The best of America’s Southwest greets you with vibrant color, people and culture. Not to mention the jaw-dropping natural wonders of the Grand Canyon and significant historical landmarks.
We kick off our journey in Sedona, AZ, a desert oasis bordered by forests, buttes and canyon walls. Lots to do and see during our first four days here, including a trolley tour of the famous Red Rocks formation. This colorful sedimentary strata features some of the most photographed landscapes in Arizona, including Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, and Holy Cross. At Montezuma Castle National Monument, step back to 1,100 AD to explore the well-preserved dwellings built by the Sinagua people, a pre-Columbian society. Back in civilization, we’ll shop at Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village, distinctively fashioned after a traditional Mexican village.
Whew! Ready for a break? Chill out tasting local wines at Alcantra Estate Vineyards. If you’re in to spiritual healing centers, take an optional tour of the Sedona Vortexes.
Here we are at Day 5 & 6, ready to explore the spell-binding Grand Canyon via Williams, AZ. All aboard the Grand Canyon Railway through one of the seven wonders of the world. With restored cars, live entertainment and a backdrop of beauty, it will very possibly be the ride of a lifetime!
Along the way to Gallup, NM, on Day 7, we stop at Meteor Crater, the world’s best preserved meteorite impact site on Earth that occurred 50,000 years ago. The Visitor Center sits at the edge of the one-mile wide formation, offering a widescreen theater, indoor viewing area, trail access, exhibits, gift store and restaurant.
Before we get to Gallup for Days 8 & 9, we also explore the Petrified Forest, which tells the geological and human story that spans thousands of years. Gallup is a historical gem itself with a strong heritage of Native American culture. All those Southwestern treasures like turquoise belts and woven blankets? They’re here to buy if you want some souvenirs.
Days 10 & 11 find us at Chinle, AZ, the Navajo word for “flowing out.” We’ll get more of the Grand Canyon (and shopping) here.
We pass through Monument Valley, UT, on Days 12 & 13. At first glance, some of these iconic sandstone formations might look familiar. Most likely you’ve seen them in multiple Western movies, including well-known films by director John Ford.
On our way to Chama, NM, on Day 14, we’ll walk in the footsteps of the ancestral Pueblo people at the Aztec Ruins National Monument. We’ll roam through 900-year-old masonry rooms, looking for the ancient fingerprints of workers in the mortar.
The highlight on Days 15 through 16 is the ride on the Cumbres & Toltec Narrow Gauge Railroad. Now is the time to throw away your harried schedule. You have no choice since this National Historic Landmark only travels at 12 mph. But that’s the beauty of it! Traveling through wilderness areas (you won’t see any cars here), the route encompasses mountain canyons and wildlife habitat as it winds its way through scenery seldom seen any other way.
Explore the land and art that Georgia O’Keeffe loved during our time at Ghost Ranch near Abiquiu, NM, during Days 17 & 18. This retreat and education center also features a collection of fossils, most notably from the theropod dinosaur Coelophysis, well preserved in a quarry at Ghost Ranch.
The art and historical experiences continue in Taos, NM, on Days 19 through 21. Here, you’ll find a convergence of galleries and Pueblo culture in this thriving high-desert community, sometimes referred to as New Mexico’s Soul of the Southwest. Meandering through the shops, you’ll find everything from paintings to chile ristras, from sculptures to handmade jewelry. One of the most important days at Taos Pueblo is San Geronimo Feast Day, and we’ll be there to celebrate a unique blend of Catholic and native religious activities.
Santa Fe, NM, is our last stop and one you’re not likely to forget. For three days we’ll take in the highlights of this legendary city and its historical venues. The capital of New Mexico, Santa Fe boasts over 400 years of tradition from the time Spaniards declared it a colony. The community is filled with adobe architecture, interesting landmarks and pockets of art venues. We’ll visit several city highlights, while still giving you time to explore on your own.
It’s time to say adios to our traveling amigos and amigas during our farewell breakfast on Day 24. The mountains, the deserts, the cultures, will all leave lasting impressions of our incredible time in the Sensational American Southwest.