First Trip to New Mexico

Old Aug 24th, 2016, 07:22 AM
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First Trip to New Mexico

My husband and I want to visit Santa Fe, Taos, and Albuquerque the second week in Oct. We love to hike and experience the outdoors. We are not so much for Museums. We have 8 days. Any suggestions on an itinerary?
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Old Aug 24th, 2016, 07:57 AM
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Check out Bandelier National Monument (west of Santa Fe) and Tent Rocks between Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
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Old Aug 24th, 2016, 08:13 AM
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That's a great time to visit as the weather will be cool and will smell really good. Check out the schedule for the Balloon Festival in Albuquerque. It's usually the first part of October. It's really fun plus the "moon glow" is magical to watch. That's when they fire up the balloons at night.

There's also great hiking in the Sandia mountains in Albuquerque.

I love going to 10,000 Waves in Santa Fe and getting some body work done. It's really a beautiful, relaxing place. At least rent a private tub which is outside with the mountains all around.
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Old Aug 24th, 2016, 10:45 AM
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What's second week mean? October starts on a Saturday, so if second week means Columbus Day weekend, then you're going to arrive at the hind end of the Balloon Fiesta, which may cause problems securing accommodation in Albuquerque (or which may be a reason to go to Albuquerque). Keep that in mind.
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Old Aug 24th, 2016, 12:05 PM
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LOTS of great replies on this similar thread:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ip-in-sept.cfm
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Old Aug 24th, 2016, 06:54 PM
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Planning on going Oct. 16
Here is what I am thinking.

Day 1 Fly to Albuquerque. Visit Old Town/Nob Hill, go on Sandia Peak Tramway and do a walking trail

Day 2 Spend morning in Albuquerque, see Acoma Pueblo, Petroglyph National Monument and if time Museum of Art & History. Drive to Santa Fe, hike Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks on way.

Day 3 Hike Rio en Medio, Aspen Vista. Do walking tour of Old Santa Fe at Palace of the Governors

Day 4 Visit Georgia O'Keefe Museum, Ten Thousand Waves and Los Alamos Bradbury Science Museum

Drive to Taos via high road.

Day 5 See Rio Grand Gorge Bridge, hike Williams Lake and Wheeler Peak. Drive Enchanted Circle

Day 6 Hike Tsankawi Loop, Bandelier, Valle Caldera and Jemez. Stay in Jemez Springs.

Day 7 Return to Albuquerque via Jemez Highway. Fly home

Is this too ambitious? Is there something I don't have that is a MUST??? Something I should skip??
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Old Aug 25th, 2016, 02:42 AM
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We were in Albuquerque and Santa Fe at this same time last year. We chose to go the week after the Balloon Festival after discovering that people drive to site at 4-5 AM, sit in a likely cold field since balloons launch at dawn, then fight traffic back to town and deal with crowds the rest of the day. I am sorry we missed what must be magnificent, but we chose to skip the crowds.

Two things non-tourist that we enjoyed. After visiting Georgia O'Keefe Museum (watch the short info film - it is better than most and gives some great insight into the person) we were chatting with a security guard and asked him in which direction we should drive if we wanted to see what real New Mexico looked like in that area. He sent us on a driving loop, although it did not really matter which direction, and saw a bit of the countryside. Being from New England, nothing like we had ever seen

Second, we went to the farmers market and then drove out to a local chile grower and watched roasting chiles, talked to local people, and tasted some samples. I wanted to bring a few sacks of chiles home, but my friend talked some sense into me and I settled for some edible but decorative dried chiles.
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Old Aug 25th, 2016, 02:43 AM
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This sounds like a nice trip. If the elk are still in rut in Valles Caldera, be sure to look for them. We saw them a few years ago a couple of weeks earlier than you are going, but it was an awesome display.

I'm not sure what lodging is in Jemez Springs, but there was a nice, small museum there.
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Old Aug 25th, 2016, 03:44 AM
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Consider taking the Turqoise Trail between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. That is Highway 14, and goes through some interesting old mining towns that have been revived by hippie types and artists. It is about a 50-mile drive and worth doing on your way between the two cities if you have time.
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Old Aug 25th, 2016, 04:49 AM
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Umm, some of your plans don't compute.

Day 2 Can you get to and tour Acoma (absolutely Worth It) after touring Albuquerque? And do all the other stuff in the afternoon? I doubt it. Check time/distance on your favorite mapping program.

Day 4. If the Science Museum is in Los Alamos rather than elsewhere, add it to Day 6. You take the High Road from more-or-less Santa Fe.

Day 5. No plan to visit Taos Pueblo itself? It is entirely different from Acoma but also Absolutely Worth It. San Ildefonso Pueblo on the way to Los Alamos is another completely different model of what a living pueblo can be, as is, doe example San Carlos, a few miles away.

Some general things:

1. how much experience do you have exercising at altitude? Santa Fe is at 7000 feet, and some of these places go way up from there. It is critical to stay hydrated.

