Painted Desert Visitor Center — Attraction in Holbrook

This is the coolest place. I came with my parents when I was a kid and have finally made it back. I brought my own kids back and my mom. The park is a driving tour. You start at the visitor entrance with a map. The road passes by all the different areas. You can choose which or all to stop at. I really enjoyed the giant petrified logs. I was able to walk up and touch them. The colors are gorgeous. Some of the spots are great Lookout points over the valley. It takes about an hour to drive through. Maybe longer depending on how long you stay at each spot. When you reach the end you will have to turn and go back to the entrance or you can leave the southern exit. We were traveling to the south anyway and it worked out perfectly. Take lots of water with you and pack a lunch. It was very hot when we visited. Be prepared. There are no stores. Don't take any rocks. There's a sign warning of being searched and there are plenty of rocks...

So I came to this National Park when I was about 17 years old, wasn't impressed. I remember it was just a lot of 'rocks' with some red cliffs in the background.

I went today at the age of 32. I loved it.

I loved learning about how the geology and landscape came to be the way it is. I loved seeing the ancient Native American dwellings. I loved the beauty of the Inn built during the great depression sitting on this land.

More than anything though.... I loved how QUIET and calm this park is. Not meaning it doesn't have plenty of people visiting there as well, but just the landscape is so peaceful. It's like going into a room where everything is in its place and completely clean. That's the calm feeling I get when I'm here.

Anyways, visit this park!...

Nice Visitor Center. Very small and tucked away in a back building.

Huge parking lot with lots of oversized vehicle parking.

The staff was very friendly, not a lot of souvenirs or things to choose from. There is a (much more expensive) gift shop across the sidewalk that has many more options.

The VC had 3 post cards for $1, whereas the gift shop post cards were $1 a pop.

We were disappointed that while you could choose a sticker for our National Park Stamp book, they didn’t carry the original. It’s a cute idea to let people choose because the park is so large but atleast have the original…. We tried to look for the normal sticker online at NPS but they didn’t even carry it there.

Also the water fountains didn’t work which we found...