With natural wonders aplenty and breathtaking vistas, the Southwest is a favorite among many outdoors lovers. From the attractions of Route 66 to the barren desert, this region beckons the adventurer. The heat was easy to forget as we took in the beautiful earth that has been around so much longer than we have. And adding that to the excitement of casinos and museums and we were in 7th heaven!
Boasting a huge number of National Parks and Monuments, this leg of our trip was provided thousands of photo opportunities for our members. The peaks of the Rockys, depths of Grand Canyon, we made sure to bring along a great pair of hiking boots! And for those that aren't as in to getting close and personal with mother nature, the magnificent hotels and spas in this area are sure to please!
Colorado
American's are living high in
The Centennial State; from the mile-high city of
Denver to
Rocky Mountain National Park, the air was fresh (and thin) and provided unobstructed views of the beautiful peaks. Just as lovely in the summer and the winter,
Aspen is a outdoor playground that let us take full advantage of the mountains.
Photo by Shaken_Bake Photo by Jehcekah
New Mexico
The Land of Enchantment. There isn't much to say about New Mexico that its nickname doesn't already state. From the stark white earth at
Tent Rocks, to the colorful festivities of the
Albuquerque International Hot Air Balloon Festival, the desert scenery and small-town charm let us escape to our own Eden.
Photo by BawBaw Photo by bocochiro
Arizona
The red earth opened beneath our feet to see one of the most well-known natural attractions in the world at
The Grand Canyon State. The
famed canyon let us awe the wonders of geology, as did the crimson desert scenery of
Sedona. After a quick pit stop in
Phoenix, we (reluctantly) trucked north to see more natural amazement.
Photo by Red Mezz Photo by MilwVon
Utah
We were busy as bees in
The Beehive State as we tried to track down not only its five National Parks (the third most in the US) but cultural gems like
Salt Lake City as well. We followed the tourist path to see the wonderful arches of
Bryce Canyon, and the unbeaten path to see the Coyote Butte Wave in
Zion- only a few permits are handed out to visitors per day!
Photo by LorenGul Photo by ArnyZona
Nevada
We traded in natural gems for real gems as we hit it big in the casinos.
The Silver State shone down with the neon and chrome of the fabulous
Las Vegas and the
infamous strip. After we cashed in our chips we snaked out of the city and into the desert to see the modern marvel that is the
Hoover Dam.
Photo by sightseeingsue Photo by hexagons
Previously on Road Trip:
The Great Plains
Next Up on Road Trip: The Pacific Coast
Posted by jhartmann13 (JJ Hartmann)