STATE MOTTO:

"Sure it's hotter than hell but it's a DRY heat"
or
"What? you've never had your lungs sunburned before?"

I believe I can hold forth on Arizona at length as I have probably been to 85% of the cities in the state and had * interesting * times in all of them.
Also, living there for a while gives you an unusual perspective on things...

Basic transportation advice:
When in Phoenix between 9 and 5 on weekdays take the bus across town (no service on sundays and no useful service on saturdays - typical symptom of allowing profiteers to run vital municipal services...)
However the fare is only $1.00 and the transfers are usually pretty long and allow for travel in all directions...

These are key exits: Union Hills Drive @ I-17 (the #19) bus (northbound toward Flagstaff).
59th Avenue Circle K truckstop (westbound) get on any passing bus and ask a driver how to get to the #17 Mcdowell line.
48th St / Baseline Ave and I-10 (take Red line to University and Apache in Tempe and change to #66) for east / south - toward Tucson...

Things you might pass near while riding that bus...
The Bandersnatch brewpub in Tempe w/ $7.50 a pitcher stout and 10 cent wings m-th 4-7 (they don't advertise the fact that they sell pitchers...you gotta ask...now ya know).
Mcduffy'd sports bar w/$8.00 a pitcher GUINNESS and LEGAL off track betting for Turf Paradise plus a REALLY good *CHEAP* lunch buffet...
See while waitng on that #66 (you'll have time to do all this trust me...)
Both bars are three blocks off University and 2 blocks from Apache - ask directions if you get lost...
PS: Bandersnatch makes their own root beer, too.

PPS: Turf Paradise hits longshots a LOT (28.5%) of the time (about 10% more than most racetracks) also, due to AZ laws you get better odds on big out of state races...
So you could very well walk out of Tempe ahead...ka-ching!
I speak from experience here, my girlfriend didn't mind the money but being at the track all the time got on her nerves.

Another very good brewpub: Coyote Springs @ 20th/Camelback.

Things to do when you're in Phx and Tucson: you're bored and you've got about 20 dollars:
SPRING TRAINING CHEAP SEATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CUBS $5.00 IN Mesa
Giants $4-6 in Scottsdale
Rockies $ 4-7 IN Tucson BUT HARD TO GET TICKETS - I EVENTUALLY HAD TO RESORT TO BECOMING A VENDOR IN THE PARK
(GETCHA ICE - COLD SPRING WATA HEAH...)

BROKE IN TUCSON?
THE KALIL DR.PEPPER / RC / 7UP / PLANT ALWAYS NEEDS PALLET LOADERS. IT DOESN'T PAY MUCH BUT IT PAYS WEEKLY: AND IT'S NOT ESPECIAllY MENTALLY TAXING
YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO PASS A PISS TEST THO...
It is very hard physically on the body - exhaustion alert...
Another instant Tucson job: vending the afternoon paper on the streetcorner - call Tucson Citizen single copy sales dept.
PS: the bus in Tucson runs 7 days a week.
I used to like the Gentle Ben's brewpub more before they switched to mr. pibb ($6.00 pitchers no stout in the springtime tho...)

The best used record chain on the planet is ZIA records (all over AZ)
The best Carl's Jr is @ 48th/Baseline (outside Phx).
Something you can only find in AZ, NM, TX AND FL: WHATABURGER: I-10 and Ray Rd in Chandler!
Only place I know that serves 32oz milkshakes!

OTB(?) Parlor inside Best Western on Eliot Rd and I-10 you'd never know...
Showers are just $3.00 at the Circle K truckstop on 59th Ave and I-10 and they've got those stupid BIG dr. peppers and a TV (however the neighborhood is frequented by independent business women and all of the corresponding hassles that brings...speed freaks, jumpy cops, etc, etc...so be careful...)
Handy tip dept: when you see an ugly woman hitchikng in Phx and it's not on the interstate...she ain't hitchikin, bud.
(I picked one up by mistake once, whoops...)
And yes the Oakland A's play in Phx but 7 bucks for a cheap seat - sheesh...

A general coolness rating of 20 and change: hard not to smile in AZ regardless of what happens, and oh yeah, not one girl in Winslow drives a flatbed Ford and if she did she wouldn't give you a ride...
AZ life complication dept: state prisons just north east and west of Phx and east of Tucson w/"do not pick up hitchikers" signs.
However, AZ makes inmates shave their heads so if you have long hair you should be ok (experience talking, got picked up by a Tucson cop once on vacation, my hair was how he knew I was OK :)
Also, most escapees don't wear large frame backpacks...
Oh yeah, it is always BUTT COLD along I-40 from Kingman to N.Mexico so prepare...
Like Alabama, it is technically illegal to walk on the interstate but it depends on how bored the cop is as to whether you not you get checked - I would take the bus in Maricopa and Pima counties just to be safe.
Speedway Rd is THE Tucson exit for BOTH directions...trust me.
Cheap hotels in AZ: nonexistent but try Winslow for as close as you can get...

Really hapened: GUY GAVE ME A RIDE to SEDONA AND a 100 dollar bill!
Now don't everybody start going to Sedona it was a FLUKE.
The Legendary Rob's job description: be there when you need to be there, and nothing goes wrong...
MAJOR CONCERT VENUES: COMPTON TERRACE: I-10 AND QUEEN CREEK RD
CHANDLER BLOCKBUSTER PAVILLION: 79TH AVE @ I-10 GOODYEAR
AMERICA WEST ARENA: DOWNTOWN PHX
NOTE TO THE GUY WHO DID AN ELECTRICAL DIAGNOSTIC ON MY VEE-DUB IN GILA BEND FOR MY WRISTWATCH: it was a blown fuse after all, as soon as I get the 20 bucks I'll send it...

Terrific thrift store w/lots of never worn cheap & in - style clothes: the cerebral palsy store on 7th Avenue and Indian School Rd: take the #41 bus next to Zia Records.

Yes, you can hitchike with your gun on in AZ, AK, CA and CO - if in view.

Xtra AZ NOTE: AZ has more grocery stores per capita than any other state.

Here is rob's list of who to boycott and why:
SMITTY's - union busting: forcing employees to work on christmas day and killing the occassional (black) shoplifter.
FRY's (formerly family - owned now a division of Kroger) for adopting anti-amerindian haircut policies (but being more than happy to build stores right outside the reservations front doors...)

The other chains: Smith's, ABCO, Albetsons, etc seem to be fair...

BASHA's gets special BONUS karma points for being "THE ONLY GROCERY STORE WILLING TO OPEN STORES ON THE RESERVATIONS!!!! FOR OVER 30 YRS" + they are LOCALLY (AZ) owned.

Write to Legendary Rob.