Guide Book Recommendations
 

I am going to be travelling throughout the Southwest shortly. Starting in LA moving on to San diego across to Las Vegas as for East as Monument Valley. Then making my way back to to King's CAnyon, Yosemite and San Francisco! Can anyone recommend a good guide book that covers this area or can anyone suggest any 'off the beaten track' must sees?

You left out the Grand Canyon. You'll be so close it would be a shame to miss it. I also hope you are taking at least two weeks to do this.

Yes I am taking two and half weeks. A lot of travelling but I enjoy a good road trip! Yes thanks, the Grand Canyon is on the list. It would be pretty hard to miss!!

Some suggestions:

It will be hot!hot!hot! in Death Valley (CA), but it's sorta on your way and you can say you've been there. (The pool at the Furnace Creek Inn is divine.) And you'll probably want to pop into Joshua Tree National Park, also.

The national parks in Utah rock: Arches, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands. If you have to pick one, pick two -- Bryce and Arches (others may disagree). A horseride is a good way to see Bryce. A boat trip on Lake Powell is an easy way to see miles and miles of (flooded, alas) canyons. A float trip on the Colorado River in Moab is another option. (Moab rocks, too!)

If you want to venture a few miles from Monument Valley into southwestern Colorado, Mesa Verde National Park is a unique site.

If you want to make a longer detour from Arizona into western New Mexico, the pawn shops in Gallup are a hoot and a pueblo visit (Zuni and Acoma are the closest) is a must.

I like Route 50 across Nevada -- be sure to hit the slots at the Hotel Nevada in Ely and have a drink at the Owl Club in Eureka.

I like the Moon Guides series for road trips in the American West -- they provide lots of off-the-beaten-path suggestions -- but I doubt that they have one title that covers all the territory you'll be exploring.

Have fun and carry plenty of water!

Spend the night in Bluff Utah at
http://www.desertroseinn.com/
Get one of the Executive Cabins
http://www.desertroseinn.com/cabins.htm
Wonderfully peaceful

http://www.bluffutah.org/

Since you're doing the park thing, I'd suggest whatever National Geographic guides you can find. They should have both fine photography and valuable information.

If you want to stay in the parks, I'd suggest tracking down reservations ASAP.

If I may be of help with any pertinent Arizona questions, drop me a note.

JP