The Long View: Road Tripping the Southwest’s Living History
- This Cafe Life
- Jul 4
- 13 min read
Updated: Sep 4
My family often travel and vacation together. While most reside in Colorado some of us are scattered across the states; myself and my adult children in New England. We're a tight bunch of readers, food fanatics, artists and introverts; happy to chill, hang together, play Texas Hold'em and quarrel about who makes the best brisket. When creating vacation itineraries, there are a few considerations:
Prerequisites -
Art & Cultural - many are artists, most professionals, some hobbyists, so all destinations need to appeal to our love of art and culture.
Parks & Recreation - while some enjoy hiking, everyone appreciates stunning scenic views.
Food & Drink - some of us are culinary professionals, all are food lovers hoping to enjoy local flavor. We love to dine out and spend time cooking together.
Preferences -
Golf - if we can work in a round or two, we'll build an itinerary around course play.
Hiking - while I don't fall in this category, easy day hikes are appreciated.
Water - whether landlocked or seaside, accessibility to watersport could be a deal breaker.
When we chose to meet in Las Vegas for Thanksgiving, we wanted to maximize our time together. For myself, I decided on a road trip; others had more limited time and could either meet along the way, or at the final destination. Luckily, I was in it for the long haul. My original plan was a complete loop from Denver - Taos - Santa Fe - Winslow - Scottsdale - Grand Canyon - Las Vegas - Moab - Denver. This itinerary is a 6-day road trip from Denver to Scottsdale with an addition to the Grand Canyon. Sadly, my trip was cut short; I had to fly home from Vegas due to a snowstorm. Looking forward to a new road trip through Nevada, Utah and Colorado. Stay tuned! This is the perfect trip for family vacations, or the solo traveler seeking undistracted cultural immersion
Day 1: Denver to Taos
Distance: 363 miles, ~6.5–7 hours of driving
A journey through red rock, alpine valleys, ancient settlements, and architectural roots of the Southwest. Early departure from Denver, stopping in Colorado Springs to stretch your legs at Garden of the Gods. Continue on through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to Taos, a city rich in adobe architecture, Native American culture, and creative energy.
Cultural Stops:
Taos Pueblo - A UNESCO World Heritage Site and living village dating back 1,000+ years.
Millicent Rogers Museum - Impressive with more than a dozen galleries; some 5000 pieces of Native American and Hispanic art, including furniture, weaving, paintings, pottery and a celebrated collection of Native American jewelry.
Harwood Museum of Art - Sometimes smaller is better. Beloved by locals and worth a visit.
Parks & Recreation:
Garden of the Gods - Stretch your legs and visit the Trading Post, pick up a map, learn what animals to watch for, and see a cast of the dinosaur skull found in Garden of the Gods. The Balanced Rock and Kissing Camels are popular.
Great Sand Dunes National Park - Towering dunes at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains - a surreal landscape loved for its contrast and drama. Walk into the dunes or picnic near Medano Creek.
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge - Stop at the viewing platform. One of the highest bridges in the U.S., overlooking an 800-foot chasm
Where to Stay:
Luxury with Native & global décor
Charming, historic, and walkable
Cozy adobe-style B&B
Where to Eat:
Modern Southwest
In the historic Taos Inn
Orlando’s
Classic New Mexican cuisine
Where to Shop:
Mesa's Edge Taos - Popular, for a good reason!
Larry Martinez Jewelers - Gorgeous gallery and handcrafted pieces.
Taos Leather - Beautifully handcrafted leather goods and jewelry made in Taos.
Taos Rockers - Mineral and fossil specimens.
Taos Bee - Local honey and beeswax products.
Enchanted Circle Pottery - Specialty & Gift Shops Art Galleries.
Taos Tin Works - A personal favorite.
Evening in Taos:
Explore Historic Taos Plaza: Art galleries, shops, adobe buildings
Day 2: Taos to Santa Fe
Distance: 336 miles, ~8 hours of driving
A short distance but packed with activity! Cultural immersion, village architecture, historic churches, artisan traditions, and sacred landscapes.
