Texas: Back Roads Texas

The famed Hill Country is a bucolic rural landscape filled with wildflowers. "Bluebonnets grow in such profusion around here from early spring to midsummer that they often resemble a large body of water," says San Antonian Patrick Kelly. Fredericksburg, one of the Hill Country's many German settlements, has over 300 B&Bs and a World War II museum. Climb and camp at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, home to the Texas version of Ayers Rock. Arrange a tube float in New Braunfels on the fast-flowing Guadalupe River or the calmer Comal. Scoot your boots at the dance hall in Gruene. Visit Lyndon Johnson's LBJ ranch, the "Texas White House" of the mid 1960s.

•Logistics: The Hill Country starts north of Austin, extends south to San Antonio and west to Kerrville and beyond. Lodging: Trois Estate at Enchanted Rock. Luxurious Southwestern B&B near state park, ten rooms, from $169. Dining: Francisco's. Steak, seafood, and Mexican fare in an 1890 Kerrville storefront; www.franciscos-restaurant.com. Best link: www.traveltexas.com.

Oklahoma: Nature-lovers' Oklahoma

Come to southeastern Oklahoma for its lakes, forests, and—yes—mountains. The Ouachitas (pronounced wash-uh-taws), reminiscent of the Appalachians, hide clear rivers, rocky hiking trails, and a startlingly beautiful, 54-mile ridgetop roadway called the Talimena Scenic Drive. "It's one of the most spectacular drives east of the Rockies," says Mel White, who lives across the border in Arkansas. Go boating or diving at the 22-mile-long Broken Bow Lake, nestled in the mountains; and camp and horseback ride on its shores at Beavers Bend State Park. Hike the park's 16-mile nature trail, or, for a bigger challenge, tackle the Ouachita Trail. It stretches 223 miles from Talimena State Park through the heart of the range.

•Logistics: Broken Bow Lake is a three-hour drive northeast of Dallas or four hours southeast of Oklahoma City. Lodging:Beavers Bend Resort Park Lake-view Lodge. Forty well-appointed rooms with lake views, from $110; www.beaversbend.com. Or camp in the park for $8 a night. Dining: Abendigo's Grill & Patio, Hochatown, Okla. Surprisingly sophisticated cuisine near a state park, with blue corn crabcakes and sirloin glazed with chipotle honey sauce. www.abendigos.com. Best link: www.travelok.com.

Arizona: Arizona's Adventure Central

Stretch your legs in sunny Tucson, where outdoor wonders abound. Hike up Seven Falls Trail in Sabino Canyon to a natural pool with views. Bike the eight-mile-long Cactus Forest Drive in the east section of Saguaro National Park. "Don't be surprised if you hear a javelina grunt nearby or see a white-tailed deer scurry past," says visitor Jeanine Barone. Go rock climbing in any of the five mountain ranges surrounding the city. Ride horses in or near Catalina State Park. And, after the sun goes down, cool off at one of the city's ubiquitous Mexican restaurants.

•Logistics: Tucson is in south-eastern Arizona, 65 miles north of the Mexican border. Lodging: La Siesta. Renovated 1950s-style boutique motel with retro charm, from $65, www.lasiestatucson.com. Dining: El Charro Café. Classic Mexican fare at a downtown institution dating to 1922, www.elcharrocafe.com. Best link: www.visittucson.org.

New Mexico: Authentic Shopping in Santa Fe

Shop over 200 galleries—and the sidewalks of the historic plaza, where Navajo and Pueblo artisans spread out blanket displays of their handmade turquoise jewelry—in this 399-year-old city blending Spanish and Native American cultures. This summer, hundreds more authentic vendors come to town for special markets. On July 11and 12, Santa Fe's sixth International Folk Art Market convenes 165 master artists—selected by a panel of experts—from locales as distant as Rwanda, Afghanistan, and Kyrgyzstan. "More than 90 percent of the proceeds go home with the artists," says Charlene Cerny, executive director of the event. Exotic food will be served. A few days later comes the Spanish Market, and then, in late August, the Indian Market, attracting more than a thousand Native American artists from across the U.S.

•Logistics: Santa Fe is an hour's drive northeast of Albuquerque or 90 minutes via the new Rail Runner Express commuter train. Lodging: Hotel Santa Fe. An adobe, Native American-owned property a few blocks off theplaza, from $116; www.hotelsantafe.com. Dining: The Shed. Housed in a 17th-century hacienda, offering authentic Southwestern fare with fresh-milled chile; www.sfshed.com. Best link: www.santafe.org.