Courtesy Photo ArizonScenicRoads.com

This is the perfect trip for those who just to break away and go for a nice, long drive. This road traverses 82 miles along SR 89A between mileposts 525 and 607.

The Vermilion Cliffs highways is a project involving a partnership of 40 public and private entities providing a combination of 21 interpretive sites or scenic overlooks along 277 miles of state highways in northern Arizona and southern Utah.

The Vermilion Cliffs highways traverse some of the most scenic landforms in the West.

This scenic road is the gateway to the Colorado River in Marble Canyon and to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Heading north on this road from Bitter Springs on the Navajo Nation, travelers can stop at the Navajo Bridge.

Pipe Springs National monument is a historic Mormon settlement travelers can find along the way. Living history here depicts how an early Mormon settlement looked and worked in the 1800s.

Travelers will also pass through the town of Fredonia, Arizona, a town of less than one thousand residents.

The Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument, a series of multi-colored cliffs can be seen rising to elevations of over 11,000 feet above the sea level.

Travelers will be encompassed with changing scenery with every mile they travel down this scenic road.

Courtesy Photo Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce

Flagstaff calls itself home to many things: Arizona Snow Bowl, Northern Arizona University, and until recently, home to the discovery of the ninth planet.

That’s right, the world’ most popular dwarf planet was seen from the very telescope that sits atop a mountain right in Flagstaff. The Lowell Observatory was started in 1894 by Percival Lowell, an American businessman, mathematician and astronomer. His creation of the observatory was brought upon by the purpose of studying the solar system and conducting astronomical research in an effort of public education.

Astronomers have conducted research that is essential to the current basic knowledge of astronomy today. The discovery of Pluto was made in 1930 and at the time, was considered the universe’s ninth planet. While the planet has since been demoted to “dwarf planet” status, the observatory remains the birthplace of the important discovery. The name Pluto is believed to have been given in part because of its shared initials with observatory originator Percival Lowell.

The Observatory opened a visitor center in 1994, on the centennial of its inception. They have received more than a million visitors; nearly 80,000 visit annually. In 2012, the observatory completed a 4.3- meter Discovery Channel Telescope, which brings satellite images to people across the globe.

Lowell Observatory is open daily throughout the summer months and visitors can come to tour the facility, participate in a solar viewing, enjoy the telescopes, stargaze and learn about the history of Lowell’s discoveries

Courtesy Photo from Flickr

The White House Ruins Trail leads to The Canyon de Chelly. The Canyon de Chelly contains over 2500 archeological sites ranging from 1500 B.C. to 1350 A.D. Among these sites are several hundred Anasazi Indian villages built between 350 and 1300 A.D. Today, Canyon de Chelly sits in the middle of the Navajo Indian Reservation and is home to many Navajo who live in and utilize the canyon’s resources.

There’s only one Canyon de Chelly hike that the general public can take without a Navajo guide and that’s the 2.5-mile trail to White House Ruins.

Those who do take on the challenge of the hike will find that it’s worth it. Once the hiker’s trail hits the bottom, there is a foot bridge available to cross the creek that is often dry. Hikers will be surrounded by Navajo merchants who are selling their jewelry and other ware. When hikers pass the merchants, they’ll finally get to the ruins where they’ll get to bask in the history of the Anasazi who once occupied the area and of the Navajo who still occupy it today.

Come visit the Pipe Spring National Monument, located in Fredonia, where American Indians, Mormon pioneers, plants, animals, and many others have depended on the life-giving water found at this historical spring. Learn about pioneer and Kaibab Paiute life, dating back to more than 140 years ago, by exploring the museum, or visit a remarkable fort and the historical cabins preserved on the property, or take a stroll through a garden and orchard located near the Ridge Trail.  Visit with rangers, ranch animals, and attend living history demonstrations and talks.

Whether you’re on a time crunch or you’ve come to visit for the day, stop by and check out the visitor center and museum where you can learn about the Kaibab Paiute Indians and Mormon pioneers, take a 25-minute tour of the Winsor Castle tour (offered every half hour), or stretch your legs out by walking the half-mile trail a bit and enjoy beautiful desert views and endless blue skies.