6 U.S. Road Trips to Take This Winter

The onset of winter shouldn’t automatically mean that sunny days in the great outdoors are over; to chase bright, dry skies, head for the desert. This jaunt will have you swooning over Utah’s myriad of red rocks, elaborate hoodoos, and slot canyons, with pitstops in Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, and Arches national parks. Spend a full week to really soak up the scenery (and craft beer).

Where to stop: Begin early in Zion to take in the sunrise glow from within the fabled canyon walls. Stop for photos and say hello to the horses in rustic, cliff-lined Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, then cruise up to Moab for the Arches scenic drive before taking in sunset at Dead Horse Point.

Where to eat: Enjoy epic views, casual Mexican fusion and local brews just outside Zion National Park at Whiptail Grill. In Moab, savor wood-fired pizza at Antica Forma, topped with fresh house-made mozzarella (they craft 200 pounds in-store each morning).

Where to stay: For canyon views, it doesn’t get better than Xanterra’s Zion Lodge. If you’re brave enough to camp in the cold, the Fruita Campground in Capitol Reef is one of the dreamiest in the state. Top it all off with a little R&R at Moab's Red Cliffs Lodge. Perched right on the banks of the Colorado River, enjoy southwestern décor, in-room jacuzzi tubs, and sky-high red rock views from their dining hall, The Cowboy Grill.