Page 279 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

PR A C TIC AL INFORM A TION  277

everything from local maps to are managed by different Native even busier and livelier in summer
hotel and B&B bookings. Special American tribal councils. For than in winter. In general those
tours such as guided history advice on etiquette, opening places that do close will be shut
walks, ranger-led archaeological times, and admission charges for such major public holidays as
tours, and wildlife watching can to such sights contact the Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas
often be arranged through these local Bureau of Indian Affairs Day, and New Year’s Day (see p39).
offices. All the national and state or the Navajo Tourism Most museums, parks, and
parks have their own visitor Department. other attractions charge an
centers, which provide hiking admission fee. The amount can
maps, safety advice, and special vary enormously, and many
licenses for wilderness hiking sights offer discounts for families,
and camping. children, and senior citizens.
Each state has its own Local news papers may carry
department of tourism, as do discount coupons, while student
all the major towns and cities. cards or an I. D. proving you are
All operate websites, which offer over 65 guarantees reduced-cost
comprehensive information, entry to most major attractions.
with links to local attractions
and activity operators, listings
of shops and restaurants, and Time Zones
online booking services for There are only two time zones
accommodations. Many will also that affect the area covered by
mail out information packs on this guide – Mountain Standard
request. Most states also run Time, which covers Arizona, New
“Welcome Centers” close to the Mexico, Colorado, and Utah, and
state lines on the major inter- Pacific Time in Nevada. Mountain
state highways; these can be Ranger on a guided tour at Keet Seel, Standard Time is one hour later
excellent sources of Navajo National Monument than Pacific Time. If it is noon in
maps, brochures, Las Vegas then it will be 1pm
and discount Opening Hours and across the rest of the region.
coupons. In How ever, daylight-saving time
addition, smaller Admission Charges runs from late spring to early fall,
urban commun- Opening times are seasonal. As a and the clocks are set forward
ities and sights rule, most of the major sights are by one hour, except in Arizona,
New Mexico of special interest open later through the summer which does not have
tourist sign run visitor centers, months. Museums and galleries daylight-saving.
providing local tend to be open through the To confuse matters even more,
maps and guides. Bear in mind weekends and closed for one the Navajo Nation (across Arizona
that many of the Southwest’s day during the week. Almost all and part of New Mexico) does
attractions, such as the pueblos the major outdoor attractions, use daylight-saving time, but
of New Mexico and the Navajo including all the national parks, the Hopi Indian Reservation (in
Nation in the Four Corners, are remain at least partially open year- the middle of the Navajo
located on reservation lands and round, while many of the cities are Reservation), does not.

Water fountains in the courtyard of the Heard Museum in Phoenix

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