Desert Drives and Helicopter Rides: Explore Southwest America by Car

If jet lag has you waking with the birds, Scottsdale’s the place to do it. This Arizonan town impresses no matter the season, and today is all about discovering its charms at your own pace. After a hearty all-American breakfast, experience the Sonoran Desert’s natural beauty on a visit to the Desert Botanical Garden. Scottsdale enjoys an envious 300 days of sun per year, and these gardens are the perfect place to soak up some vitamin D.

Other local attractions include the Rawhide Western Town, a historical reconstruction of an 1880’s city, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, the home and studio of the legendary architect. Come evening, head back to the Old Town where you’ll find streets packed with bars, lounges and restaurants which offer myriad options for dining and nightlife. Even better, they’re all within a short walking distance of your Old Town hotel. The last decision of the day is a toss-up between a nightcap at the bar or an earlier bedtime... we’ll leave that one up to you.

Grab a big breakfast, pack up your car and set your satnav for Tuscon, because it’s your final morning in Scottsdale. Today’s drive is just shy of two hours (120 miles) and passes through the dusty Arizonan landscape. If you’re keen to break up the journey, stop off at the Picacho Peak State Park just off the interstate. The picnic areas and hiking trails are ideal for a spot of leg stretching among the wildflowers and craggy red rocks. Once satisfied, hop back in the car and carry on towards Tuscon, where your hacienda-style hotel awaits. With the Santa Catalina mountains as a backdrop, it’s the perfect spot to sip a cocktail, eat some local food and enjoy a romantic Tuscon sunset.

The next two days are all about diving into the life-sized playground that is Tuscon. Sample outdoor adventure with hikes through the cactus-filled Saguaro National Park, rock climbing at Mount Lemmon or horseback riding through the desert. If it’s culture you’re after, dive into Tuscon’s rich history with a visit to Arizona State Museum which showcases the region’s 13,000-year human history.

When you’re feeling peckish, learn why Tuscon became the first U.S. city to be hailed by UNESCO as a ‘City of Gastronomy’. Each dish embraces the city’s culinary heritage, and your local Concierge will be on hand to book you a table in one of the city's best restaurants. As the sun goes down, take to Downtown Tuscon for an eclectic mix of rooftop cocktails and live DJs, or head to Fox Tuscon Theatre to watch some comedy, dance or music.

Fill your bellies with one last Tuscon breakfast and then hit the road for Silver City. Today’s drive is around three hours (200 miles), so press play on our specially curated USA playlist and cross over into New Mexico. Located in the southwest of the state with a population of just 10,000, Silver City is a hidden gem of a town. Originally a mining town, the population now extends to artists, ranching families and ‘retired’ hippies. Your hotel is situated in the heart of the town, so take some time to unwind after your drive before heading out to make the most of the remaining day. Downtown has a collection of historic buildings, shops and restaurants that are perfect for browsing, eating and getting to grips with Silver City.

Silver City may be small, but it’s mighty. Learn about the town’s history in Silver City Museum, housed inside a building from the late 1800’s. Your Concierge can also arrange a guided tour around the Western New Mexico University Museum, where Native American artifacts, Hispanic textiles and Mimbres pottery all tell stories from times gone by. Afterwards, pack a picnic and head to Gough Park – the paved trails and benches make for a lovely lunch spot. Or, if you’re craving the great outdoors, take a drive to Gila National Forest, just ten miles outside of town. Here, three million acres of lush landscape offer spectacular hikes and bike rides along the forest trails.

Buckle your seatbelts for the longest drive so far – just over five hours (300 miles) to Santa Fe. But fear not, as there are plenty of places – such as Albuquerque, home of Breaking Bad – to check out along the way. Legs stretched, continue your journey and roll into Santa Fe, America’s oldest state capital. A gorgeous Spanish-colonial style hotel is your home for the next three nights – check in, drop off your bags and freshen up, because it's time to explore Santa Fe’s bright night lights. Evenings here are all about sampling the city’s culture. Music ranges from country blues to Latin American beats, and the cuisine is infused with Spanish, Mexican and Native American flavours. Let’s fiesta!

