Throughout this website, you'll see photos and slide shows of places you'd surely love to visit, and get practical details for planning fun-filled outings that you'll remember for a lifetime to come!

What fun awaits you in the Southwestern USA?

Planning a family vacation? Why not consider the Southwestern USA states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah? Head to the wide open spaces of the western United States, where you'll find stunning red rock formations (as in the photo of Arizona's Slide Rock State Park, which you'll see at the top of each page of this website.) You'll thrill to vistas of yellow sands, rugged mountains, deep gorges, dazzling caverns, forests of all kinds---from Saguaro cacti to towering pines; in other words, a true "Nature's Wonderland!" You'll truly have fun in the southwest!

ARIZONA! Have fun in the Southwest, ARIZONA style! City life? You'll find one of the USA's biggest metropolitan areas in the Four Corner states---large & bustling Phoenix, Arizona. One of the country's top 10 cities in population, greater Phoenix, AZ nevertheless has the low-profile look and relaxed feel of a country town. Metro Phoenix and nearby Tucson play host to hordes of happy "Snowbirds" each winter, many arriving in plush RV's, heading to Arizona's pleasant winter climate to escape the winter sleet & snow of their chillier home states. On the other hand, Arizona's most well-known northern city, Flagstaff, has an elevation of 7,000 feet, giving it a true 4-season climate with refreshing summer temperatures. In other words, no matter what time of year you'll be vacationing, it's so easy to have fun in Arizona!

NEVADA! Have fun in the Southwest, NEVADA style! Glitz and glamor are the focus of a Southwestern city so famous that it's a "household name" worldwide...and, if you haven't guessed already, that's the neon-light capital of the planet, Las Vegas, Nevada. While most widely thought-of because of its gaming industry, Las Vegas hosts a plethora of family-style activities...and is also a major shopping mecca! Surrounding Las Vegas, you'll find terrific opportunities for outdoor sports and nature-viewing. It's a "sure bet" that your family will have fun in Nevada!

COLORADO! Have fun in the Southwest, COLORADO style! Simply put, nature-lovers LOVE Colorado! The Mile High City of Denver, CO, along with its quickly-growing sister to the south, Colorado Springs, are two locations popular with families to use as a "base" for exploring the jaw-droppingly beautiful Rocky Mountains. The mountains which form a backdrop to the west of these cities provide endless opportunities for outdoor recreational activities, nature-watching, and exploring both Native American and Gold Rush-era history. Heading back to "base camp" in town provides families with an array of activities from pro sports to shopping to theme parks and kiddie attractions. It's truly hard NOT to have fun in Colorado!

UTAH! Have fun in the Southwest, UTAH style! Where's the best powder snow in the USA? Any ski buff can tell you it's found in Utah's Uintah Range resorts, where the climate and conditions combine to create a skiers's wonderland! Southern Utah is perhaps the USA's "National Park Capital," with 5 major...and stunningly beautiful...national parks in the southern portion of the state alone. Outdoor recreation doesn't end when the winter snows melt; active families head to Utah in the summertime, as well, to participate in white water rafting, hiking, horseback riding and boating. And what active mountain biker DOESN'T know that Moab, Utah has some of the best terrain in the world? Plus, after communing with nature, families can head to Utah's capital, Salt Lake City, and the other cities of the Wasatch Front for cultural activities, shopping and theme park/water park fun. There are so many ways to have fun in Utah!

NEW MEXICO! Have fun in the Southwest, NEW MEXICO style! You can wander for hours in the southwestern state of New Mexico---whether it be among the subterranean corridors of the USA's most famous natural cave system at Carlsbad Caverns, or through the galleries and shops of the artist's magnet, Santa Fe. Families will enjoy visiting New Mexico's largest city, Albuquerque, to brush up on lore of the Historic Route 66 Mother Road and to enjoy a gamut of kid-friendly activities...and, of course, more shopping! Road trips are a great time for your group to have fun in New Mexico!

TEXAS! Have fun in the Southwest, TEXAS style! Texas has whatever type of family fun you might wish to enjoy. It's home to some of the USA's biggest theme parks and water parks. Shopping in Texas? The state's many outlet malls make it a bargain-hunter's delight...but you'll also find luxury malls filled with exquisite merchandise, if that's what you're seeking.

Natural wonders? Texas is full of them! As the USA's largest state, Texas offers many varied geographical regions from deserts to forests---and miles upon miles of sandy Gulf beaches, too! No matter what type of vacation you're planning, it's almost impossible NOT to have fun in Texas!

How to have fun in the southwest? Here are some ways---

THEME PARKS! You'll find a host of family fun awaiting you when you visit the Southwestern USA's theme parks. From scream-inducing thrill rides to family-friendly attractions, you'll have fun at such theme parks as the Circus Circus Adventuredome, Cliff's, Elitch Gardens, Lagoon, Sea World San Antonio, Six Flags Over Texas and Six Flags Fiesta Texas. The super-brave in your group will discover that the world's highest thrill rides are right here in the Southwestern state of Nevada...atop the 100-story tall Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas! The music-lovers in your group can also look forward to the building of the Decades Music Theme Park in Arizona (along I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson,) which will possibly open as soon as 2012.

SHOPPING! Looking for world-class shopping? The Las Vegas Strip has one of the highest concentrations of high-end stores in the entire world---right here in the Southwest USA. But, bargain-hunters will love Southwestern shopping, as well...because some of the best outlet malls in the United States are here, too. Hand-crafted items? The Southwestern states are home to the finest selection of Native American arts and crafts anywhere!

NATURAL WONDERS! The biggest concentration of US National Parks is right here in the Southwest. As you could tell by the pictures of the Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns and Bryce Canyon National Parks in the slide show above (and Saguaro National Park to your right,) you don't need thrill rides nor designer merchandise to have a great time in the Southwest. Just bring your sense of wonder and awe...and get set to be inspired!

Following, you'll find a list of SOME---but not nearly all, by any means---of the topics discussed within this website---