uktravelover

We are doing a road trip in September flying into Las Vegas and out of Albuquerque. I’m starting to think about what to do at the various stopping points, so this query relates to the final part of or trip.
I did an escorted trip of New Mexico with Tauck in 2019 and loved it. It will the first time in the USA for my partner.

We are staying in Gallup for 2 nights having driven from Sedona. I originally wanted to go to the Hopi and/or Zuni reservation on this trip, but I understand that they are mainly closed to outsiders since Covid so I have parked that idea. I’m now looking for suggestions as to what to do on our day in Gallup. I love Native American art and jewellery, so would love some tips/ ideas as to where to go, but would like some other options too.

I would also appreciate some ideas about what to see/do on route to Albuquerque. I had hoped to stop in Acuma, but I believe that might also be closed to tourists. We are spending 3 nights at the Hotel Parq Central in Albuquerque and plan to visit the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, Old Town Albuquerque and do a day trip to Santa Fe.

I would also really like some suggestions of where to eat in both Albuquerque and Gallup. We would prefer to have American/New Mexican food. We’re not looking for gourmet dining this trip.

J62

If you can visit then Acuma is great.

Personally I like the area near SF better than Abq... The latter seems like more of a big, urban sprawl....Nothing like the big AZ cities, but not compact like SF.

Quickly rattling off some sights I like.

Bandolier
Tent Rocks
Taos Pueblo
Old town SF, including craft market
Los Alomos Museum

uktravelover

Hello J62.
Thank you for your suggestions. I agree with you about Santa Fe v Albuquerque, but on this occasion I decided to be more pragmatic and do the shorter drive from Gallup plus we’re flying back to the UK from Albuquerque. Also my partner really wants to spend time at the National Museum for Nuclear Science and History having heard me talk about it.

I went to all the places on your list when I did my group tour in 2019 and loved SF Old Town and Market which is why we’re doing the day trip. I just need to look at parking close by as my partner has slight mobility problems. I didn’t get to see the Los Alomos Museum, so will definitely look into that.

oldemalloy

You could stop at Inscription Rock also called el Morro National Monument and Accoma Pueblo. Both are a short drive off I 40.

PrairieHikerI

Someone posted on here that the actual Acoma village is still closed though the visitors center is open. In SF, recommended restaurants by posters on Fodor’s are El Shed (New Mexican cuisine), Geronimo’s (fine dining), Tomasita's and Paper Dosa (Indian).

Albuquerque has the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Alb Museum of Art, History and Science which features ancient Spanish maps and Spanish conquistador armor and helmets. The Sandia Peak Tramway takes you up 4,000 feet from the high desert floor to the lush mountain where there are fantastic views of the city. The Rio Grande Nature Center has paths through cottonwood trees along the river. Across the river is the Petroglyph National Monument. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center shouldn’t be missed.

bon_voyage

It’s been many years now since family road trips took us through Gallup. One indelible memory is having been shown the inside of the vault at Richardson’s, https://www.mydigitalpublication.com...articleBrowser. We also enjoyed visits to the Ganado Trading Post. That’s farther afield, but the drives through the Navajo and Hopi country have also stayed with me, their bleak yet haunting beauty.

uktravelover

Thanks for the suggestions. The tramway sounds like a good thing to experience. I enjoyed the Indian Pueblo Cultural Centre last time and will go again depending on time.

Nelson

In Gallup you should pop into the El Rancho Hotel, have a look around and maybe eat there for American / New Mex menu. (You said you didn't need gourmet.) But worth checking out the hotel lobby for sure. Their website also notes that the area is full of Route 66 diversions.
https://elranchohotelgallup.com/route-66/

For example check out the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook. The town has a number of funky eateries.
https://www.nps.gov/places/wigwam-village-motel-6.htm

A second to El Morro National Monument. A couple miles east is the Ancient Way Cafe where we had some of the best pies we have ever eaten. They have New Mexico styles made with chili pepper as well as the usual suspects. Good food too. (This was in March, 2020, just as the pandemic was unfolding, hopefully it's still as good.) Note reduced opening hours however.
https://www.elmorro-nm.com/ancient-way-cafe

You can continue driving east to get back to I-40.

Also a second to Petroglyph National Monument, worth a quick stop.