Your ninth and tenth days are all about exploring Santa Fe. Included in your itinerary are entrance tickets to the Georgia O’Keeffe museum, where 140 oil paintings and nearly 700 drawings of the legendary artist’s work are exhibited. Other Santa Fe hot spots include the Plaza – which has been the city’s cultural hub since 1610 and buzzes with a lively atmosphere, galleries and shops – and Downtown Santa Fe, where you can get a taste of the city’s vibrant nightlife, trendy bars and live music venues.

Wave goodbye to both Santa Fe and New Mexico, as you set your sights on Winslow, Arizona. The four-and-a-half-hour drive (326 miles) passes through Alburquerque again, or for a change of scenery, you can check out Gallup – a small city nestled between red sandstone cliffs. As you drive into Winslow, be sure to turn the volume up for the Eagle’s Take it Easy, the song that mentions this historical hub. Check into La Posada, one of the finest hotels on route 66 which has seen a fair few famous faces over the years from Amelia Earhart and Albert Einstein to Franklin D. Roosevelt and Shirley. This is your first and only night in Winslow, so enjoy a hotel dinner under the stars before exploring the city.

After breakfast, it’s back into the car for today’s two-and-a-half-hour (145 mile) drive to the Grand Canyon. At five to six million years old, this natural wonder has stood the test of time, and you’ll stay in a nearby lodge for the next two nights. Equipped with patios overlooking the National Park there’s ample opportunity to relax, and you can grab a bite to eat at the restaurant which serves up a range of south-western inspired dishes. After sunset, the low light pollution means a pitch-black sky studded with spectacular stars; it’s the dreamiest blanket to fall asleep beneath.

Today, you’ll take to the skies for a memorable helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon. The 45-minute flight (with a maximum of seven passengers) will see you soaring over sites like the Painted Desert and the Colorado River, as well as huge canyons, gorges and precipices. The aircraft has panoramic windows for 180-degree visibility, comfortable raised seating and a low noise level. What more could you want?

Rise bright and early to make the most of your final morning in the Grand Canyon. To catch the sunrise, head to one of the many viewpoints along the South Rim trail – you'll want one with open views to the east to witness silhouetted ridges and amber skies. With photos snapped and canyon trails triumphed, head back to your lodge and pack up your car.

Today’s drive is a speedy two hours (110 miles) to Sedona, swapping pine trees for cacti as you enter the sun-baked desert town. Check into your hotel, dump your bags and then head into the town that’s towered over by a rocky red landscape. It’s almost impossible to pull your eyes away from the surrounding scenery, but set your sights on the streets and you’ll find an array of Mexican-style restaurants to fill your rumbling bellies.

Over the next two days, sample all of Sedona’s highlights. Explore the iconic sandstone mountains with a visit to Slide Rock State Park, where streams weave around the rocks to form creeks deep enough to swim in. We recommend you arrive early to grab a parking space (remember to bring plenty of water and suncream).

Once you’ve had your fill of red rock adventures visit the city of Tlaquepaque, often referred to as the ‘Art and Soul’ of Sedona thanks to its world-class galleries, specialty shops and year-round festivals and fiestas. Later, as the sun begins to set, head to the Courthouse Vista to watch the sky match the crimson colour of the mountains. Complete with a warm breeze and spectacular views, we can’t think of a better send off for your southwest adventure.

Wake up in time for one last all-American breakfast before setting off for Phoenix, where you’ll be catching your evening flight. Wave goodbye to the desert views as you roll along your two-hour (116 miles) drive to Phoenix airport. Drop off your hire car (and thank it for covering over 1,300 miles with you), speed through security and head to the airport lounge. You’ll have plenty of time to reminisce over your southwest American adventure as you flick through photos on your ten-hour flight to London.