When the temperatures heat up in the Southwestern US during the summer, so do the region’s tourist attractions.  Though the heat might be enough to make some people shy away from traditional vacation activities like golf and desert excursions, there are still plenty of reasons to visit this diverse and exciting region.

Why head to the Southwest in the summer?  It has some of the world’s best health and wellness spas, plenty of mountain adventures, including biking and whitewater rafting, and some of the country’s best artists and musicians, not to mention hundreds (even thousands) of years of history.

Here are five of the best summertime destinations in the Southwestern US.

1. Boulder, Colorado is a mecca for outdoor sports enthusiasts year-round.  It draws mountaineers, bikers, hikers, campers, fishermen and sports climbers during the warmer months .  Boulder is also a center for alternative culture and mainstream education.  The city offers attractions both urban and natural.  Shopping, dining and nightlife can be found on Pearl Street, where street performers ply their trade during the summer.  A short distance away, Chautauqua Park, home of the famous rock formations known as the Boulder Flatirons, hosts hikers, climbers and picnickers during the days and concerts by the Boulder Symphony on summer evenings.

A lengthy trail runs through the greenbelt that surrounds the city and plenty of outfitters lead climbing and rafting trips to the nearby Rockies.  Of course, the true attraction of Boulder is that you can have an adventure in the mountains or on the water during the day and be back in town in time to experience some world-class cuisine and party at a nightclub or hit the pubs to knock back a few quality micro-brews before calling it a day.

2. Santa Fe is the cultural and historic heart of New Mexico.  For some visitors, there is no place more exotic in the United States.  A 400-year-old city, its culture and history have been influenced by Spain, Mexico, the United States and the local native tribes who have lived in the area for more than 1,000 years.  This colorful past is on full display at the many missions, museums and historic buildings throughout the city.

Santa Fe’s arts scene is well known, with galleries along Canyon Road and in Santa Fe Plaza displaying and selling high quality work.  During the summer, there are numerous festivals that celebrate the city’s culture.  The Santa Fe Arts and Crafts Festival takes place throughout the summer in the central plaza.  A jazz festival, wine tasting events, folk art markets, a rodeo and a classical music festival fill out the summer calendar and assure visitors that something will be going on when they arrive.  Golf, horseback riding and treks to the scenic Sangre de Cristo Mountains mean that adventure can be as much a part of the trip as culture.

3. Moab, Utah is mainly known for its lunar-like landscapes and deep canyons.  Yes, for sightseers looking for a glimpse of the Southwest, this is one of the best places to take postcard-esque pictures.  Several outfitters in the area provide jeeps for half-day and day-long tours of the canyons and desert lands near Moab.

The best summertime activity – one that virtually assures a dip in the cool waters of the Colorado River – is river rafting.  There are numerous outfitters in the area, offering challenging river runs or more gentle, family-oriented paddles.  Some companies, like Colorado River and Trail Expeditions, offer tours that include both rafting and hiking.

4. The Southern Colorado Rockies have always been a wintertime destination.  Recently, many of the region’s ski resorts have been developing summertime activities that can allow them to remain open during the warmer months of the year.  Mountain biking trails, alpine slides, hiking and spa services, as well as rafting trips and climbing expeditions, make them good summertime destinations for casual adventurers who want to combine their outdoor activities with a comfortable resort vacation.  Famous ski names like Breckenridge, Park City, Loveland and Keystone have a full menu of summertime options.

5. Las Vegas is a year-round destination mostly known for its casinos.  But there is a surprising amount of alternative attractions in Sin City, especially during the summer.  Family-friendly sites, like the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay Casino Resort and the Lion Habitat the the MGM Grand, are examples of this new side of Vegas, while old classics like the Bellagio Fountains and the Flamingo Garden are still worthwhile places to visit.  M&Ms World and the newly-built CityCenter are other alternatives to the blackjack tables.

Summer vacation in Las Vegas?  With so many non-gaming attractions in one place, it might not be a bad idea if you want convenience, diversity and excitement.

Photographer: Robert Holmes

July 18th marks the 55th anniversary of Disneyland Park, located in Anaheim, California. With close to 600 million guests since July 18, 1955, Disney Land is one of the most visited parks in the world.

In reality, the airplanes you fly on won’t be overrun by poisonous snakes or any other type of menacing creature.  But, depending on which airline you fly, you might see some pretty ugly things.  No, finding crumbs or stickiness in your seat or using an unclean lavatory is not as bad a receiving a lethal snakebite, but it can make you question your choice of airline.

So which airlines are the most likely to fail the white glove test?

Last fall, an extensive survey by SmarterTravel.com revealed surprisingly (embarrassingly?) low scores for legacy carriers in the US.  Over 20% of fliers surveyed thought that US Airways had the dirtiest cabins, with American, Delta and United each taking a 15% share of the uncleanliness.  With only 5% of the vote, Continental was the cleanest of the big boys.  Low cost carriers like Midwest, AirTran and Virgin America earned high marks for their well-manicured seats and lavatories.

There have been rumors from the offices of both Spirit Air and Ryanair that they would introduce some sort of coin-operated pay-to-pee lavatories.  Spirit has since opted for advertisements in its bathrooms as a money maker rather than forcing people who didn’t bring correct change to hold it (or worse).

Baggage does not require the same level of sanitation as passengers, but there have been stories of bags being contaminated.  This past winter, Delta passengers traveling from Puerto Rico to Denver claimed that their bags were soaked with jet fuel when they picked them up from baggage claim.

Of course there is some good with all the negative.  After extensive polling, All Nippon Airways (ANA) decided to designate an all women lavatory on each of its aircraft.

