The American Southwest is a region of energetic growth and multicultural vitality. Its quaint towns are enjoying renewed attention as their rich history, striking settings and distinctive architecture attract visitors from around the world, along with Americans touring their homelands picturesque byways. Ranging from tiny villages of a few hundred people to resort towns of as many as 40,000, most are the kind of place where a chance conversation still opens doors: Taos, Telluride, Virginia City, Moab, Sedona and many more. Nik Wheelers stunning photography and the perceptive commentaries of seasoned western travel writer Joan Tapper celebrate 30 of these special communities in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah, accompanied by photographic essays on Route 66, ghost towns, Native American communities, and the Southwest in the movies. From pueblos and silver mines to roadside diners and ski resorts, Wheeler and Tapper present a vision of the Southwest that evokes both Americas frontier heritage and the expansive vistas of its future.