Thinking about a 5 night trip to Santa Fe, flying into ABQ and making our home base in Santa FE. We have points with Hilton so thought we would use them for free nights at the Hilton near the Plaza. What side trips are the must sees, this being our first trip to NM? Also recommendations for moderate priced restaurants any cuisine would be a great help. We would be going the last week of May.

What are you interested in? Museums, art galleries, outdoor activities? Knowing this will make it easier to offer ideas.

Also, have you used the search feature on here [top of this page]? There are lots of threads on Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Taos etc on here. Type those words into the search box to get a general idea of what interests you and then ask here.


Click on DESTINATIONS link at top of this page and then click on those 3 cities and see what Fodor's has to say, they are have really good info listed.

My wife's "must sees" would be Sanctuario de Chimayo on the "High Road" to Taos, Taos Pueblo, and Bandelier National Monument. Mine would tend more towards Canyon Road galleries and the view of the Plaza from Ore House, where you'll find great margaritas and the best salsa on the planet. Oh... the view from the middle of the bridge over the Rio Grande NW of Taos is pretty cool, too.

beachbum -- are you Sheila's DH?

If you like museums, buy a museum pass for entry into :

Museum of Fine Arts
Museum of International Folk Art
Museum of Indian Arts and Culture
Palace of the Govonors ...

If you're a spa person, make a reservation at 10000 waves....

http://www.tenthousandwaves.com/

I used to know a Sheila, but I never married her, DebitNM. :-" Hope things are going well for you.

OK Beachbum..just wondering. I am doing ok, just waiting until late March to go to Anderson.

One thing you might consider is going straight up to Taos, spending the night( Old Taos Guest House is my recommnedation) drinks and dinner in the bar of The Annocondad Bar at the Monte Sagrada resort ( in town), the nest day doing the Rio Grande Bridge, the shops of Taos and The Harwood Museum, dinner and music at the Adobe Bar or Dinner at Orlandos. Then the third day do the high road drive back to Santa Fe. That leaves two full days to explore Santa Fe. Your basicaly doing a full day in Taos, a road trip trought the country back to Santa Fe and two full days in town. That would be a good first trip. You'll want to go back!

Here is a thread about outdoor activities in Santa Fe:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34923700

I have a lot of suggestions on this thread:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34887389

Another one with suggestions:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34913462

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34895315

I think spending a day in Taos is really sufficient; maybe 1 night. More to do in Santa Fe.

Don't discount Albuquerque, there's lots a great things there too.

Hope this helps...
Debi

We loved visiting the galleries on Canyon Road, eating at Maria's, the Bandelier National Monument, the museums in Los Alamos, the Folk Art Museum and wandering around the Plaza.

The Bradbury Science Museum (no, not Ray) in Los Alamos provides a very interesting history of Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Manhattan Project, etc.

JulieR,
A trip to NM wouldn't be complete without seeing some "Georgia O'Keeffe". There is the O'Keeffe museum in Santa Fe. If you feel like taking in some breath taking scenery, the drive from SF past Abiquiu is incredible. It will show you why NM is known as the land of enchantment. Cumbres Pass (northern NM and southern CO border is incredible.) Also, Acoma Pueblo west of Albuq. is worth seeing.

Pam in NM

I second Pam's idea about a drive out to Abiquiu. Be sure you go all the way to Ghost Ranch( good hiking).
Also you can do Taos in a day but that should included a night stay over. Its to much to really see Taos and drive back to Santa Fe in one day. I wouldn't recommend driving back to Santa Fe at night.1) you miss the scenery2) NM has a high rate of DUI's and drinking related accidents.

Thanks to all for your great ideas, lots to think about and plan.

The open air guided tours of Santa Fe are fun. They give you a good overview of the city and where the museums area and the galleries and introduce you to the history of the area. You meet for them on one corner of the square.

I enjoyed them much more than the museums and I love museums.