Cultural Stops:
San Francisco de Asís Mission Church - One of the most photographed churches in the U.S., built between 1772–1816. Iconic adobe architecture, famously painted by Georgia O’Keeffe and photographed by Ansel Adams.
San José de Gracia Church - Incredible surviving example of 18th-century Spanish Colonial mission churches, still used by the community.
Truchas - Quiet mountain village with sweeping views and a rich art scene. Look for local galleries and handmade goods, stroll through its historic plaza.
Cordova - Known for traditional woodcarving (santos and retablos). Local artisan workshops.
El Santuario de Chimayó - Revered as a spiritual healing site, famous for its holy dirt (said to have healing properties) sometimes called the “Lourdes of America.” Built in 1816, Peaceful grounds, religious folk art, and chapels to explore.
Ortega’s Weaving Shop - Family-run for generations, showcasing traditional Chimayó weaving. Shop blankets, rugs, and wall art crafted by master weavers.
Pojoaque Pueblo - Part of the Eight Northern Pueblos. Visit the Poeh Cultural Center exhibiting Tewa culture, language, and history. See traditional pottery, beadwork, and rotating Native art installations. Traditional dances and feast days are open to the public on select occasions. Optional: stop at Buffalo Thunder Resort, a casino operated by the Pueblo, for a coffee, gallery visit, or walk around the property featuring Native art.
Nambé Pueblo & Nambé Falls - The Pueblo of Nambé is a living Native American community that is famous for its beautiful public ceremonies and traditions, strong agriculture, traditional textiles, and world-renowned pottery. Magnificent natural wonders include the Nambé Falls & Lake, the nearly 20,000 acres of towering cottonwoods, junipers, scrub oak, and an occasional outcropping of sandstone.
Parks & Recreation:
Bandelier National Monument - Ancient Pueblo cliff dwellings, kivas, and petroglyphs along the Main Loop Trail (1.2 miles). Optional climb to Alcove House if you're adventurous.
La Cieneguilla Petroglyph Site - Short, rocky hike (about 1 mile roundtrip) to a volcanic mesa with over 4,000 ancient petroglyphs (spirals, animals, dancers) created by Puebloan ancestors between the 13th and 17th centuries. Best in late afternoon light.
Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument - A vast geological park with cone-shaped tent rock formations. The slot canyons within the monument are a sight to behold, with uniquely shaped rock formations.
Valles Caldera National Preserve - a stunning preserve with a 13-mile-wide meadow teeming with diverse wildlife and offers opportunities for fly fishing in its streams. Access to the preserve is limited, with only 58 car passes available per day, so it's essential to sign up early. (Note: this excursion added hours significantly - take this into consideration when making your choices of sites to see.)
Where to Stay:
La Fonda on the Plaza - Historic hotel once part of the Fred Harvey Company, evoking the early hospitality roots of Colter's legacy.
Eldorado - Family favorite - nice spa!
Where to Eat:
Michael’s Kitchen or Farmhouse Cafe (Taos) - Recommended by friends/locals.
Rancho de Chimayó Restaurante (Chimayó) - A beloved stop.
Coyote Cafe or Pasquals Cafe (Santa Fe) - We've been coming to these since they opened.
il Piatto Italian Farmhouse (Santa Fe) - Amazing food preparation & presentation.
Sazón (Santa Fe) - Upscale Mexican with mole-tasting menu
Evening in Santa Fe:
Walk the Plaza - See the Palace of the Governors, visit the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis.
Canyon Road - Dozens of galleries in historic adobe homes.
Day 3: Southwest Immersion - Santa Fe
Santa Fe Highlights:
Museum & Gallery Highlights in Santa Fe
Meow Wolf - Bends the mind. This 70-room art installation has one foot set firmly in another world. Under the narrative "House of Eternal Return," the interactive exhibit a collective of Santa Fe artists.
