attractions in Southwest US

Nicknamed “The City Different” because of Santa Fe’s unique heritage and architectural style. Santa Fe New Mexico is certainly one of the most enchanting cities in the southwest and one of the oldest cities in the United States.


Santa Fe NM boasts a distinctive historical heritage unrivaled by other US regions. The city is a melting pot of Native American, Spanish and English cultures.

If you are traveling to Santa Fe New Mexico for the first time, the city is home to charming narrow streets, adobe buildings and picturesque plazas, giving Santa Fe such a raw feel of the Old American West.

Best time to visit

Visiting Santa Fe New Mexico during the shoulder seasons of spring, autumn and winter are some of the best times to enjoy a vacation here, especially if you’re looking to avoid the large crowds and over inflated tourists attractions.

Autumn and winter are the best times to enjoy the outdoors, as well as activities and events in New Mexico.

If you’re planning on undertaking many things to do in Santa Fe New Mexico outdoors, try and book a trip to the city in February, as it is one of the driest months.

If you prefer traveling during the peak season of summer, be aware that August is the wettest months.

Things to do in Santa Fe New Mexico: Outdoor Activities

Urban Parks

Santa Fe New Mexico boasts plenty of green areas and parks offering many recreational opportunities such as picnicking and cycling.

Some of the largest parks within the city include: Hillside Park, Amelia white Park, Salvador Perez Park, Ashbaugh Park, Frank S Ortiz Park

Biking & Hiking

Three miles east of Santa Fe, you’ll find Dale Ball Trails, which is one of the best locations for bikers and hikers of all levels.

The trails start at Cerro Gordo and are well marked so there is no chance of getting lost. The trails are suitable to all, but be aware that some sections have sharp turns so they can be rather challenging.

Scenic Drive

If you are traveling on your own car or are planning on hiring one, you can enjoy a scenic drive along Santa Fe’s byways.

For instance, from Old Fort Marcy Park, along Hyde Park Road, (475-highway) the highway runs deep into Santa Fe National Forest, offering gorgeous views on the way.

Camping

Santa Fe National forest is a gem of place for enjoying outdoors activities, and the forest has many campgrounds to suit both primitive and RV camping. However, camping spaces are on a first come, first served basis.

If you prefer to book your camping spot, there are other campgrounds to choose from such as Tesuque Pueblo RV Campground (located around 10 miles from downtown Santa Fe), and Rancheros de Santa Fe Campground (located around 8 miles from Santa Fe’s downtown area) both offering plenty of camping spaces for RV’s and tents.

Fishing

If you enjoy fly fishing or bait casting, TwoMile Reservoir Dam is just less than 3 miles from downtown Santa Fe and the reservoir boasts a variety of fish such as carp, rainbow trout and bigmouth buffalo.

Things to do in Santa Fe New Mexico: Places of Interest

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum

If you are interested in the life of Georgia O’Keeffe or are interested in art, the museum features many works by O’Keeffe, a short movie on O'Keefe, as well as complementary works by other artists.

Palace of the Governors

The Palace of the Governors is another interesting stop and a worth while visit if you are interested in Southern US.

The Palace is a great place to learn about the history of New Mexico, from early Native Americans to Spanish control.

Shidoni Galleries Sculpture

The gallery is located in Tesuque (around 15 minutes drive from Santa Fe’s downtown), but it is worth a visit, since admission is also free.

You can walk around the outside gardens and learn the process of sculpturing, as well as glassblowing demonstrations.

La Loreto Chapel

Visiting La Loreto Chapel is another of the popular things to do in Santa Fe New Mexico. The chapel is a beautiful architecture with vibrant stained glass windows, lovely mosaic tiled ceilings and beautifully wooden carved choir loft sits.

New Mexico State Capitol

If you are looking for more things to do in Santa Fe New Mexico, the New Mexico State Capitol is open to the public for self-guided tours, and it is worth a visit. Amongst other things, you can see the governor's gallery and the Capitol art collection

Museum of International Folk Art

The Museum of International Folk Art is another popular attraction in Santa Fe as it includes a huge and eclectic collection of exhibits such as orchestral instruments, Indonesian Shadow Puppets and more.

