Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1
The Best of the
Southwest
Planning a trip to a region as large and diverse as the American South-
west involves a lot of decision making, so in this chapter we've tried to give you some
direction. We've chosen what we feel is the very best the region has to offer—the places
and experiences you won't want to miss. Although the sights and activities listed here are
written up in more detail elsewhere in this topic, this chapter gives you an overview of
the highlights and gets you started.
1 THE BEST OF THE NATURAL SOUTHWEST
Monument Valley Buttes at Sunset
(UT and AZ): These stark sentinels of
the desert are impressive at any time,
but they take on a particularly dignified
aura when the setting sun casts its deep
colors over them, etching their profiles
against a darkening sky. Although the
park generally closes before sunset, you
can arrange a sunset tour—it's well
worth the cost. See p. 115.
Rio Grande Gorge (NM): A hike into
this dramatic gorge is unforgettable.
You'll first see it as you come over a rise
heading toward Taos. It's a colossal slice
in the earth, formed during the late
Cretaceous period (130 million years
ago) and the early Tertiary period (about
70 million years ago). Drive about 35
miles north of Taos, near the village of
Cerro, to the Wild Rivers Recreation
Area. From the lip of the canyon, you
descend through land inhabited by
Indians since 16,000 b.c. If you're visit-
ing during spring or early summer and
like an adrenaline rush, be sure to find
a professional guide and raft the Taos
Box, a 17-mile stretch of Class IV white
water. See “Other Outdoor Activities,”
in chapter 8.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
(NM): One of the world's largest and
most complex cave systems is in south-
eastern New Mexico. The 80 known
caves have spectacular stalagmite and
stalactite formations. Explore the Big
Room on a 1-mile self-guided tour,
then catch the massive bat flight from
the cave entrance at sunset. See p. 319.
White Sands National Monument
(NM): Located 15 miles southwest of
Alamogordo, White Sands National
Monument preserves the best part of
the world's largest gypsum dune field.
For a truly unforgettable experience,
camp overnight so that you can watch
the sun rise on the smooth, endless
dunes. See p. 304.
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (AZ):
The name is misleading—this is more
zoo and botanical garden than museum.
Naturalistic settings house dozens of spe-
cies of desert animals, including a num-
ber of critters you wouldn't want to meet
in the wild (rattlesnakes, tarantulas, scor-
pions, black widows, and Gila mon-
sters). See p. 374.
Saguaro National Park (AZ): Lying
both east and west of Tucson, this park
 
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