This is cool, but weird. It looks just like what I think Mars must be like,” said our son, Oliver. My husband, our three boys, and I were standing at an overlook gazing out across the Painted Desert ...

For many travelers, Petrified Forest may be a stop to somewhere else, like the Grand Canyon, but this national park is special in its own right.

The Petrified Forest and Painted Desert are uniquely Arizona road trip destinations. Here's why it's worth the drive and what to see along the way.