Visited: Thurday, July 16, 2009
This is, essentially, 2.5 national parks in one.
First - assuming you start from the North - is the Painted Desert. There's not a huge amount to do, but it's a beautiful drive. Then after a nice little segment of Route 66 - just before you pass under 40 - there are various ancient settlements; not a full park's worth, but fascinating nonetheless. Finally, it's the petrified forest, with its fascinating fragments. If I ever get hold of a time machine, one temptation will be to visit the petrified forest back before it was picked over by early tourists; according to Mark Twain in Innocents Abroad, it's a special skill of Americans.
This isn't my kind of national park - I'm more interested by people and events - but it's gorgeous, and not to be missed. Preferably not when it's 100 degrees out.
One suggestion, if you're going: stay at the Wigwam Hotel in Holbrook. It's cheap, it's small but comfortable, and it's a classic experience.
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