En Route to or From the Hopi Mesas
On the west side of the reservation, in Tuba City, is the Tuba City Trading Post, Main Street and Moenave Avenue (tel. 928/283-5441). This octagonal trading post was built in 1906 of local stone and is designed to resemble a Navajo hogan (there's also a real hogan on the grounds). The trading post sells Native American crafts, with an emphasis on books, music, and jewelry. Across the parking lot from the trading post you'll find Hogan Espresso, Main Street and Moenave Avenue (tel. 800/644-8383 or 928/283-4545), one of the few places on the reservation where you can get espresso. Behind the trading post, you'll find the new Explore Navajo Interactive Museum, Main Street and Moenave Avenue (tel. 928/283-4545), a small museum in a giant tentlike structure that was used at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Although small, the museum provides a good introduction to Navajo culture. There is also a good Navajo code talkers exhibit here. The museum is open Monday through Saturday 10am to 8pm, and Sunday noon to 8pm. Admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $6 for children ages 6 to 12.
If you happen to be in Tuba City on a Friday morning, be sure to check out the Tuba City Flea Market (tel. 928/283-3284), where you'll find not only deals on the necessities of life on the reservation, but also Navajo jewelry and traditional fare such as mutton stew, grilled mutton, and fry bread. You'll find the flea market east of the Quality Inn; go east on Edgewater Drive, and turn right at the sign for the refuse transfer station.
On the western outskirts of Tuba City, on U.S. 160, you'll find Van's Trading Co. (tel. 928/283-5343), in the corner of a large grocery store. Van's has a dead-pawn auction on the 15th of each month at 3pm (any pawned item not reclaimed by the owner by a specified date is considered "dead pawn"). The auction provides opportunities to buy older pieces of Navajo silver-and-turquoise jewelry.
In mid-October, Tuba City is the site of the Western Navajo Fair (www.westernnavajofair.com), which sells Native American crafts.
West of Tuba City and just off U.S. 160, you can see dinosaur footprints preserved in the stone surface of the desert. There are usually a few people waiting at the site to guide visitors to the best footprints (these guides will expect a tip of $1-$2). The scenery out your car window is some of the strangest in the region -- red-rock sandstone formations that resemble petrified sand dunes.
The Cameron Trading Post (tel. 800/338-7385 or 928/679-2231; www.camerontradingpost.com), 16 miles south of the junction of U.S. 160 and U.S. 89, is well worth a visit. The main trading post is filled with souvenirs but has large selections of rugs and jewelry as well. In the adjacent stone-walled gallery are museum-quality Native American artifacts (with prices to match). The trading post includes a motel, convenience store, and gas station.
