Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Watch as beavers build and otters splash in the Riparian Corridor; mingle with coyotes, where "invisible" fencing creates the illusion that you're walking among them; stop by the Center for Sonoran Desert Studies to explore minerals, geology, and natural history. 2021 N. Kinney Rd., Tucson, AZ; +1 520 883 2702, Fee.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument Inspect Indian red rock artwork; drive to Antelope House Overlook; snap photos of the Spider Rock spire; trek along White House Ruins Trail. Chinle, AZ; +1 928 674 5500.

Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Float a houseboat into a secluded cove among the red rocks; hop on a Jeep tour through the brilliantly colored Antelope Canyon; weave baskets and hear native stories from Navajo craft makers. 100 Lakeshore Dr., Page, AZ; 888 896 3829. Admission.

Kartchner Caverns State Park Follow your guide past ancient mineral formations; see the 21.2 foot soda-straw stalactite; reservations recommended; if you don't make reservations, come early to ensure you get one of the 100 tickets available each day. 2980 Route South 90, Benson, AZ; +1 520 586 2283. Fee.

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park Tour through the park by horse, jeep, or bus; pick up the 14-mile trail at the visitor center to find the red rock formations featured in hundreds of films. Monument Valley, AZ, and Utah; +1 435 727 5874. Fee.

Petrified Forest National Park and Painted Desert Visitor Center Inspect fossils from the late Triassic period, the "dawn" of the dinosaurs; study the stone forest and its brightly colored tree trunks; decipher Native American petroglyphs at Newspaper Rock. 1 Park Rd. (about 20 miles southeast of Holbrook on Highway 180), Petrified Forest, AZ; +1 928 524 6228. Fee.