If not for all the driving, I'd actually pick Taos, & the Pueblo.

Thanks BeachGirl for the Route 66 elucidation.


I'm not a resident and I choose Albuquerque.

Don't mean to sound negative, but one has to wonder how many of those who choose Santa Fe have actually done anything around Albuquerque besides land at the airport.

I'm a former resident of Albuquerque, but I'd choose Santa Fe for this purpose.

The truly unique sites in New Mexico are the Indian cliff dwellings and outstanding natural sites not the cities of ABQ and Santa Fe. Both ABQ and Santa Fe can be skipped, IMHO, as long as you experience the unique historic native culture of New Mexico.

easytraveler, thanks, but I grew up with grandparents and family in Albuquerque and have been a visitor of Santa Fe AND Albuquerque for 20 years.

I don't appreciate your negative attitude to those of us that don't have a New Mexico zip code. This board is made up of many of us who have enjoyed places and like to offer their prospective on a iy. There is no one perfect answer.

In easytraveler's defense, I think she was responding to my post wherein I noted that most residents seemed to pick Albuquerque while most tourists seemed to pick Santa Fe.

Wow! Lots of post! Thank you very much!!!

Well, we have enough information to decide.... I dont know if I want more info, you know, or I wont move from NM in the whole trip!!!!

The idea I take is that if we get Santa Fe early in the day we´ll probably stay there. But if somehow we arrive late we´ll drive straight to Albuquerque.

Sanparis2 dont care, I know your suggestion is correct and in a good way. We
haven´t time enough to see everything but at the point we planned the trip,
we decided to see at least a bit of many things instead of explore an area
specifically.

In US, I drove the same kind of trip two years ago, but visiting Boston, Niagara
Falls, Washington and New york. It wasnt time enough at all but ok, at least I have an idea about the whole thing....I think that is something living at the other side of the ocean :-).

Now, it is the same idea. All the places sure they deserve more time but... What to do!!! Hope I´ll have time in the future to visit more quietly your country, which I learnt to love during my first trip. But by now, and if you´ll pardon the joke: "Trumps like us, baby we´ve born to run!!!"

Anyway, I will let you all know as soon as we come back!!!

I have to "study" your post carefully, cause these detours around Navajo Nation, Acoma Pueblo....

Thanks, I´ll continue asking you soon!!!

sf3707, I suggested Albuquerque mostly because kluk has such limited time in NM. It's right on I-40, as you know, so they would save the driving time to Santa Fe and back to I-40.

kluk, Acoma Pueblo is well worth a visit.

Lee Ann

There is a reason that Santa Fe was for years the #1 tourist destination in the USA. Hands down, it is much more interesting to visit, on of the few real jewels in the USA!

Oh please -- no question, Santa Fe hands down! Santa Fe is HISTORY, even if it has been modernized. Albuquerque is a city. Yes, it has some interesting sides, BUT it is much too large to see in one day.
Santa Fe has the lovely square and much to look at and do just by walking around it. And if you want to see the highlights easily take a tram tour. They leave right from the church parking lot off the square. (St Francis? Can't remember.)
Anyway, SF has my strong vote.
Enjoy!

We took visiting relatives to Acoma Peublo yesterday and they loved it; it is a real look into the history of NM's earliest settlers. It will take the whole morning [to and from, the tour, the museum etc] but it well worth it.

Santa Fe--I absolutely love it.

As a frequent visitor to N.M., I also would suggest Albuquerque. I think it's difficult to "get" Santa Fe in a single day.

Sante Fe all the way. I have done this trip and loved every minute of it. for a unique take on the road, go to http://pictureroute66.com/ this is a blog from a young woman in my current town who did the route last year and she blogged about it.

We loved Santa Fe - really charming. Walk around the Plaza area, eat at The Shed, shop at the Palace of the Governors, do a historic walking tour, and visit the St. Francis cathedral.

lake, I believe the tram tours leave from the Loretto Chapel area.

We too are choosing with very short time Santa Fe over Albuquerque - we opted for SF. Reasons are a couple of great museums to go to Georgia O'Keeffe http://www.okeeffemuseum.org/ and the Museum of Contemporary Arts http://www.iaia.edu/museum/ The Plaza looked fun with a visit to the church and a stop at the Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs for a soak in their natural hot tub http://ojospa.com/spa.php and a short ( albeit hot - bring lots of water ) hike Kasha-Katuwe Tent National Monument an early day hike when you are on your way to your next stop after Santa Fe! http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/rec...rocks.html#_=_

We will arrive with evening ( plaza - church) full day ( museums and spa) and morning (hike) Enjoy your time on RTE 66!

Wow! 5 years since this thread was posted.Time flies. ...

Ya - But I think when you are searching for trip suggestions you tend to read a ton of posts to get lots of folks views - so perhaps not relevant to them, but maybe to another coming after them : )