A Road Trip to Remember

Exploring the Great American Southwest

by ROXANNE BORYCZKI

When people think of the Great American Southwest, romantic images conjure up visions of wild horses, weathered cowboys, towering saguaro cacti with expansive desert landscapes, rimmed by majestic mountains that turn colors as the sun and clouds play over their peaks. During certain times of the year, brilliant sunsets paint the skies to rival the best Maxfield Parish painting.

The southwestern states of Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah offer a diverse number of experiential opportunities for people with a variety of interests. Today, when social distancing is on everyone’s mind, the Southwest provides lots of space to spread out, explore national and regional parks, or revitalize at a wellness resorts.

Each state in the southwest has something different to offer, so plan your trip one state at a time to go more in-depth, or cover as much territory as possible, if you don’t mind being on the move.

Grand Canyon

Arizona is famous for the Grand Canyon, and Sedona Red Rocks, but it also has world-class spa resorts, golf courses, and is rich in Native American Culture and art. The backroads of Arizona and scenic highways are a great way to get off the main roads, explore scenic mountain towns or ghost towns and find hidden treasures.

Santa Fe

New Mexico is famous for the Carlsbad Caverns, Petroglyph National Park, White Sands National Monument, Santa Fe and Taos with numerous historic squares, and art galleries, including the Georgia O’Keefe Museum. Let’s not forget Roswell, for those who want an “out of this world” experience.

Saguaro National Park

Nevada has its own persona but is so much more than just Las Vegas. Fly into Vegas and head out to Henderson, Hoover Dam, or fly into Reno and head to Lake Tahoe with great water activities and trails with crisp fresh air and open spaces. Check out Carson City for a historic perspective and visit the state museum, railroad museum, or Capitol Building.

Utah is all about wide open spaces and national parks – Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce, Zion, and Capitol Reef. Visitors here are always amazed by the views and range of activities. Trail rides at Bryce and Zion offer unique perspectives of the park. And Arches’ dark sky designation makes stargazing a must-do.

If you are the adventurous type and want to cover as much territory as possible, this itinerary can be helpful as a starting point for planning.

Fly into Albuquerque and head directly to Petroglyph National Park. Then drive northeast to Santa Fe (2 nights) to explore the downtown area and nearby Taos.

From here, it’s a 5-hour drive south to Carlsbad Caverns National Park (1 night). And oh-so-worth it.

The next day, listen to the Frida soundtrack as you drive 7 hours west to Tucson (2 nights). Here, you’ll want to dine on authentic Sonoran-style Mexican food, see Saguaro National Park and the Santa Catalina mountains, or chill out in a wellness resort.

From Tucson, it’s a quick 2-hour drive to Scottsdale (2 nights), where you’ll find shopping, golf, the Carefree Desert Gardens, Cave Creek Park, and Fountain Hills Botanical Garden.

From Scottsdale, wind your way north to Sedona (1 night) to ogle the uptown galleries, red-rock buttes, and Chapel of the Holy Cross, a world pilgrimage site. If you’ve got time, hike through Oak Creek Canyon. Otherwise, head north to Flagstaff and South Rim (2 nights).

Chapel of the Holy Cross

At South Rim, drink in the majesty of the Grand Canyon. While the visitor center may still be closed, the overlook trail is open for self-drive, and the hiking trails are good fun. Lodges and dining are available locally.

On your way out of the park, stop in Williams for a walk or drive through the 160-acre Bearizona Wildlife Refuge.

Then, switch to the Fear & Loathing soundtrack for the 4-hour drive to Las Vegas (2 nights). Spend the whole time on the Strip or head out to Henderson and explore more off-the-beaten-path activities before your flight home.

Not to be Missed

Add a Haunted Twist to your Trip. There are numerous Ghost Towns in Arizona. Now there are Ghost Towns and then there are “Ghost” Towns! By definition, a ghost town is an abandoned town that usually contains substantial visible remaining buildings and infrastructure. Some ghost towns, especially those with preserved period-specific architecture, have become fun attractions.

Some of Arizona’s best-known Ghost Towns:

• Vulture City

• Jerome

• Two Guns

• Fairbanks

• Swansea

• Tombstone

• Perkinsville

• Goldfield Ghost Town

Then there are real “Ghost” Stories, with a several kitschy Haunted Hotels in Bisbee, Prescott, Oatman, Jerome, Flagstaff, Globe, Douglas and Dragoon. These hotels offer a great experience with a unique twist if you stay in the right (or wrong) room!

Enjoy Sonoran-style Mexican food. In both New Mexico and Arizona visitors can experience true Sonoran Mexican cuisine. Arizona has a version of Sonoran food not found anywhere else, and not to be confused with Baja, Tex-Mex, or New Mexican. This Sonoran region uses both wheat, as well as corn, so there is a difference and variety to the food not found elsewhere.

Traditional Art and Culture. Arizona is home to the Navajo and Hopi, but there are actually 21 federally recognized tribes across the state. These include the Yavapai, Tohono-Odom, Apache, Cocopah, and many others. Each tribe has their own unique way of creating pottery, basketry or rug making, among other art forms. A number of fantastic museums showcase this type of art and culture, including the Heard Museum and the Amerind Foundation.