Santa Fe or Albuquerque

Old May 24th, 2010, 07:25 AM
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Santa Fe or Albuquerque

Hi!

We are a group from Spain who is coming to your country to carry out the "whole" Rt66 next august. Unfortunately, we just can spend one day in NM, so we must decide whats better to visit, if Albuquerque or Sante Fe.

We´ll try to get both but we just have time to sleep one night in NM. So, what deserves more time to visit or it is much better to sleep there? We arrive from Texas.

I have been reading about both cities but Im not sure.... Consider that there are 6 people aged 30-35, so is important for us rather the best average among festivals, nightlife, live-music, gastronomy, cultural events, places to visit... I know it isnt an easy question...

Any other advice in this way about the route in NM is really appreciated!!!

Thanks in advance!!
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Old May 24th, 2010, 07:36 AM
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I'd vote for Santa Fe if I had to decide, but where are you spending time if not in New Mexico? I would want to spend several days there to see the Spanish influence on the area.
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Old May 24th, 2010, 08:01 AM
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offer with restaurants, museums, music, festivals, etc. It is also an easy spot for walking to most everything which makes it a convenient spot to set as a base.

I see that you are coming in August which is a busy month, especially the weekend of Indian Market August 21-22. Plan for lodging now if you are in town that weekend. It's a very exciting time to be here if you can. From their website:

"Each August for the past eighty years, Santa Fe Indian Market has brought together the most gifted Native American artists from the U.S. with millions of visitors and collectors from around the world. The extended weekend of beauty and celebration ranks as the world's largest and most highly acclaimed Native American arts show and as New Mexico's largest attended annual weekend event."
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Old May 24th, 2010, 08:05 AM
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Cut your time in Texas and spend more time in New Mexico.
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Old May 24th, 2010, 08:09 AM
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Sure it deseves more than a day (in fact as much as I read about NM or Texas I want to stay longer there!!!), but we have to fit the time we have for the trip.... 12 days from Chicago to LA...

We probably will stop as well in Gallup, Tucumcari... or wherever someone advices us to get.. It is planned as a roadtrip so we know we´ll spend many time on the road, but dont care so much, we love to drive and there are 6 drivers. We have to be next day in Arizona...

So then Santa Fe? Ok. if you can give us references about places, restaurants (casual), live-music venues...

Hummmm! It is planned for us to get Santa Fe first weekend in Ausgust... early for the indian market

Thanks!
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Old May 24th, 2010, 08:33 AM
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Is Tucumcari for a gas up? Otherwise, skip Tucumcari. There isn't a thing there but motels & fast food chains. It's a very small, dusty town.
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Old May 24th, 2010, 10:51 AM
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If you haven't visited www.historic66.com yet, it should be helpful as you plan your trip.

You can get off I-40 at Tucumcari, drive through town on the old 66, then get back on the freeway. But, as BeachGirl247 said, there isn't a lot of the old 66 left. Most of it is now I-40 and bits of I-25.

Lee Ann
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Old May 24th, 2010, 11:42 PM
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OK! I´ll skip Tucumcari! Thats the kind of advices I was referring to! Thanks Beachgirl. Any other recomendation will be also well received.

Yes I have visited historic66.com. I know it isn´t possible to follow rhe whole route and we dont care so much. We´ll take I-40 or old 66 alignmentts when it deserves

So, Gallup ok, Santa Fe better than Albuquerque and Tucumcari definetly no. Any other suggestion?

Thanks a lot!!!
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Old May 25th, 2010, 03:15 AM
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The section of 66 that you pick up southwest of Kingman, AZ is very scenic. It goes through the old town of Oatman which is a bit hokey, but fun to see.
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Old May 25th, 2010, 06:26 AM
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While Santa Fe is lovely and the Plaza area charming, I think that with only a short period of time in that area, ABQ is a better choice.

There are 2 wonderful cultural centers where you can learn about the Native American and Hispanic
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Old May 25th, 2010, 06:31 AM
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sorry,hit submit too soon.

Hispanic influences and history which are the keystones to NM.

http://www.indianpueblo.org/

http://www.nhccnm.org/

On your way west, stop at Acoma Pueblo for a tour and see what life was and is like:
http://www.skycity.com/

Spend your evening in Nob Hill at a wonderful restaurant and getting the NM vibe. Music etc can be found on Central Ave, in downtown.

Reasonably priced restaurants with excellent food, maybe a concert, lots to offer in ABQ.

If you want specifics, let me know.

