When you think of the American Southwest, it isn t the towns that initially come to mind. Rather, it s the incredible landscape: carved-out chasms, towering red rocks, and dramatic desert expanses. But you shouldn t miss the beautiful old towns the clusters of adobe houses around Spanish-style plazas and the rows of Victorian miners cottages that still cling to precipitous hillsides. Many of these communities started as remote outposts, then flourished in a burst of riches, only to fade again. Today the Southwest is a region of energetic growth and multicultural vitality, and its quaint towns are enjoying renewed attention as their rich history, striking settings, and distinctive architecture attract Americans touring their homeland s picturesque byways as well as visitors from around the world. Nik Wheeler s stunning photography and Joan Tapper s perceptive commentaries celebrate the beauty and heritage of thirty special communities in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and western Colorado. They range from tiny villages of a few hundred people to towns of as much as 40,000, but most are the kind of place where a chance conversation still opens doors: Bisbee, Spring City, Truchas, Tubac, Tombstone, Cimarron, Silverton, Ouray, Winnemucca, Moab, Sedona, and so many more.