A suggestion for NM & SW Colorado trip
Nov 5th, 2006, 10:05 AM
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A suggestion for NM & SW Colorado trip
I was recently contacted directly from a Fodor Folk who asked for some help in planning a trip to NM,sw CO and then onto AZ. They wanted scenic drives, weren't interested in shopping or hiking so those things really aren't covered.
I thought I would post it here to help
thejule and others:
Here are some suggestions and some web sites to look at see if any of this is of interest to you.
I would drive from ABQ airport to Santa Fe via The Turquoise Trail. http://www.turquoisetrail.org/
This will take you through a ghost town and will get you to Santa Fe without having to go on interstate. Take a trip up to Sandia Crest along the way and see ABQ from a great view point.
I would spend at least a day in Santa Fe. A walk around the plaza is easy and filled with insights into sw history. Fodors does a great job with walking tour and high points in SF.
http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgr...&feature=30002
I love the museums on Museum Hill - http://www.museumhill.org/index.html --
From Santa Fe, then head north to Taos. There are lots of shops and galleries in Taos and pretty drives. I would go to Taos pueblo to see what life is like there and again gain insight into the SW. I would drive the Enchanted Circle to see Angel Fire and Red River. http://www.taosvacationguide.com/day...ted_circle.php
Go over the Gorge bridge on your drive to Durango http://www.sangres.com/statenm/index.htm
The drive from Taos to Durango and then on to Mesa Verde is a bit mountainous but is quite do-able. Plan on at least a day at Mesa Verde. Stay the night in Cortez, less $$ than Durango and on the way to AZ.
{A drive from Durango up the million dollar highway into Silverton, Ouray and then Telluride would add a great deal of beauty to the trip. OP did not want to drive on mountainous roads, so this was not included in my first answer}
Plan on at least a day at Mesa Verde. Stay the night in Cortez, less $$ than Durango and on the way to AZ.
{The person originally asking me for assistance was head from CO into AZ.}
From Cortez you could then go to Monument Valley, Grand Canyon etc. I have only done that once and really don't have to much insight into those areas. I would do a search on Fodors or post a Q there.
After you leave Grand Canyon, drive back to ABQ via Interstate [it will save you time and there isn't another route that will provide much scenery]. Spend a day or more in ABQ where there a lots of great museums, petroglyphs,etc. If you didn't stop at Pueblo in Taos, stop at Acoma Pueblo just west of ABQ.
http://www.dukecityfix.com/index.php?itemid=1307
If you have the time, I would plan on staying at least 2 weeks...there is so much to see and do here.
Hope this helps...
Debi
I thought I would post it here to help
thejule and others:
Here are some suggestions and some web sites to look at see if any of this is of interest to you.
I would drive from ABQ airport to Santa Fe via The Turquoise Trail. http://www.turquoisetrail.org/
This will take you through a ghost town and will get you to Santa Fe without having to go on interstate. Take a trip up to Sandia Crest along the way and see ABQ from a great view point.
I would spend at least a day in Santa Fe. A walk around the plaza is easy and filled with insights into sw history. Fodors does a great job with walking tour and high points in SF.
http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgr...&feature=30002
I love the museums on Museum Hill - http://www.museumhill.org/index.html --
From Santa Fe, then head north to Taos. There are lots of shops and galleries in Taos and pretty drives. I would go to Taos pueblo to see what life is like there and again gain insight into the SW. I would drive the Enchanted Circle to see Angel Fire and Red River. http://www.taosvacationguide.com/day...ted_circle.php
Go over the Gorge bridge on your drive to Durango http://www.sangres.com/statenm/index.htm
The drive from Taos to Durango and then on to Mesa Verde is a bit mountainous but is quite do-able. Plan on at least a day at Mesa Verde. Stay the night in Cortez, less $$ than Durango and on the way to AZ.
{A drive from Durango up the million dollar highway into Silverton, Ouray and then Telluride would add a great deal of beauty to the trip. OP did not want to drive on mountainous roads, so this was not included in my first answer}
Plan on at least a day at Mesa Verde. Stay the night in Cortez, less $$ than Durango and on the way to AZ.
{The person originally asking me for assistance was head from CO into AZ.}
From Cortez you could then go to Monument Valley, Grand Canyon etc. I have only done that once and really don't have to much insight into those areas. I would do a search on Fodors or post a Q there.
After you leave Grand Canyon, drive back to ABQ via Interstate [it will save you time and there isn't another route that will provide much scenery]. Spend a day or more in ABQ where there a lots of great museums, petroglyphs,etc. If you didn't stop at Pueblo in Taos, stop at Acoma Pueblo just west of ABQ.
http://www.dukecityfix.com/index.php?itemid=1307
If you have the time, I would plan on staying at least 2 weeks...there is so much to see and do here.
Hope this helps...
Debi
Nov 15th, 2006, 04:43 PM
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DebitNM enjoyed your info-we are going to ABQ 4/26 to the Gathering of Nations powwow at Univ Pit. We would be there couple days. Will not be leaving NM until May 5th. How many days each would you stay in ABQ, then Santa fe, and Taos-based on things to see. Love scenery, casinos, shopping.
Is weather okay generally first week of May. We are flying in and out of ABQ. Thanks
Is weather okay generally first week of May. We are flying in and out of ABQ. Thanks
Nov 15th, 2006, 05:03 PM
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We did the high road from Sf to Taos in October(I am working on the TR)
We got to Taos in the evening and decided to continue on towards TX. I do wish we could have explored Taos more, but an unplanned roadtrip...so it goes.
Mesa Verde was awesome, we had to kind of rush through that too in an afternoon.
