Introduction to the Southwest

The Southwestern United States is a treasure trove of natural wonders. Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and parts of California, Texas and Colorado make up the southwest. It is mostly desert with spectacular vistas including the Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Arches National Park. There are many cultural traditions that make up the area including American Indians, Latino, Hispanic and Anglo.

Arches National Park

The landscape starts at the high peaks of the Rocky Mountains and descends to the dramatic red rock mesas and bluffs carved millions of years ago by an inland sea. Finally, the desert takes over in the flatlands of the Rio Grande. In general, it has a very dry climate and is hot in the southern regions and sub-zero in the north.

Most of the Southwest is public land and there are hiking and biking trails almost everywhere. Road cycling and mountain biking are hugely popular, but visitors should check the rules at each national park because they have restrictions for where biking is allowed. For hiking, there are paved walks as well as very strenuous trekking trails. Hikers should be well prepared for desert hiking. Some tips for desert travel are:

Flash floods are a possible danger to hikers in the Southwest. They should always watch the sky for thunder and lightening that is over nearby hills or in the immediately vicinity. The radio will warn of any rain storms predicted. Always make camp on high ground, but not on the top of peaks or ridges. Avoid dry washes and deep canyons if there is stormy weather predicted.

Attractions in the Southwest

The Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona is one of the most important attractions in the Southwest. There are several ways to experience the grandeur including horseback riding, mule train, Skywalk, helicopter tours and hiking. There are many viewing sites on the rim that can be reached by car. Helicopters and small planes are available in Phoenix, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon National Park Airport for visitors to have flyovers of the canyon. The Skywalk is a glass-bottomed, horseshoe shaped cantilevered bridge that is 4,000 feet above the canyon floor. Located on the Hualapai Nation, it can be reached on a day trip from Las Vegas or Northern Arizona.

Sedona is another interesting and beautiful place in Arizona. The sheer red rock cliffs reflect the sunset for the most spectacular natural show in Arizona. There is also a picturesque complex built to look like Guadalajara, Mexico, with unique shops selling one-of-a-kind items and excellent restaurants.

Sedona in Arizona

In southeastern New Mexico, there are caves that attract visitors from all over the world. Carlsbad Caverns National Park in the Guadalupe Mountains wilderness area has caves created by water over thousands of years. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has many natural chambers decorated with limestone formations and columns of stalactites and stalagmites. Visitors can hike into the chambers through a natural entrance or take an elevator directly 750 feet down to the Underground Lunchroom.

The caverns contain the seventh largest underground chamber in the world at 4,000 feet long. The names given by the person who discovered the caves give a picturesque description of the natural formations. The King's Palace, Queen's Chamber, Green Lake Room as well as Witch's finger, Bottomless Pit, Iceberg Rock, Fairyland, Temple of the Sun and Giant Dome describe some of the amazing wonders in the caves.

The traditional food in the Southwest dates back centuries and is abundant in corn and chilies. Fire roasted red chilies, meat grilled over mesquite coals are just the beginning. Combined with traditional Mexican food which is tortillas and beans, restaurants have created fabulous meals with lots of fresh tomatoes, avocados and other vegetables for some of the best cuisine in the United States. If travelers have any sensitivity of chilies or spicy food they should be careful when they order. Chilies will aggravate irritable bowel syndrome. Restaurants usually offer several levels of spice on their menus, and there is plenty of flavorful food that is not overly hot.

Cities in the Southwest

Along with the natural wonders in the Southwestern United States there are some holiday destination cities that have a lot of art, culture and culinary delights to offer. Santa Fe in New Mexico is a city whose brown adobe architecture compliments the high desert landscape that surrounds the city. Artists flock to Santa Fe from around the world to capture the shapes and colors of the natural environment.

The Las Vegas Strip

The Plaza is in the heart of the city and the most historic area. There are historic buildings, museums, hotels, galleries, restaurants and fantastic shopping in The Plaza. After New York City, Santa Fe has the largest art market in the country with over 250 galleries. Canyon Road, a historic road that goes into the local mountains has the most galleries and is the center for art. Museum Hill has four museums connected by footpaths and a plaza with wonderful views of the city and hills. The museums showcase American Indian, Spanish Colonial and international folk art.

Las Vegas is called the Entertainment Capital of the World. This is mainly because many top singers and shows have permanent residence there, and people come from all over the world to see the shows in Las Vegas. Elvis Presley was the most famous, and there are still Elvis impersonators who give shows nightly in Las Vegas. The huge casinos have themes from history and mystery to attract visitors and cater to their children also.

The great American Southwest is a fascinating holiday destination with something to inspire everyone. I tried to give you a good overview of useful information if you'd like to visit this wonderful region. Though, as I'm convinced you can never inform yourself too much, you might also consider checking out some of the following weblinks!