HOT DEALS

Tired of the constant barrage of election news and political commercials? Maybe what you need is a quick getaway to a place that seems timeless–filled with autumn leaves, brisk air, peace and quiet. If you plan a trip now, you can find some great low-season deals in northern Arizona. Low season in Arizona’s northern region is generally November through April, when the bargains start to pop up in the high deserts.

For anyone on a budget, you’ll find great deals located around hubs like Flagstaff and summer-crowded parks like Grand Canyon. Bring a hat and warm jacket and load up the iPod with some grand tunes to match a grand landscape–you’ll appreciate them all here.

Hotel lodging rates dip by at least 10 percent in fall, more during winter in the region. Worried that there won’t be enough to do? Then you don’t know northern Arizona. Explore the mysteries of the Native American site of Canyon de Chelly, picnic with views of fall color in the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, or take pictures with nobody else in them at the edge of a peaceful Grand Canyon. Plan a fall or winter escape to the state’s northern region and you’ll feel like you have Arizona all to yourself.

Then, after you’ve seen the gorgeous fall color or taken in a few snowy landscapes, perhaps you’ll want to warm up again by swinging back down to the state’s southern half.  Good thing you’ve saved some dough on the northern half of your trip, because fall and winter are high season here. But its worth it, because this is where most of Arizona’s working and luxury dude ranches are. And they boast some of the most amazing scenery in America. Bring sunscreen, a camera, and your sense of wonder–you’ll need them all here.

Take Rancho de los Caballeros, in Wickenburg, for example. Trial rides and jeep tours take you over rugged, saguaro-edged trails to views of purple mountains, then back to the spa to relax. And if you want the kids to learn a little bit of history while they’re sunning themselves, you won’t have far to look: Arizona has well preserved settlements from prehistoric Native Americans, Spanish vaqueros, and the Old West.

Details: For a list of Arizona ranches and a host of travel bargains, go to Ranchweb.com.