What is "must-see" in the southwestern US?

[greenbunny]

DH and I are planning to drive out west this summer. We want to concentrate on the southwest. What do you consider an absolute must-see in New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, etc? The Grand Canyon is a definite, but that's all we have so far. I'm looking for natural scenery versus tourism or nightlife. Thank you!

[Sophia]

The only other thing I can think of is the Hoover Dam.

[emmjay]

I would consider the following "must-sees"

Sedona, AZ
North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It's not as crowded as the South Rim, esp. in the summer - my sister and I went in August and there was hardly anyone at the North Rim. And you can take a mule ride down the Canyon.
Santa Fe, NM

Other stuff if you are in the area:
Roswell, NM if you want to laugh your arse off at all of the UFO "museums"
Carlsbad Caverns

[Rosebud]

I second the recommendation of Carlsbad Caverns. That place is really cool and interesting.

If you make it to Utah at all, I definitely suggest spending some time in Bryce Canyon. Absolutely gorgeous!

Sedona and the surrounding area is definitely a must-see.

[jo&sean]

Sedona is awesome. If you want natural, scenic beauty you would love Sedona. You can easily hike to all the famous rocks like Bell Rock & Cathedral Rock or take jeep tours of the back country. One of our favorite places in Sedona is Slide Rock.

If you do plan to go into Phoenix and do some "city" stuff, you might enjoy the Heard Museum, the Phoenix Zoo, the Frank Lloyd Wrights Taliesin West tour or the Phoenix Botanical Garden. All four are great things to see.

[mrs_pell]

If you're willing to include West Texas in that list, I have heard that Big Bend Nat'l Park is incredible and a "must see." I haven't been there myself, be we plan on going either this year or next.

Visit Big Bend (http://www.visitbigbend.com/)

[emmjay]

And, if you end up going to southern CO, the Mesa Verde NP cliff dwellings (http://www.nps.gov/meve/) as well as the Sand Dunes NP (http://www.nps.gov/grsa/) would be must-sees there as well. Mesa Verde is about a 5 hour drive from Santa Fe.

[SweetRed]

Just had to second two of my favorites (and glad to see them mentioned!) Carlsbad Caverns and Mesa Verde. Although the last time I was in Mesa Verde was before the big forest fires, I'm sure it's still as beautiful.

[sublime311]

While spending time in Flagstaff/Sedona/Grand Canyon make sure you take the Oak Creek Canyon (http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/red_rock/oak-creek-scenic.shtml)drive (between Flag and Sedona). It is a incredibly spiritual place. If I had to choose between visiting the Grand Canyon or Oak Creek Canyon, I would definitely choose OCC.

You said you didn't want to do touristy stuff, but I highly recommend a Pink Jeep Tour (http://www.pinkjeep.com/) while in Sedona. They take you to places you wouldn't go on your own and you learn loads! Also, while in Sedona, make sure you visit the Tlaquepaque (http://www.tlaq.com/) arts and crafts village.

In the same general area is Tuzigoot National Monument (http://www.nps.gov/tuzi/). It's amazing! Lots of history. Nearby, there are some cool trails to hike at Dead Horse Ranch State Park (http://www.pr.state.az.us/Parks/parkhtml/deadhorse.html)

Kartchner Caverns (http://www.pr.state.az.us/Parks/parkhtml/kartchner.html) in Sierra Vista, AZ is spectacular, also. I've been to both Kartchner and Karlsbad Caverns and was most wowed by Kartchner.

Bisbee, AZ (http://bisbeearizona.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=7&Itemid=49) is an old mining town that has sort of had an artsy renaissance.

Though I'm a long-time resident of Tucson, I NEVER get tired of visiting the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (http://www.desertmuseum.org/). This is my favorite.

Mt. Lemmon (http://www.rozylowicz.com/retirement/lemmon-sabino/lemmon.html) senic drive and Sabino Canyon (http://www.sabinocanyon.com/). My first "official" date with DH was a drive up Mt. Lemmon - we commemorate this anniversary with an annual drive up the mountain for lunch at the Iron Door Cafe (in Sky Valley) and a slice of the world famous pie at the Mt. Lemmon Cafe. We just went this weekend! It was beautiful as always!

