12 Awesome Things Arizona Is Doing That Other US States Should Be Aware Of

3. Cooperating with our neighbor to the south.

Mexico is Arizona’s top trade partner — it’s where 40 percent of our exports go. It’s a reciprocal arrangement because so many Arizonans vacation on the relatively nearby Mexican beaches.

4. Giving squatters a place to live.

If a private property is neglected for as little as two years, a so-called “trespasser” willing to live in it, improve it, and pay taxes can claim it as their own.

5. Workers have the right to be ill.

Smaller businesses have to give their employees 24 hours of paid sick leave per year while businesses with 15 or more workers must give 40. Plus, we just raised the minimum wage to $10 an hour, which makes a huge difference to a lot of families.

6. An avid passion for outer space.

Une publication partagée par Panasonic LUMIX Cameras USA (@lumixusa) le 12 Juil. 2017 à 8h04 PDT

We found Pluto, launched NASA’s first Mars scout, and have the largest solar telescope in the world. Lots of areas ban light pollution to maintain our astronomers’ paradise.

7. Engaging in other science, too.

Une publication partagée par UA Biosphere 2 (@biosphere2) le 25 Août 2016 à 11h40 PDT

We host mad coding and robotics competitions, and Biosphere 2 (the biggest enclosed ecosystem/city thing ever created) is down by Tucson.

8. Caring for our extensive and fascinating history!

Une publication partagée par Viva Frei (@vivafrei) le 23 Nov. 2016 à 7h47 PST

We preserve deco billboards, ghost towns, petroglyphs, and midcentury buildings. We reenact gun fights and house at least two living history museums (thousands, if you count retirement homes).

9. Making and drinking vino! And cerveza!

Une publication partagée par Whisper Brew (@whisperbrew) le 21 Oct. 2017 à 18h51 PDT

The Grand Canyon State has 86 beer breweries (another one just opened while I was writing this) and grow some 30 grape varietals, mostly of European origin. We even legalized distilleries, as long as you’ve registered your still.

10. Playing, watching, and investing in sports.

Une publication partagée par Ryan Hoover (@jiujitsu.realtor) le 5 Oct. 2017 à 14h50 PDT

Not only is Spring Training kind of a big deal here, but we have about 300 golf courses, a surprisingly amazing ice hockey team, a long heritage of Final Four basketball appearances, we drive race cars real fast, and host the Super Bowl every once in a while. Thousands of hiking trails wind through the state’s extensive wild areas, and you can ski and float down a desert river on the same day.

11. Profiting more than $350 million from legalized pot.

The recreational use proposition hasn’t passed (yet) but medical marijuana got the ok in 2010.

12. Not doing that whole Daylight Savings Time thing.

We get so much sunlight, why do we need to save it? In fact, we still have no idea why you change your clocks back and forth.