If you are visiting this museum, it’s worth checking out the other museums within the vicinity such as the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, New Mexico Museum-Indian Art and the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian.

Things to do in Santa Fe New Mexico: Shopping

If you’re interested in doing a bit of retail shopping during your vacation here, the largest mall in Santa Fe New Mexico it's 'Santa Fe Place', which are two enclosed malls home to many popular anchor stores and a food court.

If you are visiting Santa Fe New Mexico for the first time, one of the best places for shopping opportunities is at the nearby town of Tesuque where you can visit the flea market.

At the flea-market, you can buy lovely jewelry, beads and art to take home for yourself or as a souvenir-gift for your loved ones.

Things to do in Santa Fe New Mexico: Nightlife & Entertainment

If you’re looking for a place where you can enjoy a meal as well as live entertainment, Santa Fe Brewing Company (located around 10 minutes drive from the downtown area) is a great place to enjoy a nice night out as it features live music and events.

Entertainment-wise, if you’ve never attended a Spanish flamenco venue, the JS Flamenco Theater in downtown Santa Fe is an excellent place to catch some intense and passionate flamenco entertainment.

Apart from live venues, Santa Fe has many bars, pubs and a few clubs worth checking out such as club Alegria in West Alameda Street and club Tequila in Cerrillos Road.

Things to do in Santa Fe New Mexico: Events & Festivals

Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival

If you are traveling to the city during the summer, one of the most popular events worth catching it’s the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival that takes place in July at the Lensic Performing Arts Center.

The event spans over five weeks or so and includes chamber music, jazz concerts and open-air rehearsals.

Santa Fe Desert Chorales Festival

If you love choir music, the Santa Fe Desert Chorales Festival is another popular musical event that happens around the same time as the Chamber Music Festival, and it also spans over five weeks.

Santa Fe Symphony

The Santa Fe Symphony is another popular music event featuring the Santa Fe Symphony Chorus and famed soloists.

The event normally starts in late September at the Lensic Performing Arts Center, and lasts for a whole season.



See. Things to see and do in Albuquerque
Places to visit in Taos
 Interesting places to visit in New Mexico

Sights to see in Colorado

If you are traveling to Fort Collins for the first time, the city is home to the Colorado State University and miles of paved cycling trails along the city center.


If you are looking to enjoy plenty of recreational activities as well, there are plenty of green spaces in the city, but within a short drive west of the city, you’ll find both the Lory State Park and Roosevelt National Park, which offer outdoor opportunities such as camping and rafting along the Cache Poudre River.

Apart from the many things to do in Fort Collins Colorado, if you fancy exploring nearby Colorado, Fort Collins is just an hour's drive from Denver .

Things to do in Fort Collins Colorado: Outdoor Activities

Hiking & Boating

If you fancy hiking and boating, Lory State Park is a just a short drive from the city center, and offers plenty of outdoor opportunities such as picnicking and plenty of easy trails ideal for hiking and biking.

For boating opportunities all year-around, you can head to the Horsetooth Dam (a couple of miles from Lory State Park) where you’ll find the closest boat ramp for launching your canoe or Kayak.

However, if you are traveling to Fort Collins Colorado between May and August, the popular Cache Poudre River offers more challenging runs ideal for experienced kayakers and rafters.

Cycling

Cycling is one of the most popular things to do in Fort Collins Colorado, and it's a fun way to explore the city center.

There are around more than two hundred miles of paved cycling trails in Fort Collins which span the downtown area, Southridge Greens and Fossil Creek Reservoir areas.

Some of these popular paved cycling trails in Fort Collins Colorado include Spring Creek Trail, Poudre Trail, Power Trail and Fossil Creek Trail.

Fishing

If you love fishing, Fort Collins Colorado is an angler’s paradise and you can find angling opportunities in the city’s reservoirs and lakes, Lory State Park and Roosevelt National Park.

In fact, the Horsetooth Reservoir is just miles from Lory State Park, and the west side of Horsetooth Reservoir features five coves where you can fish for bass, trout, and walleye.

Also, along Cache La Poudre River you can find a couple of sections designated for trout fishing.

Another popular place for fishing in Roosevelt National Park is Poudre Lake which is found along Trail Ridge Road.

Scenic Drive & Camping

Another popular way to appreciate Colorado’s beautiful natural scenery it’s on the road.

