we are talking about dramatic scenery. The fact that Albuquerque does not have thirty miles of sprawl stretching to the horizon means you can get out of town and into the backcountry in minutes, even on a bike in some places. The NM state population could fit in the Denver metro and could fit in the Phoenix metro twice with room left over. As a photographer and outdoor person the emptiness is an asset.
Albuquerque is relatively small and manageable. Santa Fe is an hour away by train or highway. I’ve never really heard any friends or acquaintances complain about how small Albuquerque is because there are so many pros to offset the few cons. Many are refugees from CA, NY, CT, PA or elsewhere who consider the Albuquerque area as a reward for years spent in crowded cities.
True, but to some people that would be a draw... but we are talking about dramatic scenery. The fact that Albuquerque does not have thirty miles of sprawl stretching to the horizon means you can get out of town and into the backcountry in minutes, even on a bike in some places. The NM state population could fit in the Denver metro and could fit in the Phoenix metro twice with room left over. As a photographer and outdoor person the emptiness is an asset.
Albuquerque is relatively small and manageable. Santa Fe is an hour away by train or highway. I’ve never really heard any friends or acquaintances complain about how small Albuquerque is because there are so many pros to offset the few cons. Many are refugees from CA, NY, CT, PA or elsewhere who consider the Albuquerque area as a reward for years spent in crowded cities.
Yes this is about scenery, between Colorado and Arizona. Arizona > Colorado.
OP stated they wanted a bigger city and that's why they didn't consider New Mexico. New Mexico's beautiful scenery can't make up for that.
Yes this is about scenery, between Colorado and Arizona. Arizona > Colorado.
For dramatic scenery (of the two states), I would favor Colorado in summer and Arizona (northern) in winter. The Grand Canyon in December with snow is a sight to behold -- and it is almost unpopulated with tourists. I'll sometimes go to Colorado in warmer months and enjoy fly fishing in some of the prettiest streams anywhere. The lakes up on Grand Mesa or the Flat Tops are nice as well...and getting there is a beautiful drive.
He's obviously never been to the Midwest, or went through it while drunk, cuz most of the Midwest has that charming bucolic scenery he assumes eastern Colorado has.
I'd prefer Colorado, but Arizona is more dramatic with the Grand Canyon. Plus... they got saguaros.
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