Albuquerque to Aspen suggestions
 

We'll (family of 4 w/ 10M and 13F) have 3 nites, and 4 days, to spend between Albuqurque and Aspen. We're planning on touring ALB day 1, travel to Santa Fe for nite 1 and day 2, then swing west to Durango for nite 3, before going to Aspen day 4.

BUT this is certainly subject to change, and need input!
Maybe we're trying to do too much??? Thanks for your help!

Way too much driving for 3 nights! Skip everything else and head straight for Aspen.

P.S. Aspen is offering $50 towards gasoline for visitors who drive there and stay a few nights. Not sure of the details, but contact the Chamber there.

A few suggestions for your trip.

IMHO I would spend the first night in Santa Fe, skipping Albuquerque. I really haven’t found that much of interest in Albuquerque.
Spend Second night in Santa Fe. Book a room around the Santa Fe Plaza. Everything would be in walking distance.
Third day travel to Durango. On the way to Durango stop at the Taos Pueblo.
http://www.taospueblo.com/
If time permits, you could stop briefly at the National Sand Dunes State Park.
http://www.nps.gov/grsa/
Train ride is great. We have it done it twice but you would need an extra day.

On the way to Aspen stop at Silverton. One of the most scenic drives in the United States is Million Dollar Highway.
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/places/million.htm


Will your children enjoy museums and churches? This is about the only activities in Santa Fe . You could spend the morning of the second day in Santa Fe then on to Taos tour the Pueblo. Overnight in Taos. The next day stop at National Sand Dunes State Park, then on to Durango. Then continue as above.

Have a great Time.

There is plenty to do in Albuquerque. The Old Town area has a good new children's museum, the National Atomic Museum, the Natural History Museum, the zoo, the aquarium, the botanic gardens...

You could spend the morning in Albuquerque, then head east on I-40, get off at Cedar Crest/Tijeras, then head north on the Turquoise Trail into Santa Fe. You might get a kick out of the Tinkertown Museum just off Hwy. 14 - lots of hand-carved miniatures, many animated. A quirky, fun place. Stop in Madrid (pronounced MAD-rid), an old coal mining town, for an ice cream and a look in the shops.

Lee Ann