New Mexico Museum of Art - Located on the downtown Plaza, with rotating exhibitions of regional and international art. It also includes the Vladem Contemporary gallery in the Railyard District.
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum - Focused on the work and life of Georgia O’Keeffe, this museum presents paintings, personal archives, and photo exhibitions.
Museum of International Folk Art (MOIFA) - Set on Museum Hill, containing over 135,000 artifacts spanning global folk traditions, with separate wings for Hispanic, Girard, and Bartlett collections.
Museum of Indian Arts & Culture - Also on Museum Hill, this major state museum preserves Indigenous arts, history, and anthropology of the region.
IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA) - Operated by the Institute of American Indian Arts, MoCNA is housed in the historic Pueblo Revival federal building downtown and features contemporary intertribal Native American art plus an Allan Houser sculpture garden.
SITE Santa Fe - A non-profit contemporary arts institution located in the Railyard District. Admission is free and it hosts rotating exhibitions, biennials, and public programs in a renovated warehouse with cutting-edge architectural design.
Galleries
Santa Fe boasts over 200 art galleries and studios, particularly concentrated along:
Canyon Road Art District - A historic pathway with galleries in traditional adobe and Pueblo-style buildings. Specialties include contemporary, regional, Native, and folk art.
Railyard District - Includes avant-garde galleries near the Railyard Park and SITE.
Downtown/Plaza area - Cluster of galleries & dealers around the central plaza.
Recommended galleries
Day 4: Santa Fe to Winslow
Duration: 419 Miles, 8 hours driving
From adobe villages to crimson canyons, a road trip from Santa Fe to Sedona is a journey through centuries of culture, color, and dramatic desert landscapes. With a good deal of ground to cover, I've been selective about my recommendations; Albuquerque for instance, is not on the itinerary, though a beautiful city. If you decide to stop, check out the old town, taste and purchase roasted green chilis, and check the calendar for fairs and special events.
Cultural Stops:
El Rancho de las Golondrinas - A living village offering a glimpse into the past with its hacienda, village store and schoolhouse. Private tours led by knowledgeable and engaging guides provide hands-on experiences.
Coronado Historic Site - Excavated remains & ancient art in a Pueblo village visited by Coronado.
Sky City Cultural Center & Haak'u Museum - Also known as Acoma Pueblo, a historic Native village on a sandstone mesa. Dating back to 1100-1250 A.D., it's believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the U.S. The museum exhibits local history and culture. I recommend a guided tour.
Navajo Nation Museum - A comprehensive look into the history and culture of the Dine' people. Exhibits cover traditional Native American artifacts and contemporary arts and crafts. There're also other attractions, the Navajo Zoo & Botanical Park, Window Rock Navajo Tribal & Veterans Memorial Park, and the Navajo tribal government.
Winslow Arts Trust - Great exhibits & mission.
Parks & Recreation:
Sandia Peak Tramway - In the Sandia Foothills on the eastern edge of Albuquerque, a 2.7-mile aerial tram ride with stunning views of the city and mountains.
Petroglyph National Monument - Archaeological site showcasing thousands of prehistoric Native American drawings on stone walls.
Blue Mesa - Petrified Forest National Park – Blue Mesa in Petrified Forest National Park has circular hikes that lead to flat-topped hills with rock layers in various shades of blue, gray, and purple. The area is home to a diverse range of plants and animals. The mesa's dominant hues include white, gray, red, and brown with hints of blue mixed in. The landscape features melting-like formations creating canyons and piles of stony soil.
Where to Stay & Eat:
La Posada - A grand Spanish Revival railroad hotel (A Mary Colter design), The Turquoise Room.
Day 5: Winslow to Scottsdale
Duration: 300 miles, 7 hours driving
A scenic transition from high desert plateaus, through volcanic buttes and lava fields, to red rock country and the Sonoran Desert with iconic saguaro cacti, this final leg wraps with a cross section of Arizona’s geologic and ecological zones - from cool mountain air to cactus-dotted desert warmth. We spent a few days in Scottsdale while other family members joined up, resting and checking out the local scene.
