Hello. My wife and I are in our mid 30's and both love outstanding natural sightseeing. We love animals and plants(especially Agaves) and rock/mountain formations. Can anyone suggest the most awe inspiring sights in NM? We are staying in ABQ and plan on being on the road most of the trip. Thanks so much if you can suggest anything.
Regards

Curt

Taos - Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

http://virtualguidebooks.com/NewMexi...rgeBridge.html

NOTE: Check out the other amazing photos in the above site!


Between Santa Fe and Albuquerque - Tent Rocks
http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/rec...ent_rocks.html

Chaco Canyon

http://www.nps.gov/chcu/

Petroglyphs west of ABQ

http://www.nps.gov/petr/

Take the tram to top of Sandias just before sunset. {It gets cold up there, even in summer}. Bring a picnic dinner.


Taos Pueblo
Acoma Pueblo

I will also add this: the zoo in Albuquerque is one of the best. I am sure you would rather see animals in their natural surroundings, but there isn't all that much to see in NM. The zoo is a gem and is small enough to see in a few hours and has enough to make it worthwhile. I love going there.

Hope these give you some ideas.

Deb

If you are going south of Albuquierque, I'll add to Debi's list:

I love the drive from Albuquerque to Las Cruces - all those mountains in the desert! Reminds me of an old Zane Grey novel Riders of the Purple Sage. The desert scenery is ever-changing.

In Las Cruces itself, especially off of Highway 70, there are these great views of the Organ Mountains.

On the other side of these mountains, you'll be on your way to White Sands National Monument - those white sands are really an incredible sight.

Then you cross some mountains near Ruidoso and Cloudcroft. Be sure to just take a look at the view from the window of the Inn of the Mountain Gods.

Further east are Carlsbad Caverns.

I hven't been back there for awhile, but the sunsets are really awesome.

One of the best views is to come into Albuquerque or Las Cruces from the west and see the sunset hit those mountains while the lights of the city twinkle below. Really really breathtaking.

Enjoy your trip!

La Ventana arch in El Malpais near Grant could be part of a day from Albuquerque(Albuquerque/Acoma city/El Malpais).
Erik

debitnm & easytraveler have listed some of the most beautiful sites in NM. Second vote for all of them.

"We love animals and plants(especially Agaves) and rock/mountain formations."

I'll tack on

City of Rocks State Park, cool hike:
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/PRD/cityrocks.htm

We took a very interesting hike at Valley of Fire in Carizozo
http://www.geo.utep.edu/loca/Volcanos/VALLEY.HTML

Gila Cliff Dwellings, you can hike:
http://www.nps.gov/gicl

I've never been, but always wanted to see Bandelier NM:
http://www.nps.gov/band

White Sands & Organ Mtns & the drive up to Cloudcroft is nice. Great views from Cloudcroft of the desert and White Sands below.

Carlsbad Caverns is amazing if you like caves.

I would add White Sands National Monument to the list of other great suggestions

Wow, you guys/gals are awesome. Last night I was perusing the NM posts, so I recognize most of your names! Thank you so much!! I am including all your suggestions here to my itinerary. I am even considering an AZ jaunt to the Petrified forest/Painted Desert for one day (We are arriving in ABQ Thursday afternoon and leaving on Tues a.m.).

We will be staying in ABQ, but I may stay one night down in Las Cruces. Any nice, reasonable hotels that anyone can suggest there?

Again, thanks so much for the leads! Ooops. I meant to also what are your suggestion on what are the most outstanding NM restaurants (Mex and other) around. I saw the huge lists here, but I wondered which were the absolute best. Thank you all again!

Curt

Depends on what you like, but I especially enjoy Cafe Pasqual's and Geronimo, both in Santa Fe.

Thanks Lisa. Duly noted

I would absolutely agree with White Sands (quite a sight) and Bandalier (also quite impressive), though any of the above would be great. New Mexico is a beautiful state.

Here are travel journals and photos from my "Southwestern Sojourn" a few years back, much of which was spent in New Mexico: http://strick.net/travel/sw_toc.html

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Thank you Raymond, Nice blog page! Definitely going to do the White sands!

To be honest, unless you have some overwhelming desire to go to White Sands, skip it. It is a long drive to get to and then it isn't all that much once you walk on the "sand" and slide down it once or twice. I went only once, while visiting my son at NMSU in Las Cruces. Even from there, it was quite a ride and we didn't stay more than 30 minutes. We found it underwhelming.

Not to knock Las Cruces or the Organ Mountains, but after awhile the mountains start to look a lot alike.

Perhaps think of some variation in what you do/see:

IF you want to travel that far, come to SW Colorado for a day at Mesa Verde National Park and see the cliff dwellings. They are unlike anything else. It is under 4 hour drive from ABQ. You could stay overnight and it would be well worth your time - a far better trip than to White Sands or Las Cruces.

http://www.nps.gov/meve/

Deb

The cliffs at Abique...you will recognize from Georgia O'Keefe's paintings...or go to Mesa Montosa near Ghost Ranch.

and if you would like an awe inspiring view INTO New Mexico, go to Mesa Verde (in SW Colorado) and stay at the Far View Lodge...from the roof deck one can see Shiprock in NM!

You've gotten a lot of good suggestions. I'll second Abiquiu (note the spelling in case you want to research it a bit more). Shiprock in NW New Mexico is pretty cool as well.

Lee Ann

Thanks LeeAnn- I knew it didn't look right and I tried several different spellings...

Hi Debs,

Thanks for your insight. I was only thinking that the white sands were a stark contrast to the mountains and other stuff usually seen there. I'll consider something else! Will look into Mesa Verde for shure Thanks again!

Mark- Thanks so much...will look into this! Regards\

Thanks Lee Ann

I appreciate everyone's pointers very much

Kurt

>>Thanks LeeAnn- I knew it didn't look right and I tried several different spellings... <<

No problem - I've lived in New Mexico for 21 years and I still have trouble spelling Albuquerque. In fact, I messed it up as I was typing it just now!

Lee Ann

One of fave Santa Fe sights is a dish of charred tomato salsa at Ore House. Then, of course, there are the chips and margarita(s) that go with it. ;-)

Hi,
Everybody has mentioned a bunch of wonderful sights in New Mexico.

I've been there many times over the past 25 years, as I have in-laws there. One sight that actually gave me chills up my spine was Bosque del Apache. It's a nature reserve where hundreds of thousands of migrating birds winter. We were there at sunset, when all of those birds came back to the wetlands after being out feeding all day. There was a huge red sun setting and the silhouettes of the birds crossing it. It's still vivid in my mind, although it was seven years ago. However, I expect that the experience is best in the fall, and I'm not sure when you are going.
Also, if you do get down to the southern part of the state, do see Carlsbad Caverns. It IS a long drive, but there are lots of places to stop and explore on the way. If you go, see the bats leaving the cave at sunset -- park rangers give a good presentation.

DH and I were there just a month ago. We loved Bandelier NM [especially the climb to the ceremonial kiva], Tent Rocks [the slot canyon hike is well worth the effort] and the Rio Grande Gorge bridge. Each of these places has a unique feature. If you are headed west from ABQ, Acoma Pueblo is amazing.

ST