One of the most popular scenic drives it’s the Fort Collins-Arapahoe Wildlife Refuge three-hour scenic drive along Poudre Canyon Highway (Route 14).

This scenic drive runs along the famed Cache La Poudre River which passes through the Roosevelt National Park.

If you are driving your RV and are planning on camping out, this scenic drive passes through a few campgrounds such as the Stove Prairie Landing Campground, the Kelly Flat Campground and the Glen Echo Resort, which has RV spaces with hook-ups.

Brewery Tours

If you love beer, you’ll be glad to know that the city of Fort Collins Colorado is popular for its brews, and touring a microbrewery is a must-add in your itinerary.

Two popular microbreweries include Odell Brewing Co and New Belgium Brewing Co, both located in the Buckingham district, which is just a few minutes drive from the Fort Collins’ city center.

Things to do in Fort Collins Colorado: Places of Interest

Fort Collins Museum and Discovery Science Center

If you are traveling with the family and are looking for things to do with kids in Fort Collins Colorado, the Fort Collins Museum and Discovery Science Center is a great place to be.

The museum section has an interesting collection of indigenous artifacts, while the science center section offers hands-on interactive exhibits and planetarium shows.

Swetsville Zoo

If you’ve never hear of Swetsville Zoo, you’ll be surprised to know that the place is an actual farm but the animals in it are actually made out of scrap metal.

If you know about the famous Forevertron scrap metal sculpture in Wisconsin, the Swetsville Zoo is a great example of scrap metal architecture, and some of the popular works include a Heavy Metal band and a T-Rex.

Farm at Lee Martinez Park

Visiting the Farm at Lee Martinez Park is another popular thing to do in Fort Collins with kids. At the farm, the little ones can feed and pet the animals, enjoy pony rides and roam freely through the farms fields and playing areas.

Avery House

If you are a history buff, the Avery House was the home of Frank Avery who designed the streets lay out of Fort Collins Colorado. If you want to visit this historic house, the place is open to the public for a few hours on Sundays.

Things to do in Fort Collins Colorado: Shopping

For retail shopping, you can find both the Shops at Foothills Mall and Foothills Mall located at the intersection of S College Avenue and E Foothills Parkway.

Apart from shopping malls, the city is home to small stores and shops such as Old Town Quilting shop, My Sister Knits and Hops & Berries, located in the Old Town district.

Things to do in Fort Collins Colorado: Nightlife & Entertainment

Fort Collins Colorado is a college town and since the University of Colorado is located in the downtown area, you’ll find plenty of bars, live music venues and nightclubs.

For instance, along South College Avenue, you can find the popular ‘The Dance’ and ‘The Rock’ nightclubs.

Entertainment-wise, you can enjoy a movie at one of the mall’s cinemas as well as a night of performing arts at the Lincoln Center or Bas Bleu Theater in downtown Fort Collins Colorado.

Things to do in Fort Collins Colorado: Events & Festivals

Cycling Events

If you are a cycling enthusiast and would like to participate in a cycling event, Fort Collins is home many cycling events during the summer months.

For instance, in August you can catch annually the popular one-day Criterium through Fort Collins Old Town.

Also, in August look out for the US Handcycling Race and the Rist Road Canyon Road Ride.

Fort Collins Brewers' Festival

Another popular summer event is the annual Fort Collins Brewers' Festival held for two days in late June.

If you love your beer, the Fort Collins Brewers' Festival showcases the best and finest brews produced by local breweries.

Colorado Marathon

The Colorado Marathon is usually held in early May and it is a popular activity among families and outdoor enthusiast as the marathon course runs down the scenic Cache Poudre River.

If you are traveling with the family the Colorado Marathon also includes marathon events suitable for families with kids such as a kids’ run marathon.

New Visions Dance Festival

If you love dance performances, the New Visions Dance Festival happens in late March every year at the Lincoln Center.

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Interesting places to visit in South Dakota

St George Utah is located on the southern part of the state and it is within driving distance of the popular Zion National Park, which is located nearby the town of Springdale Utah.

If you are traveling to St George Utah for the first time, the city is famed by its red bluffs and desert-type weather, as well as for dinosaur footprints found at Johnsons Farm which is one of the most interesting places to visit in Utah.