I know Santa Fe has it's dedicated fans, but for a short stay, I think ABQ is the way to go.
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Old May 25th, 2010, 07:09 AM
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Forgive me for asking, but I'm not sure I see the point of the trip, if you don't have adequate time to do it properly. You would need at least a month & I am figuring you're looking @ well over 2000 miles of driving (probably closer to 2500 w/side trips & such). So what are yuou trying to accomplish ? You aren't going to see much, except what you see out the car window. For this trip, just stay in ABQ.
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Old May 25th, 2010, 07:34 AM
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Gallup is a major railway junction, if you like to see many, many very long trains. It has lots of Indian pawnshops if you want to buy turquoise jewelry. It is not a place to spend time UNLESS you have taken a detour to visit Acoma Pueblo and can't go any farther for the night. Acoma should be a UNESCO world heritage site if it is not.

Though most of the buildings are not old or have been heavily reconstructed, Santa Fe is a very important cultural site. It was settled as part of New Spain and to this day maintains four cultures: Spanish, Mexican, Indian, and Anglo. It is in a beautiful location and is a wonderful center for touring Pueblos like Taos or San Ildefonso.

Santa Fe is to the Southwestern United States as Sevilla, Toledo, or Cordoba are to Spain.
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Old May 25th, 2010, 08:03 AM
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One night is not enough, but still I'd pick Santa Fe (a unique city) over Albuquerque by a very wide margin.
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Old May 25th, 2010, 08:09 AM
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Does Route 66 even go through Santa Fe? I remember driving parts of Route 66 in Albuquerque, but not in Santa Fe.

I'll agree with DebiT that you should focus on Albuquerque. There are historic things to see in Albuquerque. I'm not knocking Santa Fe, which has a lot to offer, but seeing that you want to do a "historic" Route 66 tour, Albuquerque has a lot more to offer in terms of genuine history,IMHO.

There's the Indian Pueblo Culture Center right in the middle of town. If you can, catch a performance of Indian dances - these are genuine dances performed by a group of Pueblo Indians who are versed in their own culture.

http://www.indianpueblo.org/

Also a slight distance out of Albuquerque is Petroglyph National Monument where there are thousands of carvings from the early inhabitants of this region - Indian "graffiti", if you will. It shouldn't take you more than an hour and a half for healthy young people to go through the entire park. We old people got through in two hours.

http://www.nps.gov/petr/index.htm

For a more modern look, I'd recommend you stop off at the Sandia Pueblo's Resort and Casino, which is just off of Interstate 25 on Tramway. The architecture is "modified pueblo" is the best I can describe it. Inside they also have a fabulous buffet, which is inexpensive and worthwhile.

As mentioned, the Acoma Pueblo is also worth a stop.

Both DebiT and ElendilPickle are you top resources for New Mexico. They are excellent guides and you can't go wrong with their advice.


Once in Arizona, Route 66 goes through the Painted Desert which is worth a stop. However, if you have the time, I'd strongly suggest going north to Canyon de Chelly

http://www.nps.gov/cach/index.htm

and even loop around to Monument Valley

http://www.navajonationparks.org/htm/monumentvalley.htm

You will be inside the lands of the Navajo Nation. Monument Valley is where a number of the old Western cowboy movies were shot. The scenery is spectacular. It will be a pity to drive so close to Monument Valley and to miss it.

Another key Arizona attraction still in the Navajo Nation but at the western end is Antelope Canyon. It take about an hour to get from Page to Antelope Canyon (you can only take a tour and can't drive there yourself), so plan to be there around noon for the best photo shots of the sun slanting down the canyon walls.

http://www.navajonationparks.org/htm/antelopecanyon.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmBcAVAG3t0

It'll be much more worthwhile to detour into the Navajo Nation than to keep driving on the old Route 66 in that part of Arizona, which is mostly empty desert with not much to see. Just a suggestion.

Have a great trip! And welcome to the US!
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Old May 25th, 2010, 12:21 PM
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>>Does Route 66 even go through Santa Fe?
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Old May 25th, 2010, 12:36 PM
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My vote would be for Santa Fe - have a wonderful trip!
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Old May 25th, 2010, 01:18 PM
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Agree with Santa Fe!
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Old May 25th, 2010, 02:28 PM
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I agree with Deb - with only a day in New Mexico, I would stick with Albuquerque.

Lee Ann
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Old May 25th, 2010, 02:30 PM
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Interesting (really, it is) that the residents choose Albuquerque, but the "tourists" pick Santa Fe. I'm a tourist, and I'd go with Santa Fe, too.
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