We'll be in Santa Fe in early May and will have a car. The last (and only) time we were there we went to Taos and the grand circle of parks. This time we're interested in a different itinerary, perhaps heading south or west. Suggestions, please.

Head to southwest Colorado and enjoy Durango, Million Dollar Highway up to Ridgway, over to Telluride, then down to Dolores and back to Cortez. Go to Mesa Verde National Park.

I have lots of threads on here about the area; do a search using my name.

I can help with more specifics if this interests you.

I think I visited the Four Corners area when I stayed in Santa Fe. There are some interesting Indian ruins over there in the Chaco region. Of course Mesa Verder and Durango are fantastic and not really that far a drive for a day -- I was staying in Durango once and drove to ABQ for a flight home and it was only a few hours, as I recall.

here's some info on Indian ruins in that area http://www.cliffdwellingsmuseum.com/...gion-and-sites

Santa Fe to Durango/Mesa Verde is not a day trip. It is close to 5 hours each way.

Bandelier National Monument
White Rock (looks like a nice New Jersey suburb until you get to the cliff)
Los Alamos
Puye Cliff Dwellings
Chimayo (read about it first)

Abiquiu

Madrid (on the back road to Albuquerque)

Santa Fe Ski Area

All this assumes you have done Santa Fe pretty thoroughly

Bandelier is one of my favorite places near Santa Fe. In addition to the main part of the park, check out Tsankawi area 5 miles closer to SF for a hike through some of the less developed areas.

Also visit Valles Caldera, also park service land now. Look for elk, if you are lucky and it is fall you might get to see the rut.

Tent Rocks is near Santa Fe and is stunning (there's even a slot canyon)
http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/rec...ent_rocks.html

Acoma is 2 hours away, and is unforgettable:
http://www.santafe.com/article/acoma-pueblo
Take the tour bus up, but do the climb/walk down!

Another vote for Acoma pueblo, it is beautiful, not a lot of folks live there fulltime. I bought a couple of pots to help contribute to their economy. Also if they are selling Indian fry bread be sure and buy a slice or two, just delicious.

It would be helpful if we know how far you want to go and how many days you have for this excursion.

I like Pecos National park, not far from Santa Fe and Las Vegas, NM.
http://www.nps.gov/peco/index.htm

Nearby Glorietta Pass, a Civil War site: http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/nm002.htm

And the Forked Lightening Ranch, once the home of Greer Garson and her husband, now owned by the National Park Service:
http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/nm002.htm

" helpful if we know how far you want to go and how many days you have for this excursion."


Truly, otherwise we are all just tossing ideas [albeit good ones] out there.

Did you drive the high road to Taos last time?

Ditto on Puye Cliff Dwellings, Bandelier National Monument, Pecos National Historic Park, Abiquiu (especially if you are a Georgia O'Keefe fan).

For explorations south of Santa Fe, there's Albuquerque and nearby Sandia Peak.
http://www.sandiapeak.com/
Farther south, there's White Sands National Monument, Gila Wilderness (check conditions first), Elephant Butte State Park, Carlsbad Caverns. Silver City?
http://www.nps.gov/whsa/index.htm
http://www.fs.usda.gov/gila/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gila_Cl...ional_Monument
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/ele...statepark.html
http://www.nps.gov/cave/index.htm

If you have kids, they might enjoy http://www.golondrinas.org/

Also take a look at this schedule of special events:
http://www.indianartsandculture.org/42