Suggested Southwest Itineraries - American Southwest - page 55

The Southwest in 1 Week

55

1 Sedona
2 Grand Canyon National Park
3 Canyon de Chelly National Monument
4 Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
5 Mesa Verde National Park
6-7 Santa Fe

0 100 mi

15

0 100 km

COLORADO

UTAH

Cortez Cortez

MON. VALLEY
NAVAJO TRIBAL PARK

MESA VERDE
NAT'L PARK 5

4

2

Chinle 3

GRAND CANYON
NATIONAL PARK

CANYON DE CHELLY
NAT'L MON.

6-7

Santa Fe

40

Sedona

1

N E W M E X I C O NEW MEXICO

A R I Z O N A ARIZONA

Phoenix

4

TEXAS

10

MEXICO

(p. 115). Make sure that you get there in
time to catch the sunset. If you arrive early
enough in the day, do a Jeep tour of the
valley. Alternatively, go for a horseback
ride; there is no more scenic spot in the
Southwest to connect with your inner
cowboy or cowgirl. Whether at lunch or
dinner, be sure to try some Navajo fry
bread.
Day 5 : Monument Valley to Mesa
Verde National Park
Today, do a morning Jeep tour (p. 116) of
Monument Valley before heading east to
Mesa Verde. En route, be sure to stop at
Four Corners Monument Navajo Tribal
Park (p. 91), the only place in the country
where four states meet. At Mesa Verde

National Park (p. 88), sign up for a
ranger-led tour so you can see Balcony
House, Cliff Palace, and Long House.
Spend the night in Cortez.
Days 6 & 7 : Santa Fe
After so many days in the desert, you'll
find an oasis in Santa Fe. Spend a little
time wandering the plaza and visiting the
Palace of the Governors (p. 164). If
you're interested in shopping for South-
western jewelry, peruse the offerings under
the Palace of the Governors portal. Next,
head to the St. Francis Cathedral (p. 166)
and, if you have time, the Loretto Chapel
Museum (p. 169), with its “magical” stair-
case. If it's summer, take in a performance