Arizona

MONUMENT VALLEY TRIBAL LANDS
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Monument Valley Tribal Park, Arizona

	Monument Valley is just a small part of the Navajo Reservation’s 16 million acres, and its residents are only a fraction of the 300,000 people who make up the Navajo Nation.  Located in the Northeastern part of Arizona and Southeastern part of Utah, Monument Valley is one of the most magnificent landscapes we have ever seen.   Mesas, buttes, canyons, and free standing rock formations thrust themselves upward from the otherwise wide open expanse of Monument Valley’s desert floor.  As far as the eye can see, rich red and browns contrast sharply with blue sky, and the green plant life that manages to survive the extreme temperatures of this desert’s harsh climate.  

	Driving on the valley floor, past the Mittens, the Three Sisters, and the Totem Pole rock formations, to name just a few, you will experience the awesomeness of this sacred and spiritual place.  This feeling becomes even more pronounced as the sun dips over the horizon, setting the landscape on fire.  Later that evening, as we watched the campfire bounce off the canyon walls, and millions of stars light up the night sky, we felt like we could see to the end of the universe.  

	Of course, we had to have fry bread for dinner that night, and lunch the next day (it is so good!), and buy some beautiful Navajo silver and turquoise jewelry.  We also obtained some additional information on riding horses, hiking, and/or camping down on the valley floor with a Navajo guide during our next visit.    
	
Four Corners Monument – Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado

	In the Northern part of the Navajo Nation, the Northeastern corner of Arizona, the Southeastern corner of Utah, the Northwestern corner of New Mexico, and Southwestern corner of Colorado all come together perfectly; hence, Four Corners Monument.  Since we were passing right by this famous spot on our way from Monument Valley to Mesa Verde, we had to stop and take the requisite picture with one foot and hand in each state (marked by a granite and brass marker), or if you’re Mike Newhouse, you can just lay down in all four states at the same time.
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ARIZONA
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Monument Valley: Arizona
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