>>Now that you know better, just call it Enchanted Circle, ok?<<

We can always hope...

Lee Ann

I always thought the Ring of Fire referred to the series of volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean.

http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/ringfire.htm

However, we could locate all those volcanoes to New Mexico if the locals there don't object. :)

We have enough of our own, already! Thanks for the offer, though :o)

Are you all elementary school teachers? :)

who, moi?

Nevah!

I have driven the New Mexico "Ring of Fire" and while it was 100 degrees down below, it was snowing up at portions of the "ring" (temperatures slightly exaggerated, snow, not so much).

Debi: don't say we didn't offer to share the volcanic wealth with you. :)

LOL. I guess seeing the Ring of Fire display at Poas Volcan in Costa Rica some 25 years ago made an "indelible impression" on moi? :) http://tinyurl.com/atg8ce4

And for those who may be wondering - here is the real "Ring of Fire" - the Volcanic ring around the Pacific.

http://tinyurl.com/b3749yq

BTW - DebitNM: Hey- I had a rI did not in any way mean to malign Albeq. It's just that when I travel - I like to get out to the countryside - but it in the US or Europe or Central America, wherever. :)

Gosh - that got garbled: Here is it:

BTW - DebitNM: Hey - I had a roomie at the AF Academy from Albeg - and he told me some great stories about your city. :)

Ergo - I did not in any way mean to malign Albeq. It's just that when I travel - I like to get out to the countryside - but it in the US or Europe or Central America, wherever. :)

Garble dos? Supposed to read - be it - in the US.................

And I thought "Ring of Fire" was a Johnny Cash song!

I love New Mexico. Have been many times over the last 8 yrs. We also like ABQ. I especialy like Route 66 where it is Central Ave. in Nob Hill, and the strolling, architecture, and great dining, and shopping in that area. The Hyatt Tamaya resort just outside of ABQ at Santa Ana Pueblo is a very very special place; we've stayed in a lot of resorts but there is nothing quite like that one anywhere that we have found.

I can easily spend 4-5 days in Santa Fe. It is such a great walking town, so much culture, history, natural beauty, restaurants, live music, art, museums. And we have skied up on the mountain just outside of Santa Fe in January, it was great also, just the right speed for us.

I am somewhat ashamed to say that in spite of around 10 trips to Santa Fe, we have never made it to Taos. We keep saying we are going to go, but we get tied up in all those thigns above in Santa Fe, and never have made it.

One thing we really enjoyed was the drive from Santa Fe back to ABQ by way of going to Bandalier, then up the hwy to Valle Caldera (phenomenal, very unusual place) and on to Jemez and the Red Rocks where we stopped to hike, then into Bernalillo and back to ABQ. That drive and visiting Bandalier and short hike in the Red Rocks took a whole day. It might very well be too snowy in Dec. to do it. But in March it was one of the best and most diverse travel days of our lives.

Tomsd, I home school, and I live here in New Mexico. Accuracy is important to me when discussing an area, as bad advice and incorrect names, locations, etc. given out by posters is confusing and makes people not want to come to a website like Fodor's for suggestions and advice.

Lee Ann

emd3, did you mean the red rocks in Jemez Canyon, or Tent Rocks? Your route sounds like Jemez Canyon, but the capitalization confused me. :-)

Lee Ann

If weather permits, I'd second a trip to Bandelier. It is only an hour or so from Santa Fe and well worth the trip.

I meant the Red Rocks on the route past Jemez, going towards Bandalier. I am not sure of the name of this spot, but it is well marked from the road (it is on the left side as you come into the red rock area, and there are a few stores on the right side of the road there wher we bought some drinks for our hike). There is a parking spot, a park plaque w/some info, and picnic tables and you can start hiking from there.

OK, that's what I thought. It's pretty there!

Lee Ann

I think that route from Santa Fe to Bandalier and on to Valle Caldera and Jemez and the Red Rocks and back to ABQ should be on some list of the greatest drives in the USA. That is a seriously extraordinary drive - from desert to alpine forest and the caldera and on to the red rocks, in one day. Amazing changes in geography and scenary.

fsu guy, if you see this, will you report back? I would not have agreed with the 2 days in each town advice, and much prefer Santa Fe and Taos if you have limited time. I am wondering what you ended up doing, and what you thought.