We will be driving from Phoenix and staying overnight in Gallup, NM. This is our first time in the Southwest. We will only have a couple of hours of free time in Gallup. Is there any place we should see while we are there? Any restaurant/food recommendations? Thanks!

Gallup to my mind is a town devoted pretty much to what you are using it for: overnight stops for travelers and trains. If you like big trains, they have them!

Consider the El Rancho Hotel. Any Holiday Inn will have greater amenities, but this place is a unique experience, dating back to the 1930's when it housed many, many movie stars. You will see how much more simply the rich and famous lived then, and you may get a room where someone carried on a scandalous affair! What went on in Gallup stayed in Gallup!

There are many pawn shops in Gallup, part of an economic system involving the pawning of Indian jewelry. I won't comment on the morality of the system -- the pawnbrokers defend it and the Indians use it -- but they have a lot of stuff, much of it well-priced.

If you are heading east from Gallup, plan to stop at Acoma pueblo. It is worth it in every respect.

Why Gallup? Since this is your first trip in the SW, what else are you planning to do and see?

One fun idea in Holbrook, AZ (90 miles away) is the WigWam Motel -
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...k_Arizona.html

Driving east from Phoenix, Albuquerque is about 6 hours or so. A way better place to spend the night than Gallup.

Gallup has the best Native American jewelry of any place in the southwest if you are a shopper.

Richardson's pawn shop (Richardson's Trading Co. and Cash Pawn)--ask to see the vault.

I second the El Rancho! We stay there anytime we can. There aren't many places like that left.