NFC WEST

Joe’s favorite training camp: The best kept secret among NFL training camps is Flagstaff, Ariz. At 7,000 feet, the stifling summer heat isn’t up here, two hours north of Phoenix. The setting is pretty, the crowds measurable and the atmosphere pleasant. A close second is Seattle’s pristine lakefront location in suburban Renton.

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Road tripping: The Cards play at Atlanta, Carolina, Kansas City, Minnesota and San Diego, in addition to divisional tilts at San Francisco, Seattle and St. Louis.

Recommend road trips: Consider a Sept. 12 journey to Mid-America for the season opener at St. Louis. If it’s sizzling outside like in the desert, you won’t have to worry inside the cool confines of the Edward Jones Dome. For outdoor football adventure under the cool night’s sky, rent a car. The next night, Sept. 13, the Chiefs host their AFC rivals, the Chargers, on Monday Night Football some four hours west on I-70. Also, both the MLB Cardinals and Royals are home starting Sept. 13 and both boast among the best settings in the game (if you wanted to begin your Midwest roadie early, the Cards play at historic Soldier Field in Chicago, Aug. 28).

Two trips closer to home include the Oct. 3 contest at San Diego, or surprise your significant other and spend New Year’s in splendid San Francisco as the Cards visit the 49ers on Jan. 2.

Visiting training camp (open to the public): While the Valley of the Sun bakes in 110 degree summer heat, the Cards hold camp at 7,000 feet, and in temperatures from the upper 70s to the low 80s. Located just two hours by car up I-17, Arizona’s camp at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff is one of the best in the NFL for players and fans with gigantic pine trees surrounding three practice fields. Fans have a good view of the action and the fan atmosphere is pleasant and relaxed. The Cards also hold some night practices at Lumberjack Stadium. If it rains, the team will practice indoors at the Walkup Skydome where the team plays its annual intra-squad scrimmage. Flagstaff is a great town right on historic Route 66, and a springboard for a visit to the spectacular Grand Canyon and other natural wonders. For more information on Cardinals training camp, visit www.azcardinals.com or call 602-379-1714.

ST. LOUIS RAMS

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Road tripping: In addition to annual visits to Arizona, San Francisco and Seattle, the Rams also fly to Denver, Detroit, Tampa, New Orleans and Oakland.

Recommended road trips: Don’t miss the chance to see blue and gold (or yellow) meet the silver and black as the Rams visit the Black Hole Sept. 19 to tackle their former Los Angeles rivals in Oakland. If you’ve never been west to see the Rams play the 49ers, then stay in town an extra day and head across the bay to see San Francisco host the defending World Champion Saints on Monday Night Football, Sept. 20.

For a trip closer to home, consider a visit to the Motor City Oct. 10 as the Rams visit the Lions (where, like the Rams, you won’t have any problem getting a ticket either). Fly into town a day earlier, Oct. 9, and head 40 miles west to Ann Arbor as the Wolverines host the Spartans in the “Battle of Michigan,” one of college football’s nastiest rivalries. The Red Wings will also be dropping the puck at historic Joe Louis Arena by this time, perhaps even against the Blues.

Visiting training camp (open to public): St. Louis holds practice at its Russell Training Center in Earth City, Mo., which is about 20 miles northwest of town near St. Charles. There’s bleacher seating, plus you can park your caboose on a hillside overlooking the field for a wider viewpoint. Downtown St. Charles has a pretty, 19th century feel with its historic buildings and the Katy Trail State Park biking and hiking trail begins here, traveling along the Missouri River. For more information, visit http://www.stlouisrams.com/splash/ or call 314-516-8852.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Road trips: Mike Singletary and the Niners will be racking up those frequent flyer miles. They’ll go east to visit Atlanta and Carolina; to the greater Midwest to play at St. Louis, Kansas City and Green Bay; all the way across the pond to London, England as the home team against Denver; and take western swings to San Diego, Arizona and Seattle.

Recommended road trips: Many fans may already have their bags packed for Halloween in jolly old England. But way before then, consider a flight up to the Emerald City for the Sept. 12 season opener at Qwest Field in splendid Seattle. Fly into town a day early and join in the floatopia that is Washington Huskies fans tailgating on Lake Union as UW hosts Syracuse in college football. For a decidedly polar bear chill, the Niners visit the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, Dec. 5. Bundle up and start saving now for trying to score a ticket in Green Bay.

Closer to home, the first of two “Battles of the Bay,” begins Aug. 28 as the 49ers cross the San Francisco Bay to visit the Raiders (the silver and black invade Candlestick Park Oct. 17).

Visiting training camp (open to the public): The 49ers hold camp at their practice facility in Santa Clara, 45 miles south of San Francisco. There are bleachers that offer good views of the action. You may need to sign-up for access to the facility however at www.49ers.com. Santa Clara is theme park central, but next door, San Jose, has minor league baseball at historic Municipal Stadium. For more information on camp, including fan access, visit www.49ers.com.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Road tripping: In addition to division tilts at San Francisco, Arizona and St. Louis, the Seahawks have some great getaway destinations with stops in Chicago, Denver, New Orleans, Tampa and Oakland.

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Recommend road trips: Enjoy football a Mile High in Denver as the Seahawks kick-off their road slate in the Rocky Mountain State on Sept. 19. Fly into town a day earlier and pay a visit to Folsom Field in Boulder, one of the most scenic football stadiums in the U.S.

For an old school NFL experience before the thermometer gets nasty, head to the Windy City Oct. 17 as the Seahawks visit the Bears. Some 90 miles east of Chicago, enjoy the Fall Foliage and pageantry of college football as the Fighting Irish host Western Michigan, Oct. 16. Not enough fun? How about Halloween in the Black Hole — surrounded by silver and black — as the Seahawks visit the Raiders in Oakland?

Visiting training camp (open to public): The Seahawks hold camp in the Seattle suburb of Renton at their sparkling training facility. It’s a scenic location with Lake Washington as the backdrop. But this isn’t utopia. Although attending camp is free, fans have to register to ensure entrance at www.seahawks.com. Additionally, fans have to park and then get on a shuttle bus before forking over $5 to get to the facility. It can be time consuming. For more information on Seahawks camp, including practice access, visit www.seahawks.com.

Joe Connor is a contributor to NBCSports.com and author of the annually-updated online training camp and stadium guide, “A Fan’s Guide To The Ultimate NFL Travel Experience” which is available for purchase exclusively at his Web site: www.mrsportstravel.com.