South West USA Fly Drives

Mention the South West and some distinct images spring to mind; the familiar outcrops of Monument Valley, the awesome Grand Canyon, mighty saguaro cacti and the ancient Indian history. This is a land of startling scenery and stunning contrasts. The Southwest contains more national parks and monuments than any other area of the United States.

Explore the region’s dramatic history from the ancient Pueblo and Hopi cultures to the Spanish invaders and the Indian Wars.

  • Grand Canyon
  • Tombstone
  • Death Valley
  • Yosemite
  • Napa Valley
  • Hollywood/Beverly Hills
  • Four Corners National Monument

 

Cactii - It is illegal to damage or destroy a cactus and you will need a permit to collect any kind of cactus from the wild. The magnificent saguaro cactus, which yields the state flower of Arizona, is only found in southern California, Arizona and Northern Mexico. They take about 15 years to grow to a foot in height and about 150 years to reach 7 feet. Their first arms do not appear until they are around 75 years old.

Tombstone - This is the location of the famous OK Corral gunfight which took place in 1881. The exact details are a bit sketchy but every day you can still see a recreation of the famous shootout by the Boot Hill Gunslingers. Shootings and hangings kept Boot Hill Graveyard very busy in the 1880’s but the town ‘too tough to die’ survived and is now a popular tourist spot.

Navajo Code Talkers - A special group of Navajos were formed during World War II called the Navajo Code Talkers. The Code Talkers used a special code based on the Navajo language to transmit messages, impossible for the Japanese to decipher about the time and place of attacks. The complex syntax and tonal qualities of the Navajo language could baffle even the most experienced linguists.

Truth or Consequences - In 1950 game show host Ralph Edwards challenged any city in the USA to rename itself after his game show “ Truth or Consequences”. Hot Springs, New Mexico rose to the occasion.

The Extraterrestrial Highway - A 100-mile strip of Highway 375 north of Las Vegas is known as the ‘Extraterrestrial Highway’. The only community here is the small town of Rachel, home to the Little A-Le-Inn bar and grill and the Area 51 Research Center (a mobile home!).

Festivals of Santa Fe - There are three major events in Santa Fe’s calendar. The first is the Spanish Market held in the last week of July, which offers many stalls of traditional folk art. The Indian Market is held towards the end of August and is the showcase for Southwestern Native American art and crafts. The weekend after Labor Day is host to the Fiestas de Santa Fe which celebrates the Spaniards’ return after the Pueblo Revolt.

Itineraries