Have a good trip.

tomfuller

In between Sedona and Gallup, you could stop at the meteor crater south of I-40. Also, you should stop in Winslow Arizona to see "the corner" which has statues of Glen Frey and even a "flat bed Ford"
There is even a restaurant in an old bank building on the SW side of "the corner". In the vault of the old bank building is the jewelry store.
In Gallup, the Enterprise rental car agency is along the old Rt. 66 halfway between the Amtrak station and the small airport. It's the only car rental in town.

sludick

Nelson - we stayed at the El Rancho in Gallup last fall, in the "Presidential Suite." You're absolutely right, that lobby is well worth dropping in to view. Our room was every bit the retro spectacle that the website pics show, and it was affordable. Only thing, the security was really lax. Our room was near a side entrance door that didn't latch properly, opened into the outdoor bar area, and was generally a sketchy situation. But nothing untoward occurred, although I don't think I'd take a chance again.

We also ate in the restaurant - again, a great room to view. Food was ok.

Nelson

sludick, glad nothing untoward happened during your stay, but imagine if John Wayne rode his horse in, as the story goes.

We ate there too, food was decent enough, but we enjoyed our time in the lobby while waiting for the table.
The website also offers some movie suggestions, filmed in the area:
https://elranchohotelgallup.com/backstory/

Definitely some B-movies in the list, but Ace in the Hole is pretty gripping and quite relevant.

mlgb

Checking the websites for any of the pueblos of interest is a good idea. Yes the Acoma Sky City site on top of the mesa is still closed, probably because it's mostly a handful of vulnerable elders that live up there.

https://acomaskycity.org/page/tours (English spelling is Acoma, not Acuma or Accoma).


You may wish to contact Zuni Puebo to see if scheduled tours are allowed:
ZuniBrochure.pdf

PrairieHikerI

Some people call Gallup a hellhole because 45% live in poverty and the crime rate is really high for New Mexico.

mlgb

Unless you are asteroid buffs, I wouldn't bother with the Meteor Crater at $25+ admission. I would however recommend driving through Petrified Forest/Painted Desert. A quick stop at the Painted Desert Inn should be okay for your partner. There is a seasonal Ice cream parlor and a good place to have your packed lunch.

As far as Winslow, I would recommend a stop at the famous La Posada Hotel (famous long before the Eagles wrote that song). The restored interiors were designed by Mary Coulter of Grand Canyon and Harvey House fame. The Turquoise Room restaurant is also a splendid place and I wish I'd spent the $25 and hours at Meteor Crater here instead (only had time for a walk-through).

In Albuquerque Cocina Azul is a classic, for green chile cheeseburgers and other NM fare.

bon_voyage

+1 for mlgb’s recommendation of La Posada for its history and charm.

uktravelover

Wow. Lots of information. Thank you all so much. I had identified the petrified forest as a definite place to visit on route so it’s great to get some endorsements.

Nelson really appreciate the tip about the El Rancho Hotel and eating eat there. The American / New Mex menu sounds spot on. Will definitely look at the website with the Route 66 diversions.
Tomfuller love the description of “the corner” in Winslow. Suitably quirky.
Mlgb. - I spotted the Zuni Pueblo site previously and will take another look to check the status. Anyone know how long it will take to drive there from Gallup? I’ve read conflicting information.

mlgb

Re Hopi reservation, you can drive through ok on Arizona State Route 264 from Moenkopi toward Ganado. Many galleries along the route were open as were the hotels in Moenkopi and in Second Mesa . Tours led by Hopi guides are now possible. However the museum in Second Mesa has been closed for a few years due to death/illness.

I just drove this way from Cameron heading east, but went north on US 191 just before Ganado on the way to Bluff/Blanding. SR264 is in excellent condition and I also liked the US 191 route around the back side of Monument Valley.

After visiting Natural Bridges I went on to Cortez CO (loved the Retro Inn Motel) and day tripped to Mesa Verde NP The lookouts to the cliff dwellings from the the Mesa Top Loop drive do not require much effort. ( I don't do ladders!)

uktravelover

Mlgb - many thanks for the information about the Hopi reservation. I’m just trying to work out what we could do without changing out hotels. The best option seem to be when we are booked to go to the Grand Canyon Village. Leave Williams and drive to Moenkopi and then back to the East Rim Entrance to drive to our hotel in the Grand Canyon Village. The following day we could retrace our steps to the east entrance before driving to Sedona rather than take the South Rim Entrance. That way we could stop at Cameron Trading Post on the way to Sedona.

I think Second Mesa will just be too far unless we want to change our arrangements. Comments / suggestions please.

Vttraveler

From Gallup I would encourage you to think about visiting the Navajo Nation. Window Rock, the seat of government and capital of the Navajo Nation, is just over the Arizona border. Hubbell Trading Post National historic Site is a little farther. You will see lots of Navajo rugs and learn about the history
https://www.nps.gov/hutr/index.htm

uktravelover

Vttraveler - thank you so much about the Navajo information. I had seen it on the map but had not yet looked into it. Looks like I’m going to be spoilt for choice and now have a dilemma . Navajo v Zuni.