Go West 2010

NATIONAL PARKS
of the WesT
The dramatic landscape of the American West was tailor-made to be seen and experienced
by car. For an unforgettable Western odyssey, devote some time to touring the Southwest’s
premier national parks, where hiking, biking, horseback riding and camping are just a few
Canyonlands
National P
ark
of the recreational activities available for travelers looking to reconnect with nature.
, Utah
Rocky Mount
ain
American pueblo, then travel west to Conclude
National P
ark,
Monument V
alley, Colorado
Chaco Culture National Historical Park, your journey
Arizona/Ut
ah border
where a nine-mile loop road brings by traveling
visitors to historic Native American west toward
sites that date back as far as 850 AD. two of
Continue your exploration of America’s
Native American culture by traveling most popular
north to Colorado’s World Heritage national parks:
Site, Mesa Verde National Park: Bryce Canyon
Tour ancient pueblo cliff dwellings and Zion
or hike the park’s many trails before national parks.
heading north to Colorado National With monikers like Pink Cliffs, Vermilion Cliffs,
Monument. Drive or bicycle the 23- Chocolate Cliffs and Rainbow Point, Bryce
mile Rim Rock Drive, marveling at Canyon offers unforgettable views of vibrantly
the breathtaking views of the red-rock colored rock spires, natural stone bridges and
canyons and rock formations. Ponderosa forests. Zion National Park also
Travel west to Moab, Utah and offers panoramic views, with sandstone canyons
the nearby Arches National Park and mesas ornamented by bursts of wildﬂ owers
and Canyonlands National Park, and more than 250 species of birds.
both of which boast spectacular scenery and Complete your national parks tour by
eparting from Las Vegas, Nevada, travel offer hiking and biking trails amid the colorful traveling southwest, returning to Las Vegas.
D
east into Arizona to visit one of the seven sandstone arches and canyons. Continue west
natural wonders of the world, the Grand to Capitol Reef National Park – the site of the
Canyon. Experience the awe that comes last remnants of Fruita, a frontier settlement
THERE’S MORE TO EXPLORE!
from gazing out over the magniﬁ cent founded by Mormon pioneers – then travel
Extend your outdoor adventure: See page
6 to discover Alaska’s magniﬁ cent national
scenery, or venture down into the canyon itself south to the Grand Staircase-Escalante
parks and page 19 to learn about the striking
for an up-close look at the mile-deep crevasse National Monument, named for the “staircase”
canyons, coastline and cowboy culture of the
forged through the ages by the mighty Colorado of cliffs and terraces that line the canyons of the Lone Star State, Texas!
River. Escalante River.
Travel east to Monument Valley: Located on
the Arizona-Utah border, Monument Valley’s
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iconic desert terrain has been featured in so
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many classic Western ﬁ lms that it’s not unusual
to feel a sense of déjà vu. Head south to the
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of well-preserved Indian ruins and home
today to members of the Navajo Nation –
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before traveling east across New Mexico to the
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World Heritage Site Taos Pueblo. Admire the 6aP]S
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ITINERARY: Grand Circle tour of
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BEGINS AT:
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ENDS AT: Las Vegas, Nevada
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ESTIMATED DURATION: 15 –18 days
!
PAGE 26 GO WEST 2010 www.gowestsummit.com
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