Digital Guides
The Southwest
Reunion
PRESENTED BY Lightship
A place of ancient heritage and geological grandeur. From burnt-orange days to the night skies pitched with a million stars, the Southwest brings us up close to wonder and awe.
Intel
Events
APRIL Gathering of Nations Powwow, ABQ, NM
JULY Prescott Rodeo, Prescott, AZ
SEPT Hatch Valley Chile Festival, Hatch, NM
New Landmark
The First Americans Museum, Oklahoma City
Experience the cultures and history of 39 distinctive First American Nations in Oklahoma.
Culture
Renowned American Indian art collection—traditional to contemporary—in Phoenix.
Book
Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey. Autobiographical account of Abbey's time as a park ranger at Arches National Monument.
Memento
Palace of the Governors
105 W Palace Ave, Santa Fe
Turquoise bolo by artists who apply to show through the Native American Artisans Program.
Telling Stats
125
Age when a saguaro cactus is considered an adult
134
Record-breaking temperature in Death Valley on July 10, 1913
426
Driveable miles of Route 66 in Oklahoma, the most of any state
Video
PUBLIC LANDS
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
No sight in America is more astounding with its 277 miles laying bare two billion years of history while offering unrivaled views. Arizona
PALO DURO CANYON STATE PARK
Nation's second-largest canyon. O'Keeffe described it: "A burning, seething cauldron, filled with dramatic light and color." Canyon, Texas
MOJAVE DESERT
Otherworldly Kelso Dunes sometimes "sing" with vibrations of compressed air beneath gleaming ivory sand. Essex, California
VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK
Venture into a martian world of vibrant red rock formations, petrified trees and millennia-old petroglyphs. Overton, NV
RED ROCK CANYON
Bike or drive the 13-mile scenic loop to see the ancient limestone and rusted sandstone formations that create the canyon’s namesake colors. Las Vegas, NV
ANZA-BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK
Desert vistas surrounded by Vallecito and Santa Rosa mountains. Carpeted with wildflowers in Spring. Borrego Springs, CA
PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK & PAINTED DESERT
Fossilized trees, badlands and mesas striped in orange, pink and purple of striated mineral deposits. Holbrook, AZ
CHACO CULTURE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
Sacred ancestral homeland of Hopi and Pueblo people and site of significant pre-Colombian ruins. Nageezi, New Mexico
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
The land of jumbo rock expanses, Seussian plantlife and American lore. California
Meet the Future of Roadtrips
Follow along on an all-electric adventure from Moab to Telluride in the Lightship AE.1.
Bests
Food + Drink
The Love Apple
Taos, NM
Restaurant tucked inside a 19th-century adobe chapel. Think tamales with red chile and sunny egg. Cash only. theloveapple.net
Rancho de Chimayó
Chimayo, NM
Beard award–winning chile and a 60-year family history on the high road to Taos. ranchodechimayo.com
Lotus of Siam
Las Vegas, NV
Legendary Northern Thai cuisine, off-strip. Come for the garlic prawns and crispy duck, stay for the riesling list. lotusofsiamlv.com
Mitla Cafe
San Bernardino, CA
Legendary community gathering place since 1937 credited as first hard-shell taco in the U.S. mitlacafesb.com
K’s Dairy Delite
Buena Vista, CO
Chili burgers and onion rings lure Arkansas River rafters. Save room for a thick shake. ksdairydelite.com
Campo at Los Poblanos
Albuquerque, NM
On-farm dining in Rio Grande Valley. Bar program includes their own botanical gin, lavender syrups. lospoblanos.com
Robert's Grill
El Reno, OK
Belly up to the counter for a Depression-era holdover—regional smash burger with pile of caramelized onions.
Penca
Tucson, AZ
Tuck into some costillas de res (ancho-glazed short ribs) while working your way through more than 30 varieties of mezcal. pencarestaurante.com
Ska Brewing
Durango, CO
A 100-percent-wind-powered operation that slings pizzas out of a converted shipping container in its beer garden. skabrewing.com
Pappy & Harriet's
Pioneertown, CA
Mason jar beer, smoked ribs, live music at beloved roadhouse. pappyandharriets.com
Atomic Liquors
Las Vegas, NV
Dating to, and out-fitted for, the 1950s (and the nearby bomb tests). atomic.vegas
Culture
Chianti Foundation
Marfa, TX
Artist patron-saint Donald Judd’s 100 untitled works in mill aluminum. chinati.org
The Neon Museum
Las Vegas, NV
Take a night tour of the Neon Boneyard, resting place of city glow. neonmuseum.org
Desert Museum
Tucson, AZ
Botanical garden, art gallery, aquarium, natural history and zoo. desertmuseum.org
O'Keeffe House & Studio
Abiquiú, NM
The artist lived in this modern, light-filled adobe home from 1949 until 1984. okeeffemuseum.org
The Carson House & Museum
Taos, NM
Learn about the renowned fur trapper and frontiersman in his former home, built 1825. kitcarsonhouse.org
Center for Creative Photography
Tucson, AZ
Icons like Cartier-Bresson and Ansel Adams line these walls. ccp.arizona.edu
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
Albuquerque, NM
Galleries with traditional and contemporary art, as well as a kitchen for dining, foodways study. indianpueblo.org
Museum of Contemporary Native Arts
Santa Fe, NM
Museum on the 140-acre campus of the Institute of American Indian Arts. iaia.edu
The Atomic Museum
Paradise, NV
Deep dive into earth-shaking experiments at the Nevada test site. atomicmuseum.vegas
Utah Shakespeare Festival
Cedar City, UT
More than 65 years strong and a Tony winner for outstanding regional theatre. bard.org
Lodging
The Inn of the Five Graces
Santa Fe, NM
Adobe village inn adorned with colorful tilework and kiva fireplaces.