Cultural Stops:
Lowell Observatory - Established in 1894 by astronomer Percival Lowell, created to explore Mars and search for extraterrestrial life. It later gained fame with the discovery of Pluto in 1930 and played a key role in early evidence of the expanding universe.
Old Town Cottonwood - A charming historic district that blends small-town warmth with vibrant culture and taste. Once a Prohibition-era bootlegging hub, this walkable stretch of Main Street is now home to restored early 20th-century buildings that house art galleries, antique shops, cafés, and some of the best wine tasting rooms in Arizona. Known as the “Heart of Arizona Wine Country,”
Taliesin West - Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home, architectural studio, and desert sanctuary from 1937 until his death in 1959. Built almost entirely with materials gathered on-site - local desert stone, sand, and timber - it reflects Wright’s vision of organic architecture that blends harmoniously with its Sonoran Desert surroundings. A National Historic Landmark and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Huhugam Ki Museum - Meaning “House of the Ancestors”, a deep look at both ancient and living Native cultures. Built in traditional adobe style, the museum features exhibits on the ancestral Hohokam people alongside the Pima (Akimel O’odham) and Maricopa (Xalychidom Piipaash) tribes, showcasing pottery, basketry, tools, and photographs. Outside are replicas of historic dwellings and shaded ramadas that reflect Indigenous desert life.
Parks & Recreation:
Meteor Crater - Also known as Barringer Crater, the world’s best-preserved meteorite impact site. Created around 50,000 years ago, nearly one mile across, 2.4 miles in circumference, and more than 550 feet deep.
Walnut Canyon National Monument - Over 300 Puebloan cliff dwellings, some accessible, built in kaibab limestone overhangs by the Sinagua, a farming culture who lived there between 1100 and 1250 AD. The canyon runs about 20 miles long, reaching depths of nearly 400 feet, containing multiple vegetation zones, from desert to forests. The name Sinagua means “without water,” referring to the Sinagua's ingenuity of living in a dry region by farming the mesa tops. There is a Visitor Center & Museum on the canyon rim with panoramic windows overlooking the gorge, exhibits, artifacts, and interpretive displays.
Palatki Heritage Site - Into the red rock canyons, the Sinagua built cliff dwellings between 1100 and 1350 AD. Accessible only by reservation and guided tour, the site reveals a stunning blend of ancient architecture and rock art- some pictographs dating back 5,000 years.
Red Rock State Park - A 286-acre nature preserve with well-maintained hiking trails and environmental education center. known for stunning red rock vistas and rich biodiversity - manzanita and juniper forests, open meadows, and the lush banks of Oak Creek.
Red Rock Scenic Byway - A breathtaking 7.5-mile stretch through the heart of Sedona’s red rock country. Designated an All-American Road, it winds through Coconino National Forest with iconic formations like Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, and Cathedral Rock. Highlights include the Chapel of the Holy Cross, vortex sites, and the dramatic Chapel Road overlook.
Montezuma Castle National Monument - A quick stop with Impressive and accessible cliff dwellings built by the Sinagua. A five-story, 20-room structure is tucked into a limestone cliff 90 feet above Beaver Creek.
Where to Stay:
The Scottsdale Resort & Spa - Always amazing, never disappoints; book a room on the ground floor with a patio opening to the pool where all can gather. Golf Available, solid restaurants.
Where to Eat:
Barrio Queen - Great for groups: a taco and margarita to suit everyone's taste. Great happy hour,
Bourbon & Bones Chophouse - Our Happy place.
Etta's - Sublime
Nobu Scottsdale - It is vacation after all! I can't get enough of the spinach salad with Miso.
Flagstaff Highlights:
The Arboretum - A high-altitude botanical garden across 200 acres at 7,150 feet, with shaded trails, meadows in bloom, and over 750 species of drought-tolerant plants adapted to northern Arizona’s unique ecosystem.
