Not as well know, but well worth the time...El Malpias Nat. Park near Grants, NM has lava caves, ice caves, bat caves, red rocks, stunning mountains and Native American culture. Find the visitors Centers for Ranger led hikes and information. Follow 40 from Albuquerque about 1 1/2 hours northwest. Then go on to Gallup and the old hotels where Western movies were filmed. Expect to meet wonderful foreign visitors and try out your college German, French etc.

If you come thru or close to Phoenix, you might want to see 3 Dudes Quilt Shop in Mesa and 35th Ave Sewing in Phoenix. They are 2 of the larger shops.

TanyaL had a lot of good suggestions. Texas has nothing to interest us, too much of the same, too big, too dull, (even the Alamo was overcommercial and underdone, but that was some years ago), but Arizona and New Mexico and Utah (and a dip up into Colorado for Mesa Verde) are all fantastic. Taos area has wonderful museums (a fantastic folk art museum) and they are all on the same hill. The towns in New Mexico on the main highway from Taos to Albuquerque are not cities, but towns that are proud of who they are and very interesting. Acra, the oldest continuous town in the U.S. (maybe) is worth going to see. Out of Tucson be sure to go through the Sonora Desert. Stop at San Javaier Mission (ancient church, full of the flavor of the area). If you go far sourth and west enough you can spend a day or so at the Organ Pipe National Monument but if you are pressed for time go to the outdoor museums in the Tucson area. Don't miss the aviary where local birds come to stay as well as the exotic birds in huge aviaries. Phoenix area is a huge retirement and snow bird area and its museums are deadly (the ones we went to anyway... the public ones); the only reason for going there is if you are into bicycling (best paths ever!) or if you golf (but you can do both almost anywhere in a town area of Arizona). The canyons of N. Arizona and Utah are awe inspiring beyong expectations. There are a couple of dinosaur parks in the areas. Get a AAA map of the areas because they highlight a lot of the good places, but they also highlight upper end places to stay and to eat. It would be worth it to buy a lonely planet guide book, or similar, as well as a good map of the 3 states (New Mexico, Arizona and Utah). You could route your trip and get a feel for how many days you might want to stay in each area. ENJOY!

Sounds like you've got a great trip planned. If you come through Flagstaff, be sure to stop at Odegaard's Sewing Center, a fantastic LQS here. From here you can go to either the south rim of the Grand Canyon, or the North Rim if it is not closed for the winter by the time you are here. Near Flagstaff you can also see Wapatki National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument, Meteor Crater off to the east, and let me think.. there are lots of fun things to do and see around here, so it depends on what you are interested in really.

Hope you have a fabulous trip, and if you need any local Flagstaff info, just pm me.

We saw the Grand Canyon and loved the showing of it at the Imax theater near the canyon. It shows more of the area and some scenes taken from gliders that are breathtaking! I had to close my eyes sometimes. The canyon can not be explained but must be experienced. Pictures are best at daylight or dusk.

Antelope canyon is a slot canyon carved by water and the colors change as the sun progresses across the sky. You can go an a trip out of Page ,Arizona to see it. The photos are iconic and easily identified when you see them in the future. Well worth the trip.

Yes, if you drive from GC to Vegas, you go over the new bridge over the dam....& on the way see several walking bridges over the road...for the mountain goats,so they don't have to cone down & cross the hi-way

If you go to Carlsbad caverns make sure you have a camp site to leave your trailor at as the road up the hill (mountian) is winding and very steep, but well worth the trip!! Loved it even though they closed the cavern early as it started to snow with ice mixed in (it was January) and the road down the mountian was being closed, not a fun trip down that winding road and we were in a 4x4 SUV.

Thank you to all who have replied! You have given us some great advice and ideas!

Keep them coming! Thanks!

Well, in AZ of course you have the Big Papa" Grand Canyon, Sedona is pretty and cool! I think two of my fave "Arizona'y" places are Talesin West (Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home). You can get a tour and I believe its still a working architecture school/business. It was very modern and up-and-coming in its day. My other favorite is the Sonoran Desert museum near Tucson. Its like a desert zoo and botanical garden all rolled into one. In the summer, you should get there AS IT OPENS. It gets very hot! Don't forget to drink water ...until ya gotta go! (sorry to be so graphic, but if you are not used to our heat and dry air, you WILL get dehydrated in a huge hurry)

Fav Quilt shop in Phx? Quiltz (40th Street and Thunderbird...they are at a different location now but are moving to this location as of April 1st). 3 Dudes quilt shop and Zoes are worth the trip also