Monument Valley, Utah
Tsé Bii' Ndzisgaii, Valley of the Rocks in Navajo, straddles the Utah-Arizona border and it is heralded by both. The reason? Monument Valley is the icon of the American West. Here, cowboys and Indians come alive. And formations such as The Mittens, east and west, and Totem Pole are no less impressive in person than on the big screen. Yet Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, as the area open to the public is known, often disappoints. Hiking is restricted to Wildcat Trail, an easy 3.2-mile loop around West Mitten Butte. Vehicles are only permitted on Valley Drive, a poorly maintained 17-mile dirt road that more often than not requires a 4-wheel drive. The visitor center and nearby picturesque points have a claustrophobic feel when the tour bus crowd arrives. Guided tours – jeep, horse and balloon - are exorbitantly priced. In short, a tourist trap. But if you dig deep into your wallet and select a tour that will engage the kids and get you off the beaten path you are likely to be rewarded 10 times over. It’s the only way to get backstage at this movie set.
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History & Culture
The Diné, as the Navajo call themselves, are the second largest Native America tribe in North America. Most often associated with the Four Corners region of the American Southwest, this once semi-nomadic people likely hailed from Northern Canada. And while scholars continue to debate the timing of the Navajo migration, Navajo oral history points to a long relationship with the Pueblo peoples. So when you embark on a journey in Navajo history be sure to study the facts and listen to the legends. Both are necessary to understand the Navajo Nation.
Maps
Online maps are a great travel planning resource and a great way to get the kids involved in a family vacation. Use online maps to pinpoint your family travel destination, identify points of interest and plan your itinerary. Get state, county and highway maps. Find city street maps. Map national parks, monuments and rivers.
Books
Books are a great way to introduce younger children to a new adventure and get teens and tweens ready for a family trip. Find recommended reading lists for adults and kids, learn more about the U.S. state of Utah through guidebooks, novels and historical fiction and embark on a different kind of family journey.
Music & Sound
Music is a great way to introduce children to a local culture and embark on a journey through sound. Listen to Native American music from hip-hop to pow wow and storytelling.
News
Find out what's happening in the Navajo Nation and what this Native American tribe is talking about.
Kids' stuff
Online resources make learning fun. Did you know that Navajo code talkers, also known as windtalkers, were used by the U.S. Marine Corps to baffle the Japanese in World War II? That the Navajo traditional home is a round shape dwelling called a Hogan? Or that the Navajo developed stories or legends to explain the world around them? Find out why the Navajo language was a a tough code to crack. Discover the difference between a male and female Hogan. Read Navajo legends online.
Code Talkers
National Museum of the American Indian Navajo Hogan Kidipede Navajo Legends First People Indigenous Peoples Literature |
