The Southwest is one of the more exotic regions of the United States, covering parts of the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan Deserts, plus the Colorado Plateau (which, for the record, is basically a high desert).
Temperatures here can soar to 125°F in the summer and drop to below freezing (perfect for skiing!) in the winter—and you can find yourself transported from the fiery red desert landscape to high up in the mountains after a relatively short car ride. Once you hightail it out of the major cities, it can feel like you’re in another world—or, at least, as close to an international adventure as you’re likely to get in the age of the novel coronavirus.
Against these backdrops, there’s no shortage of adventures to be had—especially if you want to avoid crowded trails, campsites, and shores. You can try everything from sand dune surfing to river rafting, backcountry hiking to scuba diving (yes, seriously).