week itinerary needed for New Mexico

Have you been to these places before?

A week is enough time to give you a taste of everything, and those places are relatively close so you should get a lot of bang for your buck, so to speak.

What time of year are you planning to take this trip?

Absolutely a must see:

Or must SEES:

The oldest church in the US in Taos. No rush....
The museums in Los Alamos. Spend a day there, if you can.
Go to the big warehouse area in Santa Fe. Same stuff as what's on sale in the main shopping area of Santa Fe.

MUST Stay:
At the Abiquiu Inn, for quiet relaxation and Romance. Are you at all artsy fartsy? Recreation-oriented? You will love it. Its about 45 minutes-1 hr from Santa Fe and Taos.

GM, wow, I've finally found someone else who's stayed at the Abiquiu Inn. We love that place! It's a great base for exploring Georgia OKeeffe country.

I second the recommendation IF you want to explore this area, but not if you want to limit yourself to the areas you mentioned.

When we go to this area of NM, we are usually anxious to get to Santa Fe, so we take Interstate 25 straight up. (A lot of people recommend the turquoise trail but we don't go that route.) When you leave Santa Fe to go to Taos, you can take the scenic route and visit the various pueblos: Tesuque, Nambe,Picuris. Along the way is the Sanctuario de Chimayo, a church that is famous for its healing properties. You also drive through the Carson National forest.

When you come back (assuming you are returning to Santa Fe, or ABQ to catch a flight, you can go a more direct route on (I think) 68.

If you like hiking go up to Bandelier NM and be sure to also visit Tsankwai, a separate part of the park 5 miles down the road. Neat ancient dwellings carved into the hillside ( hardened volcanic ash). Do take it easy as you are at elevation here. Not far from there is Valdez caldera, lots of elk. These are a bit west of 25 between Santa Fe and Taos, take 502 to 4. This would be on your way to Los Alamos if you decide to go there. If you are flying in and out of Albuquerque, return from the SF area on 14 known as the turquoise trail, neat shops set up in the "shacks" from mining days and a road that takes you up to the top of Sandia preak for a view of the city when its too windy to take the cable car, a nice alternate route back to ABQ. If you find yourself back in ABQ with a little time, there is petroglyph NM right in the west side of town.

You've gotten some good suggestions so far. When will you be here? What is your lodging budget?

Lee Ann

Emalloy and I must have the same travel agent! Yes to Bandelier and Tsankawi; pay attention, though, or you'll drive right by. Tent Rocks is another good one. I've never seen the sky as blue as it was the day we were there.....

emalloy, do you mean the Valle caldera? We've been wanting to go there. It always seemed like it's not really open to the public; am I wrong about that?

Actually I meant Valles caldera. They have a web page at www.vallescaldera.gov. If you leave Bandelier and head west towards Jemez you will go right past it. It was a private ranch but I think it is now public, maybe blm land or part of the National Forrest. When we drove by in late September there were male elk rounding up females and bellowing at each other and strutting their stuff. It was very impressive. There were several view points along the road where people had pulled off to watch. In May we went back by and did see elk, but not nearly as many as in the fall.

maybe heyjude moved to an ashram

Northern New Mexico is BEAUTIFUL! I was raised in New Mexico and myself always escaped to Northern New Mexico. I would highly suggest checking out the Rio Chama River and the wonderful Coopers Ranch near El Vado Lake... the river (Rio Chama) is beautiful and known to the biggest native brown trout living in its waters. Coopers Ranch offers cabins to rent and to sleep right next to the Rio Chama. I would also check out Chama New Mexcio and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. Also for lodging i highly suggest The Brazos! http://www.brazosrentals.com/
Have a wonderful time and eat lots of green and red chili!

Just snooping on the thread and happy to discover ideas and positive suggestions about Abiqui.. will be heading to Santa Fe w/2 grlfriends in July... one will stay a few days & has Abiqui on her must do list.. I have never been and now am excited about the adventure! thnx

There are dozens of high mountain hikes and alpine lakes around Red River, New Mexico (1 hour from Taos),including the great hikes to Middlefork Lake (4 miles RT, 3 hours) and Wheeler Peak (14 miles RT, 10 hours). Go to http://www.redrivercommunityhouse.org and link to "Hikes" and "Photos" to see descriptions of these hikes and photos. E-mail if I can help: eddiedry@hotmail.com.

