Need Itinerary Help Trip Southwest Colorado to Albuquerque
 

My husband and I are planning a trip through SW Colorado to Albuquerque for the Ballon Festival in October. We have a tentative route planned but have lots of questions about stops, hotels (prefer B&Bs) and restaurants. Our tentative itinerary:

Day 1: Colorado Springs to Ouray via Hwys. 50 and 550 (Stay at St. Elmo Hotel?)
Day 2: Ouray to Mesa Verde via Hwy. 550 to Durango and then 160.
(Qs: This route allows us to spend more time on the Million Dollar Highway drive. An alternative would be to spend more time driving through Garden of the Gods, Pike's Peak and Gunnivson National Forest or Black Canyon and staying the first night in Gunnison or Montrose. Thoughts?)
Day 3: Mesa Verde (Qs: Stay 2 nights in Far View Lodge in park or one night there and another night in Durango or Cortez? Are any of the guided tours worth doing?)
Day 4: Drive to Taos (Q: Route advice? B&Bs?)
Day 5: Taos area (What to see? Enchanted Circle?)
Day 6: Drive to Santa Fe (Route advice? Stops? B&Bs?)
Day 7: Santa Fe (What to see?)
Day 8: Drive to Albuquerque (we will be staying with friends here)
Day 9: Balloon Festival, etc.
Day 10: Fly home

Lots of questions but you all are so helpful! Thanks.

St. Elmo is a nice spot to stay; here is a little trip report I did: http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...rip-report.cfm

I would spend a night in Durango [Apple Orchard Inn is a favorite B&B of ours, though they have new owner and we haven't been there since change]www.appleorchardinn.com and only spend 1 night in Mesa Verde NP.

I would absolutely recommend doing the tours at Mesa Verde, with a day and a half, you will be able to do the 3 most popular: Balcony, Cliff Palace and Spruce TreeHouse.

I can give you route to Taos, have to find it though. In Taos, Adobe & Pines is a great B&B http://www.adobepines.com/

The Gorge Bridge, Taos Pueblo are the big must sees. Driving the Enchanted Circle is lovely at that time of year.

Santa Fe - museums, restaurants, galleries, lots to see and do. Threads here about all of this.

I have homes in both SW Colorado and ABQ and have LOTS of threads on here about restaurants, things to do, where to stay etc. If you click on my name, you will find lots of info. Feel free to email me to, my address is on my profile page.

Deb

Mesa Verde is definitely worth 2 nights. Durango and Cortez aren't my favorite choices-----better to stick w/ the park. The Black Canyon of the Gunnisson is breathtakingly beautiful. I noticed you did not include Telluride. It's a detour, but I'd say it's really worth it.

Thanks for your helpful responses. We'd love to hear more ideas!

There have been a few times when I've been caught off guard by what I call the 'October blizzard' in the SW Colorado mountains.

You should be okay weather-wise in the first couple weeks, amd I only mention it as a caution. It's just a changeable season, but if you're properly prepared you should be fine.

Also - watch for deer!