ellen_griswold

NM Experts, can you help me fine-tune this day's itinerary? Is this too much for the day we leave santa fe?

- ideally we'd take the Turquoise Trail thru Madrid (for lunch) to I40 and NM 41...altho i'm thinking we should do Madrid during one of our santa fe days instead?

- quick stop in capitan to pay homage to smokey the bear (our mascot)

- white sands nat'l mt - will it be too hot to do more than drive the 16 miles dunes drive?

- drive 52 miles to las cruces (overnight)

- which is better:
Best Western Mission Inn or Best Western Missila Inn? Any other reccos for safe and clean?

Thanks for any feedback.

ellen_griswold

anyone?

JackOneill

Madrid is a nice little town which I think is definately best done on your way to or from Santa Fe. To make a side trip to Madrid from Santa Fe, I think, is just too time consuming, considering all the other things to do in and around Santa Fe.

Although I love Madrid and we go there every time we visit Santa Fe, it's not exactly a mecca. It probably takes about an hour to see all there is to see in the town, unless you have an itching to wander the mine museum (which I've done).

Do have lunch at the Lost Mine Tavern.

Sorry I can't help with your other quesitons.

Have fun.

beachbum

I agree with Jack; visit Madrid on the drive to or from Santa Fe, or not at all. To my wife and me, it felt like a mini version of Santa Fe: nice shops, restaurants, with the added attraction of the mining museum. We found more of interest - to us at least - in Cerrillos.

jayne1973

I think it's too much to do Madrid on your way out, based on the rest of that day's plans. I would either do it on my way into town (if you are coming from Albuquerque) or as a little day trip from Santa Fe. I've done it as a side trip and it doesn't take that much time; it just depends on what all you have planned in Santa Fe.

If you are going to Capitan, consider a stop in Lincoln to see the old courthouse, where Billy the Kid shot some lawmen and escaped from jail during the Lincoln County wars. It's an interesting town that has lots of old west New Mexico "vibes."

White Sands is always pretty hot in the summer. You might want to get out and climb a bit in the dunes, and there is a small visitors center, but the drive should be enough to get a good look.

BeachGirl247

Don't want to sound like an echo, but I wouldn't make Madrid a priority either. If you are on the Turquoise Trail -- then Stop in Madrid. If you are coming from Santa Fe -- Skip Madrid. Its ok. But I would have to have a lot of days in Santa Fe to take me away to go to Madrid and I've been there several times. Not much of anything there. It was fun for me as I was with an artist that lived in Madrid. Otherwise, it would not be worth the time to drive there.

I'm counting the days until my next Santa Fe visit in two weeks. (eat your heart out, Beachbum! )

ellen_griswold

Thanks so much for the replies.

Do you think we can do everything else in one day? We don't mind arriving in Las Cruces later in the evening.

Also, any thoughts on lodging in las cruces?

ElendilPickle

Yes, it's doable, and as others have said, you won't need much time in Madrid. Sorry I can't help you with lodging in Las Cruces, though.

Lee Ann

ellen_griswold

OOPS, i meant if we don't do madrid, we can still do everything else?
Thanks LeeAnn, i was hoping you'd chime in too!

But, what if we add a stop in Lincoln?

Beachbum (or anyone), what do you recommend in cerrillios?

We love to have lots planned but we also want some wiggle-room time

Thanks so much.

beachbum

The thing I liked about Cerrillos is that it felt authentic. I doubt much has changed there since the town's early days; there are still some hitching posts. We walked into a few places. The one I remember best was an "antique", jewelry, and whatever-else-they-could-find-to-sell kind of place, complete with a petting zoo for the kids. Yeah... I know! ;-) Still, I think it has more character than Madrid.

jayne1973

Hmm, Ellen...since I can't go on my normal summer trip to New Mexico, I am living vicariously through yours!

I don't know the exact mileage, but would it be fair to say you have about 350 miles of traveling that day?

ellen_griswold

Thanks, beachbum. Just learned that one of the "Brat Pack" movies "Young Guns" was filmed there, too

Hi Jayne, not too concerned with the mileage as long as we're not rushed. We love to pack in alot each day and don't mind pulling into the hotel late since we're just there to sleep. Planning to stop in Lincoln too, thx for the tip!

