Travelgma

So on Day 3 leave Albuquerque early and spend whole day driving to SF on Turquoise Trail, stopping at Crest, stopping at Madrid for lunch and then up to SF?? Will this take the whole day or will we have some time to explore SF?

Day 4 Day trip to Tent Rocks in AM. Hike Rio en Medio and maybe Aspen Vista on way back to SF. If time walk around the Plaza.

DebitNM

No, it will not take the whole day (Day 3) to get to SF unless you spend hours hiking. You should have time to explore SF in the later afternoon.

Tent Rocks in the morning sounds good; again, I am not familiar with the other hikes.

I don't think you ever answered - how experienced a hiker are you and are you coming from sea level? Altitude has a big impact on even the best conditioned hikers. Be prepared, weather can change in an instant here. Some folks consider hiking to be walking a flat, level, smooth terrain - we would call that path walking and that's ok. That is not what hiking is like here for the most part. Think narrow, switchbacks, rocky, and usually involving change in elevation. Just don't want you to find yourself in trouble.

http://www.sandiahiking.com/preparation.html

Travelgma

Feel we are pretty strong hikers. We have done Half Dome in Yosemite and Angel's Landing in Zion. Just came back from 180 miles in New Zealand of hiking including the Tongariro Crossing. We like hiking but are very cautious about conditions. Appreciate your concern and advice since we are ignorant as to the conditions of New Mexico.

How does this sound?

Day 5 Georgia O'Keefe Museum tour with phone app. Drive to Taos via High Road. Visit Taos Pueblo for guided tour.

Day 6 Hike Rio Grand Gorge Bridge and Williams Lake in am. Drive Enchanged Circle in pm. Or does it make more sense to do the hike at Williams lake at end of drive?

Travelgma

DebitNM Thanks for the link for the Sandia hiking. Have you done any of those hikes, can you recommend one?

Travelgma

Instead of hiking the Peak on Day 3 (will have gone up tram the day before) it was suggested we stop in Cerrillos, maybe do electric bike tour of Cerrillos Hills State Park, or some hiking. Thoughts???

DebitNM

I never heard of a bike tour, but that doesn't mean anything. Our first trip here, when we were "trying" it out for size [i.e. moving here] we went on a really nice trail ride.

http://www.brokensaddle.com/

Travelgma

I'm glad to get the feedback on the trail ride. Had considered that.

Travelgma

Recommendation for restaurants in Albuquerque?? Nob Hill or Old Town area. Some place with great food, would love to experience local cuisine. Not looking for cheap eats. $$$ range

DebitNM

Old Town is not a place for great food, for the most part. Seasons is very good, but not really NM cuisine. Not far from Old Town is Artichoke Cafe and The Grove. Just beyond Old Town is Duran Central Pharmacy -- yes a pharmacy!

Nob Hill has several good places to eat.
Scalo Northern Italian
Elaines
Zacatecas Tacos + Tequila
Il Vicino Wood Oven Pizza
A classic is Frontier, on Central across from UNM. Far from fancy but the best flour tortillas in town.
Flying Star for breakfast or lunch.


The best local cuisine in ABQ tends to me not fancy nor costly restaurants.
Sadies
El Pinto
Pueblo Harvest
Garcia's - several locations
Casa de Benavidez
Padilla's
Mary & Tito's

Classy places for dinner:
Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm
Farm to Table

Any Dion's for pizza - a local chain.

That should get you started...