alvira

We're interested in traveling in the southwest this year and would like to include Santa Fe, NM, Mesa Verde, CO, Grand Canyon, AZ, and Sedona, AZ. Is this a reasonable trip for 8 or 9 days? What stops would you include / avoid? When would be the best month for this trip? Suggested itineraries appreciated. We enjoy sightseeing, shopping, etc. and are not into hiking and camping. We also enjoy some kitschy stops (last year we visited CarHenge). Thanks much.

DebitNM

Living in that area, I have several threads about such trips. Here is a link to one:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34895115

May I suggest that you type in my name in the search box and highlight New Mexico in the drop down menu to find my past posts?

Hope this helps...
Debi

tovarich

In my opinion it's a bit much for 9 days.When you visit Santa Fe you must also visit Taos.From there to Mesa verde you could visit Chaco canyon.On your way to the G.Canyon you visit Monument valley.All very worthwhile trips.Paul

monpetit

In such a timing schedule, there is in my opinion one destination to skip...
Santa Fe/Mesa Verde/Grand Canyon with a stop by Monument Valley seems enough for 8-9 days even without hike...
Santa Fe : "door" to Taos, Bandelier national monument, Santa Fe itself and some other pueblos(try to capture an indian feast...).
Then, in way to Mesa verde, Durango(the Silverton railway, Mancos, and in Durango the Seasons restaurant is nice).
After Mesa Verde, Shiprock and drive to
Monument Valley via Bluff(nice town to stay , cheap and a good adress the
Recapture Lodge : some easy hikes..).
Monument valley(Goulding, the loop, mistery valley, Goosenecks state park,..).
Then, drive to Grand canyon.
So, the mileage would not be too long each day and you can have some "multinights" stop...It's better to visit.
Erik.

alvira

Thanks to everyone.

Erik, how would you suggest allocating the days? Also, what month would be best?

thanks,

monpetit

If you arrive at Albuquerque :
Day 1 : Albuquerque/Santa Fe by Turquoise trail(some "ghost towns"-Gold, Madrid and Cerillos)-and santa fe-plaza/O'Keefe museum
Night in Santa Fe(La Fonda if you are on an expensive way...)
Day 2 : Taos and the enchanted circle,
The Rio Grande narrow,and if there are some an indian feast.
Night in Santa Fe.
In summer, you can catch an opera at the Santa Fe opera(worth the experience+++)
Day 3 : Santa Fe/Bandelier(morning)
and in afternoon
or Bandelier/Jemez/Cuba/Farmington/
Durango
or Bandelier/Espanola/Framington/
Durango(84north-64west-550 north).
The first one is on small roads, more scenic, the 2nd more fast...
Night in Durango-The strater hotel is on the same mood than La Fonda.
Dinner at the seasons.
Day 4 : The Durango/Silverton railway or Mesa Verde with back by Mancos.
In summer you have a small rodeo in Durango.
It could be a nice option for the evening.
There are some outlets in Durango...
Day 5 : Durango/Mesa Verde(morning and afternoon till 4 pm).
If M%esa Verde was made the day before, Natural Bridges national monument and back by donkey point of view is a serious option...
If there is too much crowd, an option could be the Ute moutain tribal park...Cliff dwelling, ruins, pictogramm...Much less crowded, but only a few authorized visitors...(utemountainute.com)...
Then, drive to Bluff.
Night in Bluff(Recapture Lodge).
Day 6 : Bluff/Monument Valley and Mistery valley/Bluff with in back drive gooseneck state park.
The site monumentvalley.com gives some option.
Keep the number and try to get Tom as guide...
A dinner at the goulding lodge is nice for the view, basic for the food...
Day 7 : Monument Valley/Tuba City(one of the best trading post of the west...and some dinosaur tracks...).
Arriving in Grand Canyon.
Day 8 : Grand Canyon.
DFay 9 : Grand Canyon/Albuquerque.
Or quick and visit of Old Town..
Or cooler with "a detour" via Acoma Pueblo("sky City"...).
Good trip.
Erik.

hetismij

A place we stayed at in New Mexico, and loved was Las Vegas. No NOT that Las Vegas of course, but a lovely old town not far from Santa Fe. We stayed at The Plaza Hotel, said (of course) to have been frequented by Pat Garet, Doc Holliday etc. It was wonderful.

alvira

Thank you for the time to provide all of this information. It looks like a great starting point for planning.