Introducing Southwest
Welcome to iconic America, the luscious backdrop of movie Westerns and the red-rock land of limitless horizons. Time has etched itself on these yawning landscapes, carving white-water canyons, soaring buttes and formations of psychedelic sandstone beyond compare. Chunky rusted jewels of mile-long freight trains rumbling through towns like Flagstaff and Tuscon hark back to a distant era, and insane art houses dot lonely rural routes. From ghost towns to spa towns, mysterious space aliens to Route 66 Americana, so many themes invite exploration that road trips barely seem to scratch the surface, never lasting long enough to experience its breadth.
Advertisement
Ranging from the Grand Canyon National Park to the Mexican border and taking in the states of Nevada, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, the Southwest can seem like one enormous park, alternately inhabited by saguaro cacti, high-elevation evergreens and barren tumbleweed desert. Its human population has the same variety, with Anglo, Native American and Hispanic residents forming a unique tri-cultural mix. There’s plenty of small-town quirk but rarely any big-city smirk – people take it slow and always have time to stop and chat. And of course there’s Las Vegas, the neon-clad desert oasis that never bothers to sleep.
It’s impossible to see it all, despite all frenzied attempts. So pull up a patio chair at sunset, shuck your shoes and savor the film-finale sky.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Tips & articles
-
Romantic retreats in the US
10 April 2012
Romance is a highly personal concept, and no single travel destination will fit everyone’s tastes. For some it’s a luxurious...
-
50 best US presidential sites
1 February 2012
Presidents’ Day: that strategic February Monday holiday in the US that’s situated at arm’s length between George Washington’s birthday (February...
-
Why winter is the best time to visit the US deserts
13 January 2012
Winter and deserts? That’s two big strikes for many travelers: it sounds like the worst of all travel worlds, an unhappy...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
-
RE: 7,000 mile Road Trip Around United States, Need Ideas!
by vinnnn 30 May 2012
Ah... gotcha... hit the Southwest in October... I was mostly thinking that everyone was thinking Montana is October is some kind of terribl…
-
Re: 7,000 mile Road Trip Around United States, Need Ideas!
by FlagStuff 30 May 2012
Reversing the route is a no-brainer, I can't even see why there is a debate about it. Planing a trip like this involves some degee of…
-
RE: Help me plan a 10-14 day driving trip through Southwest US
by geo_nerd 14 May 2012
I'm afraid your request is a little too open ended to tackle. With respect, please search LP and elsewhere for information on the N.…
Hotels & Hostels
Check out all our reviewed and recommended accommodation and book online.
Advertisement
Southwest
-
Southwest Overview
- Places in Southwest
- Getting there & around
- History
- Tips & articles
- Hotels
- Forum
- Show map Close map
Things to do
- All things to do (1,925)
- Activities (473)
- Entertainment (418)
- Restaurants (504)
- Shopping (187)
- Sights (330)
- Tours (13)
Make it happen
Our Top Picks For Southwest
-
1 Grand Canyon
Gaping at the unquestionably Grand Canyon
-
2 Monument Valley
Exploring Utah’s drop-dead scenic Monument Valley
-
3 Las Vegas Strip
Living the high life on the Las Vegas Strip
-
4 White Sands dunes
Climbing and playing on the brilliant White Sands dunes
-
5 Park City
Slicing down the slopes of Park City
Our favourite Southwest Blogs (beta)
-
Shakespeare to Die For
Blog: A Traveler's Library - 23 April 2012
ENGLAND WEEK Destination: England, and in the U.S., Cambridge MA and the Southwest, including Shakespeare, New Mexico.
-
Photo of the Day: Antelope Canyon, Navajo Nation, Arizona
Blog: Trans-Americas Journey - 16 March 2012
Tsé bighánílíní. That’s the Navajo name for Antelope Canyon on the Navajo Indian Reservation outside Page, Arizona. The phrase means ”the place where water runs through rocks” which is appropriate since this photogenic slot canyon was formed by water and continues to flood during seasonal rains. Clear skies and sun greeted us during our visit to this amazing natural formation allowing Eric to capture this dramatic shaft of light. Like what you see?
-
Traveling For Love of the Game: Reasons To Attend Baseball’s Spring Training
Blog: Suzy Guese - 14 March 2012
The sound of a baseball meeting a catcher’s glove signifies everything about spring for me. I get chills to hear it for the first time, especially after a long winter. Shadows are cast over a bullpen plate as a game takes place just steps away. Hordes of fans like myself watch the pitcher-catcher duo practice [...]