Apart from the many things to do in St George Utah, the city is also within a couple of hours of the City of Las Vegas in Nevada and other tourist attractions in Arizona.

Things to do St George Utah: Outdoor Activities

If you are an outdoor enthusiast and want to experience Utah's beautiful and breathtaking natural scenery, the city is within driving range of Gunlock State Park, Sand Hollow State Park and Snow Canyon State Park.

Snow Canyon state park is the closest state park to St George Utah taking only 15 minutes by car, while Sand hollow and Gunlock state parks are located 18 miles from the St Georges’ city center (around 30 minutes by car).

Fun Activities

Off-Road Activities

If you are a dirt bike or dune buggy enthusiast, Sand Hollow State Park has the perfect landscape for off-road activities.

For instance, the Mild To Wild Rhino Tour company offers off-road trips on buggy vehicles through the Utah mountains and around Zion National Park.

Camping & Hiking

You can camp in all the mentioned state parks and enjoy hiking and picnicking. However, Snow Canyon State Park is the largest state park out of all of them and it is actually one of the best places for hiking and exploring the wildlife in Utah.

Both Snow Canyon and Gunlock state parks have en entry fee of around $5, while Sand Hollow state park charges something like $10.

If you are looking for campgrounds with hook-ups, both Sand Hollow and Snow Canyon state parks offer this for around $20 per night.

Fishing & Water Activities

Sand Hollow and Gunlock state parks have both reservoirs so, if you are planning to enjoy boating, these two state parks have boat launches facilities.

Dinosaur Tour

If you are a dinosaur enthusiast and would like to explore well-preserved dinosaur tracks, the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site located at Johnson Farm is only minutes away from the city center.

At the center, you can learn more about these fascinating creatures and marvel at dinosaur tracks such as the well preserved Eubrontes footprint.

Things to do St George Utah: Places of Interest

St George Tabernacle

St George Tabernacle is located near the Washington County Library and it one of the most famed architectural landmarks in Utah as it features a clock made in London.

St George Utah Temple

The St George Utah Temple is another outstanding landmark in the city and this wonderful church makes for a perfect picture-taking opportunity.

If you are a Christian, the church has a visitor’s center with interesting videos on family issues and life.

St George City Art Museum

If you are interested in art and history, the St George City Art Museum is a great place to learn more about the early history of Utah through paintings and interesting exhibitions.

Things to do St George Utah: Family Activities

Sand Hollow Aquatic Center

If you are traveling to St George Utah and are looking for things to do with kids, the Sand Hollow Aquatic Center is home to a massive leisure pool with water slides and fun water toys.

This water park is located along North Lava Flow Drive near Santa Clara Library.

Rosenbruch World Wildlife Museum

If you have never been on an animal safari, the Rosenbruch World Wildlife Museum offers wildlife tours where you can explore animals in their natural habitat.

Visiting the Rosenbruch World Wildlife Museum is one of the most popular things to do in St George Utah, and it is must-add in your itinerary if you love nature-related activities.

If you are traveling with kids, the kid’s room at the museum is a great place for the little ones to burn-off some energy while learning about animals through interactive exhibits.

Fiesta Fun Family Fun Center

Fiesta Fun Family Fun Center is located at the end of East 1160 South Street and this amusement park is another popular place where you can enjoy fun activities such as bumper boats, mini golf and go-carts.

Things to do St George Utah: Shopping

Shopping is, undoubtedly, one of the most popular things to do in St George Utah and you’ll find plenty of shopping opportunities ranging from specialty shops to shopping centers.

For instance, along W RedCliffs Drive you will find plenty of shops such as Hot Topic, St George Running Center, Big Lots and Rebel Sports.

For retail shopping, head to either Zion Factory Stores or Red Cliff Mall. Both of them are located along W RedCliffs Drive and feature 100 stores between them.

Things to do St George Utah: Nightlife & Entertainment

St George Utah is a conservative city so the night scene centers on bars and restaurants offering some kind of live entertainment.

Having said this, one of the most popular things to do at night in St George Utah, it's to enjoy a night of performing arts.

For instance, the Dixie State College features performing art nights as well as concert nights where you can catch a rock or country concert.

