Kelley, you are in for a treat! The Southwest is in our family's opinion the most beautiful part of an amazingly beautiful country (Yellowstone, Tetons and Yosemite notwithstanding). Last November/December we drove from CT out to Las Vegas, via NM & AZ (and ultimately on to Disneyland). We pretty much took the route suggested by Judy. Her suggestions on places to see were a trip down memory lane.

Do you have "one or two weeks" TOTAL, or each way? That will certainly impact your plans. You will have to fly (maybe literally) if that is your total time. We left Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 27, and were in Albuquerque the following Wed., Dec. 3, and that included a 2-day stop in IL. That was just how we paced it out.

Without a doubt the most interesting places were west of Tulsa, although a trip to the Gateway Arch - and UP it - was quite worthwhile. We made a special stop at the OKCity Memorial. It IS moving... we were quite choked up, including the kids. The prairies of OK & TX are unlike anything we have here in New England, so be sure to take it all in. After you leave Amarillo be on the lookout on your left for Cadillac Ranch and the World's Largest Cross, two Route 66 landmarks. (Actually, you don't have to be on the lookout for the Cross.)

ABQ is a gorgeous, clean city; check out the beautifully painted highway overpasses, etc. There are great museums and other sites (e.g., Mus. of Nat. History and Rio Grande Botanical Gardens). Here's where we got into some real nice National Parks & Monuments, all with lots of opportunities to hike or just stroll. [The National Park Service has a Park Pass for your vehicle. For $50 you get in all the parks & monuments for a year. But, it's only one vehicle per card, so if it's two vehicles it may not be worth it. Plus some are free anyway. See www.nps.gov for info.] Just west of ABQ is Petroglyph N.M. Further west you can take Rte. 53 off I-40 and see El Malpais N.M. (which you can just drive through), and then one of our favorites, El Morro N.M. El Morro you have to walk, but our kids did it, with me backpacking my 2-yr-old, up to the top. It is breathtaking! Further west as you cross into AZ are the Painted Cliffs.

Once in AZ you may want to take a side trip north on Rte 191 (about an hour drive) to Chinle and Canyon de Chelley ("de-SHAY"). While not the scale of Grand Canyon, it is marvelous, and it may be the next best thing if you can't make it to Grand Canyon. De Chelley is very unique, in the heart of Navajo country. (BTW, be VERY careful to obey speed limits, as Navajo police are not exactly charitable, especially w/ RI plates). (Nor do I blame them!)

We got off Exit 311 for the Petrified Forest N.P. visitors center and drove through the park. That route dumps you out on Rte 180, which you can take to Holbrook and - yes - the Wigwam Motel. The owner was VERY nice, and it is nostalgic there on Rte. 66. Not a Hilton, but we were glad we did it.

Other places we took in, that I recommend: Walnut Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, and Montezuma Castle.

All in all, NM&AZ are diverse, unique and lovely states. We periodically consider moving out there. There are high desert areas, deep forests, pine ridges, mountains, canyons, and desert lowlands. Enjoy!

Tips for your trip: Stock up on coffee before you hit St. Louis because it is mostly coffee scented dirty water west of there. And carry drinking water!

Have your cars checked out by a mechanic before you go; make sure spare tires are properly inflated and that the AC is working - you will NEED it. You mentioned that you're driving your daughter's car to her at ASU. I highly recommend either CB radios or decent walkie-talkies (moreso than cell phones) to communicate with each other. Plus it makes it fun to talk and point out sites and keep each other awake.

And have a BLAST! We live in the greatest country in the world, and there is no better way to see it.