Desert thrills with a sense of place.

We confess. We used to think like a lot of locals do, imagining the rest of the Silver State beyond our city as little more than Las Vegas’ ramshackle and somewhat embarrassing backyard.

There’s still time for one more summer adventure — make it a road trip to Prescott, Arizona and beyond

We sent writers on trips to the north, east, south and west. What’d they find? That the road not taken can be pretty fun, too.

Can mountain biking save the flagging fortunes of Beatty? Those behind the push see a new kind of gold in them hills.

With its bars, boutiques and galleries, Springdale is a cozy and cosmopolitan gateway to Zion Nestled below the towering cliffs at the entrance to Zion National Park, Springdale is probably the most cosmopolitan small town in America — but most tourists seem blissfully unaware of that fact. Most of Zion’s 3 million annual visitors see the town as just a place to park to catch the shuttle in to Zion, and Springdale is fine with that.

How much Southwest can you see on a tank of gas? The answer from our road-trip guru: Plenty — in every direction We may live on an island in the sand, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t dozens of great voyages beckoning you and your land schooner. Tank up and head out on one of these 10 rewarding routes that will have you back in Las Vegas — without a refill.