Another couple of stops not far from our home base of Prescott are Montezuma's Castle and Montezuma's Well. Both are national monuments and lie just east of Prescott, a short 45-minute drive away. The Castle and the Well are both located in the Verde Valley, an area rich in beauty and history. Montezuma's Castle has been described as the best preserved and most dramatic cliff dwelling in the United States. The Castle is built into a deep alcove with masonry rooms added in phases. Built approximately 1,000 years ago, the 19 rooms could have housed 35 to 50 people. Montezuma's Castle is 90 percent original, which is just one reason why it should not to be missed.

Montezuma's Well is a natural limestone sinkhole with prehistoric sites and several animal species found nowhere else in the world. Water entering Montezuma's Well is at a constant 74 degrees with a flow of over 1,400,000 gallons a day. The seldom visited Well is worth a trip, so plan to spend a couple of hours walking around this diverse area.

We had visited the South Rim of the Grand Canyon many times in the past, but this time we planned a trip to the North Rim, a world far removed from the tourist-thronged environs of the South Rim.

We made reservations to stay two nights at the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, which is perched right on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Only 10 percent of all the visitors to the Grand Canyon make it to the North Rim, which is 215 miles by vehicle-about a five-hour drive!

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is every bit as magnificent as the South Rim, and has its own brand of beauty. We arrived at the North Rim in early October, just as the aspens were turning a shimmering golden and the air was developing its late afternoon nip.

The Grand Canyon Lodge is a rustic yet elegant lodge that offers gorgeous views of the canyon from its dining room. A National Historic Landmark, the Lodge has both cabins and motel-style rooms, and it is advisable to book well in advance, as this is a popular place to stay.

We also took two driving trips that also offered awesome views: Point Imperial and Cape Royal. Point Imperial is 11 miles from the Grand Canyon Lodge and is the highest point on either rim. The drive to the Point is well worth the trip, and from there you can see Mount Hayden, Saddle Mountain, and a great view of eastern Grand Canyon National Park. Cape Royal, 14 miles from the junction of the Point Imperial and Cape Royal roads, leads to a self-guiding trail that winds its way to Angels Window Overlook, offering a great view of the canyon and the Colorado River.