El Cosmico
Marfa, TX
West Texas starlight shines brightly on these retro-fitted accommodations.
29 Palms Inn
Twentynine Palms, CA
Unassuming Joshua Tree refuge with 1930s bungalows and cabins.
El Rey Court
Santa Fe, NM
Adobe-style, retro compound with mezcal bar and swim club.
Ace Hotel & Swim Club
Palm Springs, CA
The former Howard Johnson property gets a funky ’50s-chic makeover.
Amangiri
Canyon Point, UT
This desert escape’s modern looks and otherworldly views are worth the big-time splurge.
La Posada Hotel
Winslow, AZ
Former Harvey House designed by Mary Colter in Spanish Colonial Revival style.
Dunton Hot Springs
near Telluride, CO
Hand-hewn cabins set in an old ghost town in San Juan National Forest.
Ojo Caliente
Ojo Caliente, NM
Stay in the world’s only hot spring to offer four types of mineral water.
The Skirvin Hotel
Oklahoma City, OK
Rich tones of wood-paneled lobby give warm welcome even as rumors of hauntings abound.
Los Poblanos Historic Inn
Albuquerque, NM
Idyllic hacienda with thriving farm and lavender fields.
Experts
Paul Macias, Neon Signs
3230 E Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas
Keeping the old-school tradition of high-wattage handcrafted signage alive since he was 11 years old.
Elena Ortiz, Indigenous Rights
therednation.org
Organizer outspoken on issues surrounding the legacy of settler colonialism, including the Santa Fe Plaza obelisk.
Nikki Seegers, Preservation
historic66az.com
Arizona association president sits on board of Route 66 Road Ahead partnership, includes Extraordinary Women Initiative.
Maida Branch, Artist
maidagoods.com
Creative expression of her New Mexican home through art, collective building and dinners at Shed with partner Johnny Ortiz-Concha.
Brad Udall, Water
watercenter.colostate.edu
The Colorado Water Center navigates the complex management of the West's resources.
Todd Miner, Wilderness Medicine
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Teaches backcountry first aid courses tailored to the conditions of the Colorado high country.
Janell Langford, Art for Change
obsidiopolis.com
“Design universe” (and Meow Wolf collab) Obsidiopolis is a brightly colored utopia for under-represented voices.
Beau Hannam, Luthier
beauhannamguitars.com
Resonance in wood: meticulously crafted guitars and ukeleles.
Cordelia “Dedie” Thomas Snow, Archaology
nmhistoricpreservation.org
Vast contributions in the field date to New Mexico's Palace of the Governors excavations in the 1970s.
David Salman, Horticulture
waterwisegardening.com
Specializes in cold-hardy cacti and other water-wise plants.
“The quality of light and the landscape here are so seductive, especially if you’re an artist or photographer. During monsoon season, huge storm clouds build and are amazing to watch, especially from the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains.”
Shopping
Shiprock Santa Fe
Santa Fe, NM
Art and textiles from traditional to contemporary, thoughtfully curated by fifth-generation art dealer Jed Foutz. shiprocksantafe.com
Mojave Flea Trading Post
Palm Springs & Yucca Valley, CA
Makers market and eclectic collection of handmade goods, vintage and ceramics. shoptradingpost.com
Taos Cookery
Taos, NM
Cookware, New Mexico-made pottery, hand-printed dish towels and packaged foods. taoscookery.com
Arizona Fine Art Expo
Scottsdale, AZ
Annual, 10-week, juried art show for collectors and art lovers. arizonafineartexpo.com
Art Queen
Joshua Tree, CA
Joshua Tree retains funky spirit with these shops and galleries (and Shari Elf ’s World Famous Crochet Museum). aha-projects.org
Mountain Sports
Flagstaff, AZ
Downtown outdoor retailer and with a 50-year history. mountainsportsflagstaff.com
Jewelry & Mineral
Las Vegas, NV
Slinging gems since 1984. Don’t miss the giant geodes on the patio. jewelryminerallasvegas.com
Book Stores
Bright Side Bookshop
Flagstaff, AZ
Maria's Bookshop
Durango, CO
Collected Works
Santa Fe, NM
Willow Canyon Outdoor
Kanab, UT
Wildlife
Desert and mountain habitats in the Southwest foster a diversity of wildlife. Field notes:
GREATER ROAD RUNNER Geococcyx californianus
Avian celebrity of the Southwest and member of the cuckoo family, they can reach about two feet in length from bill to tip of tail. They don't tend to fly and can eat venomous snakes. Have been clocked at 26 miles per hour–still not fast enough to outrun a real Wile E. Coyote.
