Relative newcomers to Colorado may have experienced relatively mild and dry winters, however, to long-time residents, this last winter season has been more like we remember (in the past) with regular snow and consistently cool, if not cold, temperatures.

Now’s the time to chase the winter chills out of your bones under the warmth of the beaming southwestern sun! The good news is that here in the metro area we’re within a day’s drive of some of the most beautiful and interesting places on earth, popular destinations such as Santa Fe and Taos, the Four Corners area with Mesa Verde National Park, Utah’s Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, and Moab – a jeep and off-road mecca – and lots more as you’ll in our “Southwest Attractions” below.

These are high desert areas that can be quite hot if you wait till summer. In the spring, everything is green and if conditions are right there are incredible trails for hiking and biking.

The not-so-good news is that there are millions of people living here and most everyone else has the same idea! Solution: plan your trip as soon as possible. Unless you’re an intrepid traveler who doesn’t mind carrying gallons of water with you, if you can’t get to Arches or Taos by the end of May, consider road tripping in the fall as summer months can be brutally hot and dry with temps well into the 100s. Remember, a vacation is supposed to be FUN, not a lesson in survival tactics!

Here’s some quick tips to make your southwest road trip the best it can be:

1. Make lodging reservations as soon as possible. National park campsites go especially fast.

2. It might sound downright Neanderthal, but trust us on this one, you want a real – yes, that means paper – map, the kind you can unfold and mark up. Make sure it’s comprehensive, easy to read, and inclusive of all areas you’re visiting or might consider side-tripping. Paper is not internet or battery dependent, right? That’s a good thing in this case.

3. Take advantage of online resources. Plan your route, figure out where to stop and what to see and do at maps.RoadTrippers.com. If you want some good destination ideas, AAA offers 30 Southwest road trips to choose from at bit.ly/2VelWfA. And check out RoadFood.com for good eats. At the same time ….

4. You might have long desolate stretches of road without amenities or quaint tumbleweed towns where urban cuisine, much less your gluten-free vegan raw Paleo salad, is nowhere to be found. Pack car-friendly food and drink (including way more water than you think you’ll need) and keep yourself well-hydrated at all times.

5. Figure out in advance where you’re going to refuel – before you lose your cell signal!

6. Have your car checked out and serviced before you travel. If you don’t have AAA, consider adding free towing to your car insurance, just in case.

7. And, finally, relax and enjoy the ride. Allow time for unplanned adventures. When it comes to road trips, it really is all about the journey.

8. Happy trails and remember to send us a postcard!

Our Favorite Southwest Attractions

Grand Junction area: Grand Junction, Palisade and Paonia wineries, the “Lunch Loops” and other mountain biking in Grand Junction, Palisade and Fruita, Colorado National Monument and Rim Rock Scenic Drive, Dominguez Canyon and McInnis Canyons Wilderness Areas (245 miles to Grand Junction)

Durango area: Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad & Museum, Animas Museum, Phil’s World Mountain Bike Trail, day trips to Mesa Verde National Park and four national monuments: Canyon of the Ancients, Chimney Rock, Four Corners and Hovenweep (340 miles to Durango)

Moab area: Arches and Canyonlands National Parks canyoneering, mountain biking and hiking, Hells Revenge Safari Route (4×4 trail), Sands Flat Recreation Area 4×4 and Jeep, and mountain biking (350 miles to Moab)

Santa Fe: world-class art galleries, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Palace of the Governors (400 miles)

Flagstaff area: Grand Canyon National Park, Walnut Canyon and Wupatki National Monuments, Coconino National Forest, Red Rocks Scenic Byway, Sedona’s red rocks and art galleries (675 miles to Flagstaff)