mgantt828

Hi - I will be travelling to SF & ABQ in mid September. Below is what I have confirmed but I really need help filling in the gaps. I would love the trip to center around, art, museums, Native American culture, hiking/outdoors, and food!

Thanks for your help.

Friday 9/11 - arrive ABQ around 9:00am, rent a car and drive to Santa Fe. I already have reservations Friday and Saturday night in Santa Fe.

Sunday 9/13 - drive back to ABQ at some point. I do not have reservations in ABQ yet.

Monday 9/14 - depart ABQ around 6:00pm.

Thanks!!

DebitNM

Friday - drive north on I25. North of ABQ is Tent Rocks. These are hoodoos and are a great introduction to the unique features of NM. Directions are on site:

http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/rec...ent_rocks.html

I would head to Santa Fe after for lunch.

Friday night should find some good gallery action on Canyon Road.

Saturday - I would head to Museum Hill and see those that interest you. http://www.museumhill.org/ You could spend the morning there and then do some more hiking at Bandelier:
http://www.nps.gov/band

Sunday - drive down the Turquoise Trail to ABQ, maybe take a drive to the top of the Sandias for a great view: http://www.turquoisetrail.org/

Afternoon in ABQ - the zoo is excellent:http://www.cabq.gov/biopark/zoo/

Also --The Hispanic Cultural Center http://www.nhccnm.org/,

The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

Shopping along Nob Hill is fun.
Monday - drive out to Acoma Pueblo http://sccc.acomaskycity.org/overview

http://www.cabq.gov/visiting.html


hotel in ABQ - what price and what level of creature comfort? chain, motel, hotel, b&b??

Food; what do you like to eat? Price range?

I'll give you ideas on these with some input from you.

Deb

ElendilPickle

Deb's planned a fantastic itinerary for you!

Lee Ann

obxgirl

We just returned from five days in New Mexico. I would agree with Deb's obvious expertise except possibly to mention that, unless you're a big zoo aficionado, I skip Albq's zoo for some of the other native american or outdoor things she mentioned.

DebitNM

I know that the zoo isn't everyone's cup of tea, but if you like zoo's, it is really an amazing zoo for a relatively small city. It is easy to see in about 2 hours.

I was just trying to present a broad range of options and some of the different things to do in ABQ. And I did have some other options for Sunday afternoon. Heck, I could just walk along the bosque trail for a couple of hours and be happy!

Deb

obxgirl

Sorry, Deb, I was not trying to be critical. Only to say that with so little time, I'd pass on the zoo for some of the other unique places you mentioned.

I'm not generally a fan of zoos and would freely trade if for a long walk along the bosque!

mgantt828

Hi Deb - Thanks for the great ideas. As far as food goes, I really would like to experience local flavors. Price is always important but if you have some cheap eats as well as some more expensive options that would be great as long as you think the food is good and authentic.

For the hotel in ABQ, I would like to stay around $150ish but has a good location.

Any and all your suggestions are appreciated!

Thanks,
Michael

mgantt828

Hi Deb - Thanks for the great ideas. As far as food goes, I really would like to experience local flavors. Price is always important but if you have some cheap eats as well as some more expensive options that would be great as long as you think the food is good and authentic.

For the hotel in ABQ, I would like to stay around $150ish but has a good location.

Any and all your suggestions are appreciated!

Thanks,
Michael

DebitNM

Have you seen my restaurant list for ABQ?

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...s-picks.cfm?15

Here are some ideas for Santa Fe dining;
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...rip-report.cfm

Would you be willing to priceline, name your own price? You can get some decent 3* places, in midtown - uptown for around mid $40's.

Good location for hotel - downtown has places with priceline too for about same price but you have to pay parking [$10-12].

Hyatt Tamaya can be gotten for around $100 sometimes, just north of ABQ and very pretty.

Let me know...
Deb

Lisa_D

I'm a huge fan of Hyatt hotels--- theres a fabulous one on the river just a few miles north of ABQ. And since you are coming back from Santa Fe, you'll drive right by exit 242.
You can walk down to the Rio Grande right on the hotel grounds. Beautiful scenery with Sandia Mountains as a backdrop. You will find your local flavor there.

DebitNM

The hotel Lisa is referring to is the Tamaya that I mentioned in my post above hers!
Deb