Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
48
to ancient ruins, zesty cuisine, and unique
cultures.
To locate accommodations, restaurants,
and attractions that are particularly kid-
friendly, look for the “Kids” icon through-
out this guide.
more information, see the “Travelers with
Disabilities” section, above, and visit www.
frommers.com/planning.
TRAVELING WITH PETS
The Southwest is increasingly accepting of
animals as travel companions. Many of the
major chain hotels, such as Motel 6 and
most Best Westerns, allow pets in the
rooms. Your biggest concern when travel-
ing with a pet in the region is the heat. In
fact, during the warm months, it's best to
leave your pet at home. Though some
attractions, such as Carlsbad Caverns and
the Grand Canyon, have kennels available,
most do not.
That said, during the cooler seasons,
few places are more fun to bring a pet than
the Southwest. Hiking abounds in the
region, as does space to throw a stick. In
accommodations listings throughout the
book, look for the note that states whether
the establishment allows pets and if it
charges a fee. Some websites worth check-
ing out include www.petswelcome.com,
www.pettravel.com, and www.travelpets.
com.
SENIOR TRAVEL
Senior travelers tend to enjoy the South-
west's mild climate. However, they are
often more susceptible to changes in eleva-
tion and may experience heart or respira-
tory problems. Consult your physician
before your trip.
The U.S. National Park Service offers
an America the Beautiful—National
Park and Federal Recreational Lands
Pass—Senior Pass (formerly the Golden
Age Passport ), which gives seniors 62
years or older lifetime entrance to all prop-
erties administered by the National Park
Service for a one-time processing fee of
$10. Besides free entry, the American the
Beautiful Senior Pass also offers a 50%
discount on some federal-use fees charged
for such facilities as camping, swimming,
parking, boat launching, and tours. For
3
8 SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
It's hard to be green in the desert. The
desert simply is not a place to build very
sustainable major cities. High tempera-
tures and lack of water long impeded the
development of arid landscapes. However,
with the use of giant dams, wells, and
canals that can transport huge amounts of
water hundreds of miles across the desert,
cities such as Phoenix, Tucson, Albuquer-
que, and Las Vegas have been able to grow
into the sprawling metropolises of today.
Unfortunately, in places where it often
tops 120°F (49°C) in the summer, massive
amounts of energy must be used to keep
cool.
For decades, resort hotels in the region
have been criticized for their profligate
water usage, and such criticism has yet to
eliminate the vast acres of lawns that sur-
round some of the resorts. Arizona and Las
Vegas are well known for their many golf
courses, but those courses use up an inor-
dinate amount of water. The region's dude
ranches make great family destinations,
but cattle ranching can be very damaging
to the desert environment.
There are, however, some things you
can do to make your Southwest vacation a
little bit greener. Stay at a resort that uses
native desert landscaping rather than one
surrounded by vast lawns. Play golf on a
water-conserving “desert-style” course;
while these courses can be very challeng-
ing, they preserve the natural desert envi-
ronment and save water. Some courses
have even been certified by the Audubon
 
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