Morning!
I have been reading posts on where to eat and taking crazy notes. My husband and I will be staying in Rio Rancho from July 7th to the 14th. I have been around the area before but, not for a while. Any suggestions on day trips? I thought that Taos pueblo had a pow wow. Is that worth checking out?

Thanks!
Dawn
Stuck in Wisconsin

We drove the Enchanted Circle as a day trip from Taos. It's a beautiful drive that takes you up through the Sangre de Christo mountains, passing Red River, Wheeler Peak (highest in NM), and Eagle Nest, before coming back down to Taos.

We also loved our day trip to Bandelier National Monument, an abandoned cliff dwelling in a beautiful little valley.

I'm currently sitting in Rio Rancho at the Hyatt Tamaya, and just finished 3 days each in Santa Fe and Taos.

It's about 2hrs from RR to Taos. You could visit Taos Pueblo, but for a 1 1/2 - 2 hr visit there it's a long day trip. Check the taos pueblo website for events.

Here are some possibilities for some day trips.

1. Tent Rocks - 45min drive from RR

2. Rafting on the Rio Grande, South of Taos. Many outfitters leave from Santa Fe or meet at the Taos county line. Water levels are unseasonally high (which means good rafting). 1/2 day Orilla Verde float is calm. 1/2 day Racecourse is class II-III. A nice ride but nothing too hard. Taos Box is class IV+, and is 17mi full day ride - not for the faint of heart.

3. Acoma Pueblo (Mesa Pueblo, aka sky city). Just west of Albuquerque. We head there tomorrow.

4. Sandia Peak tramway.

Also, check out any post by DebitNM or ElendilPickle. They have and willingly share a wealth of NM travel & dining info. They are both invaluable fodors resources.

I'm not a New MExico expert but 5 years we took a day trip from Santa Fe to Ojo Caliente. You may want to look into that.

I am getting so excited for our trip now! Thanks for the great ideas.

Awww, thanks, J62!

Hi Dawn,

Any particular reason you're staying in Rio Rancho? Family or something?

We've done Taos as a day trip from Albuquerque a few years back. It would have been fine as a day trip except that my parents wanted to take the high road back to Santa Fe; we missed a turn and ended up somewhere near Las Vegas - that was a long day!

According to the pueblo calendar, there is a pow-wow July 11th through 13th.
http://www.taospueblo.com/calendar.php

Bandelier National Monument near Los Alamos is pretty interesting; from Rio Rancho, you wouldn't be all that far from Chaco Canyon National Monument if you want to go there.

Lee Ann

Thanks J!

Acoma Pueblo, west of ABQ, is a really special place. You do need to allocate enough time to drive there and you have to take a van to get to actual pueblo, so go early in AM.

The Zoo in ABQ is one of my favorite things to do. It is amazing.

http://www.cabq.gov/biopark/zoo/

The Museum is excellent and they give a free tour of Old Town :

http://www.cabq.gov/museum/oldtowntour.html

Tent Rocks is a great place, but go very early and bring LOTS of water.

http://www.itsatrip.org/default.aspx

Deb

Morning!

I am staying in Rio Rancho for family. You guys are good!


I am wondering is it insane to consider Calsbad Caverns as a day trip? It has been fifteen years since I have been down and I just really want to show my husband everything. Does anyone know about Clayton and dinosaur prints? Is it worth being in a car for a few hours to see?

Thanks!
Dawn

Hehe, insane is probably a good word for Carlsbad as a day trip!

Definitely uber-insane for Clayton.

I would day trip to Santa Fe via the Turquoise Trail, or spend some time exploring the Sandia Peak area. And don't forget Petroglyph Park.

Thanks for bringing me back to reality.

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