Suggested Southwest Itineraries - American Southwest - page 53

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artwork date back over 400 years. Relics of
the Old West are also prevalent, in moun-
tain towns such as Chama and on the
open plains of the northeast.
SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO A land of
wide-open spaces, this region is rich with
natural wonders and Wild West and
Native American history. To the east, the
United States' first designated wilderness,
the Gila, was once home to the Mogollon
Indians; the Gila Cliff Dwellings National
Monument preserves their past. The once-
booming mining town of Silver City is at
the heart of the region. Las Cruces, New
Mexico's second-largest city, sits at the foot
of the Organ Mountains, and not far east
of there stand the blazing dunes of White
Sands National Monument. At Carlsbad
Caverns National Park, one of the nation's
most elaborate cave systems offers the
opportunity for underground exploration.
TUCSON, PHOENIX, SCOTTSDALE &
THE VALLEY OF THE SUN These cit-
ies, which form a backbone across Ari-
zona, offer desert beauty and sophisticated
lifestyles. Tucson is in the lushest part of
the Sonoran Desert and has all the high-
lights of a major city—excellent arts and
culture, and plenty more. Encircled by
mountain ranges, this desert oasis offers
world-class golf resorts; historical treasures
with Native American, Hispanic, and
Anglo roots; and some of the Southwest's
best hiking in Saguaro National Park.
North of Tucson, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and
the Valley of the Sun sprawl across the
Sonoran Desert. Twenty cities and com-
munities nestle among several mountain
ranges. Resorts and golf courses abound
here, as do retirement communities. But
the sprawl has a positive note: The area
boasts world-class shopping; museums;
culture, such as opera, dance, and theater;
and professional sports.
SOUTHERN & EASTERN ARIZONA
Southern Arizona is a region of great con-
trasts, from desert lowlands to “sky

islands,” volcanic mountain ranges that
seem to rise up from nowhere. The desert
climate here attracts many retirees, and
also many rare birds, which travel up from
the tropics. To the southwest, along the
U.S.-Mexico border, lies Organ Pipe Cac-
tus National Monument, home to out-
landish desert plant, bird, and animal life
and one of the nation's best-kept secrets.
To the north, what's known as eastern
Arizona is a world apart from these desert
lands. Made up of the Mogollon Rim, an
escarpment that rises some 2,000 feet off
the desert floor, as well as the White
Mountains, this region offers tall forests
and clear streams. It's home to the Sunrise
Park Resort ski area on the White Moun-
tain Apache Indian Reservation.
CENTRAL & WESTERN ARIZONA At
the center of Arizona, desert predomi-
nates. Parts of it are the desolate desert of
Wile E. Coyote, but it has stunning vari-
ety. This region is home to the red-rock
country of Sedona, which hosts a thriving
arts scene and recreational opportunities,
from hiking to hot-air ballooning. In the
higher regions lie the quaint city of Prescott
and the old mining town of Jerome, now
an arts community. Arizona's West Coast
region has miles of waterfront, and Lakes
Mead and Mohave provide the state with
plenty of watersports.
THE GRAND CANYON & NORTHERN
ARIZONA Few sights inspire as many
superlatives as Grand Canyon National
Park, which dominates this region. One of
the world's natural wonders, the Grand
Canyon is not only beautiful but expan-
sive, with numerous canyons stretching
across hundreds of miles. The neighboring
cities of Flagstaff, Williams, and Tusayan
accommodate and feed millions of visitors
each year. North of the Grand Canyon lies
the state's most remote and untracked
region, the Arizona Strip.
LAS VEGAS In high contrast to the
nature-oriented Southwest is this glittery

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