I remember back in the late 80's I was in the middle of nowhere Wyoming, riding back from Sturgis, and got caught in a torrential downpour during one of the area's longest droughts. I pulled into a small town to dry off and ended up getting invited to a party the locals were having. I will never forget one guy asking, "what are you doing here?" Well, Wyoming is an interesting state.
It can be very flat and windswept, like at Independence Rock
They called it Independence Rock because settlers wanted to be there by July 4 in order to reach their destination before winter set in. People would scratch their info into the granite so their friends would know they made it that far and when.
What was funny about the guy's question was that we were only a couple hundred miles from the Grand Tetons. He had never been.
Of the states you listed, I have to admit, Utah is my favorite.
Zion
Bryce Canyon
Canyonland (I think)
Nevada
Valley of Fire
Somewhere off I-80 e/o Reno
Mesa Verde, Colorado
Albuquerque, NM
City of Rocks
Painted Desert, AZ
Meteor City
