Albuqueque to Santa Fe in March
 

My wife and I are traveling to Albuqueque in early March for her to compete in the US Masters Track and Field meet. We will have a bit of time while threir to look around and after the event wiil have two or three days free. Our plan is to drive to Santa fe and stay there two nights. Any suggestions? I am also interested in buying wholesale (I have a retail shop) southwestern jewelery. Is Taos too far to go given our schedual?

Taos is not far from SF. A ninety minute or so drive. Longer if you take the high road, which I recommend if weather permits.
For lodging you might also try vrbo.com or find a link to Frontier Property Management in Santa Fe. We have rented some lovely homes over the years from them.

Gertrude Zachary near Old Town ABQ is also a wholesaler. There are many in the state as well as tons of artists. Have fun!!

There's a great little place we use in Dixon, NM (http://www.vrbo.com/45350.) Dixon is about 1-hour outside of Santa Fe, on the way to Taos.

March weather can be interesting (especially with the way the weather has gone this year.) I25 runs direct to Santa Fe, but will close if the weather gets bad. You can also take the RailRunner from Albuquerque to Santa Fe, but then you wouldn't have transport in Santa Fe.

Thanks, I wanted to go to Taos but it will be closed at that time... any other suggestions?

Take the beautiful Turquoise Trail from Albuquerque to Santa Fe. Stop at the little artsy village of Madrid. The Hilton in Santa Fe has pretty decent lodging. It's a short walk to the plaza and the rates should be low at that time.

I don't know what rate you want to pay for a Santa Fe hotel, but my two personal favorites are the El Dorado and the Inn of the Anasazi. The former is quite a bit larger - more like a nice Hyatt or Marriott. The latter is a top notch boutique hotel.

You didn't ask about restaurants but SAF has some of the best and most interesting restaurants in the country. Look around. The Coyote Cafe is world famous but expensive - check out places like the Shed and SantaCafe.

We are doing a car trip in AZ and NM.

In Albquerque we plan to visit the NM Museum of nat. Hist./Sci, Old Town and then the trio of the Rio Grande zoo, Aquarium and Botanic Garden (a train links them).

The portion (quite3 indirect) from Albuquerque to Santa Fe includes. Coronado State Monument near Bernalillo, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks Nat. Mon., Bandelier Nat Mon., and in Santa Fe, Cathedral Basilica of ST. Francis of Assisi, Archdiocese of Santa FE, Palace of Governors, the NM History Museum and San Miguel Mission Church. Maybe something in that list will interest you...not for your buying trip.