The nonprofit Grand Canyon Association supports the ?educational, interpretive, and visitor service programs at Grand Canyon National Park.? They operate bookstores that sell their publications at all of the major stops on the South and North Rims. Of particular interest is the Kolb Studio at the head of Bright Angel trail. The studio is used to mount exhibitions by artists whose work portrays the special nature of the Grand Canyon. Often prints are available for purchase. The association also maintains an extensive online store. For more information, go to the GCA website.

If you are looking for authentic Native American arts, there is no better place to start than the Museum of Northern Arizona. For over 50 years the museum shop and bookstore has presented the best work of master craftsmen and emerging artists. You can feel confident that your purchase will be of the highest quality, whether it is traditional or contemporary. Items for sale range from fetish carvings to Navajo rugs, handmade pottery and silver jewelry. The bookstore features publications about the Colorado Plateau as well as t-shirts, calendars and music. For more information, go the the MNA website.

If books are your thing, then take a look at our local publisher of all things Western, Northland Publishing. They specialize in nonfiction books about the American West and Southwest ranging from history to cookbooks. Two divisions of Northland, Rising Moon and Luna Rising, publish outstanding books for children. Look for Northland?s books at your local bookstore or visit them online.

Photography on the Square, located on Heritage Square in historic downtown Flagstaff, is having a holiday sale featuring the work of several Flagstaff-based photographers. Prints are discounted from 10% to 50% and other unique gift items are also featured. You will find photographs ranging from Southwestern landscapes to portraits from around the world by these outstanding artists. For more information, go to the Photography on the Square website.

There are many wonderful shops in Jerome where you can find unique items by local artists and crafts people. There are two stores that I never miss when I stop in Jerome.

My wife, Barbara, loves jewelry (well, what woman doesn?t?). In particular, she loves unique, handmade and beautifully designed pieces by local artists. We never fail to find something special at Aurum. It is owned and operated by Curt Pfeffer who has been making rings and bracelets for 30 years in Jerome. The store also features the work of other Verde Valley jewelers. Barbara has a particular fondness for the work of Lindsey Livingston who makes one-of-a-kind earrings, bracelets and pendents from broken pieces of dinnerware encased in sterling silver. Many of the pieces are inscribed with poems or quotes on the back. To view the work of the Aurum artists, visit the website, and be sure to stop in when your in Jerome.

I had no idea that there were so many varieties of kaleidoscopes until I visited Nellie Bly a few years ago. Here you will find a unique collection of the finest kaleidoscopes in the world. Ranging from tiny scopes you can carry in your pocket to ones requiring permanent installation, you will find a gift to fit every personality and budget. To get an idea of the range of possibilities, visit Nellie Bly's website. But to truly appreciate the beauty and wonder of kaleidoscopes, you have to hold them up to the light and gaze fascinated at the patterns that emerge. Fortunately, browsing is encouraged by the helpful folks at Nellie Bly.

Like Jerome, downtown Prescott offers a number of outstanding stores and galleries for your shopping pleasure. One gallery in particular stands out for the quality of the art it carries and for its support of local artists. Van Gogh?s Ear is located in one of the historic building on Whiskey Row across from the courthouse. The interior is flooded by natural light from a large skylight illuminating the arts and crafts on display. The gallery represents over 50 artists in every media from fiber to photography to hand-painted shoes all living within a hundred miles of Prescott. For more information, visit Van Gogh?s Ear website.

Three Sisters Consignment may strike you as an unusual place to shop for holiday gifts. Located on Highway 89 north of Prescott, it is worth a stop. This store offers furniture, art and apparel that is a cut above the stuff one often finds in consignment stores. Owner Dana Womack takes pride in offering quality, gently used merchandise at reasonable prices. Dana is also a designer so she has an eye for the good stuff. Just look for the big sign on the east side past the old highway 89A junction.

Under the banner ?Western Gifts for Gals with Grit?, Buckshot Babe's offers a selection of fun and unusual gifts with a western theme. The store is located in a historic building that was originally the Helm Barber Shop built in 1910. The owners, Carrie Ward and Gail Walma also have deep roots in the West which you can read about on the Buckshot Babe's website.

The old west comes alive in Wickenburg and there?s no better place to explore its art and artifacts than at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum. After viewing the museum?s collection of western art, stop in the museum store. There you can purchase fine art reproductions of many of the museums paintings. You?ll also find a nice selection of books on western art and history. Visit the Desert Caballeros Western Museum website for details.

This holiday season take a break from the ordinary and take a slow drive on US Route 89. You will find the perfect gift for each person on your list and have the satisfaction of supporting local merchants, artists and crafts people.

Photographs of the Grand Canyon by James Cowlin are featured in a new book by the Grand Canyon Association. Called Lasting Light?125 Years of Grand Canyon Photography, the book traces the history of the photographic record of America?s most scenic natural wonder. The book profiles twenty-three contemporary photographers each of whom has selected his or her most important images and tells the story of how they were made.

To celebrate the publication of Lasting Light, James Cowlin has created a special collection of prints of the photographs in the book. They are pigment ink prints on 100% cotton paper produced to the highest archival standards. Each image is 8 inches by 8 inches; the panoramic image is 3 inches by 9 inches. Each print is mounted and matted to 11 inches by 12 inches, the same size as the book. Choose one or more prints and receive a complimentary copy of Lasting Light with each order.

You are not alone in your passion for a trip on a ?slow road.? There are many others like you. Together we can spread the word of the joys of leisurely travel. Join the US Route 89 Appreciation Society and you?ll receive an official membership certificate and button to attest to your belief in the "slow road" movement.

General Membership: $5
Benefits:
? Membership Certificate
? Membership Badge
? Email Newsletter
? Invitations to all project events