Rugged. Beautiful. And fun. The Southwest is the ultimate playground, luring adventurers with red-rock canyons, Wild West legends and the kicky delights of green chile stew. Excursions in this region envision visions of vast desert landscapes, rodeos, and lake adventures.
Best day trips from Austin
Fredericksburg
With a wealth of events, wineries and in-town attractions, it's often hard to choose how to best spend a day in Fredericksburg. It had been settled by some of Texas' first German immigrant families, and the European frontier ethos shines through within the architecture and good reputation for the town itself. Further afield, vineyard tours really are a hit with groups on weekend trips from Austin. 1hr 30min by car.
Guadalupe River
There's no better respite from the Central Texas summer than jumping within the water, and few places could beat the Guadalupe River; specifically, drifting down its course with an inner tube. Head to Guadalupe River State Park for a family friendly float (plus campsites and hiking), or look for local private operators that offer a more party-focused experience on the river. 1hr 30min by car.
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, Fredericksburg
The 425ft high pink granite dome of Enchanted Rock towers over the surrounding Central Texas hills. The most popular Summit Hike tracks past vernal pools and rock fissures to panoramic views from the top. Queues form at the State Park gate as early as 8am on busy weekends, but campers with confirmed reservations cruise straight on through and in to the park. 1hr 40min by car.
Best excursions from Dallas
Fort Worth
Famous as being "Where the West Begins," Fort Worth continues to have the cowboy feel. It first rose to prominence throughout the great open-range cattle drives of the late 19th century. These days, the legendary Stockyards would be the prime visitor destination, hosting twice-daily mini-cattle drives and rodeos every weekend. Downtown is bursting with bars and restaurants, while the Cultural District boasts three amazing art museums. 40min by car.
Waco, Texas
In this college town, Magnolia Market at the Silos draws more traffic than the Alamo. Once you have shopped, played and eaten at 'Fixer-Upper' duo Chip and Joanna Gaines' biggest renovation project, stroll Baylor's 1000-acre campus or stand-up paddle straight through town on the Brazos River. 1hr 30min by car.
Caddo Lake State Park
Caddo Lake State Park is a good place to start your lake adventure. Take an interpretive hike through the cypress forest on the lake's western edge. Or, in summer, rent a canoe. The park has some good little cabins built through the Civilian Conservation Corps and also the riverside tent sites are pretty sweet. 2hr 30min by car.
Best excursions from Phoenix
Saguaro National Park
Saguaros are icons of the American Southwest, as well as an entire cactus army of these majestic, ribbed sentinels remains safe and secure in this desert playground. Saguaro National Park is divided into east and west units, separated by 30 miles and Tucson itself. Both sections – the Rincon Mountain District in the east and Tucson Mountain District in the west – are full of trails and desert flora; if you only visit one, allow it to be the spectacular western half. 1hr 40min by car.
Sedona
Nestled amid striking red sandstone formations, Sedona's truly spectacular landscape has long attracted spiritual seekers, artists and healers. Outdoorsy adventurers have begun to begin to see the light too: there are several inimitable thrills to be had hiking, biking and climbing amid these desert spires. Red Rock State Park has 5 miles of well-marked, interconnecting trails in gorgeous red-rock country. 2hr by car.
Flagstaff
The laid-back charms of Flagstaff, the house of Northern Arizona University, are many; from a pedestrian-friendly historic downtown, bedecked with vintage neon, to hiking and skiing in the country's largest ponderosa pine forest. 2hr 30min by car.
Best excursions from Las Vegas
Red Rock Canyon
Red Rock's dramatic vistas are revered by Vegas locals and adored by visitors from around the globe. Formed by extreme tectonic forces, it's thought the canyon, whose 3000ft red rock escarpment rises sharply from the valley floor, was formed around 65 million years back. A 13-mile, one-way scenic loop drive offers mesmerizing vistas of the canyon's most striking features. Trails and rock-climbing routes radiate from roadside parking areas. 30min by car.
Valley of fireside State Park
A masterpiece of Southwest desert scenery, the Valley of Fire State Park contains 40,000 acres of red Aztec sandstone, petrified trees and ancient Native American petroglyphs (at Atlatl Rock). Dedicated in 1935, it was Nevada's first designated state park. Its psychedelic landscape has been carved by wind and water over 1000's of years. 50min by car.
Lost City Museum
Wander from the big city to unearth the best art, culture and history on the continent in the most unexpected places. In the Lost City Museum, learn about the lives of the Ancestral Puebloans through reconstructed homes and the artifacts which were saved as this desert land developed. 1hr by car.
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