PHOENIX, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- The editor in chief of Arizona Highways Magazine said the publication sparked a friendly spat with Vermont by claiming Arizona has superior autumn foliage.
The magazine cover for the upcoming October issue depicts the Grand Canyon State's autumn foliage with the caption, "Why it's better here than it is in Vermont."
Magazine Editor-in-Chief Robert Stieve said the director of Vermont tourism has contacted him, and he has heard Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has seen the cover, KPHO-TV, Phoenix, reported Tuesday.
"I think there was a little territorialism going on," Stieve said. "We all love our respective states. They saw the cover line, but inside, we are actually talking about how the quality is great here, as it is in Vermont.
"We set them as the gold standard," Stieve said. "But what's great about Arizona is that our fall season starts in early September on the north rim and goes literally until the middle of December in some of the desert regions. So, we sort of beat [Vermont] in quantity."
Vermont Life magazine responded with its own cover picturing a local gorge with the caption, "Why Quechee Gorge is grander than the Grand Canyon."
"It's kind of like when teams meet in the Super Bowl and mayors have these little bets. It's all in good fun. We were just trying to sell magazines, to be honest with you," Stieve said.
