What do you like most & least about the Phoenix metro area? (home)

[NorterraPhil]

For me, just being here in the short amount of time I've quickly learned the things that I love and hate about Phoenix.

I like Phoenix for the following reason:

-Wide variety of cultures and little racism compared to some East coast cities.
-Mountains and the landscape.
-Many outdoor activities to participate in.
-Perfect weather (except summer), and no major natural disasters (earthquake, tornadoes, hurricanes, or major flooding) to worry about.
-Cost of living is low; for 300k I got a lovely home here, but in California or Florida 300k wouldn't buy much.

I dislike:

-No ocean/beaches.
-Downtown seems kind of lackluster compared to other major cities.
-Maryvale; it seems very unsafe and not somewhere you want people out of town to see.
-Phoenix needs something spectacular that can be use to identify the city with. (ex. Golden Gate Bridge, Sears Tower, Empire State Building, Sea World, Gateway Arch, Mall of America.)

[sexxxcblac]

There is No city in the world let alone America that can determine my degree of happiness, there is no city in America that I can't have a blast living in it. As long as there are humans in it, EVERY city is great to live in.
Furthermore, the last thing we need is validation from anyone's pros and cons. We live in the greatest state in the union. ARIZONA. And ALL are welcomed !

[observer53]

Originally Posted by NorterraPhil

-Phoenix needs something spectacular that can be use to identify the city with. (ex. Golden Gate Bridge, Sears Tower, Empire State Building, Sea World, Gateway Arch, Mall of America.)

If you do a search, you will find a LONG thread about this very issue from a few years ago. I know my opinion hasn't changed. We don't need a man made tourist attraction. A mall? Seriously? No. Nowhere to build a fancy bridge. A tall building? It would have to be nearly the tallest, or the tallest, in the country to matter. Not going to happen. Sea World? No beach. Gateway Arch? There's really no equivalent reason to build something commemorative of that nature. Lots of cities don't have A landmark to identify it with. We don't need it any more than they do.

[Bondurant]

Originally Posted by observer53

If you do a search, you will find a LONG thread about this very issue from a few years ago. I know my opinion hasn't changed. We don't need a man made tourist attraction. A mall? Seriously? No. Nowhere to build a fancy bridge. A tall building? It would have to be nearly the tallest, or the tallest, in the country to matter. Not going to happen. Sea World? No beach. Gateway Arch? There's really no equivalent reason to build something commemorative of that nature. Lots of cities don't have A landmark to identify it with. We don't need it any more than they do.

Yeah. I'd like to add that no one goes to St. Louis to visit that arch. I've been to St. Louis twice and did not stop to see it either time. I glance at it and go about my day...because it does not matter.

[cksmom]

man made tourist attractions are totally overrated!

We are in Seattle now. The space needle? meh. the restaurant is ridiculously expensive and not that good. The view is nice but you can see that view from lots of places in the city. I was born here and have been to the space needle maybe twice? I prefer nature's attractions and AZ has plenty!

[maverick974]

Arizona has the Grand Canyon. You can't improve upon that. As for Phoenix itself? I think the only image problem Phoenix has is that it is still viewed as a wild west town and in some ways, it is. Open carry, etc.
Frankly why does Pheonix need something else to draw people? It's the 5th largest metro area in terms of population in the country..... What's wrong with that? People are drawn to Phoenix for many things. The dry climate, the warm weather, the desert landscape, beautiful sunsets, jobs, family, etc. Phoenix doesn't need to bring people, it needs to bring companies that provide jobs. You don't need something to identify itself to other cities other than something to lure jobs to the area.