Sedona Highlights:
Vortex Sites - Believed to radiate powerful, spiraling energy, enhancing spiritual awareness, healing, and meditation. These natural spots - marked by their stunning red rock formations - are thought to either emit upflow energy (stimulating and expansive) or inflow energy (grounding and introspective). Four popular sites are: Cathedral Rock Vortex, Bell Rock Vortex, Airport Mesa Vortex, Boynton Canyon Vortex.
Gallery Row - An arts corridor with dozens of galleries, boutiques, and studios. Within just a few blocks, visit Rowe Fine Art, Mountain Trails Gallery, Honshin Fine Art, and more - with fine art, sculpture, Native American crafts, and jewelry.
Tlaquepaque - Originally an artist community, modeled after traditional villages near Guadalajara. Vine-draped stucco walls, intimate cobblestone courtyards, fountains, and over 50 unique galleries, artisan shops, and cafes.
Scottsdale Highlights:
Old Town galleries & shops
Talking Stick Resort - Hotel, casino, restaurants, spas, indoor skydiving, night life & golf.
Desert Botanical Garden & McDowell Sonoran Preserve - Lovely desert flora and fauna - cacti, agave, and desert blooms on boardwalks and trails.
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) - Modern art, architecture, and design housed in a sleek, repurposed movie theater redesigned by architect Will Bruder. Featuring five rotating galleries that spotlight provocative works from both global and regional artists.
Day 6: Southwest Immersion - Scottsdale
Day 7: Optional - Scottsdale to the Grand Canyon
Duration: 275 miles, 5 hours driving
For this leg, we crafted an itinerary I've called 'In Search of Mary Colter'. This journey is a deep dive into incredible architecture and history.
Mary Colter (1869–1958) was one of the most important, yet often overlooked, architects and designers of the American Southwest. Working primarily for the Fred Harvey Company and the Santa Fe Railroad, she was a pioneering female figure in a male-dominated field, known for her visionary and site-sensitive architecture that blended Native American, Spanish Colonial, and naturalistic influences. Colter practiced what she called “organic architecture” before it became popular. Her work anticipated ideas made famous later by Frank Lloyd Wright. She emphasized handcraft, natural materials, and cultural authenticity, often studying Indigenous architecture and working with Native artisans.
Colter designed and decorated hotels, lodges, and public buildings, especially in National Parks, creating immersive spaces that respected local cultures and landscapes. At the Grand Canyon, she left a lasting legacy with several now-iconic structures. We decided to include as many of Colter's pieces as possible into our itinerary.
Note: This route takes you back through Sedona and Flagstaff; consider this on the trip down if you want to revisit or lacked time to see something.
Cultural Stops:
Cameron Trading Post – A historic outpost near the Grand Canyon, with Navajo crafts and cuisine.
Colter Highlights at the Grand Canyon:
Hopi House (1905) - Designed to resemble a traditional Hopi pueblo, it was one of the first attempts at culturally respectful architecture in the Southwest.
Lookout Studio (1914) - Built into the cliffs with native stone, offering breathtaking views while blending into the environment.
Hermit’s Rest (1914) - A cozy, rustic stone shelter that appears aged and weathered, meant to feel like it grew out of the landscape.
Parks & Recreation:
Desert View Watchtower (1932) - A 70-foot stone tower inspired by Ancestral Puebloan architecture, decorated with murals by Hopi artist Fred Kabotie. A masterpiece that blends Indigenous inspiration with Colter's signature design style.
Where to Stay:
Bright Angel Lodge (1935) – Designed by Colter herself; rustic charm with history built into its walls.
Evening at the Grand Canyon:
Sunset at Mather Point or Yavapai Point
This thoughtfully curated road trip offers more than breathtaking vistas. It's a tribute to Mary Colter's architectural brilliance and to the Native cultures she admired and elevated. From adobe pueblos to red rock towers, this is a journey of design, history, and the enduring spirit of the Southwest.
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