Proposed New Mexico Itinerary
 

How does this sound for a trip to New Mexico for our family (couple plus boys 12 and 16) around the end of June next year: <BR> <BR> - Fly into Albuquerque, get a rental, and drive to Santa Fe. <BR> - 3 nights at Bishop's Lodge, with hiking, trail biking, shopping, sightessing, and good eating on the list of priorities. <BR> - 2 nights in Taos at Casa de las Chimineas, with whitewater rafting, hiking, Indian culture, shopping, and eating on the agenda. <BR> - Back to Albuquerque for a night at La Posada. Sightseeing and eating. Fly out the next day. <BR> <BR>Any thoughts on alternative lodging? Recommendations for eating? (Southwestern or Mexican would be great, from funky to ritzy) Good day-hikes? A rafting company in Taos? <BR> <BR>Thanks! <BR>

Bill, <BR> <BR>My wife & I made a very similar trip in early October several years ago. Your itinerary sounds very good. Here's a few specifics you may want to consider. <BR> <BR>From Taos, drive Northwest to a great bridge over the Rio Grande gorge (I think it's an hour or less from Taos). You can park on the east side and walk to the center--the view of the gorge is tremendous. <BR> <BR>Also in Taos--Roberto's mexican restaurant was awesome, very casual atmosphere and food is simple but best we had on our trip. <BR> <BR>And finally in Taos, my wife & I loved the Taos Pueblo (still inhabited). I have heard it described as a tourist trap, but I definitely disagree. It felt like a special place to me. <BR> <BR>Santa Fe? We just loved the whole town, so it's hard to remember one particular experience. <BR> <BR>Do a search on this site, and you'll find a lot of information from previous posts. <BR> <BR>Have a great time!

Sending my question to the top for one last try before it sinks into oblivion. <BR> <BR>Thanks, Chuck, for your advice. <BR> <BR>- Bill

Bill, sounds like a good plan, and I like your hotel choices. The only thing I might throw out that, depending on how outdoorsy your kids are, you might want three days in taos vs santa fe. To me, there's more hiking/rafting etc. to do at Taos than SF, where the thing to do is museums, gallery, shopping, etc. Also, if you do The Box rafting trip at Taos, that's a whole day right there. <BR> <BR>I can never remember the name of anything in Taos, but there is a little bakery in town, kind of off the plaza area, where all the locals go, with great, cheap green chile breakfast dishes _it's next to this metaphysical bookstore and my favorite place in town. hopefully someone else will remember its name.

I agree with Texasgirl about most of Santa Fe's attractions being in-town and many of those in Taos being outdoorsy things. Rafting in Taos is cool, especially Taos Box (end of June should still be near-peak). Mountain biking is also excellent, with rental easily available. <BR> <BR>For an in-town hotel in Santa Fe, you might want to try the Inn of the Governors. Not as quaint as some of the smaller places, but it has a swimming pool for your kids and it's fairly near the Plaza. In Taos, check out the Quail Ridge Resort. Close to town, but better for outdoors stuff.