We love Tent Rocks outside Santa Fe for hiking. The formations are unique and it is beautiful. You might also enjoy the Shadoni Foundry and Sculpture Garden. You can see bronze pours and enjoy a picnic on the spacious grounds. Lots of people who go to Santa Fe regularly don't know about these special places. Have a great trip!

If you love to hike, don't miss visiting Taos Ski Valley. Taos Ski Valley is located approximately 20 miles from the town of Taos. The Valley is stunning any time of the year. You have dramatic views of Wheeler Peak - the highest peak in New Mexico, thats a worthy hike of 8hrs starting at 9200ft and finishing at 13161ft. 16 mile return hike
There are also shorter hikes like the 5 mile return hike to Williams Lake at 11400 feet.
Lodging in the Ski Valley is available at great rates from $50 per night- ranging from small Alpine Lodges and Inns to a 5* Resort. Restaurants and shops are also open in the summer months along with a scenic chairlift ride, horseback riding, guided fishing tours. Taos Ski Valley for a night would be a fantastic addition to your trip!

I'm also glad to see the mentions about Abiquiu. I was looking for a place to stay between Espanola and Chama at another thread and Abiquiu was suggested there also. My other consideration was the Inn at the Delta in Espanola. I'll be making reservations at the Abiquiu Inn since it is a little closer to Chama where we will ride the Cumbres & Toltec RR.

We arrive in Albuquerque Friday night 9/11 for the USS Trathen DD530 reunion and then go out on our own Wedneday through Monday. Wednesday, the important stop will be the San Ildefonso pueblo. DW has an Oqua-Pi painting from the mid 1930s that she hopes to get information about. Thursday will be the train ride and then three days in Taos and two in Santa Fe.

Lots of good ideas. Thanks to all.

Hi to everyone. No I didn't move. I just forgot that I had posted here. I had also posted on tripadvisor and have been checking there. Anyway I'm back. I am actually leaving Apr 21, flying to ABQ, booked at the non-smokers motel for 3 night. Maybe a day too long but I found out the Gathering of the Nations is taking place that weekend. And we are not flying home until Apr 30. So i have really 8 full days. So here is my idinerary so far.
Day 1 fly in and try to go to see Old Town and also the Pueblo Culteral Center.
Day 2 Pow-Wow in the afternoon and then up to Sandia tram for evening.
Day 3- Maybe Petroglyphs and also Acomo Pueblo
Day 4 Head to Sante Fe stopping at Tent Rocks for hikes. Staying at Sage Inn in Sante Fe.
Day 5 Bandelier
Day 6 Drive to Taos for the day back to Sante FE for night.
Day 7-

Ok here is where I am stuck. I wanted to go to Carlsbad and White Sands but from the other forums I have gotten the impression that its too much driving and not a very scenic drive. I would still love to get to both of these places. Any suggestiions. If not other suggestions for the last 3 full days. I really do appreciate all of the help all of you fodorites have given me in the past. Thanks

You need to add more days in Santa Fe and perhaps sample some of the others things ABQ has to offer!

Carlsbad and White Sands is really quite a long drive and while nice destinations, the drive can be a bit boring. Bosque del Apache is really nice, but by end of April, it will be pretty quiet.

I have done lots of posts recently for ideas of things to do in both ABQ and SF. If you do a search for New Mexico posts or click my name they should pop up.

You didn't ask, but I'll offer: take the tram up to top, but don't eat up there; much better places to eat in ABQ.

I just saw you did look at some of the posts where I have info! Let me know if you have any other Q's.

Thanks for replying so quickly. i am thinking that maybe I should go west a little to Jemez Springs. We're not crazy about hot springs but I read that there is some hiking around there. And also a B&B called Canon del Rio which looked really nice but would it be bvetter to stay in Los Almos. Is Canon del Rio remote. I'm not sure. I called there and they said that there were many hiking trails. Have you had any experience with this place. Thanks

You're going up to Santa Fe, but not really spending time in the city. I would use at least a couple of your days there.

Carlsbad is great, but you'll spend two of your three extra days in the car getting there.

Lee Ann