COYOTE Canis latrans
Coyotes have an incredible ability to adapt to a wide range of habitats. They’re opportunists, omnivores in the broadest sense, feeding on whatever’s available—fruit and nuts to birds, reptiles and rodents. These hardy dog-cousins go about their business even in cities, so it’s no wonder they’re unfazed by high visitation and other human influence in parks.
CACTUS WREN Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Year-round desert residents and fearless foragers, they do not need water from freestanding sources. These birds sound like an old car that just won’t start no matter how many times you turn the key.
BLACK-TAILED JACK RABBIT Lepus californicus
Technically hares, not rabbits, black-tailed jackrabbits have huge ears for a reason: they help keep the animals cool by letting more heat escape their bodies. In a pinch, they can sprint up to 40 miles per hour. Like coyotes, their neutral coloring allows them to blend into the desert landscape.
RATTLESNAKE Crotalus
Beautifully designed with darker-colored cross bands, they’re also famously named for the sound you probably do not want to hear—the warning rattler to predators on the end of their tails. The females give birth to live snakes having incubated the eggs internally. Arizona has more species (14) than any other state.
DESERT BIGHORN Ovis canadensis nelsoni
The Southwest's rocky terrain is no problem for the desert bighorn. In fact, the sheep prefer it. They are often found scaling narrow ledges along sheer cliff faces–opting for areas other animals steer clear of helps protect them from predators–where they maneuver nimbly on their sharp cloven hooves.
JAVALINA Pecari tajacu
Also called Collared Peccary for the lighter ring around their neck area, these animals have similar qualities to pigs (like their snouts) but are different beasts. Mostly herbivores, they have poor eyesight and rely on their sense of smell while also emitting odor from musk glands. They live in large groups called squadrons.
ELF OWL Micrathene whitneyi
Also called a dwarf owl, they are the world's smallest raptor and owl reaching just about the size of a school milk carton and weighing 1 to 1.5 ounces. They’re nocturnal and hunt at night, and they can play dead if cornered. They like to nest in small cavities in saguaro cacti and wooded areas.
GILA MONSTER Heloderma suspectum
The largest lizards in the U.S. can grow to almost two feet long. They’re venomous with bead-like scales and patterns of orange-pink. But chances are slim you’ll spot one as they live mostly underground except when hunting.
MOUNTAIN LION Puma concolor
The big cats can grow up to six or eight feet long (including their long tails used for balance) and weigh up to 170 pounds. They’re loners, mostly, and stealthy when hunting at dusk and dawn for prey such as elk, deer, javelina and rabbits.
Meet the Future of Roadtrips
Follow along on an all-electric adventure from Moab to Telluride in the Lightship AE.1.
Local Lingo
christmas
Requesting “Christmas” at a restaurant usually doesn’t mean a holiday. Rather, it’s both red and green chile sauces for the meal.
the big ditch
Slang term for the Grand Canyon often used with affection but risks belittling sacred place in Native American cultures.
desert canary
Nonnative, wild donkey or burro. The hardy creatures, a holdover from mine workers and Gold Rush explorers, are best observed from a distance.
land of entrapment
Play on New Mexico’s slogan, Land of Enchantment, for ability to turn visitors to residents with its beauty, or negatively for wildlife trapping, economic disparity.
the supes
Nickname for the Superstition Mountains, west of Phoenix, named by Akimel O'odham people who told stories of mysterious happenings in the area.
oven mitts
Catch-all name for gloves or actual oven mitts kept in cars to protect hands from hot steering wheels.
the rim
Short for Mogollon Rim, a large plateau across northern Arizona popular for hikes, biking, lake recreation and scenic drives.
raspados
Spanish for “scraped” and referring to a type of snow cone and Mexican street food beloved in the Southwest.
the sandias
Short name for the Sandia Mountains, a range to the east of Albuquerque, meaning “watermelon” in Spanish for their red hue at sunset.
the city different
Proud nickname for Santa Fe for its embrace of the arts and appreciation of cultures and landscape.
biscochitos
Official cookie of New Mexico and anise-flavored shortbread that blends the baking customs of indigenous peoples with Spanish colonists.
stravenues
Portmantau of “street” and “avenue” that refers to the roads that run diagonally through Tucson.
“OUT HERE, people get a sense of how insignificant we are and how fast our own lives go by. We’re like the life of a gnat.”
