This is Part 3 in a series of 4 articles that give recommendations for places in the United States that those on a RTW trip might consider visiting. The “Great Plains” has a specific definition that I’m mostly ignoring here, by the way. I’m dividing up the US mainland in 4 parts, and this article covers the western half of the country, except for the West Coast, which will be covered in Part 4.
In case you want to follow along, you can see the RTW in the USA: East Coast one and the Midwest edition in order to catch up.
Once again, here’s the premise: Everyone knows that the US is ridiculously large and spread out, and I’ve been lucky enough to visit almost every corner of it on various road trips and other journeys over the last couple of decades. If you have 6 months to spend in this country, then you can just get here and go wherever you please, and if you only have time to stop in 2 or 3 cities on this trip, then you probably already know which ones appeal to you (and will work in your itinerary). But if you have a month or two, and especially if you will have access to a car or don’t mind taking the buses around this country, this series of articles might help you decide which cities to consider when you are planning your round the world trip.
And, as I’ve said before, this country is filled with cities that are excellent places to live for a variety of reasons, but most of them aren’t really “special” enough to go out of your way to visit unless you have many months or another specific reason to go there. So if a city you like is left off this list, it’s not because it’s boring or a bad place, it’s mostly because it’s not unique enough for visitors to consider as a special stop, at least in my opinion.
Great Plains cities to consider
Austin, Texas – If you are at all curious about “Texas” and you can only choose one city then this is the one to pick. It’s historic, and the state capital, and it’s also a fantastic college town with amazing nightlife and one of the best communities of tech people and artists in the country. But there is also barbeque and Tex-Mex restaurants, and most of the other common clichés about Texas at your fingertips as well. It’s smaller than Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio, and that’s a good thing. Spending a night or two in the 6th Street entertainment district is something you won’t soon forget, and it’s pretty cheap here as well.
Mount Rushmore, South Dakota – This is where you’ll see those 4 presidents’ faces carved into that enormous rock in the side of the mountain. It’s pretty spectacular, and the national park surrounding the sculpture is more impressive than you might think, but the whole thing probably isn’t worth going too far out of your way for. If you are driving across the country along this route then it’s only a few miles out of the way and you totally should stop to see it. Otherwise, probably not.
Yellowstone Park – This claims to be the first-ever national park in the world, and it’s the largest and most famous in the United States. If you are a true nature enthusiast, and especially if you are on a long road trip, then this place could be a great stop for a few days, but be warned that outside of the warm summer months this place is almost completely shut down. If you think you’d like to see it but are wondering if it’s too far out of the way then you might consider Yosemite Park in Northern California instead. That one is only a few hours drive from San Francisco, and it’s quite similar to those of us who aren’t forestry students.
Santa Fe, New Mexico – Back down south, you have this interesting city that, like Austin, Texas, contrasts well with everything else around it in the state, while still giving you most of the charm of the region. Santa Fe is hundreds of years old, which is quite rare for this part of the world, and in the last few decades it’s gained a reputation as being one of the major art centers in North America, at least in some respects. This mountainous area is really beautiful, and the downtown area is charming and unique, though it can be a bit expensive.
Sedona, Arizona – This small town is dramatically set among red rocks, that can look otherworldly in the right lighting, so if that sounds at all interesting then it’s worth considering a visit. Sedona is also known as a major destination for “spiritual (but not religious) people” from around the world, and many claim there are energy vortexes that can be easily felt by those perceptive few who know what they are. Regardless of whether you are into the new age aspect of this place, the scenery is stunning, and the famous Pink Jeep tours of the nearby canyons are unforgettable.
Grand Canyon, Arizona – Chances are, you’ve already made up your mind whether you really want to visit this place or not. I’ve been there probably around 10 times, starting around the age of 5, so it doesn’t really feel special to me, but many people feel that it’s nearly a religious experience since it’s such an extreme example of topography that isn’t found anywhere else on the planet in this scale. During summer it’s packed and expensive, and during winter it’s cold and not very accommodating, so avoiding both of those extremes is good if you can pull it off. The South Rim is very commercial and easy to reach, and the North Rim is neither of those things, in case that sounds a bit better.
Las Vegas – In spite of being only a few hours by car from the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, as you might imagine, is the exact opposite of the Canyon in almost every way. And for that exact reason, it’s highly recommended that everyone check it out at least once in his or her life. Everything is so out of scale and over-the-top that you won’t believe your eyes. Through 2008 Las Vegas had become quite crowded and weirdly expensive, but that has all changed in 2009, and it’s likely to stay that way for years to come. There are a few real hostels in Las Vegas, but they aren’t in good locations, and the Vegas hotels are now fighting to stay even half full, so visitors can practically name their price.
Feel free to chime in with your thoughts, as I know this is a subjective list and mine is only one opinion. But I know that none of these places are really in the Great Plains by the traditional definition, so there’s no need to point that out.
photo by nikkorsnapper on Flickr