Hoosiergirl

My husband and I will be flying into Albuquerque and renting a car and spending 6 days before driving to Colorado Springs to visit relatives. We are going in late June. What would be some ideas for our itinerary during our visit, ie Albuquerque-Santa Fe, Taos. Also some nice places to stay while we are in those areas. Any suggestions would be very helpful. Thanks.

ElendilPickle

There's a lot to do in the area. What are your interests?

Lee Ann

Jayne1973

I would spend some time in Albuquerque first, visiting Old Town, Petroglyph Park and Sandia Peak, where you can ride the air tram up the mountain. It's beautiful. Then I would head to Santa Fe on the Turquoise Trail (Highway 14). There are some old mining towns along the way that were ghost towns for years and offer some interesting stops along the roughly 60-mile trip to Santa Fe.
http://www.turquoisetrail.org
ElendilPickle is right -- there are so many things to do in this area on your way to Colorado Springs! Let us know what you are interested in (and do search this forum for "Santa Fe" "Mesa Verde" and "Durango.")

seniormsuedu

The "sky city", Acoma, is a wonderful pueblo to visit west of Albq. I would spend most of my time in the Santa Fe area. Taos is a nice day trip. There are many recommendations on Fodors' posts - museums, restaurants accomodations, etc.

Last year I drove from Santa Fe to Colorado Springs via Alamosa, through the San Luis Valley. Beautiful ranchland surrounded on the east side by 13,000 ft. mountains and, nearing Salida on the west, the 14,000-footers of the Collegiate Range. I stayed a night in Salida (the town time forgot) poking around the area, then up to Buena Vista and scenic route 24 to Colorado Springs. Cowboy, fishing, rafting country.

A great way to see the mountains without driving in them.

RobynTheBride

I agree with Senor...if you're into the scenic drive, go through the San Luis as opposed to taking 25 to C/S--much prettier. Salida is a cute little town and the views are to die for. Eat at Laughing Ladies...Salida's best restaurant!

The Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau will have a lot of good info for you also... http://www.abqcvb.org/

Have a great trip--that's home country for me and boy do I miss it now that I live out East!

Robyn

williamscb13

I don't know if your route takes you through it because I can't remember the number of the road I drove from Santa Fe to Gunnison, but Don't speed through Saguache. They are out there all the time.

Hoosiergirl

Thanks everyone. This was exactly what I was wanting to know. Some of the little out of the way spots to drive through. Just some leisurely time sight seeing, i.e. neat restaurants, pueblos, beautiful scenery, museums. Think we will just take 1 day and spend in Taos. Thanks again.

seniormsuedu

hoosier girl, sounds like a good plan. i hope you love s.f. as much as i do.

robyn, i am going to eat at laughing ladies next fall since i have to make that wonderful drive from s.f. again. this time either through leadville or 285 to denver.

michigan girl