This is very preliminary, I know, but I'm trying to get my mind around this somewhat. I am a female in my 40s who will be going to New Mexico with my mother who is in her 70s. The purpose for this trip is to go the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, so time there is a priority. Interests run to historical, museums, nature, art - in that order, and mom, though healthy for her age, is not into long hikes or climbing or really anything more strenuous than walking.

Dates we are looking at: arriving October 2 and leaving October 12. The breakdown I'm sort of looking at is:

Oct 2: arrive ABQ and drive to Taos

Oct 3: drive Enchanted Circle, go to Santa Fe

Oct 4: Santa Fe

Oct 5: Santa Fe

Oct 6: leave Santa Fe drive to Albuquerque

Oct 7: Albuquerque (Balloon Fiesta)

Oct 8: Albuquerque (Balloon Fiesta)

Oct 9 - 12: this is where things get a bit sticky. I don't really want to spend all of this time in Albuquerque, but I want to be flexible to have days available in the event the Balloon Fiesta is postponed for a few days due to weather. I'm leaning towards possibly driving to southern NM to visit either Carlsbad or White Sands, but am unsure if mom would be able to enjoy that because of physical limitations. Or would this even be a feasible option? Perhaps I should think of something in northern NM? It would need to be something I can do on the spur of the moment, depending what happens with the Balloon Fiesta. Or would it be best to stay the whole time in Albuquerque and do day trips from there?

About Carlsbad: We went there last May and thoroughly enjoyed it. However, it's quite a drive from Albuquerque -- maybe 5 hours -- I can't remember exactly, and we stopped off at Roswell to see the "alien" museum.
If you decide to do the trip, Carlsbad shouldn't present too much of a challenge for your mother. It's an hour or more walk around the main caverns -- you take an elevator down to t hem. There are places to sit and rest along the way. If you go, try to see the bats leaving another cave at sunset -- well worth it. If you stay at the Best Western nearest the park, bring your own food. The motel is fine, but the restaurant is awful. The southerly route back from Carlsbad takes you through some beautiful mountain scenery. Spending a night there would not be a mistake.

It's going to be a pretty long drive down to Carlsbad -- not sure about White Sands...

A fun day trip from Albuquerque is the "Turquoise Trail" (Highway 14) to Santa Fe.
There's plenty of history and the old mining towns are semi-ghost towns. It's only about 60 miles but you could definitely meander for a day and wouldn't have to go all the way to Santa Fe, either.

http://www.turquoisetrail.org/map.htm

Well, you really would have to be mobile in Carlsbad but White Sands you can be in the car to take the drive and then get out and walk around. It's so beautiful there. Surreal, really. I would rather go to Gila than Carlsbad but that requires some mobility too.

Also, White Sands isn't too far but Carlsbad is such a long drive. How about if balloon fest is postponed, go back north towards abiqui country. It's gorgeous there. There's a monastery of the Desert there that is about 15 miles off the main hwy through a windy riparian dirt road. It's so peaceful there. Had picnic by the water.

Are you going to go through the turquoise trail from Santa Fe back down to Albuquerque?

Oh, and there's also Ojo Caliente. You and your mom would enjoy that too. Would be good if you can spend the night but even on a day trip and soaking in the afternoon in the mineral pools is still really wonderful. We were there in the morning soaking until about 10, drove to Los Alamos, then to Bandelier, then back to Albuquerque for a 4pm flight. Very doable day trip.

On second thought, Marigold is right. Your mom should be able to do Carlsbad but it sure is a looooong drive for that.

Carlsbad could take three days of your schedule - one to drive there and settle in, one for the caverns, and one to drive back. If you only do the Big Room, given your mother's limitations, you could probably drive back to Albuquerque that afternoon if she's not too tired, though.

Albuquerque has several nice museums near Old Town, plus Tinkertown just off the Turquoise Trail and the Balloon Museum at the park. You might just enjoy visiting the Rio Grande Nature Center - we always enjoy watching the migrating birds, and there are a couple of fairly easy walking trails. It's peaceful and not too busy.

You might also enjoy a day trip to Acoma Pueblo, about 45 minutes west of Albuquerque, or Jemez Springs, about 45 minutes northwest.

Lee Ann

Thanks so much for all the feedback! With what everyone is saying here, I'm thinking of leaving Carlsbad for another trip. Mom isn't all that into it, though she would be game if I really wanted to go there.

