honeymoonersJandD

I am planning a trip (with my husband) to the southwest in mid-January for my 30th birthday. It has been my dream to explore adobe architecture, aztec design and the cactus filled desert landscapes in this region of our country. Where do you suggest I go? I heard that Phoenix doesn't have much to offer, as far as a city goes. People have been ecstatic over Santa Fe, but it will be too cold then - it will lack the desert climate I'm in search of. I don't know much about Tucson, but it seems nice enough. Any suggestions? (I'll be flying in from the east coast, so a nearby airport would be necessary.)

Marginal

Many of the places you are describing in terms of indian culture may be snow-covered in January. Grand Canyon certainly will.

You would need to stick with Phoenix/Tucson. There is no Aztec culture in Arizona. That is strictly in Mexico.

I would suggest getting ahold of a guidebook.

CollegeMom

Phoenix has much to offer as a large SW city, but it does not offer much for what you are want to see. The Grand Canyon area will be too cold in Jan. since it is high in elevation. Tucson (with a major airport) offers adobe architecture, desert landscapes, historic buildings, and a great desert museum. Mid Jan. is not the most ideal time to visit the desert since it will still be too cool for blooms, but the cactus will be there. Tucson offers many cactus filled areas. Organ Pipe National Park offers the unique organ pipe cactus as well as other variety of cactus and is about 3 hours from Tucson. Tombstone, Bisbee, Tubac and Benson all are within a few hours or less from Tucson and offer mining history, artists' galleries and "wild west" gunfights (put on for tourists). There are several adobe churchs in Tucson and the beautiful San Xavier Mission just south of Tucson if church buildings interest you. A guidebook for southern AZ can provide many more suggestions for the area, but these few are some possibilites. Southern AZ is a unique part of US and offers a wide variety of places and natural beauty to enjoy.

lennyba

When you say you're searching for a desert climate, are you expecting heat in January? Tucson can be fairly chilly in January (relatively speaking) - even freezing overnight.

sludick

Here's another vote for Tucson. Not sure where you're coming from, but Southwest sometimes offers good fares into Tucson (from Orlando, anyway).

You don't mention wanting heat, just a desert climate -- Tucson certainly offers that, although January is the coldest average month. According to weather.com, January average high is 66 and low is 42, record high is 88 and low is 6. As you know also, deserts get extremes in both hot and cold.

honeymoonersJandD

I'm coming from NY.

Although it will be slightly cooler at that time - I'd rather not be in the midst of skiers, which Santa Fe seems to offer up in January.

What I'm in search of is the desert landscape. Heat's not mandatory.

I'll look further into Tucson. But as another option, how about Albuquerque? Anything worthwhile there?

(And although Roswell would be the right climate, alien tours wouldn't be my thing.)

BeachGirl247

While January will offer up snow, Santa Fe can still be the desert landscape you are looking for. The adobe architecture stands out against the stark, white snow and is gorgeous.

And, for ABQ, if you're going that far you may as well be in Santa Fe. No comparison but Old Town is enjoyable. However, the city isn't as charming as SF nor has the feel. I like it but it isn't the same.

Tuscon does not have the same ambiance to me as the areas around and near the four corners area. I like it but it isn't the same. The Saguaro National Forest was enjoyable, though. But no adobe architecture like I've found in New Mexico.

Any chance you could travel later in the year? May through October would give you what you are looking for. It would be a gorgeous time to see the southwest. I just don't think you will get the true experience of when the desert is "alive".

For me, I would wait but I also would never pass on the chance to go somewhere either.