However, Dixie State College events run during the school year so bear this in mind.

Another popular place to catch some entertainment it's at the Southwest Symphony Orchestra, which is located adjacent the Utah State University.

Things to do St George Utah: Events & Festivals

St. George Art Festival

If you are traveling to St George Utah in early April, you can catch one of the most popular cultural events in the city, the St. George Art Festival.

The festival is held at Town Square and features hundreds of artists from around the USA showcasing their works.

St. George Marathon

The St. George Marathon is held in October and anyone can participate in the race as long as their registrations are approved.

The Marathon course runs through the scenic Pine Valley Mountains and the finish line is in Vernon Worthen Park in St. George City.

Huntsman World Senior Games

The Huntsman World Senior Games is also held in October and it is a fun event geared to men and women over 50 years of age. The event aims to promote fitness and encourage retirees to be active physically.

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Attractions in Southwest USA

Downtown Scottsdale, downtown Phoenix Arizona and Biltmore areas offer plenty of things to see in Phoenix Arizona. These areas have trendy restaurants theaters, museums, shopping and sports venues.

If you want to experience Phoenix Arizona mountain lakes and get up to some fishing, camping and rafting, places such as Salt River, Verde River and nearby Prescott Arizona provide the great location to experience Phoenix Arizona outdoors.

Things to see in Phoenix Arizona:

* The Botanical Garden where you can see various desert plants, lizards, birds and butterflies.

* The Heard Museum which features interactive exhibits about Native American culture such as traditions and customs.


* Camel-back Mountain is one of my favorite things to see in Phoenix Arizona as you get to hike and observe lovely panoramic views of downtown, Paradise Valley, etc.

things to do on vacation in Arizona

* Guided- tour by Jeep is another exciting way to explore Phoenix Arizona. You get to explore the desert and learn more about desert life.

* The Phoenix Art Museum is another enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours seeing diverse collection of art.

* The Phoenix Zoo which is another great attraction for the whole family you can enjoy for the whole day, as there are so many things to see and so many animals to visit.

* The Mystery Castle is definitely one of the top things to see in Phoenix Arizona and it’s only seven miles from downtown Phoenix.

* Pueblo Grande Museum which is located on an archaeological site that dates back almost 2,000 years.

* South Mountain Park where you can enjoy horseback riding exploring the beautiful landscapes.


Things to see in Phoenix Arizona: When to go

The best time to enjoy Phoenix Arizona sunny and warm weather, it's from November through April. This time, however, is the most popular time of year to visit so book your hotels in Phoenix Arizona and car rental well in advance. 


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Places to visit in Taos
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Interesting places to visit in New Mexico

Attractions in Southwest USA

Planning a tour of Arizona this year?

Here it is a nice little list of tourist attractions in Arizona:

1) The Grand Canyon South and North Rims where you can hike and admire breathtaking views.


2) The reservation lands of the Navajo Nation where you can see the Canyon de Chelly National Monument, the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and the Besh-Ba Gowah Archaeological Park.

3) The Arizona State Fair in October is a popular event and very popular in the list of tourist attractions in Arizona.

4) Lowel Observatory in Flagstaff AZ - boasts the famed Clarke Telescope which is open to the public.

things to do on vacation in Arizona

5) Saguaro National Park located in the foothills of Arizona's Tucson Mountains where you can enjoy hiking and biking.

6) Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum located in Tucson which features a zoo and botanical park. It’s a great place for exploring the Sonoran Desert.

7) The Desert Botanical Garden located in Phoenix. It features educational exhibitions on desert plant life, and you can see over ten thousand different kind of plants native to Arizona.

8) Grand Canyon Railway located in Williams. It features a 1920 vintage train where you can enjoy panoramic views.

9) Old Tucson Studios located inside Tucson Mountain Park, it’s a movie studio park where you can also enjoy a ride through an old copper mine.

10) Arizona Science Center located in Phoenix. It is an excellent attraction for the whole family where you can enjoy hands on exhibits.

11) Heard Museum also located in Phoenix, it is a great place to learn Native American art and culture.
12) The Smoki Museum, located in Prescott Arizona, features excellent examples of Native American artifacts found in the area.

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Places to visit in Taos
Interesting places to visit in Nevada
Interesting places to visit in New Mexico