Great Vacation Ideas for Visiting the Southwestern United States

The Southwestern United States is one of the country’s most sparsely populated areas, although it also contains many of America’s most dramatic natural wonders, historic sites and scenic national parks. The Southwest is generally considered to be New Mexico and Arizona, along with the southern portions of Utah and Colorado.

One of the best ways to see the Southwest is by driving – although distances are considerable and facilities can be scarce. If you are flying and renting a car, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Albuquerque are all convenient arrival points. One option to avoid backtracking is to pick up and drop the car off in different cities – driving from Las Vegas to Albuquerque, for example, will allow you to see many of the region’s attractions.

Another way to see some of the Southwest by driving is to follow what is left of what was the famous Route 66. Even though the road no longer officially exists, parts of it can still be driven and are clearly marked. The route takes you through small towns and past motels and diners that have not changed much since the 40s and 50s; and in Holbrook, Arizona you can sleep in a wigwam motel.

One of the best road trips in the country is the Grand Circle, which takes in some of the most spectacular scenery in the entire area, including the Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef. It is a 1,200 mile circular trip and you really need a week to see everything. Route 12 in particular, is considered one of the country’s most scenic roads. There are plenty of places to stay along the route, and you can easily start and finish in Las Vegas. 

Nothing can compare you for the majesty of the Grand Canyon; and if you are visiting this area, you should plan to see it. In fact you could plan your entire vacation around visiting the canyon – in addition to the canyon itself, there is a railroad, several museums and exhibitions and the chance to see the canyon by hiking, driving or flying over it. The really adventurous can hike into the canyon or ride on a mule.

Almost as dramatic as the Grand Canyon are several other natural attractions, including the Petrified Forest, Natural Bridge and Rainbow Bridge. You will recognize Monument Valley even if you have never been there before – the huge buttes and mesas are familiar from countless western movies. In fact, one popular lookout point is named John Ford’s Point, after the film director.

You could spend your entire vacation in and around Santa Fe, often described as one of America’s most beautiful cities. Santa Fe boasts distinctive adobe style architecture, several fascinating museums and the so-called miraculous staircase in the Loretto Chapel. The city also offers stylish shopping and it has become a major center for buying and selling fine art. Santa Fe makes a good base for visiting nearby attractions such as Pecos National Park and Bandolier National Monument.

Much of the Southwest is dry desert, but two large lakes break up the landscape – Lake Mead and Lake Powell. The larger of the two lakes, Lake Powell, has almost 2,000 miles of shoreline and is surrounded by dramatic desert scenery. A popular way to experience the lake is to rent a houseboat; the area also offers excellent hiking, fishing, camping and mountain-biking.

You could spend your entire vacation exploring ancient Indian ruins, as this region is particularly rich in them. The most famous is Mesa Verde, located not far from Durango, Colorado. The site features over 4,000 archaeological sites and 600 cliff dwellings, once inhabited by the Pueblo people over 1,000 years ago. Mesa Verde also has a museum of archaeology and the surrounding area offers some great hiking.

By far the largest city in the region is Phoenix, affectionately known as the Valley of the Sun. Phoenix has become one of the most popular winter destinations in the country; the city offers great shopping and nightlife and well over 100 golf courses. But Phoenix is also within easy reach of stunning desert scenery, ancient ruins and ghost towns, and just an hour’s drive to the east is the picturesque Apache Trail.

Phoenix also offers a variety of luxurious accommodation – in fact, the city now has the greatest concentration of resorts in the continental United States. A couple of the most stylish resorts anywhere can be found here – the Arizona Biltmore, with its design based on Frank Lloyd Wright’s visions; and the Boulders, which was one of the first luxury golf resorts in the area.

Regardless of how you spend your vacation time in America’s Southwest, you won’t be able to see everything in one visit – which is a good excuse to come back!

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