True West Magazine
Across the West, historic hotels, guest ranches, lodges, restaurants and saloons eagerly await patrons.
On a recent trip from Arizona to Washington, I stayed overnight at national chain hotels, local Airbnb cottages and condos and a historic hotel. Everywhere I spent the night on the way to and from Seattle, the owners were welcoming and helpful, the properties were clean and up-to-date and the neighborhood restaurants and shops were eager for visitors to return. In Nevada, Oregon and Washington, every business was set and ready for visitors, and every proprietor was holding onto the deep-seated hope that the pandemic restrictions would be lifted and the business of tourism could return to their establishments and communities.
True West Magazine
Franciscan Brother Simeon Schwemberger began his passion for photography of the Four Corners region after his discovery of a surplus large-format 5×7 glass-plate camera at the St. Michaels Mission near Window Rock, Arizona, in 1901. His poignant 1908 photo of a public Jemez Pueblo ceremony in New Mexico reflects his sensitivity for the Native peoples he photographed.
– Courtesy Library of Congress –
For millions of would-be travelers to the American West, 2020 will be remembered as the year that might have been. For those who did venture out West this past year, spontaneity and flexibility were the watch-words for successful heritage travel experiences. While many museums, restaurants, saloons, historic sites, parks, lodges and hotels are still following ever-changing safety guidelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic, intrepid Western travelers quickly realize great photo opportunities, hikes, roadside rests and spontaneous, seize-the-moment experiences.