jet519 |
Jun 8th, 2016 08:56 AM |
You may want to consider making this a New Mexico only vacation. There is enough to do just in this state that you could see it all in 60 days, let alone six. Here are some ideas:
The day you fly into ABQ, go to Old Town and explore and in the evening take the Sandia Tram to the top of the mountain for a fantasic sunset and views of the city. There is a restaurant at the top if you want to have a drink or dinner although the reviews are mixed for their food.
You could also do this itinerary on the last evening of your trip and go to Old Town on Tuesday morning before you head to the airport if this works better with when your flight gets into ABQ. There are many other options in ABQ but these are two of my favorites that I always do with guests.
I will give some general ideas for the rest of your trip that you could do without the Grand Canyon. If you are set on Grand Canyon, I can help with that as well but you would be spending one of your six days just getting there and then you have the drive back as well. If you head south from ABQ, you can take the Socorro exit which is about an hour south and head West on Rte. 60 to the Very Large Array. If you are not familiar, Google it! Then you can continue to Datil and take Rte 12 to Rte 180. I don't know a lot about Route 12, it looks like two lanes so might be a slow drive but the Gilas are like that anyway. Maybe someone else can help with that idea. Once you get to Rte. 180, you can look at the Mogollon and Glenwood areas which are ghost town areas and also the CatWalk Canyon, which is a really cool hike. Be careful of the weather since July is Monsoon season and thunderstorms build up everyday. Catwalk Canyon in Glenwood can be inaccessible if there has been a lot of rain. From there you would be close to Silver City for your other star gazing plans. This plan from ABQ could be done in a day. The next day you could drive from Silver City to the Gila Cliff Dwellings. It is a very scenic drive and the Dwellings are wonderful to see and learn about. Take Rte. 15 both to and from, it is easiest and shortest back to Silver City and you will get plenty of views and winding roads to satisfy. If you want to see some of AZ, the next day you can head back on Rte 180 but this time take it across to AZ near Springerville and head north to Holbrook, AZ. This might be the fourth day of your trip depending. When you get to Holbrook, AZ, you are about three hours from the Grand Canyon, just in case! But you would be pushing it to fit that in with this plan. It is possible but you would head back to ABQ from the Grand Canyon on Day 5 and you could see the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert on the way back to ABQ. The other option on day four would be to head back towards ABQ from Holbrook, see the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert on the way and then head up north from ABQ to Santa Fe. That would give you the rest of Day 4 in Santa Fe and the next day there. Santa Fe is one of my favorite places in the world and there is so much to see and do that you would only be getting a taste. If you choose this option, you can drive back to ABQ via the Turquoise Trail as long as you leave early on Tuesday depending on what time flight leaves. Let me know if you have more questions if this helps. This is just one of so many possibilities. I have been coming to New Mexico since 2000 and now I live here! And I still have not seen and done everything there is to do.
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