Navajo Nation

城市概覽

Covering 27,000 sq mi (70,000 sq km), the Navajo Nation is the single largest Native American reservation in the United States. Note that the Navajo Nation observes daylight saving time throughout its territory—even in Arizona, which otherwise does not use daylight saving time. This means that time in the Navajo Nation will be one hour ahead of the rest of Arizona, but only from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.

Watch The AMC television series, Dark Winds, is set on the Navajo reservation. It features members of the Navajo tribal police as they keep the peace, investigate mysteries, and track down bad guys on the native American territory.

如何抵達

The best way to enter the reservation is by car. Visitors do not have to clear customs or immigration upon entry and exit from the Navajo Nation. No visa is required for entry, and permits are only required for restricted activities such as backcountry camping and commercial photography. The reservation is far from major airports, and commuter air service into Farmington and Gallup on the New Mexico side is marginal and leaves you a long way from most of the reservation. Rail service is similarly marginal and distant, although the Amtrak line between Albuquerque and Flagstaff passes through Gallup and along the southern side of the reservation. Window Rock, administrative center of Navajo Nation, is relatively close to Interstate 40 near the New Mexico-Arizona state line. It and the other major settlements on the reservation (Ganado, Chinle, Kayenta) are reachable by good roads.

By bus The Navajo Transit System has service from Flagstaff, Farmington, and Gallup to cities in the Navajo Nation.

當地交通

Given the vast space of the reservation, the best way to get around quickly is by car. Public transportation is provided by the Navajo Transit System; fares are $2.00.

必看景點

Monument Valley – buttes, spires and mesas form a landscape which has been the backdrop of many films about the Old West. Window Rock- the natural stone arch here is of great spiritual importance to the Navajo people Canyon de Chelly National Monument – historical settlement of the Anasazi Four Corners – Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico meet at one point. Nothing special visually, but where else can you have a limb in four states at one time? Shiprock, southeast of Four Corners near Farmington, is another fantastic bit of desert scenery.

體驗活動

Shiprock Northern Navajo Nation Fair. The largest fair of the Navajo Nation takes place during the fall in Shiprock, New Mexico. If you are in the area, it can be an interesting stop with a market fair. Not all that is sold at the market fair is Indian art, in fact, you'll find a lot of rap CDs and t-shirts harboring the name of bands loved by those below the age of 20. Nonetheless, there is Indian art to be found in some respect. You'll also find standard rides that should keep the younger entertained. Of more appreciable cultural interest are the rodeos and Indian dances. While not warranting a 2-day detour to the area, it may be worthwhile to take a day, if you are reasonably close, and time your visit with the traditional dance contest and the pow-wow. Both events consist of traditional Navajo dancing and singing. You'll also be able to enjoy Navajo burgers while you're there. (updated Oct 2016)

購物

Navajo weavings The characteristic folk art of the Navajo is the Navajo rug (or blanket). Each region of the reservation has its own characteristic style of weavings, with a few patterns that can be found reservation-wide. As with other folk art, quality and prices vary wildly; small items for the tourist trade can be had for as little as $20 or so, while a gigantic, museum-quality (but brand-new rather than antique) rug from the prestigious "Two Grey Hills" region sold for $60,000 at a Santa Fe Indian Market a few years ago. The key thing to remember is that the value of a particular weaving is the value you place on it. If you see a piece you like, haggle over price if you wish; if you don't get the price you want, look for another one. Beware of non-authentic imports from Mexico and overseas carried by unscrupulous "dealers" that have tried to capitalize on the market for Navajo work. Many of the "tourist traps" of the region, particularly those just off the reservation, are plagued with these, but most sources on the reservation itself are entirely aboveboard. Some reliable sources of rugs:

1 Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site. In Arizona, is a unit of the United States National Park Service that preserves a historic trading post on the reservation, and is a good starting point for looking at rugs. There is often a weaver on the premises who will be actively working on a rug (and should not be disturbed while at it -- she's likely to speak only Navajo) along with interpretive exhibits. The post also has a reasonable selection of rugs for sale at competitive prices. (They're in a back room that may not be obvious amid the usual tourist paraphernalia; ask.). There are several other trading posts on the reservation that still are "working" posts, in the sense that they function not just as distribution points for goods bound into the reservation, but also places where weavers and other artisans can trade their rugs for goods or put them up for sale on

美食

One of the characteristic food items of the Navajo Nation is "frybread." This is a flat bread about the diameter of a common tortilla, but quite different from a tortilla in that the process of preparing it (via frying rather than baking) causes it to become crisp and develop bubbles and pockets, so that it more closely resembles the sopaipilla of northern New Mexico. Frybread is eaten alone, with powdered sugar or honey as a dessert, or piled high with lettuce, tomato, cheese, ground beef, chile and beans; the latter form is commonly called a "Navajo taco," although it has little to do with a conventional taco beyond the fact that it shares many of the same ingredients. Navajo tacos and other frybread dishes can be found at restaurants, and roadside stands, throughout the reservation, many of which also feature distinctive mutton dishes.

飲品與夜生活

Alcohol is prohibited. If you simply must have a beer, Flagstaff (Arizona), Farmington (New Mexico), and Gallup (New Mexico) are just outside the borders of the reservation. Don't expect to be welcomed with open arms at bars in the latter two, as bars there have serious problems connected with alcoholism on the reservation. The presence of Northern Arizona University at Flagstaff makes night life in town somewhat more convivial.

住宿

Lodging Kayenta has several motels and motor lodges, of which the Best Western Wetherill Inn is notable for the attached gift shop/gallery with a surprisingly good and reasonably-priced selection of Navajo rugs. On US 163, phone (928) 697-3231; rooms from $55. Goulding's Trading Post and Lodge, in Monument Valley, Utah, is in a beautiful location, also offers Navajo rugs on-site, and has a good re