[HeatherFL]

I agree with Sedona. It's beautiful! And the Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings in CO too!

This is sort of the same as the Grand Canyon, but don't miss the The Painted Desert/Petrified Forest (http://www.arizona-leisure.com/painted-desert.html)! The colors are amazing!

[trestlegirl]

If you're in Tucson, the aforementioned Desert Museum is THE BEST!!! You MUST go!!

Other cool places in Arizona:
Chiricaua National Monument (http://www.nps.gov/chir/) - great hiking through super crazy cool rock formations

Canyon de Chelley National Monument (http://www.nps.gov/cach/) - this park is on Navajo tribal land. There are some Anasazi ruins that you can visit, and the area in general is just beautiful. It's similar to Mesa Verde but not as touristy as access to the park is somewhat limited.

[WestieMomma]

Other stuff if you are in the area:
Roswell, NM if you want to laugh your arse off at all of the UFO "museums"
Carlsbad Caverns

I agree with this..the UFO museum is really entertaining!!! I went to college in west TX and we drove through Roswell one time on our way to go skiing and we had to stop! You can also go to the "grave" of Smokey the Bear in Ruisoso, NM-exciting stuff!!! ;)

[greenbunny]

Thanks guys, I'm taking lots of notes! Keep it coming! :D

[AHammer]

If you're willing to include West Texas in that list, I have heard that Big Bend Nat'l Park is incredible and a "must see." I haven't been there myself, be we plan on going either this year or next.

Visit Big Bend (http://www.visitbigbend.com/)

Big Bend is indeed beautiful. DH and I spent 2 days there in december '04, and we're going back december '07. Of course, I've never been to NM, AZ, etc, so I don't know how it compares.

[MLA]

I agree that Santa Fe is a must. I absolutely love that town!

Oh, and be sure to eat lots of green chile and sopaipillas while you're in New Mexico. The mexican food there is different than anywhere else, and oh-so-tastey!

[BumbleB]

I think you need 2 trips to really "see" the scenery of the southwest. I have personally been to Sedona and other areas of Arizona, and have done the Canyonlands trip.

One of the best vacations I've been on was a loop through Utah's Canyonlands, the Grand Canyon, Four Corners, and Mesa Verde in Colorado - if you want scenery that whole area is PHENOMENAL. Utah has some real treasures.


Someday I'll get back down to Arizona and hopefully make it to New Mexico and Texas, there are some cities down there I'm dying to visit! And I really want to do the Canyonlands loop again - this time with my DH. :D

[greenbunny]

I think you need 2 trips to really "see" the scenery of the southwest.

We are actually lucky enough to be going for a month, so if anyone has any ideas as to the most effective route to take to see all these wonderful places, I'd be more than grateful. :)

[sublime311]

How could I forget the San Xavier del bac Mission (http://www.sanxaviermission.org/History.html)! The inside was recently restored to it's original magnificence.

[BumbleB]

Oh- you are lucky. You should be able to see and do a lot in a month.

We did our Utah, Grand Canyon loop in about a week, but if it had been a month long trip I would think you could see a lot more in both Arizona and New Mexico. :)

We went through Bryce Canyon, Zion and Arches National Parks and over to Moab while we were in Utah. If you want scenery and not much else, this part of Utah is perfect for you - there's not a lot else out there from what we could tell. ;)

The Grand Canyon truly is amazing - but you have to sit there and soak it in, I think a lot of people miss how great it is - you see so many people pull-up get out of their cars or RV's and then get right back in. :rolleyes: Hike it, Sit and watch a sunset, really experience it. Plus, why drive all that way and not see it?

[Ohana]

My favorites are Mesa Verde and Monument Valley.

[wendalah]

These are all great suggestions and you are going to LOVE the Southwest. There is a reason that artists, hippies and spiritual freaks all flock to it :). It's just visually stunning and it has an almost palpable psychic vibe--I don't know how else to put it. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time in Santa Fe and Sedona, particularly. Are you going to venture into California? I would add Death Valley and Joshua Tree to that list, then.

