Page 551 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  549

Outdoor Activities courses make the Southwest a Gambling in Las Vegas
With thousands of miles of rock golfer’s paradise. Scottsdale, Despite its growing fame as the
canyons, spectacular deserts, considered America’s premier entertainment capital of the
and snowcapped peaks, the golf spot, is famous for its world, Las Vegas is popular
Southwest is a magnet for Boulders Resort. The ski season mainly for its casinos. They can
climbers, hikers, mountain runs from November to April. seem daunting at first, but with a
bikers, 4WD drivers, and skiers. Utah has some of the best basic understanding of the rules,
All national parks have well- skiing in the region, while most games are fairly easy. Some
marked trails and ranger-led New Mexico’s Taos Ski Valley hotels have gaming guides on
hikes, focusing on the local includes world- class slopes. their in-house TV channels, and
flora, fauna, and geology. many casinos give free lessons
Utah considers itself the world’s Entertainment at the tables. If you are winning,
mountain bike capital, and Moab it is customary to tip the dealers.
is a pilgrimage site for such The Southwest’s blend of
bikers. Poison Spider Bicycles cultures has made the region
sells and repairs bikes as well a lively center for arts and Shopping
as which lead groups through entertainment. The cities of The Southwest’s exciting
wilderness areas. Phoenix, Santa Fe, Tucson, range of Indian, Hispanic,
The Green, San Juan, and and Albuquerque offer opera, and Anglo-American products
Colorado Rivers are ideal for ballet, classical music, and make shopping a cultural
white-water rafting. A thrilling theatrical productions. The adventure. Native crafts,
6–16 day rafting trip along the smaller resort towns of Sedona including rugs and jewelry,
Colorado River through the and Taos, famed for their can be bought in reservation
Grand Canyon is offered by resident artists, regularly host posts or pueblo stores.
many outfitters, including touring produc tions and Santa Fe is famous for its
Canyon Explorations. Water the ater and musical shows. galleries selling Georgia
sports, such as powerboating, Most cities and major towns O’Keeffe-inspired landscapes,
jet-skiing, and fishing, are have a lively nightlife that contemporary art, and
popular in the artificial lakes. includes country music, jazz, bronze cowboy sculptures.
Air tours are a good option and rock as well as dinner Across the region, specialty
for time-restricted travelers theater and standup comedy. grocery stores stock local
who wish to see the remote The Southwest is a mecca products such as hot chili
attractions. Redtail Aviation of for Western-style entertainment sauces and blue corn chips.
Moab offer three-hour tours such as rodeo contests. Historic The big cities offer a choice
that cover Canyonlands, Lake frontier towns such as Tombstone of air-conditioned malls. The
Powell, Capitol Reef National also stage mock gunfights. biggest concentration is in
Park, and the Grand Canyon’s Check with the Tombstone Phoenix, and its Metrocenter
North Rim. However, helicopter Visitor Center for details. For Mall is the region’s largest.
tours of the Grand Canyon sports fans, there are major Las Vegas’s fantasy-themed
have a poor reputation for league and college football, malls make shopping one
safety. Arizona’s 420 golf baseball, and basketball games. of its many attractions.
DIRECTORY
Tourist Offices Utah Air Tours Rodeos & Wild
Tel (801) 538-1900. West Shows
Arizona ∑ visitutah.com Redtail Aviation
Tel (866) 275-5816. of Moab Tombstone
∑ arizonaguide.com Mountain Biking Tel (800) 842-9251. Visitor Center
Tel (520) 457-3929.
∑ redtailaviation.com
Colorado Poison Spider Bicycles ∑ tombstone
Tel (800) 265-6723. 497 N Main St, Moab, UT Skiing chamber.com
∑ colorado.com
84532. Tel (800) 635-1792. Taos Ski Valley Shopping
Navajo Tourism ∑ poisonspider PO Box 90 Taos Ski Valley,
Department bicycles.com NM 87525. Tel (866) 968- Metrocenter Mall
PO Box 663, 7386. ∑ skitaos.org 9617 Metro Pkwy,
Window Rock, Whitewater Phoenix, AZ 85051.
AZ 86515. Rafting Golf Tel (602) 997-8991.
Tel (928) 810-8501. Canyon Explorations ∑ metrocenter
∑ discovernavajo.com PO Box 310, Flagstaff, AZ Boulders Resort mall.com
34631 N Tom Darlington
New Mexico 86002. Tel (800) 654-0723. Dr, Carefree, AZ 85377.
Tel (505) 827-7336. ∑ canyon Tel (888) 579-2631.
∑ newmexico.org explorations.com ∑ theboulders.com

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