Airlines have also become cognizant of the fact that passengers might be to blame for some of the in-cabin unpleasantness.  Earlier this year, a man was booted of a flight operated by Canada’s Jazz Airline for being too smelly.  The offender was allowed to fly the following day, after he showed up at the airport with an improved odor.

On a more serious note, major airlines finally seem to be coming to their senses about cabin cleanliness.  United, which previously only gave their planes a thorough cleaning twice yearly, is seeking to get back to fundamentals by upping the number of scrubs each fleet-member gets.   Other legacy carriers seem to be following suit.

Independence Day, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring the United States independence from Great Britain.

Los Angeles has plenty of options for budget travelers! Visit museums, listen to music, glimpse into outer space, and visit cultural attractions without even opening your wallet! Whatever you’re looking for, the Entertainment Capital of the World has something for you!

1. Fowler Museum at UCLA

The Fowler Museum holds 150,000 artistic and 600,000 archaeological pieces from Asia, Africa, Oceania, and Latin and pre-Columbian America. Explore the arts, clothing, and lifestyles of diverse groups from around the world!

2. Hollywood Walk of Fame

Over 2,000 artists from film, theatre, television and music have been immortalized with a brass, terrazzo star on Hollywood Boulevard. Walk along the Walk of Fame and pay homage to the many stars who’ve defined the culture of LA and America.

3. Griffith Observatory

Los Angeles’ famous Griffith observatory is one of the country’s foremost public observatories. Check out the astronomy museum and look through the Zeiss telescope to see deep into outer space, all for free! Sitting 1,134 feet above sea level, Griffith is visible from most of the city.

4. La Brea Tar Pits

Explore one of the country’s most famous fossil sites at the La Brea Tar Pits. This site saw the discovery of thousands of fossilized bones from 400 species of animals, including giant sloths and wooly mammoths.

5. California Science Center

Los Angeles’ science museum immerses visitors in scientific subjects such as space travel, ecosystems, and basic life processes. The whole family will find something to suit their interest at this diverse collection of science exhibits! The Center also houses a seven-story IMAX theatre, though there is an admission cost for screenings.

6. Farmer’s Market

Not only is LA’s original farmers market a great place to shop for local foods, but through the summer it doubles as a music venue! Come Thursdays and Fridays to enjoy some the city’s best jazz, swing, and Latin music.

7. Hollywood Sign

This immortal sign is the most recognizable symbol of Los Angeles. Though the site itself is closed to the public, there are several great viewing areas, including Beachwood Canyon and Gower Boulevard. No trip to LA is complete without a good look at this national landmark.

8. Banning Museum

This museum, a beautiful Greek revival building, is former home of Phineas Banning, father of the Los Angeles harbor. It currently houses a wide range of American art and artifacts, from dolls and fans to furniture and carriages.

9. Griffith Park

With over 4,000 acres, LA’s Griffith Park is one of the largest urban parks in the country. Go hiking, biking or running through wooded trails, or check out the park’s golf courses, horse rides, and train rides.

Though it is easiest to blame an airline for a flight delay or cancellation, the circumstances are sometimes beyond their control.  Storms, erupting volcanoes or security alerts can cause mass cancellations.  Of course, more often than airlines would care to admit, their own scheduling decisions are to blame.

Delays and cancellations at the airport are only part of the story.  What about that overbooked flight where passengers get bumped off the plane through no fault of their own?  Or worse, what about those horror stories of planes idling on the tarmac for hours with passengers trapped in the cabin with overflowing toilets and crying infants?

Passengers’ journeys can even be delayed after landing.  Even if you haven’t been a victim yourself, you’ve often seen the unfortunates with frowns on their faces waiting at the lost baggage counter as you wheel away from baggage claim.

So which airlines are the most dangerous to fly if you want to arrive on time?  Let’s do the numbers:

The current king of lateness is American Airlines affiliate American Eagle.  Their somewhat respectable 82% on time rating for Spring 2010  makes them the US industry’s worst when it comes to sticking to the schedule.   The good news? The industry average (85%) is currently more than six percentage points better than it was last year (79.1%).  Even lowly American Eagle sits above 2009’s woeful benchmark.

American Eagle also struggled when it came to baggage handling.  They averaged 7.78 mishandled suitcases for every 1,000 pieces of luggage.  The industry average is just over 3 bags-per-one-thousand.  Other regional carriers affiliated with major airlines also fared poorly, with names like American Southeast and Comair near American Eagle in terms of mishandled baggage.

The recently published Airline Quality Ratings (full .pdf version here), a respected airline industry report, ranks Delta (15 of 18 domestic carriers) as the lowest on-time airline amongst legacy carriers.  United was ranked two spots above them.

So readers are not left with a completely bad taste in their mouth, here are some of the best schedule stickers.  Hawaiian, with its few routes covering ever-sunny skies, topped the list, as its has done for much of the decade, with an above-93% on time rating.  AirTran and Jet Blue also scored quite highly (a change from  woeful performances earlier in the past decade).  Jet Blue, which has improved massively since its PR nightmare where passengers were stranded on the tarmac for over 10 hours during a stretch of bad weather a few years ago, has a high on-time rate and has the distinction of being one of the few airlines that never bump passengers from flights.

In Europe, British Airways, as it has for the past few years, topped the continent’s lost luggage list.  Low-cost-carriers Virgin and Ryanair also performed poorly when it came to making sure suitcases and passengers arrived at the airport simultaneously.

A new law aimed at reducing tarmac delays by fining airlines whose planes sit on the runway for over three hours seems to have had a positive effect.  Only 4 three-hour delays have taken place since late March, when the rule became law.  US Airways made the largest improvement to its delay record of any major airline in the country.