The American West is a region of the United States that includes 13 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The environment, climate and culture vary greatly from state to state. This region is filled with many different places where you can spend your vacation, whether it is a weekend getaway on a budget or a luxury month-long sojourn.
Yosemite National Park, a 747,956 acre park nestled in central California, is a popular destination for travelers from all over the world. The park offers a variety of hiking trails, granite cliffs, rivers and waterfalls, as well as animals and plants. You can spend your nights under the stars in tents, or hole up in one of the many bed and breakfast facilities in the region. This location is recommended for hikers, climbers, outdoors enthusiasts and nature lovers.
Portland, Oregon is a city straddling the Willamette and Columbia rivers in northwest Oregon. It is well-known for its artistic and liberal population, as well as for its many art galleries, cultural events, micro-breweries and restaurants. Visitors can also find outdoor activities at nearby Mount Hood, as well as other surrounding local parks and rivers. Music lovers will not want to miss the famous Portland Jazz Festival that happens every year in February.
Tucson, Arizona is a sleepy little desert city in the southern region of the state. Hotel Congress provides historic lodgings in the heart of downtown. The restaurant and club downstairs will feed you during the day and quench your thirst at night. Step outside the city limits for a hike at Catalina State Park where the saguaro cacti stand tall at every corner. Visit the Mission San Xavier del Bac on the local reservation for Sunday mass.
Missoula is the second-largest city in Montana, located in the far-western region of the state. This vacation is ideal for a family with varying interests. Missoula has attractions that will appeal to ghost hunters, gem buffs, fishing enthusiasts and fans of wining and dining. Spend lazy afternoons at local wineries, or lose yourself in the multitude of art galleries dotting the downtown. Wildlife viewers will appreciate the chance to see sheep, bison and bears up-close.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park, tucked away in the Guadalupe Mountains in New Mexico, has more than 117 known caves for the adventuring traveler to explore. There are both guided and self-guided tours of the park, offering spectacular views of underground environments. Especially notable is the wheelchair accessibility of some of the tours, although some of the steeper trails are for the expert climber only. Catch a drink and a meal at one of the local pubs after your descent.
More than 2000 natural sandstone arches can be found at Arches National Park. From March through October, this scenic vacation can be found among the natural wonders located near Moab, Utah. You can spend days exploring the topography. Fees are cheap but the terrain is rough, so the homebody would not be comfortable here. Some areas of the park require a reservation, so plan well in advance.
