The Petrified Forest National Park, and within it, the Painted Desert, is a nice one-day outing if you're in northeastern Arizona. Roughly divided by Interstate 40, the Painted Desert lies on the northern part of the park. South of the interstate, a portion of which is the old Route 66, is where most of the pockets of petrified wood can be found. The park is about 30 miles from north to south and, even if taking in a few short hikes, can be done in a full day.

Both sections of the park have a designated drive with overlooks offering the most picturesque views. And some of the overlooks have short trails for added views.

If you're a hiker, the Blue Mesa Trail is a must-do. It's an easy couple of miles below the driving surface and was, for me, the highlight of the park.

The national park is located 20 miles east of Holbrook, Arizona, in an otherwise remote area. There are no eating establishments within the park and very few once you leave Holbrook. Most likely, Holbrook will be your main base, but I also visited Winslow which is west of Holbrook. Both are big Route 66 towns, adding fun to this part of Arizona I hadn't traveled before.