we are thinking of visiting new mexico for the first time. we would like a quiet, tranquil stay...with unique shopping, great food and beautiful scenery. suggestions please!

Taos, would be my suggestion.

This is the theme of the infamous town of Roswell, NM. Which has taken their UFO fame to heart. The restaurants offer alien tacos, and other worldly treats. The Wal Mart welcomes aliens and the UFO museum is also a fun and educational visit. The drive in is beautiful and you are also close to Alamagordo, White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns. Sunsets in this area cannot be beat!!!

I'd suggest you fly into Albuquerque, stay there maybe a night or two, have a look through Old Town, and then rent a car and drive up to Santa Fe via the old highway, called the Turquoise Trail. It takes only a little longer than the main highway and it goes through 3 lovely little towns, one of which is Madrid, where you'll definitely find unique shopping. It's tiny, only a few blocks long, but filled with galleries and artists' studios as well as shops. Most of the people there don't have electricity or running water. Check out the history of the place; it's really interesting. The drive between Santa Fe and Taos is also lovely. I would recommend that you try to visit Acoma Pueblo when you're in the Albuquerque area, if you can. They're often closed for feast days, etc. but if you can get up there, make every effort to do so. Taos Pueblo is also worth seeing, although people live there year-round and I always feel a bit uncomfortable gawking at people's homes as if they were on exhibit. Have a wonderful trip!

Try the Lazy K Ranch B & B in the east mountains outside of Albuquerque. It's close to the tourquoise trail and is very peaceful and quiet with gorgeous scenery. It's only 20 minutes outside of Albuquerque and 40 minutes to Santa Fe. Great feather beds! Excellent breakfasts, too.

Go to Taos for shopping, and then drive north to Angel Fire and Red River. They are by far the most beautiful areas of New Mexico.