Since you'll be semi-near, if you can, spend a night at Saguaro National Forest in Arizona. Really nice desert scenery. There's also a big meteor crater near there which is also a nice place to hang out for a night. Also, the White Mountains are excellent fun if you climb a peak and camp out there, and watch the sun rise in the morning from atop the mountain. (I was stationed in Arizona for a couple of years in the Army, so I explored the area some.)