http://www.travelthesouthwest.com Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:44:25 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en What is your siren song when it comes to shopping?  Is it a beautiful piece of jewelry, art for your wall, clothing that makes you look oh-so-gorgeous or souvenirs for the folks back home?  While it’s nice to see familiar shops as you travel, it’s much more fun to explore ... http://www.travelthesouthwest.com/?p=191 The Metate Room – The food at national park restaurants is not always worthy of bragging rights, but Mesa Verde’s Metate Room is a notable exception.  Try the Rocky Mountain elk tenderloin or mesquite smoked buffalo for something out of the ordinary.  Allow time for a leisurely dinner as the restaurant ... http://www.travelthesouthwest.com/?p=62 Highway 89 and Scenic Byway 12 in Southern Utah will lead you to two fantastic eateries. Once again, these spots require a bit of effort to find but you will not be disappointed. Hell’s Backbone Grill – Boulder, UT – Don’t let the name fool you. This food is about ... http://www.travelthesouthwest.com/?p=59 With a little effort, one can travel throughout the Southwest and dine incredibly well along the way.  Sample the local fare, sip some wonderful wines and wrap it all up with views of some of the world’s most beautiful destinations.   Grand Canyon South Rim:   [caption id="attachment_178" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="El Tovar Lodge"][/caption] El ... http://www.travelthesouthwest.com/?p=56 Great birding locations are found throughout the Southwest and many communities host birding festivals throughout the year.  My favorite birding revolves around the large raptors and on the opposite end of the scale, hummingbirds.  But with such a wide range of terrain, there are many species to enjoy. If you ... http://www.travelthesouthwest.com/?p=52 While many of the destinations we feature in other states center around ancient civilizations, New Mexico offers opportunities to visit lands currently in use by a number of tribes.  Take time to visit any of the pueblos and then contrast with ancient villages such as Chaco Canyon. Albuquerque:  Visitors ... http://www.travelthesouthwest.com/?p=49 Cortez: Some of the most impressive ancient Native American ruins are located in close proximity to Cortez, Colorado.  The most well known are those in Mesa Verde National Park.  Richard Wetherill discovered some of these ruins while ranching in the area. Today, you can visit both Wetherill and Chapin ... http://www.travelthesouthwest.com/?p=46 Grand Canyon South Rim:  There are many hiking trails in the Grand Canyon area but you should not take a hike in the Grand Canyon without giving serious consideration to your fitness level.  Remember that any hike into the Canyon begins with the downhill trek and you must finish ... http://www.travelthesouthwest.com/?p=43 Native American cultural experiences can be found throughout Arizona.  Since many visitors arrive in Phoenix, we recommend the following stops before you head out to visit any reservations or historic sites. [caption id="attachment_142" align="alignleft" width="160" caption="Hoop Dancing at the Heard Museum"][/caption]   Phoenix: Located just north of downtown Phoenix on Central ... http://www.travelthesouthwest.com/?p=37 Main Attraction: Grand Canyon is by far the most recognizable icon of the Southwest U.S. Millions of visitors enter the national park gates every year, making it difficult to find solitude at the busy South Rim.  Even so, you can still find a quiet spot with a bit of effort.  You ... http://www.travelthesouthwest.com/?p=31