I had thought to travel the turquoise trail the day we leave Santa Fe on our way to Albuquerque. Thought if we left early enought, we could just take our time on the route and make a day of it. This definitely sounds like something both of us would enjoy!

Madrid was my favorite stop with all the little artist galleries and the wonderful little town bar. Sandia Crest was fantastic views of Albuquerque and the Sandia mountains. We're always go during Thanksgiving weekend so the trams are closed but it should be a fun thing to do if they are running.

If you go to carlsbad caverns, DO NOT MISS the bats at sunset. Be there early as they DO sometimes come out a bit earlier. While its a bit of an 'eww', its still very cool, totally unique.

I would allow more time for Taos & particularly the Taos Pueblo. Also make sure & do the Sandia Tram while in ABQ.

There is a very lovely small church in Chimayo, not too far from S. Fe, absolutely worth a visit.

Also if this interests you as part of the history, visit the Bradbury Museum in Los Alamos, all about the develpment of the A-bomb etc.

The church in Chimayo is supposed to have some healing powers -- there's a shrine of sorts as I recall. I think it's the dirt that's supposed to be special.
There's also a well known restaurant there,Chimayo Rancho de Chimayo. I've eaten there and thought it was pretty good. Sit outside; nice atmosphere.
http://www.chimayo.org
http://www.ranchodechimayo.com

Yep. There's a small room at the side of the church inside that has a tiny room where you can get the dirt and put it in little containers. There's a yearly pilgrmage to this church "Road to Chimayo".

Wish I believed in this holy dirt stuff. I did, however, purchased those long dried peppers that's very typical of New Mexico which I hauled all the way bck to Houston and luckily had an extra seat on the plane where it took a seat to itself! I jokingly tell people there are "holy chile peppers". Hehe.

I agree you might want to stay a bit longer in Taos. I lost my mojo in Ojo Caliente so I wouldn't recommend that.

Lost your mojo?

I think she means she got so relaxed, maybe?

It was the exact opposite for me. Ojo Caliente rejuvenated me. After a day of skiing, ending up at Ojo Caliente in one of their private cabanas was incredible, soaking under the stars. In the morning, we got up to soak in the different pools and it was incredible.

I can't say mojo was lost, no...

We've been to that church in Chimayo, and it is very picturesque. The room with the healing dirt is lined with crutches that have been presumably left by the healed. If you go, be sure to be careful entering the low door to the room. Being the clutz I am, I stumbled and landed face first in the hole. You should have seen the faces of the locals! I didn't stick around to see, but my husband swears they were coming after me with those crutches...

In my opinion, there are more beautiful trips than Chimayo, tiny, tiny four-corner town in the dry foothills of the Sangre de Cristos.

One is Acoma Pueblo. A bus takes you up on a mesa (short trip) and a guide takes you around the small village. A nice walk.

My favorite in that area is Canyon de Chelly. Driving from Alb., I would stay at the Thunderbird Lodge and take the all-day tour the next day. You can call Thunderbird Lodge and fix it all up. Then stay another night and drive back to Alb.

I am in my 70s and have done this alone easily. Beautiful scenery, no mountain driving, wonderful pueblo and navajo history and people.

Wow! This is great! I had been reading about the little church in Chimayo and was considering a stop. The pictures of it look fabulous, even if I'm not quite sure about the healing properties of soil there.

seniormsuedu ~ thanks for the great tip! I had vaguely head of Canyon de Chelly, but haven't fully investigated it yet. And I haven't heard much mention of it. I will certainly look in this direction, though, based on what you say here. It sounds like it might be a good side trip. Thanks!

Hi,

Unless you're really, really into balloons, two days at the balloon fiesta will be more than enough. After awhile all the balloons look the same! At least to me anyhow. Luckily, there are so many wonderful things to do around the Albuquerque area. I would agree with the other posters on the Turquoise Trail - especially Madrid. If you like galleries and funky shops, you could spend almost a day here. Plus, the people watching at the Mine Shaft Tavern is the best! Also, the Sandia Tram is nearby. (Skip this if you're afraid of heights - you'll be way up there!) The Old Town area is worth exploring, as is the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. One of my favorite things to do near ABQ is the Jemez Mountain Trail. You can spend anywhere from 3-4 hours to a whole day driving this 200 mile (or so) loop. The scenery is constantly changing and there are plenty of worthwhile stops along the way. Bandelier is one of them, but I would recommend at least a half a day for that alone.

I could write for hours about the million things to do in northern New Mexico, so I better stop! No matter what you do out there, you'll love it. Enjoy your trip!