I am going to Espanola NM
 

I need to know where to stay and what to do in Espanola NM, Help.

There are a few chains motels there, mostly it is a place you pass going from Santa Fe to Taos.

Why are you going there? What kind of things do you want to do?

Deb

Here is a nice looking B&B

http://www.ranchodesanjuan.com/index.php

They have a page with some info on things to do in area

http://www.ranchodesanjuan.com/valley.html

Here are some other places
http://www.espanolaonline.com/lodging/

Deb

Um, I think the question about why you want to go there is a good one. According to a friend, there is really good New Mexican food there (sorry, no recs), but it is not very attractive and has a reputation for being a little bit rough, a place you pass through between Santa Fe and elsewhere, as DebitNM says.

What Deb said.

Lee Ann

My wife has to go there for work in Sept. I will have 4 days alone to eat, fish, and do day trips.

Okay, it is a good base for that.

You can go to Los Alamos and Bandelier (Atomic City and cliff ruins) one day, a couple of pueblos another day (San Ildefonso and San Carlos, maybe) Santa Fe another day, and drive up to Taos on the low road and take the high road back. You can see Taos if you want. Stop on the way back in Las Trampas to see the church, then look around Las Truchas, where a lot of the movie Milagro Beanfield War was filmed, and finish up at the "miracle" church at Chimayo.

I wouldn't leave any visible valuables in my car in any of these places. Many people are very poor. Some of them, particularly in Chimayo, are also crooked, or so I am told.

Restaurants: El Paragua used to be pretty good, last year when we were there it was a little disappointing but still good. If Rancho de Chimayo is opened yet, it also used to be really good. (There had been a fire; it hadn't reopened when we were in the area in early December.)

The drive north of Taos around Angel Fire should be interesting in September.

Thank you all. I am from AL and we have never been to NM before. We travel a lot, but some local info is always wonderful.

If you can rent "The Milagro Beanfield War" before you go, I think it will help you understand a good bit about the "Spanish" or "New Mexican" side of New Mexico, which is very different from the "Mexican", "Anglo", or Indian side. There may be Native Americans in New Mexico, but I never heard one call him/herself anything but an Indian or by the name of her/his people.

It is a very complicated and interesting society and one of the most beautiful places in the world.

I am going next week, does anyone have any last minute advice ??

For food? or for things to do alone?

I always drive <i>through</i> Espanola so I cannot help with things in the town itself. Gabrielle's is the only restaurant I am familiar with. It's on I-285 on the east side of the highway. Good guacamole.

You can drive to Abiquiu and visit Ghost Ranch for the day. Gorgeous, red rock area that was home to Georgia O'Keefe. You can have lunch at Bode's. It's a tack and convenience store that has delicious green chile burritos.

You can drive the high road to Taos through Nambe and Chimayo - stopping at a quaint church there.

Rancho de Chimayo is not open yet. It will open Sept 26 for dinner only.

I can't help with fishing, sorry.

Go into Santa Fe for the day. Lots to see and do and especially, eat! Tia Sophia's on the plaza across from the Lensic Theater, The Shed - have lunch on the patio, Ore House balcony sipping a margarita & people watch in the plaza below, wander up Canyon Road for the scenery and galleries. A couple of new cafes have opened on Canyon Rd but I haven't tried them yet.

Lots to do but you have to get out of Espanola. It isn't the place to stay for a vacation - just a pass through as Deb and others mentioned.

The weather has been changing, getting more Fall like. There are afternoon showers cropping up frequently now. Cooler days and way cooler nights.

Deb

Thank you everyone. I will give a trip report when I get back.

Looking for feedback on this trip, are you there koleleonard?

Deb