The national monuments in the West help preserve Indigenous heritage, coastal ecosystems, the prehistoric past, and other sites of historical and cultural significance. From fossils and fjords to craters and cliff dwellings, you can see many beautiful places and learn incredible history at the national monuments in the western United States.
Get ready to have everything you thought you knew about the American Southwest turned upside down, because Farmington, New Mexico, isn’t just another sleepy desert town. Here are a few surprising things you can do in Farmington, NM, during your gateway to the Four Corners.
For the ultimate archaeology road trip through the Four Corners region, look no further! From the Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park to the petroglyphs at Chaco Canyon, the sandstone spires in Canyon de Chelly, and plenty of other incredible dwellings, hikes, and sites in between, this 10-day itinerary is the southwestern archaeology itinerary of a lifetime.
Explore lush riparian forests, New Deal-era architecture, and Native American history in the heart of Arizona’s Verde Valley.
Changing leaves, haunted houses, and more nature trails than you could possibly explore in a single weekend—this is autumn in Sturgis, South Dakota.
Spend 3 days hiking in the San Francisco Peaks and sampling some of Flagstaff’s best restaurants and watering holes. Whether you’re looking to summit Arizona’s tallest peak or an easier hike among aspens and wildflowers, this itinerary has you covered.
From ancient pueblos to astronomy, Flagstaff has a long and rich history. But this is no ordinary history lesson–you’ll get to experience it all firsthand, from exploring ancient pueblos to peering through the telescope used to discover Pluto.
From the Grand Canyon to the Painted Desert of the Navajo Nation, this corner of the Colorado Plateau is chock-full of Native American history and culture. You could spend a lifetime exploring and learning about the region, and Flagstaff is the perfect place to start.
You could take decades to explore every corner of the Navajo Nation, but for those who have a little less time, we’ve designed this week-long itinerary. Dreamy sandstone canyons, larger-than-life dinosaur tracks, and rare desert waterfalls await.