The "million dollar highway"...we were starting to think we would not make it, it was snowing, slippery, the most scarey road I have ever been on, I prayed while on it, but looking back was the best part of the trip!
We got to Taos in the evening and decided to continue on towards TX. I do wish we could have explored Taos more, but an unplanned roadtrip...so it goes.
Mesa Verde was awesome, we had to kind of rush through that too in an afternoon.
The "million dollar highway"...we were starting to think we would not make it, it was snowing, slippery, the most scarey road I have ever been on, I prayed while on it, but looking back was the best part of the trip!
Nov 15th, 2006, 05:58 PM
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Hi Jeff,
Where are you coming from and have you ever been to SW before? Do you like to hike/other outdoor activities? How active are you folks?
I would strongly suggest if you haven't been to Mesa Verde, that you come up to Durango area for 2-3 days. I would suggest 2-3 days in Santa Fe and 1-2 days in Taos and the rest of the time in ABQ.
May is iffy out here. It can be really nice with sun and mild temps in day and still cool at night, but it is also our "windy" season which can mean some real winds and blowing dust. June really starts the nicest weather, but May isn't bad.
Taos has beautiful scenery, art galleries, but unless you are rafting or doing some other outdoor thing, 2 days is plenty for most folks. Taos Pueblo is worth a visit too. The Enchanted Circle is really pretty to drive.
Santa Fe has same as above and lots of great museums as well.
Casinos are everywhere and really nothing special...not like Vegas for either glitz or food. Not high on my list of must do's.
I hope this is a start for you. Check out those links and see what appeals to you. Feel free to email me directly if you have specific Q's. I can recommend places to stay along the way and restaurants too.
And I am sure my fellow SW Fodor Folks will add there invaluable input too. Lee Ann??
Hope this helps...
Debi
Where are you coming from and have you ever been to SW before? Do you like to hike/other outdoor activities? How active are you folks?
I would strongly suggest if you haven't been to Mesa Verde, that you come up to Durango area for 2-3 days. I would suggest 2-3 days in Santa Fe and 1-2 days in Taos and the rest of the time in ABQ.
May is iffy out here. It can be really nice with sun and mild temps in day and still cool at night, but it is also our "windy" season which can mean some real winds and blowing dust. June really starts the nicest weather, but May isn't bad.
Taos has beautiful scenery, art galleries, but unless you are rafting or doing some other outdoor thing, 2 days is plenty for most folks. Taos Pueblo is worth a visit too. The Enchanted Circle is really pretty to drive.
Santa Fe has same as above and lots of great museums as well.
Casinos are everywhere and really nothing special...not like Vegas for either glitz or food. Not high on my list of must do's.
I hope this is a start for you. Check out those links and see what appeals to you. Feel free to email me directly if you have specific Q's. I can recommend places to stay along the way and restaurants too.
And I am sure my fellow SW Fodor Folks will add there invaluable input too. Lee Ann??
Hope this helps...
Debi
Nov 16th, 2006, 11:36 AM
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Just read your post and I have been day dreaming about New Mexico. My wife and I visited 2 years ago and look forward to visiting again. We spent 9 days between ABQ, Santa Fe and Taos. We loved it. I was stationed in ABQ years ago when I was in the army, Sue had passed through as a teenager. When we revisit we want to go up through Durango and Mesa Verde. We hope to spend more time than our last trip. Can you tell me where I can get more info on "the million dollar highway"?
Thanks,
jim
Thanks,
jim
Nov 16th, 2006, 12:11 PM
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There is so much that you can find by just googling million dollar highway colorado.
Here are a few of my favorites:
http://travel.msn.com/Guides/article...umentid=249511
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/places/million.htm
http://www.theculturedtraveler.com/A...on_Highway.htm
Here are a few link to some of my previous comments that include million dollar highway:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34814871
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34830007
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34895941
Hope this helps...
Debi
Here are a few of my favorites:
http://travel.msn.com/Guides/article...umentid=249511
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/places/million.htm
http://www.theculturedtraveler.com/A...on_Highway.htm
Here are a few link to some of my previous comments that include million dollar highway:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34814871
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34830007
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34895941
Hope this helps...
Debi
Nov 16th, 2006, 05:19 PM
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Thanks DebitNM
We are two adults from central Florida and have never been in New Mexico or Southwest. Appreciate your help-any recommendations for lodging in ABQ-we like quality places when we vacation-do not mind splurging? Also, thanks for the tip on casinos-will probably just check out Sandia casino now. Love to drive but not a big hiker. Love to dine in nice places and wife loves to shop. Only drivin in mountains a couple times-and that was No Carolina. Will also check out Mesa Verde information.
We are two adults from central Florida and have never been in New Mexico or Southwest. Appreciate your help-any recommendations for lodging in ABQ-we like quality places when we vacation-do not mind splurging? Also, thanks for the tip on casinos-will probably just check out Sandia casino now. Love to drive but not a big hiker. Love to dine in nice places and wife loves to shop. Only drivin in mountains a couple times-and that was No Carolina. Will also check out Mesa Verde information.
Nov 17th, 2006, 09:37 AM
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Feb 24th, 2008, 10:11 AM
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Thanks for topping this Debi. I shall have a good look at all your links later.
We are spending three weeks in AZ and NM in May, arriving and leaving from Phoenix. We had a quick taster of both states when we drove Rte 66 and have been longing to return and explore some more.
We are spending three weeks in AZ and NM in May, arriving and leaving from Phoenix. We had a quick taster of both states when we drove Rte 66 and have been longing to return and explore some more.
