My dream: a kooky trip to the US Southwest but I'm scared of the kooks

[auburn]

I have a dream that, one day...I will visit the US Southwest.

I've been in New York once and never travelled much otherwise, not even in my country, Canada. In NY, I had a friend I was staying with in Manhattan who gave me pointers and took me places. But, I would basically be all alone during the day, walking and taking the metro and felt absolutely comfortable going around from Day 1 of my arrival as if I was very used to travel. I remember disembarking at the bus station and coming out and being absolutely amazed at the sight: all the yellow cabs, Time Square, the street vendors...just like in the movies! I felt perfectly safe at all times.

Now, the trip I want to do in about 2 years is going to California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico with my daughter. I call it the Kooky Trip because I would like to visit paranormal/woo woo places such as Area 51, the Roswell museum of aliens,the Ghost Mansion in San Jose, the vortices in Sedona, etc. Someone told me about a large desert with sand as white as snow. And, San Francisco really looks like my kind of place, too.

I know it will require me to drive and that scares me because the States scare me. I think of crazy patrolmen, corrupt sherriffs and just remembering to look at the miles-per-hour number while driving, not the kilometers one! Not to mention the long desert roads where natural born killers are hiding, ready to kidnap and dismember my daughter and me. I might feel safer with a man by my side during that trip but said man is not available. And then, I think of that Oliver Stone movie, U-Turn, and I figure we might not even be safer with a man.

I heard all kinds of stories about patrolmen who put you in prison for driving 5 mph too fast when you can't pay the insanely expensive ticket right away, getting summarily tazed or worse, etc. I think of southern towns like in Deliverance and Straw Dogs. Movies and stories really got in my head.

Still, I'd like to go to the SouthWest. Basically, I'd love to have a Kooky Trip without the kooks!

[desertrat]

We have lots of nice stuff to see hear in Arizona . I dont think the cops hear will give you any problems. If you keep up with traffic they wont bother you, and only drink water , pop , or iced tea while driving . Pack lots of water , its a hot dry place , if you break down a few gallons of water will save your a**. There are problems on the U.S. , Mexico border with drug traficing gangs , you might want to stay away from the border . Sedona is perty , but a bit too commercial for me . desert rat

[auburn]

Thank you for your depiction of Southwestern cops as innocuous pop drinkers. I'll try to keep that in mind.

Would you say long desert roads are dangerous for women to drive on all alone? Think Thelma & Louise. I'd be Thelma and my daughter be Louise.

Does the white sand desert (I think it's called Alamogordo) go into Arizona or you only have red earth through and through?

I'll keep clear of the border. However, Roswell seems relatively close to the border and to the infamous Ciudad Juarez.

Did you travel around Arizona and other SW states? Are there specific places you would recommend visiting?

[desertrat]

On the cops , what I meant was drive sober , watch the road , and wear seat belts . On the border , there are some problems a few miles either side of the border , mostly drug gangs killing each other. Roswell should be ok , I have never been there . I have been to the south rim of the grand canyon , its open all year , the north rim is closed in the winter . The northern part of Arizona does see some snow in the winter . Also we have the petrified forest and painted desert . In the south part of the state there is Toumbstone , the town too tough to die . Many old ghost towns . The south western U.S..A. is a very big area , and there is a lot to see , buy some big maps and road atlas . I can find some tourist links if asked. desert rat

[momo3bur]

I think the media has given you a pretty wonky idea of the states, like most people who aren't from here! LOL! Don't be scared. As long as you keep a cell phone on, invest in GPS, and let a family member know where you are, you'll be ok.

Just don't, you know...like park on the side of the highway and flag strangers down or anything.

I'm sure there are corrupt police in that area, just like anywhere else, but generally our cops are good fellas despite what anyone else might tell you. They are there to help you, not hunt you down. Drive sober and at the speed limit or under, and they won't bother you. If they do pull you over, unless you physically assault them in someway, the worst you'll get is a traffic violation ticket. LOL.

As far as the roads you are traveling, you picked an awesome route!

My dad took me and my cousin from Texas into San Francisco when I was younger and then in my teens we went into New Mexico. Both trips were amazing. I remember there being a meteor site somewhere along that course, a volcano (we swiped some lava rocks), the Grand Canyon is amazing, caves, rivers, just tons of amazing things.

And if you do go through New Mexico, DEFINITELY STOP at the White Sands Deserts that you were talking about! It is amazing. One of the most beautiful things I've ever seen in my life. They give "tours" of the place and tell you about the history if you're interested in that. Also, you should hike into the guadalupe mountains. They are beautiful, too. You go from desert on the bottom, rainforest like terrain in the middle, and the top is like colorado or something. Just amazing. Or at least it was for me.

Have fun! Don't worry, either! The TV makes it seem like everyone who wanders into the south will get raped, murdered, abducted, etc. Things like that do happen there as well as anywhere else, but it doesn't happen nearly as often as the TV makes it look like.

You'll be fine!