Any thoughts on lodging in Las Cruces - anyone? Is one of the Best Westerns better than the other? As usual, Trip Advisor reccos are mixed.

jayne1973

Ellen, since you don't mind the driving distance, I'd go for the whole "shabang." You might even be able to have breakfast at the Mine Shaft Tavern in Madrid, which would be fun.

I have never been to Las Cruces, unfortunately, so can't help you there. Sounds like so much fun!

ellen_griswold

Thank you jane, mine shaft cafe sounds good for lunch.

One more question ~

Any personal experiences or comments about Socorro? What if we took the turquoise trail to I25 south to see Socorro, then SR 380 (any comments on that route?) to Capitan and Lincoln, then south to White Sands?

Yes i know it will be a LONG day but also considering another night in the area to give more time to White Sands.

ALL input appreciated!

ellen_griswold

Any comments on Socorro?

And would really appreciate comments on Las Cruces' Best Westerns or other lodging.

GerdaFaust

Avoid Hilton Las Cruces - nasty meal service.

jayne1973

New Mexico's famous historian, Marc Simmons, wrote many of his books on a manual typewriter at a home he built himself (sans modern convenience like electricy)in Cerrillos. If you go there, you can imagine him doing it.

Some scenes of one of the "Young Guns
Two " were filmed at the Lincoln County Court House. One summer in the 90s I was there and noticed something on the sidewalk that looked like blood. Turns out it was fake blood from the shootout scene.

ellen_griswold

Sounds fun jayne, we're really looking forward to that part of our trip!
For lunch, what would you reccomend?
I've read alot about Mine Shaft Tavern - still good?

Still hoping for some info on Las Cruces lodging...

ElendilPickle

380 is a good road and probably the quickest way to get from Socorro to White Sands. You'll drive past White Sands Missle Range, through lava flows before you hit Carrizozo (stop and have some cherry cider!), then up into the Sacramento Mountains.

If you have time to stop in Lincoln, it's a pretty little town, and of course there is the Billy the Kid stuff at the courthouse and elsewhere in town.

Lee Ann

DebitNM

ellen - just in case you see this and not your email:
I am not sure what is in Socorro to see or do. What is there that you are thinking of doing there? I am not aware of tourist sites.

White Sands - son and I went there one day from Las Cruces. It was a pretty long drive. It was very interesting to see the dunes and to walk on them. It was a really hot day and the "sands" are very cool. We walked around a few of them, and tried to slide down them using the trunk mat from my suv! Needless to say, it didn't work too well. You can rent sleds or tubes or something. We didn't stay all that long before heading back to LC.

Mine Shaft is a really fun, funky place to eat in Madrid. Do not pronounce like city in Spain! It is pronounced MAD -rid, no MA drid.

I would only plan on driving through the area. There are some shops, but nothing really different than elsewhere in ABQ/Santa Fe etc. There is one place that we always stop in -- right across the street from Mine Shaft is a shop that has blown glass things. The glass blower works outside of the shop, right in the front courtyard and we always stop and watch him. He is amazing and does beautiful creations.

I would not drive a special trip to Madrid from SF and then back again. Not a must see, but good if you can work it into a trip going to or from SF.

If you take 14 south from SF, it will take you through Madrid and then down to I-40. Take that west and you will connect to I-25 and head south from there if time is an issue.

I stayed at either Comfort Suites 2101 S. Triviz. (505) 522-1300 or Sleep Inn 2121 S. Triviz. (505) 522-1700.
They are next door to each other -- I think it was the Sleep Inn. It was ok and I am picky.

www.lascrucescvb.org/html/las_cruces_hotels.html

Here are some discount coupons for Lax Cruces hotels:

www.travel-pal.com/NM_LasCruces_coupons.html


Mexican restaurant on the plaza, very good food!La Posta Restaurant Old Mesilla

www.laposta-de-mesilla.com/index.html

Good Italian restaurant across from NMSU -

Lorenzo’s
Pan Am Plaza
1753 E. University Ave.
(505) 521-3505

Hope you have a great trip!