2. By mid October days are getting short. Presumably you know that you don't want to get caught on the trail after dark, particularly at altitude. But you don't much want to drive after dark in areas with large animals that may lie down in the highway. Deer and elk, but horses, too.

3. Will there be snow at higher elevations, and do you know how to cope with it?

It's beautiful country. You can enjoy it if you only did half the things on your list.
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Old Aug 25th, 2016, 05:44 AM
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Acoma is a fair distance from Albuquerque. Petroglyph is much closer. Acoma is amazing but realize you can only visit the pueblo with a tour guide. You should check with the visitor center to see what times the tours go out that time of year. The visitor center itself is also quite nice. We absolutely loved this.

Also, the Turquoise trail is a beautiful drive and we loved Madrid. We actually stayed the night there and really enjoyed our time in this fun, funky town.

I was disappointed by Santa Fe. I had been there twenty five years previous to our last visit (a few years ago) and loved it then but it has become way too touristy and commercialized for my liking. I am sad to say, I would not return.

If experiencing the outdoors is what you are after, why time in the cities?
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Old Aug 25th, 2016, 11:12 AM
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As ackislander said, you have too much scheduled on day 2. Drive out to Acoma Pueblo that morning and take the tour. On the way back into Albuquerque, you will probably have time for a short hike at Petroglyph National Monument, since it's on the west side of the city. However, that may leave you with little to no time to visit Tent Rocks, so you may have to choose between the two.

Day 4 - since you're interested in Georgia O'Keeffe, I would skip Los Alamos (though the museum is worth visiting) and drive up to Abiquiu, where she spent years living and painting. Check to see if Ghost Ranch is offering their O'Keeffe tour. www.ghostranch.org

Day 5 - that's an awful lot crammed into one day, depending on how long your hikes are and how much of the Enchanted Circle you want to cover.

Lee Ann
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Old Aug 25th, 2016, 11:43 AM
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Day 1 - what time do you arrive in ABQ? Downtown to the tramway will take 30 minutes. The ride up, hiking and ride down will consume a few hours. That doesn't even include Old Town and or Nob Hill.

Day 2 - Acoma Pueblo is a must. Check and be sure it isn't a feast day, as they sometimes don't let outsiders visit during certain feast days. Also be sure to familiarize yourself with pueblo etiquette - especially photography. The ride from ABQ proper to Acoma is well over an hour. As stated, you must go with a guide and I would check the times ahead, so that you don't arrive at visitor center just after a tour has left.

I love Tent Rocks but again, that takes time to do the hike and it is a bit of a drive off of I 25. There are 2 hikes - one is a loop and a bit easier and one is an out and back and involves some climbing up steep narrow paths.

I would suggest staying another night in ABQ and and going to The National Hispanic Cultural Center. Along with Native American influence, Hispanic culture has greatly impacted our history. And then stop at Tent Rocks on way to SF

Personally, I am not a big fan of the Petroglyphs.

I have never heard of either hikes on Day 3. I would use that time for other things, but that's me.

Day 4 - Ten Thousand Waves is very nice, but in the end, it is a spa like any other one. I wouldn't spend my time, again driving there etc.

{Let me interject - visitors often don't realize the distances between places here and the time to get to them. So be aware of both}

I would add on Day 4 - The Palace of the Governors/New Mexico History Museum. They are together and are very worthwhile, IMO

Wheeler Peak is a 14er. Are you able to do that? Again, driving the Enchanted Circle is nice, but time consuming so factor that in. I can't see how you could do 2 hikes and the circle in the same day.
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Old Aug 25th, 2016, 01:12 PM
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Here are some photo albums that I posted to Flickr after a trip to northern New Mexico a few years back that may be of assistance:

Santa Fe itself:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/276859...57624927451776

The High Road to Taos:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/276859...57625233943358

Bandelier National Monument:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/276859...57625109026981

Chaco Canyon (not on your list, I know, but just in case you might be interested):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/276859...57624957575155


Here are a succession of impressions/recommendations/ responses:

1. If you like big, juicy hamburgers, try Bobcat Bite, a traditional 1950's era roadside diner on Old Route 66 SE of Santa Fe.

2. We did a day trip north and northwest of Santa Fe in which we visited an expansive roadside flea market just north of the city and to the east of the highway; I think it may be at Tesuque. Calling it a flea market doesn't really do it justice: it's really big, and has lots of things beyond the obvious (e.g., one vendor sold Ethiopian ceremonial processional crosses). We then continued on to Los Alamos (very good museum; I know you said you're not big on them, but the development of the A-Bomb is a fascinating story), and then to the Valdez Caldera further west of there, which was quite striking. We then returned to Bandelier NM and did a short hike up the valley (2.5 miles if you go to the Alcove House) and explored the cliff dwellings. We ran out of time and were unable to see the Tsankawi Unit of that park, although we drove right past it.

3. The following day, we did a day trip to Taos and a little beyond. We stopped to see Nambe Falls along the way, then did Chimayo and Highway 76. I strongly endorse exploring the Taos pueblo. We continued on to the Rio Grande bridge, which was amazing, and saw the "Earth Houses" made out of recycled materials on the western side.

