Aaron Anderson - Arizona, New Mexico & the Grand Canyon Trips

BECCA BLOND
Becca has written 32 travel guides for Lonely Planet since 2003, including the last two editions of Lonely Planets Southwest USA. When in Santa Fe, be sure to visit the Loretto Chapel, where she married the love of her life and writing partner, Aaron Anderson, on October 18, 2008.

AARON ANDERSON
Aaron began his professional career making beer, not books, working as a microbrewer before becoming a travel writer. Hes since contributed to seven Lonely Planet guides, including Cycling in Britain, Thailand and Madagascar & Comoros.

SARA BENSON
Sara has contributed to dozens of Lonely Planet titles, including Las Vegas and Encounter Las Vegas. Her travel writing has featured in magazines and newspapers, both in print and online, including the Los Angeles Times and Las Vegas Review-Journal.

JENNIFER DENNISTON
Since 1991 Jennifer has traveled the back roads and trails of northern New Mexico, falling in love with the regions distinct landscape and culture, especially its green chile and acequias, and the smell of burning pion in a kiva fireplace. As New Mexican folksinger Bill Hearne sang, If I aint happy here, I aint happy nowhere.

LISA DUNFORD
It was slot canyons and slickrock, ancient American ruins and rock art that first attracted Lisa to Utah. But tripping around talking about her great-great-great-grandfather Brigham Young turned out to be just as intriguing. Lisa is the author of the Utah chapter of Lonely Planets Southwest USA guide.

JOSH KRIST
In Arizona, Josh Krist grew up; went to university; camped alone in the desert for three days when he was 14; worked on a firefighting airplane; rode rickety motorcycles; and reported for a few of the daily newspapers. Hes written about Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam and the Caribbean for Lonely Planet.

WENDY YANAGIHARA
Though her first experience of the Grand Canyon was typical a family road trip, Dad posing for a photo pretending to fall over the edge (dont do it!) Wendy has since hiked from rim to rim, rafted the Colorado, and only begun to explore the wonders of the canyon.

Dr Yemane Asmerom Yemane Asmerom directs the radiogenic isotope lab in the University of New Mexicos department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and studies subjects ranging from Rio Grande Rift volcanics to Carlsbad Caverns stalagmites. He lends his expertise to .

Edward Borins and Nancy Rutland Edward Borins has been a bookseller since 1973. In 1979, he and his wife Eva opened Edwards Books & Art in downtown Toronto, and it soon grew to five stores. After moving to Santa Fe in 1997, they purchased Garcia Street Books, which has been consistently voted Santa Fes best independent bookstore. Nancy Rutland opened Bookworks in 1984 after receiving an MA in English from the University of Virginia. She lives in Corrales, and, when not reading, she enjoys walks along the Rio Grande with her husband and dogs. She can be reached at nancyr@bkwrks.com. They provided knowledgeable guidance on the .

Blair Carl Blair Carl is an 11-year Sedona resident and tour guide (.

Ted Flicker Ted Flicker is the writer and director of the 1967 comedic classic The Presidents Analyst, and the creator of the popular 1970s TV show Barney Miller, which gave him the getaway money to leave Hollywood, move to Santa Fe and learn to sculpt. To find out more, visit .

Richard Harris Richard Harris, a gourmet cook, has written 36 travel and history books, including many on the American West, and is president of the New Mexico Book Association. He lives in Santa Fe and provided valuable guidance on the .

Fran Lightly Fran Lightly, Sonoita Vineyards winemaker, worked for 10 years in Californias Livermore Valley before touring the countrys up-and-coming wine regions. Southern Arizona wines knocked his socks off, so he stayed. For a sip of his expertise take the .

Cliff Ochser Cliff Ochser, founder of Evening Sky Tours, was instrumental in helping Lowell Observatory build the Discovery Channel Telescope, under construction in Happy Jack. He lent his stellar insights to the .

Shipherd Reed Shipherd Reed hauls a copper-plated trailer around Arizona and New Mexico to record the stories of underground miners a vanishing breed for the University of Arizonas Miners Story Project (.

William Reese Ranger William Reese has lived and worked on both rims of the Grand Canyon for more than 10 years and logged hundreds of canyon miles; he shares some favorite hikes in .

ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO & THE GRAND CANYON ICONIC TRIPS

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Road trips were invented for the Southwest. The birthplace of atomic energy, alien mania and sin (city) has long served as the luscious backdrop for Hollywood movies and magazine photo shoots with good reason. The blockbuster scenery is of the crimson rock, pumpkin mesa, big blue sky and golden light persuasion. Not only is the Southwest blessed with iconic good looks, she offers a healthy dose of history, adrenalin-pumping activities and tarmac worthy of a convertible.

In this chapter we take you on epic road, river and train trips. Drive deep into the heart of the Wild West, revisiting cowboy and Indian culture in ghost towns where the scent of last centurys tobacco mingles with the grease of yesterdays cheeseburgers at the saloon where Billy the Kid knocked down a few cold ones back in 1882. Cruise the nostalgia highway on our Route 66 road trip, passing tumbleweeds, 1950s billboards and greasy spoon diners along the way. Or snap a photo with a hand and foot in four states on our Four Corners loop. Adrenalin junkies will find their speed while dam diving New Mexicos astonishingly clear, almost tropically warm Blue Hole or rafting the Grand Canyons monster rapids. Whether youre soul-searching at a quirky rural highway art-house next to a giant saguaro cacti or dancing your heart out on the Strip, these are the trips of your lifetime.