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 The View Hotel is located in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. For more information, call 435-727-5555 or visit www.monumentvalleyview.com.© Kerrick James Click image to view larger in separate window. Reservation RequiredThere's only one place in the world where you can see Monument Valley from your hotel balcony, and it's on the Navajo Nation, at a place called The View.By Roger Naylor Monument Valley Many words have been used to describe the epic desolation of Monument Valley, but "comfortable" isn't usually among them. The View Hotel changes all that. Perched on a mesa amid towering monoliths, the View is the first hotel built inside Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, and as you might expect, it offers luxurious access to the mythic backdrop of John Ford Westerns. Indeed, now you can sip coffee from your own private balcony and watch the bones of the land drenched in the shimmery light of sunrise. "I wanted to create a place so people could come from all over the world, or just around the corner, to experience this sacred place, and Native American culture as well," says Armanda Ortega, owner of The View. Armanda is a member of the Ortega family, Navajos long known for their entrepreneurial spirit. "When you're in Monument Valley you feel like you're in touch with a different part of the world," she says. "I'm glad people are able to enjoy it now for longer than a day." Designed to exist in harmony with the magnificent surroundings, the hotel stands only three stories tall, a low contour conforming to the mesa that overlooks the valley. The exterior's reddish hue blends with the rock. Energy-efficient windows, additional insulation and low-flow water devices also enhance the hotel's eco-friendly credentials. Yet soul-nudging splendor defines The View. Rooms face east, each with a sheltered balcony framing an up-close panorama of iconic formations — the Mittens and Merrick Butte. In a state with no shortage of dramatic settings, this one is hard to beat. When you're not sitting mesmerized in your room, you'll want to consider a Navajo-led tour and discover an array of hidden wonders. The View provides a complete list of available tours. Hotel guests can also hike the Wildcat Trail, a dazzling loop that curls among the sand and the silence around the base of West Mitten. Ortega understands the desire to connect to this startling landscape. "Just before opening, my mom and her whole family came out. My uncles were building railings, and my aunts were inside doing the things we needed to do. We awoke before the sun rose and all went outside. We took our corn pollen and prayed, and it was truly a moment I'll never forget. When you wake up with that sun, it's an indescribable feeling." And now it's an extremely comfortable one, as well, courtesy of The View Hotel. >> Visit Lodging Guide
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