4. We then drove north for Colorado, but stopped off along the way to tour Georgia O'Keeffe's house at Abiquiu, which if you like her work, I would recommend. The Chama Valley is also quite striking with its sandstone cliffs.

5. We came through Chaco Canyon on the way back from Colorado. Fascinating, but you have to not mind driving an unpaved dirt road 22 miles to get there.

6. I also enjoyed visiting Pecos National Historic Site SE of Santa Fe. Massive ruins. As a bonus, the drive there takes you through Glorieta Pass, the site of a significant Civil War battle that saved New Mexico for the Union.

7. The Old Governor's Palace includes a mural painting depicting a battle between a Spanish expeditionary column and the French and their Indian allies in Kansas in 1722 that is like a North American colonial version of the Bayeux Tapestry.

If you like pueblos, BTW, definitely put Mesa Verde on your bucket list, and by all means get reservations at the Park Service accommodation inside the Park (the Far View Lodge) when you do. It's extraordinary.

We found the Sage Inn to be a good budget accommodation in Santa Fe, if you need one. It's about a 10-15 minute walk to the central plaza. Bonus feature: it's next to a Whole Foods market, so you can get a meal or two there and reduce your dining expenses (or save some money that you can then apply to a splurge).

For background, a good small volume on Santa Fe is "Santa Fe: History of an American City" by David Grant Noble, the city's foremost historian. For fiction, there's Willa Cather's beautiful "Death Comes for the Archbishop," a lightly fictionalized account of the French priest responsible for building Santa Fe's cathedral. You might want to find David Weber's "The Spanish Frontier in North America" in a library and read the New Mexico sections. We found the Moon guidebook to Santa Fe, Taos, and Albuquerque to be excellent.
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Old Aug 25th, 2016, 01:41 PM
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jeffergray -
FYI - Bobcat Bite is no longer...it has a new name and new location:
http://santafebite.com/

[Reservations are needed for Abiquiu]
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Old Aug 25th, 2016, 03:45 PM
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>>Day 1 - what time do you arrive in ABQ? Downtown to the tramway will take 30 minutes. The ride up, hiking and ride down will consume a few hours. That doesn't even include Old Town and or Nob Hill.
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Old Aug 26th, 2016, 07:48 AM
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Question for DebitNM Instead of doing the hikes at Petroglyph National Monument, would you hike at top of Sandia Peak Tramway? Took your advice and are staying an extra day in Albuquerque. Tell me if this looks better
Day 1 Arrive Albuquerque at 12:19pm. Visit Old Town, Nob Hill and National Hispanic Cultural Center. Dinner?
Day 2 Tour Acoma Pueblo at 9:30am. Stop at Petroglyph National Monument and do hike on way back to Albuquerque. Take tramway at Sandia Peak. Sunset about 6:30 so maybe skip Petroglyph to be able to do hikes at Peak??? Dinner in town or on Peak???
Day 3 Visit Museum of Art History. Drive to Santa Fe stopping at Ten Rocks National Monument to hike Kasha-Katuwe.
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Old Aug 26th, 2016, 11:37 AM
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Sounds much better!

Day 1 works and is a good introduction to NM. I would eat at Hispanic Cultural Center - very good food. Or you can head into town to eat. Any preferences -cuisine, $$$ most places here are pretty casual.

Day 2 If you are going to hike, I would do it at Petroglyph. It will be light and no threat of it turning nasty weather and it is at lower altitude. Don't eat at the peak. Blech Again, dinner in town.

Day 3 works too!
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Old Aug 27th, 2016, 01:39 PM
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DebitNM Here is another thought. Instead of driving to Santa Fe with stop at Tent Rocks, drive to Santa Fe via the Turquoise Trail?? How long would you allow to drive the Trail with stops along the way? If we are taking the tram to the Peak on day 2, should we spend the extra hour to drive there while doing the Turquoise Trail? If we did do this option would go to Tent Rocks as a day trip from Santa Fe. Thoughts??

Also, the walking tour of Old Sante Fe sponsored by the new Mexico Historical Society is done Oct. 15 and we don't get there until the 21. Any other suggestions?
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Old Aug 27th, 2016, 01:57 PM
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I live just off the Turquoise Trail...

As for the tram to the Crest - it's a really nice ride up [brand new cable cars] view amazing views. $25 pp is almost as steep as the ride up, IMHO. Driving up there will be nice and you'll get the same views at the top.

I would add something to day 2 if you drop Petroglyphs and/ or the tram.

I would drive to the Crest on Day 3, do that for a bit and then take the Trail to Santa Fe with a stop in Madrid. {pronounced MAD- rid, not MA-drid, like the city in Spain} I would have lunch at the Mine Shaft Tavern and then continue on to SF.

I would do the trip to Tent Rocks as a day trip from Santa Fe. It is a bit less convenient, but I strongly urge you to go to Tent Rocks, is it so beautiful and I find it very spiritual - well, if there aren't too many people around. We tend to go early in day and off season.
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