Originally published on Southwest Travel & Life. You won’t find charcoal on the grills of these Arizona restaurants. Here in the Southwest, nature already supplied the perfect fuel: Mesquite. What is Mesquite? Native to the deserts of Arizona and the greater Southwest, mesquite trees have long been part of life here. Their dense hardwood burns […]
Originally published on Southwest Travel & Life. In northeastern Oregon, wide open landscapes stretch toward the horizon. Ranching families have worked this land for generations, while the ancestral homelands of Tribes including the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla have shaped its cultural identity for far longer. It’s also a place filled with remarkable craftsmanship. Expand […]
Originally published on Southwest Travel & Life. If you’re in Utah late July, you might be wondering if it’s still the Fourth of July. Here, the fireworks are still popping, the parades are still rolling, and the rodeos are still selling out. But they’re celebrating another holiday, Pioneer Day, and the state goes big. Every […]
Originally published on Southwest Travel & Life. With its perfect temperatures and dramatic coastlines, Southern California’s summer is best explained in one word: big. Bigger crowds, bigger concert lineups, bigger Ferris wheels and, yes, even bigger servings of fried food. Whether you’re craving live music by the ocean, carnival rides, cultural celebrations or an excuse […]
Originally published on Southwest Travel & Life. Across the Southwest, July is packed with reasons to hit the road, whether you’re chasing shooting stars on an Arizona mountaintop, searching for glowing scorpions after dark in Texas, celebrating centuries-old traditions in New Mexico or joining thousands of fellow fans in San Diego for Comic-Con week. From […]
Originally published on Southwest Travel & Life. If Mars and the Wild West had a baby, it probably would look a lot like Cathedral Gorge State Park. Located in southeastern Nevada, this is 1,800 acres of otherworldly landscape and one of Nevada’s original parks, although the site itself is much older than the state, by […]
Originally published on Southwest Travel & Life. Like much of America, I enjoy a great cup of coffee. But I’ll admit, I’m a bit of a snob. Anytime I walk into a shop with letter boards for a menu, exposed duct work, poured concrete and reclaimed wood, I think, “Oh no, I’m about to get […]
Originally published on Southwest Travel & Life. There’s no denying the magic of Antelope Canyon. Its iconic waves of glowing sandstone walls and famous light beams earned the canyon a spot bucket lists for a reason. But seeing Antelope Canyon requires a lottery permit system, meaning there’s a limit per-day of people who can visit, and also meaning planning takes weeks—even months—ahead. If you’re looking for a more spontaneous […]
Originally published on Southwest Travel & Life. Las Vegas has always understood spectacle. What it has quietly mastered, however, is reinvention. For decades, the city’s identity revolved around gaming floors and neon excess. But over 72 hours, I set out to explore a different version of Las Vegas, one where I would not step near […]
Originally published on Southwest Travel & Life. They say Zion National Park and its surrounding desert feels otherworldly. And this Outpost decided to take it to another level—or should we say Galaxy—by creating a full-scale Star Wars glamping experience. About an hour’s drive outside Zion National Park in Utah’s wide-open desert, Outpost X leans all […]
Originally published on Southwest Travel & Life. “I didn’t realize how vast and open this valley is.” That’s the most common surprise people experience when driving through this scenic byway in northern New Mexico, according to City of Angel Fire Tourism Director Greg Ralph. Stretching across the Moreno Valley with the Sangre de Cristo mountains […]
Originally published on Southwest Travel & Life. Route 66 is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, a milestone for the highway that once carried dreamers, migrants and road-trippers from Chicago to the California coast. At its peak, it was the Main Street of America, lined with neon-lit motels, gas stations and diners serving up hot […]
Originally published on Southwest Travel & Life. The Southwest is a mecca of ancient Native American settlements, including such notables as Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon, Canyon de Chelly and Bandelier National Monument. The latter is an easy day trip for visitors staying in Santa Fe, as it’s less than an hour away. This New Mexico […]
