Santa Fe and Four Corners suggestions
Jan 15, 2012, 1:54 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: UA lifetime gold; Hilton Gold; Marriott/SPG Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,954
Santa Fe and Four Corners suggestions
I am looking at a quick 4-5 day trip:
Flying in and out of ABQ.
Would like to spend one or two nights in Santa Fe, NM. Will visit a couple of the Pueblos around there.
I don't want to stay in one place and "relax";
Where do you suggest I go the other 2 nights? Durango, Farmington ????
I will be driving so would like to limit it at 200 or so miles from Santa Fe.
I am open to any suggestions in the area.
I like nature, hiking and get dizzy at high altitude/driving in mountains.
Disclaimer: tried to search and could not find. Links are greatly appreciated.
Flying in and out of ABQ.
Would like to spend one or two nights in Santa Fe, NM. Will visit a couple of the Pueblos around there.
I don't want to stay in one place and "relax";
Where do you suggest I go the other 2 nights? Durango, Farmington ????
I will be driving so would like to limit it at 200 or so miles from Santa Fe.
I am open to any suggestions in the area.
I like nature, hiking and get dizzy at high altitude/driving in mountains.
Disclaimer: tried to search and could not find. Links are greatly appreciated.
Jan 15, 2012, 2:30 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Salish Sea
Programs: DL,AC,HH,PC
Posts: 8,974
If you like trains (if not, skip the next two)
Chama NM between Santa Fe and Durango http://www.cumbrestoltec.com/
Durango http://www.durangotrain.com/
Aztec NM ruins http://www.nps.gov/azru/index.htm between Durango and Farmington
Shiprock NM http://www.newmexico.org/learn/geology/shiprock.php
Chaco Canyon http://www.nps.gov/chcu/index.htm (if you have time)
Cuba (the NM one) just to say you've been there
Chama NM between Santa Fe and Durango http://www.cumbrestoltec.com/
Durango http://www.durangotrain.com/
Aztec NM ruins http://www.nps.gov/azru/index.htm between Durango and Farmington
Shiprock NM http://www.newmexico.org/learn/geology/shiprock.php
Chaco Canyon http://www.nps.gov/chcu/index.htm (if you have time)
Cuba (the NM one) just to say you've been there
Jan 15, 2012, 4:04 pm
#4
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,027
If it were me, I'd be tempted to go for two nights to Bluff, Utah (good point for Monument Valley touring) and get an Executive Cabin or Cabin Suite at the Desert Rose Inn
This would be much, much, much more charming than staying Farmington
This would be much, much, much more charming than staying Farmington
Jan 15, 2012, 5:15 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Salish Sea
Programs: DL,AC,HH,PC
Posts: 8,974
Jan 15, 2012, 7:59 pm
#6
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,027
The Doubletree in Durango in my experience is not just okay, but wonderful.
Jan 16, 2012, 12:34 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: UA 1K, AA, SPG Platinum, Hilton Diamond, PC Plat, Hertz 5-Star
Posts: 169
If you are going to be on the move...... I once stayed at a casino/hotel near four corners. If I remember correctly there was not much else around. It was a very simple and inexpensive place to stay.
If you are deciding to stay in Farmington or Durango - I think there is more to do in Durango.
If you are deciding to stay in Farmington or Durango - I think there is more to do in Durango.
Jan 16, 2012, 12:56 am
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
The day you arrive it might be nice to take the Turquoise Road rather than the interstate to Santa Fe and stay at a B&B in a town along the route. Sorry that I don't have any names to suggest.
Jan 16, 2012, 10:16 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Erie, CO USA
Programs: UA, Marriott, Starwood, et al
Posts: 1,559
In August I had a good stay at Casa Cuma B&B in Santa Fe. About a 10 minute walk to the main square in downtown (maybe 100yds without a sidewalk). At that time, they were part of the B&B program that Costco sells discounted gift cards for. When I went looking, the options in Santa Fe looked much better, which was also the recommendation of my sister who had visited both.
In Durango there is an older hotel downtown near the train station that gets a fair amount of press. I have seen it but not stayed there and cannot remember the name.
In Durango there is an older hotel downtown near the train station that gets a fair amount of press. I have seen it but not stayed there and cannot remember the name.
Jan 16, 2012, 10:33 pm
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
If you're at all a science geek, be sure to visit the following:
Los Alamos, about an hour nice drive from Santa Fe IIRC. Federal atomic research site, famous for the development of the atomic bomb. There's a museum in a sort of strip mall on the way into town, then some preserved historic buildings showing how the rearly researchers lived. You can drive around some of the facilities but there are a lot of restricted areas in town.
Museum on military base next to ABQ. IIRC you need to make an advance reservation to get a gate pass: Free and free parking. Focus on atomic power/weapons and aircraft.
Also next to ABQ is Sandia National Labs, but AFAIK there's no way to enter as a "tourist."
Los Alamos, about an hour nice drive from Santa Fe IIRC. Federal atomic research site, famous for the development of the atomic bomb. There's a museum in a sort of strip mall on the way into town, then some preserved historic buildings showing how the rearly researchers lived. You can drive around some of the facilities but there are a lot of restricted areas in town.
Museum on military base next to ABQ. IIRC you need to make an advance reservation to get a gate pass: Free and free parking. Focus on atomic power/weapons and aircraft.
Also next to ABQ is Sandia National Labs, but AFAIK there's no way to enter as a "tourist."
Jan 17, 2012, 8:02 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Salish Sea
Programs: DL,AC,HH,PC
Posts: 8,974
Jan 17, 2012, 8:43 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Karlsruhe
Programs: DL, UA
Posts: 85
Jan 17, 2012, 2:04 pm
#13
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,485
Jan 18, 2012, 8:06 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Posts: 10,003
I found the National Radio Astronomy Observatory to be a fascinating visit: http://www.vla.nrao.edu/
New Mexico has (arguably) the oldest place of continuous habitation in the United States' present borders, a Native American pueblo village named Acoma -- claimed to have been settled in 1150. http://sccc.acomaskycity.org/history This village may also have had Anglos living there continuously for longer than Anglos have lived in St. Augustine, FL, thus perhaps making Acoma also the oldest place in the United States of permanent Anglo settlement.
Regarding the Four Corners, due to a surveying error, the monument that tourists visit allowing you to squat down and have parts of your body simultaneously in four states is actually in the wrong spot. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/7...-Too-late.html
New Mexico has (arguably) the oldest place of continuous habitation in the United States' present borders, a Native American pueblo village named Acoma -- claimed to have been settled in 1150. http://sccc.acomaskycity.org/history This village may also have had Anglos living there continuously for longer than Anglos have lived in St. Augustine, FL, thus perhaps making Acoma also the oldest place in the United States of permanent Anglo settlement.
Regarding the Four Corners, due to a surveying error, the monument that tourists visit allowing you to squat down and have parts of your body simultaneously in four states is actually in the wrong spot. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/7...-Too-late.html
Jan 18, 2012, 11:25 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Santa Cruz, CA USA
Programs: AA, UA, WN, HH, Marriott
Posts: 7,290
While all of these places are interesting, Santa Fe (IMHO) is truly unique - with its mix of Native American, Mexican, and US cultures - in so many ways and with so opportunities to experience it. Food, art, crafts, architecture, scenery, and most important, people.
Yes, the other places have some of this, but not to the extent that you find in Santa Fe.
Yes, the other places have some of this, but not to the extent that you find in Santa Fe.