I prefer a road trip to a plane trip any day. I realize that, living in Chandler Arizona as I do, road trips to destinations on the East Coast are a bit more ambitious than the amount of vacation time that I have available. But there are plenty of weekend trips that can be made in the comfort and convenience of my very own vehicle, with Arizona as the jumping-off point. We’ve refined road tripping to an art form. And now, gentle readers, I am going to divulge my secret destinations to you.
They’re really not all that secretive.
A view from Highway 25 between Santa Fe and Albuquerque.
Chandler Arizona to Santa Fe New Mexico: 8 hrs 16 min, 473 miles
An eight-hour-and-change drive is an easy jaunt for us – especially when we’ve been known to drive for sixteen hours straight to get to a particular destination. Santa Fe is a lovely destination for a long weekend. I have my eye on a luxurious stay at the Bishop’s Lodge Resort and Spa, doing some shopping and dining in the historic downtown area, and maybe get in some skiing if we happen to visit in the winter.
Independence Ghost Town near Aspen, Colorado.
Chandler Arizona to Aspen Colorado: 12 hrs 35 min, 729 miles
Aspen is one of my favorite destinations, especially in the summer. I know, I know, who in their right mind would visit Aspen when it’s not ski season? This girl, my friends! It’s lovely, lush and green. The mountain air is fresh and without the stifling heat of a Phoenix summer. The crowds are significantly less, especially if you stay in the ski resorts. My husband and I were in Aspen in the summer of ’09 and stayed in Snowmass Village, just a ten minute drive from downtown Aspen. We wandered to our heart’s content, could always find restaurant seating, and had no parking concerns whatsoever. It was epic.
Las Vegas Nevada
Chandler Arizona to Las Vegas Nevada: 5 hrs 43 min, 312 miles
I live five hours from Vegas and I’ve never been there. Not once. I know, you’re gasping right now. That’s the reaction I get whenever I tell anyone that I’ve never been to Vegas. The person I’m talking to almost ALWAYS repeats my very words, in breathless and unbelieving tones… “You’ve never been to VEGAS?!?” This is apparently a condition that I must fix, pronto. I’ll probably plan something for a mid-week trip, since I hear the prices are always better at that time. And, call me nostalgic, but I’ve always wanted to stay at The Bellagio.
Other worthy UpTake authors have written some great advice about road tripping. Check them out:
- 18 Travel Tips for Planning a Road Trip
- Photography Tips for Your Road Trip
- Road Trip Tips – Keeping Your Kids Entertained on a Long Car Ride
- What I Learned While Planning Our Road Trip
Photo credits (in order of appearance):
- “Santa Fe Landscape” by Remzi Gokdag on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “Independence Ghost Town” by Tiffany Joyce.
- “Vegas 2008″ by Christina Rutz on Flickr Creative Commons.
