We leave Las Vegas on Sunday morning for the town of Springdale, located at the south gate of Zion National Park, which was etablished in 1919. Zion meant “resting place” to the Mormon settlers in the area. Sheer cliffs of Navajo Sandstone rising 2,000 feet above the green valley floor, narrow canyons cut by the Virgin River, and hiking trails with steep vertical drops offer unlimited photo opportunities. Nightly bus rides into the Park are available to view the stars.

The Hamlet of Tropic is located on the east side of Bryce Canyon National Park and was the home of Ebenezer Bryce, the namesake of the park. Local settlers would remark that the area was “a hell of a place to lose a cow." You will know why when you see it! The road from Tropic to Torrey is an incredibly unique desert ridge top road with memorable views of all sides. It is one of those safe-but-scary experiences that make traveling on two wheels such a thrill.

Capitol Reef National Park is larger than Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks combined. The park was set aside to protect the Water Pocket Fold, a great hump on the earth’s surface stretching nearly 100 miles from Thousand Lake Mountain to Lake Powell. The “reef” is an up thrust ridge with a cliff face that rises above its surroundings and stands as a forbidding barrier to travel. On top of Capitol Reef are white domes of Navajo sandstone that early pioneers thought resembled the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Our route takes us north, and over the next few days, we'll visit areas famous for both natural beauty and their Native American Heritage. Canyonlands, Arches, Natural Bridges and other points of interest lend plenty of opportunities for hiking and photography. Monument Valley, with its unique sandstone features rising from the desert floor, is home to the Navajo People. Roadside traders offer a vast assortment of truly unique Native American jewelry and other artful items. The local Navajo give backroad jeep tours of the region and their perspective on the history and culture of the region is an interesting complement to our view from two wheels.

We have primarily been in the desert since leaving Las Vegas, so some mountains would be nice for a change. No problem, we'll ride east into Colorado. The road to Durango also takes us to Mesa Verde National Park, home of some of the most extensive and well-preserved Native American habitats in existence.

The next day we'll ride another one of America's most famous and beautiful roads - the San Juan Skyway, which includes the "Million Dollar Highway," aptly named because there are actually flecks of low grade gold ore the road bed. We'll visit Telluride and Ouray, the "little Switzerland" of Colorado along the way, and maybe even take a relaxing soak in a natural hot spring. This is gorgeous country, and the lush green forests, swift streams, and mountain lakes are a dramatic contrast to the stark Canyonlands of Utah.

Our departure from Durango points us in the direction of northern New Mexico. We stop in Taos and take a run around the "Enchanted Circle" before continuing south to Albuquerque, NM. We will take the scenic route, spending a night along way, exploring ghost towns and doing what we love best - riding motorcycles! Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona and Jerome provide some of the best riding to be found in Arizona.

Then there's the hole in the ground just north of Flagstaff. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is truly spectacular and we'll have plenty of time to see it under the changing light of the Arizona sky. Stops at the best overlook spots and lunch at the edge of the abyss will show us many perspectives of this wonder of the world.

We stay two nights in a classic Route 66 Motor Motel, and options for our "day off" include hiking, a trek into the canyon on the back of a sure-footed mule, whitewater rafting, a helicopter ride, and more. Some of these excursions will require additional fees or advance reservations - we will be happy to help you make arrangements if you like.

Our ride back to Las Vegas takes us across western Arizona on the legendary Route 66, the "Mother Road" of the USA. This stretch seems to have withstood the test of time. We will explore the roadside charm of towns like Peach Springs, Truxton and Hackberry.

If anyone is inclined to add state #6 to our list of accomplishments for the trip, go ahead and cross the Colorado River to visit Needles, CA - which often claims the honor of highest daily temperature in the USA.

We arrive back in Vegas on Monday, Sept. 17. You can plan your flight home for anytime or stick around as long as you like. I'm not a gambler, but I'd be willing to bet that you will feel luckier after being on this adventure for two weeks than you will after an extra night or two in the casinos!