Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
75
by the
Bright Angel Transportation Desk,
in Grand Canyon Village. Spaces sometimes
open up at the last minute.
It's also possible to do overnight horseback rides in various locations around the state.
For information on day or overnight rides into the Superstition Mountains east of Phoe-
nix, contact
Don Donnelly Horseback Adventures
(
&
602/810-7029;
www.don
donnelly.com).
Want to kick it up a notch? At the
Arizona Cowboy College,
in Scottsdale
(
&
888/330-8070
or 480/471-3151; www.cowboycollege.com), you can literally learn
the ropes and the brands and how to say “Git along little doggie” like you really mean it.
This is no city slicker's staged roundup; this is the real thing. You actually learn how to
be a real cowboy. Six-day programs cost $2,250.
What's unique about much of New Mexico's horseback riding is its variety. You'll find
a broad range of riding terrain, from open plains to high mountain wilderness. In the
Santa Fe area, you can ride across the plains of the spectacular Galisteo basin with
Santa
Fe Detours,
54
1
/
2
E. San Francisco St. (
&
800/338-6877
or 505/983-6565; www.
sfdetours.com). In Taos, you can explore secluded Taos Pueblo land with the
Taos Indian
Horse Ranch,
on Pueblo land off Ski Valley Road, just before Arroyo Seco (
&
800/659-
3210
or 575/758-3212; www.taosindianhorseranch.com). In the southeast, try
Inn of
the Mountain Gods,
Carrizo Canyon Road (
&
800/545-9011
or 575/464-4100; www.
innofthemountaingods.com). If you're looking for a resort horseback riding experience,
contact
Bishop's Lodge,
in Santa Fe (
&
800/732-2240
or 505/983-6377; www.bishops
lodge.com). If you want an authentic cowpoke experience, check out the
Double E
Guest Ranch
(
&
866/242-3500
or 575/535-2048; www.doubleeranch.com), in the
Silver City area.
Utah's most notable place to ride is Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.
Sacred
Monument Tours
(
&
435/727-3218;
www.monumentvalley.net) offers horseback trips
ranging from 1 to 8 hours. See chapter 6.
5
7
HOT
AIR BALLOONING
Renowned for hot-air ballooning, the Southwest boasts the annual
Albuquerque Inter-
national Balloon Fiesta,
in early October (see the “Calendar of Events,” in chapter 3),
which draws thousands of people from all over the world. It is possible to charter hot-air
balloon rides in many parts of the region, particularly Taos and Albuquerque (see chap-
ters 8 and 9), in New Mexico, and Tucson and Phoenix, in Arizona (see chapters 12 and
13). One of the best spots for scenic floating is Sedona (see chapter 15). Most companies
offer a variety of packages, from the standard flight to a more elaborate all-day affair that
includes meals. For more information, see the individual chapters.
8
HOUSEBOATING
With the Colorado River turned into a long string of lakes, Arizona's “West Coast” provides
excellent houseboat vacations. Although this doesn't have to be an active vacation, fishing,
hiking, and swimming are usually part of a houseboat stay. Rentals are available on Lake
Mead, Lake Mohave, and Lake Havasu (see chapter 15). The canyonlands scenery of Lake
