A Southwest RoadTrippin’ Travel Guide

As I traversed from PA to NM and back again I saw and experienced some epic beauty, big emotions and unexplainable magic. So I thought I would put together a little Travel Guide that shines light on the reality, diversity and mystery of this beautiful land we are so blessed to call home. Thank you for your gifts sweet Earth and joy to you my fellow Earthlings. Happy adventuring!

On October 12 my dear friend Hilary Peirce and I set out on a cross-country adventure in Betty (Hilary’s Toyota Prius). After 6 weeks of travel Hilary proved herself to be a super compatible and spirited travel companion and Betty proved herself to be a reliable and efficient chariot. The trip was sketched out with a northern route out to New Mexico where Hilary would housesit for a few weeks while I would adventure solo. And then we planned to take a southern route back to PA. We agreed that our travel route and accommodations would be spontaneous and flexible allowing room for adaptation and unexpected surprises and that was exactly what we got! The final itinerary and hot spots looked something like this..

Westbound Road Trip PA-NM

  • Sunrise dip Lake Michigan

  • Hike Indiana Dunes National Park

  • Hoppy goodness at Tangled Roots Brewery, Ottawa IL

  • Fancy night stay and breakfast Hotel Deco, Omaha NE

  • Leisurely layover in Boulder, CO

  • Hike Mule Dear Trail in Goldengate Canyon State Park, CO

  • Breaky in Breaky - Breakenridge, CO

Santa Fe, NM Hot Spots

  • Sweet little Airbnb downtown Santa Fe making it easy to check out local nature, art, culture and architecture

  • Madrid, NM - Arty town with solid live music and a lot of soul

  • Awesome live tunes by John Fancis & the Poor Clairs every other Wednesday night at El Ray Court

  • Meow Wolf - A 70 rooms mind-bending, interactive, exploratory art exhibition

  • Bandolier National Park - Tsankawi Trail (way less crowded)

  • Abiquiu, NM - Exquisite landscape and home of Ghost Ranch, Georgia O’Keffee’s home

  • Jemez Hot Springs - Top notch hot springs experience

  • Earthship Airbnb - Taos, NM

  • Black Rock Natural Hot Spring - Taos, NM

Moab, UT

  • Grandstaff Canyon Trail

  • Fisher Towers Trail *Favorite hike of the whole trip*

  • Arches National Park - Favorite hike = Devils Garden + Primitive Trail

  • Camping in Canyonlands National Park Needles District - Favorite hike = Big Spring Canyon Trail

Eastbound Road Trip NM-PA

  • Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Refuge for Crane migration

  • White Sands National Park

  • Marfa, TX - Funky town

  • Dome Home Glamping near Big Bend National Park + Santa Elana Canyon Trail

Unexpected Gem - Airbnb Eureka Springs, AR

This spooky little town has magical charm, good food and great art. It is build into the the natural curvature of the Earth in the Ozarks. I could get lost here for a while... Arkansas is known as “The Natural State” who knew? Certainly not me. I was really impressed with this place and look forward returning someday.

Living in these unpredictable times I think it is more important then ever that we get out and explore this beautiful planet (in the most socially responsible and environmentally friendly ways possible) while we have the chance. With 63 National Parks and 10,336 State Parks in this country alone there is so much to do and explore. So get out there and enjoy and please keep me posted on your favorite hot spots!

Live Love,
Mesa

TravelMelissa Matarese4 Comments