Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Arizona is definitely off the beaten path, but it’s worth the extra time to see its wonders. The monument boasts three main sandstone canyons, Canyon de Chelly (pronounced “de-shay”), Canyon del Muerto and Monument, and are all worth seeing firsthand as they are full of hundreds of archaeological sites including ruins of former dwellings, petroglyphs and pictographs.
Visiting Arizona’s Grand Canyon is either on your bucket list already, or ought to be. If you choose to visit its popular South Rim, the best times to do it fall within the next two months. Weather is usually ideal for sightseeing and hiking, as daily high temperatures will often be in the 60s and 70s.
Zion National Park is a spectacular destination year-round, but spring is one of the best times to visit. Wildflowers are blooming in the lowlands, deciduous trees are starting to leaf out and the birds are singing their hearts out. While it’s a treat just to be there, you can make the trip educational as well, by signing up for a workshop or class with the Zion Canyon Field Institute. The institute offers workshops all year, but in spring the schedule is particularly rich. Be sure to make a reservation, as classes fill up fast.
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Joshua Tree National Park, located just outside of Twentynine Palms, California, is named after its signature plant species. It is also home to thousands of rock climbing routes, nearly 200 miles of hiking trails and five desert palm oases.
Lake Mead will be the site of three tournaments presented by Fishing League Worldwide today through Sunday, Feb. 28-March 3.
Fort Piute, California, lies just outside Nevada’s southern tip, in the extreme eastern portion of the 1.6 million-acre Mojave National Preserve. Once you get there you’ll find not only the remains of an old military outpost, but also a tiny oasis around a perennial stream and American Indian petroglyphs.
Boulder City Parks and Recreation Department’s men’s league basketball is finishing its second round of play on Tuesdays and Thursdays through February. Games begin at 6:30 p.m. in the new gymnasium.
Those itching for a day trip should consider Chloride, Arizona, less than 100 miles south from Boulder City.
