The Rockies & Beyond

Although the Western U.S. is vast, it’s easy to link two or more National Parks, along with cute towns and lesser-known areas, into a single itinerary.

Here are two of my favorites:

Southwest

Ideal for spring and autumn but enjoyable at any time of the year

Arrive in Las Vegas and drive to Utah. Stay one night in St. George so you can visit Snow Canyon State Park in the morning. Afterward, continue on to Zion National Park for a three-night stay in the quaint gateway town of Springdale. Hike the Narrows, ride E-bikes, go canyoneering with an expert guide, or simply sit by the Virgin River and soak it all in.

From Zion, head north to Bryce Canyon National Park for a night. See the many different views of this unique, colorful landscape from various overlooks and take a stroll through the hoodoos (rock formations). Before retiring for the day, view the night sky with an astronomer in this officially designated Dark Sky Park.

Next, head to Page, Arizona, where the Amangiri is a worthy splurge. This luxury hotel has access to the best private guides in the area and can arrange a boat captain on Lake Powell to get up close to the rock features in Glen Canyon. Or choose to save by staying at a clean, comfortable chain and go on a small group journey into three different slot canyons, including Antelope Canyon, with a guide. Either way, don’t miss the overlook of Horseshoe Bend.

Continue on to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, where you can do some hiking to find vistas of the mighty Colorado River below or hop in a helicopter for a bird’s-eye view. Stay at the historic El Tovar Hotel.

For the grand finale, drive into Sedona for a stay at the Enchantment Resort nestled in Boynton Canyon, away from the city lights yet surrounded by trails. It is an easy drive from there to Phoenix.

Big Sky Iconic

Best in the summer and autumn

Start in Whitefish, Montana, which is the perfect homebase to explore Glacier National Park with a private guide and to go whitewater rafting on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River.

From there, head south. Perhaps stopping to splurge on a guest ranch stay at Triple Creek Ranch, Paws Up or the Ranch at Rock Creek.

Stay three nights at the Sage Lodge, from which you can easily access the Northern Part of Yellowstone to watch for wolves, bears and other wildlife. Before you leave, soak in the hot springs and go fly-fishing in the Yellowstone River.

Continue into the heart of Yellowstone to stay at the historic Old Faithful Inn. Explore bubbling mud and colorful hot springs and don’t miss Old Faithful as well as Grand Geyser, my personal favorite.

The grand finale to this trip is Jackson Hole, a destination like no other. With a cute town filled with incredible restaurants and boutiques, a wide valley with the Snake River running through, all beneath the majestic backdrop of the Grand Tetons, it is unparalleled. For dinner one evening, take a gondola ride up to Piste.

Stay at the Four Seasons, the Amangani, Hotel Terra or Cloudveil if you enjoy being in the heart of everything.

Read the detailed Big Sky itinerary I planned for Conde Nast Traveler.