[jenji]

DH and I just went out west this June. I had been before, but he'd never been. we took a week driving and Our absolute favorites were:
Zion and Bryce Canyon in South Western Utah and Arches in E. Utah
Mesa Verde in southwestern Colorado
4-corners just for the novelty factor
obviously, the Grand Canyon (and Sunset Crater, Painted Desert/Petrified Forest, Meteor Crater are also close and neat to see) in Arizona. I also hear wonderful things about Sedona, but we didn't make it there

My favorite from a previous trip was Carlsbad Caverns, hands down. definitely go there if you have time.

If we had it to do over again, we would have fllown into Vegas, driven up to St. George Utah (it's a pretty drive up through the basin). Go to Zion, Bryce & Capitol Reef, then Arches and Canyonlands. Down to Mesa Verde and back to 4 corners, then down to see more sites in NM like Carlsbad Caverns. Back into AZ and go through the petrified Forest, Painted Desert, get off the interstate in Winslow and drive around, just because there are some neat things from Rt. 66. go to Meteor Crater on the way to Flagstaff. From Flagstaff go up via Sunset Crater to the Grand Canyon, coming in on the East Side. from the GC go over the Hoover Dam back into Vegas.

[Katy]

Oh, and be sure to eat lots of green chile and sopaipillas while you're in New Mexico. The mexican food there is different than anywhere else, and oh-so-tastey!oh man do I miss the green chile and sopapillas!!!

If you're heading out to New Mexico, I suggest the following...

* the Very Large Array (http://www.vla.nrao.edu/) - the satellites set up to look for alien life (used in that Jody Foster movie, Contact. Very cool, but out in the middle of no where. If you're out that way, check out TorC (http://www.truthorconsequencesnm.net/)for the day - great hot springs and kitchy, arty town.

* I highly, highly recommend Acoma Pueblo (http://www.newmexico.org/place/loc/cities/page/DB-place/place/159.html) - one of the last standing pueblos to survive the Spanish mission era, as well as the oldest, still inhabited pueblos with descendants to the infamous Anasazi (though Taos says they're the oldest). Truly fascinating and awesome, awesome views of the land. Be sure to take the shuttle up, but walk down - cool, cool handmade stairs.

* Speaking of Taos Pueblo (http://www.taospueblo.com/), check out Taos (http://taoswebb.com/) if you can. It's absolutely beautiful up there. And there's rumors of the "hum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taos_Hum)" and the spiritual energy. Way cooler than Santa Fe if you ask me.

* For a fun, all day, absolutely beautiful drive starting in Albuquerque, take 550 to Hwy 4 through Jemez Springs (http://www.jemezsprings.org/) (not much of a pueblo to visit) and the Jemez Pueblo (http://www.jemezpueblo.org/) (I recommend a stop in the Bath House (http://www.jemezspringsbathhouse.com/) for a soak or spa time - yes, I see my own pattern, but the state is LOADED with mineral springs - and take the time to eat at the Laughing Lizard (http://www.thelaughinglizard.com/)...SO GOOD!

Continue on through to Los Alamos (not much to see there either - outside of the old gate from the bomb making days) and then onto Bandelier National Monument (http://www.nps.gov/band/) and the cliff dwellings. Hands down the absolute coolest thing I've ever done in my 10 years in NM! And again, awesome scenery.

* if you want to spend some cool spa or hot spring time, I suggest you check out Ojo Caliente (http://ojocalientesprings.com/) or Ten Thousand Waves (http://www.tenthousandwaves.com/) (a splurge, but SO worth it!). Ojo Caliente is just an awesome experience with multiple outdoor pools all with different mineral concentrations (arsenic is my personal fave).

I guess that's it for now. If you want any specifics about Santa Fe or Albuquerque, just drop me a note. Overall, just make sure you bring plenty of film or memory space (or at least have a way to download) as the scenery will drive you crazy with it's beauty. I promise!

[wendalah]

Oh--you can make a pit stop in L.A., can'tcha? Come by and say hi. :p