Travel guide to the US Southwest
Characterized by wide-open spaces, the Southwest stretches across most of the highlands of New Mexico and Arizona’s deserts.
Landscapes and heritage of the Southwest
Arizona and New Mexico are best known for their surreal landscapes and Native American heritage. Everything, from the flat-topped mesas to the adobe buildings in large towns such as Santa Fe, seems to be toasted by sunlight and history. These are favorite states for road trips, especially as New Mexico retains a good section of the legendary Route 66. The most breathtaking sight within all these sun-baked vistas? The Grand Canyon, which is a truly awesome sight.
Get a car
Don’t even consider traveling in this region without a car. While you can fly into the major cities, the distances between sights, neighborhoods, and towns are more than shoe leather or local buses can cover. Be careful with your timing, since summer’s intense heat and high humidity can make even hardy travelers wilt. Come prepared with some of the determined spirit of the pioneers who settled here.
Places to visit in the Southwest
Santa Fe
The oldest capital city in the US. Read more about Santa Fe...
The Grand Canyon
See it and you still might not believe its grandeur. Read more about the Grand Canyon...
Phoenix
With more than 320 days of sun each year and a setting ringed by mountains, Phoenix now attracts visitors year-round. Read more about Phoenix...
Sedona
Dramatic red-rock formations surround this New Age community. Read more about Sedona...
Tucson
Known locally as the Old Pueblo, Tucson was founded by the Spanish in 1775. Read more about Tucson...
Monument Valley
tel: 435-727-5874
www.navajonationparks.org/htm/monumentvalley
Over by the Utah/Arizona border, this iconic landscape of red sandstone is the crown jewel of the Navajo tribal park system. You’ve surely seen it in old Western movies or Thelma and Louise, its craggy buttes rising suddenly from the valley floor.
Monument Valley Park is best explored from the scenic driving route, 17 miles (27km) long and unpaved. Be sure to prepare with plenty of gas, water, and snacks. At sunrise, rock formations such as the Owl, Mittens, and Totem Pole glow. John Ford Point, named for the film director, is the most famous view.
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