EDITOR'S LETTER

JANUARY 1. This is when it all begins. No more Mr. Goodbars. No more iTunes. No more sitting on the couch and watching reruns of The Muppet Show. It’s a new year, and things are going to be different. That’s the theory, anyway — until reality settles in and resolutions fall off the wagon. Sometimes, though, whether it’s a result of determination or dumb luck, big things do begin on the first day of the year.

Think about January 1, 1962. That’s when The Beatles auditioned for Decca Records in London. They weren’t signed — Decca signed Brian Poole & the Tremeloes instead — but so what, the Beatles irruption was under way, and music would never be the same again. Television changed on January 1, too. Nine years before The Beatles, in 1951, the Zenith Corporation of Chicago tested the first-ever version of pay-per-view. It was embryonic, but for a buck, movie-lovers could sit in their living rooms and order Homecoming, which starred Clark Gable and Lana Turner. It was light years from HDTV, but still.

Like music and television, magazines turn pages as well, and when they do, the transition usually takes place in January. Arizona Highways is no exception. As you’ll see, our first issue of 2008 features a few changes. The biggest shift is in what we call the “front of the book” — those pages that come before the feature stories. 
 

Most noticeable is a new department called The Journal, which is a series of pages dedicated to the things this magazine has been mastering for 83 years — history, nature, photography. It goes beyond that, though. In addition, we’ll be using The Journal to spotlight some of the best restaurants, diners, hotels, inns and B&Bs around the state. Also, at your request, we’re bringing back our “things to do” page, which highlights some of the most interesting events, workshops and festivals of the month. There will be people in The Journal, too — some you’ve heard of; others, probably not. Our goal with this section is to tell you as much as we can about the people, places and things that make Arizona so interesting. There’s a lot to cover, and The Journal is where we’ll start.

Another new addition is our Contributors department. You’ve seen these in other magazines; we’re including our version because we’re proud of the writers and photographers who share their handiwork with us every month. More importantly, we want you to learn a little bit more about them — where they’re from, what they might have experienced on a particular photo shoot or interview. …

These are just a few of the changes. Coinciding with the additions to the magazine is the launch of our new Web site. Among other things, you’ll find a “trip planner,” several blogs and details about our upcoming amateur photo contest. The site also offers a lot of archival information, including a guide to some of our favorite hikes. Check it out at arizonahighways.com.

Of course, along with all the new things, both online and in the magazine, there are plenty of old standbys. Just look at the images in White Space, this month’s portfolio — it’s vintage Arizona Highways, thanks to the excellent work of Peter Ensenberger, our longtime director of photography. Interesting people (see The High Life), adventure (see Seventh Natural Wonderland) and history (see Wright From the Start) are part of the equation, too. These are the kinds of feature stories you’re used to getting, and these are the kinds of feature stories you’ll continue to get. You’ll also get a healthier dose of “service journalism” — stories that serve as a how-to guide for exploring the state. This month’s cover story is a good example. 
 

Weekend Getaways, by first-time contributor Kelly Kramer, details 25 of the state’s best adventures. Some you can experience in a couple of hours, and others will take a day or two. Either way, there’s something in there for everyone. And really, that’s what we’re striving for with each issue of Arizona Highways. 

Whether you live in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, or Woods Canyon Lake, Arizona, we intend to make this magazine your primary source for learning about the Grand Canyon State. That’s our resolution to you. Time will tell what happens with the iTunes and Mr. Goodbars, but when it comes to Arizona Highways, we have no intention of falling off the wagon.