rack him

I’m planning a six day visit to New Mexico for next summer. I’ll be flying in and out of ABQ and my itinerary includes Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos. How many days should I give to each location?

kale73

What are your interests?

cblaisd

While dated, there might also be some good information in this thread:
Consolidated "Albuquerque Restaurants & Things to Do Suggestions" thread

For me, no visit to Albuquerque is complete without a visit to the Frontier Restaurant; a true cultural experience

Wilbur

For the authentic New Mexico experience, you need to stop by a Blake's Lotaburger and have a meal.

Locations | Blake's Lotaburger

rack him

A little of everything - nature, museums, restaurants, etc.

Thanks everyone for your input!

cblaisd

https://www.budgettravel.com/article...w-mexico-guide

AZ_MISMAN

I'll give it some thought.

If you want to go South of Albuquerque,

• Owl Bar in San Antonio (https://sanantonioowl.com/)
• Very Large Array (VLA) in Magdalena (https://public.nrao.edu/visit/very-large-array/) currently closed to visitors, but who knows what the summer holds

Albuquerque

• Petroglyph National Monument (https://www.nps.gov/petr/index.htm)
• Breaking Bad Tour (https://www.travelinusa.us/breaking-bad-locations/)
• Balloon Museum (https://balloonmuseum.com/)
• Use the Turquoise Trail to get from Albuquerque to Santa Fe (https://www.turquoisetrail.org/)
• Sandia Peak Tramway (https://sandiapeak.com/)

Depending on what is going on, I may be available for a meet-up. Hit and miss with Peach's health decline.

cblaisd

Scroll through the posts in this Twitter account for some beautiful photos and some good ideas:

https://twitter.com/505Nomad

kale73

Ditto to those suggestions.

I will add:

in Albuquerque:

• Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (indianpueblo.org) - Museum sponsored by NM's 19 pueblo tribes; also has a restaurant serving indigenous food.
• The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History (nuclearmuseum.org) - I haven't been but really want to go!

between Albuquerque & Santa Fe:

• Pueblo villages, especially if you can get to one on a feast day when they're holding traditional dances (calendar here). Due to COVID restrictions, check ahead to see if the village is a) having the event and is b) allowing visitors. When I went to Santo Domingo Pueblo last summer they were requiring proof of vaccination to enter.
• Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, co-managed by the original BLM and the Pueblo of Cochiti, is currently closed due to COVID but may reopen by the summer. The main attraction is a relatively easy hike through a slot canyon featuring some interesting rock formations.

in Santa Fe:

• There are plenty of art museums, the Palace of the Governors, etc., but the art galleries near the plaza and on Canyon Road are amazing.
• The original owners of Bobcat Bite (on the outskirts of Santa Fe) now operate a restaurant in town called Santa Fe Bite. They have been recognized several times as the progenitors of the Best Green Chili Cheeseburger in New Mexico. The old location, out of town on the Old Las Vegas Highway, in now under a different proprietorship.
• There are numerous restaurants in and around the old Plaza. Last time I was in Santa Fe I asked a bicycle cop patrolling the Plaza for recommendations on a place favored by locals away from the Plaza. I think he sent us to La Choza, but it's been awhile.
• Meow Wolf now has locations in Las Vegas NV and Denver, but the Santa Fe incarnation is the original.

north of Santa Fe:

• I haven't been to Taos proper (it's one of the 19 pueblos I mentioned earlier), but I have driven north of Santa Fe thru Española and on NM 68 along the Rio Grande. The route along the river is quite beautiful and, if you're into white water rafting / kayaking, early summer is a good time for it. There are outfitters in Santa Fe and Taos as well as points between. I've used this one in the past.
• Bandelier National Monument is northwest of Santa Fe.
• Take Hyde Park Road (NM 475) just north of town, past 10,000 Waves (a Japanese style spa) and all the way up to the Santa Fe Ski Area. The winding paved road leads up from through increasingly denser forest past 10,000 feet in elevation. The views are magnificent, but watch for elk around sunset.

whole region:

• If you're a "winer", there are a number of vineyards and tasting rooms between Albuquerque and Taos.
• Several tribes operate casinos between Santa Fe and Albuquerque. They're happy to relieve you of your Benjamins and won't even balk at an Andrew Jackson or ten.

Note: Santa Fe lodging is generally far more expensive than similar digs in Albuquerque. From the northern environs of Albuquerque it's only about a 45 minute drive to Santa Fe, so "seeing" Santa Fe while "staying" in the Albuquerque metro is quite doable. There's also a commuter train - the New Mexico Rail Runner - that runs several times a day between the two.

xooz

+1 for Meow Wolf and Canyon Road.We enjoyed our meal at Izanami Restaurant, which is next to the Ten Thousand Waves Lodging and Spa mentioned above.

Wilbur

+1 for Meow Wolf.

Also, George RR Martin owns a theater that shows art films and a bookstore in Santa Fe.

Jean Cocteau Cinema – Santa Fe Movie Theater

kale73

FYI: All ABQRide city buses are 'zero fare' thru the end of 2022.

aztimm

I've been to Albuquerque and Santa Fe a few times, mostly for work, and have been to Taos twice. I've been to other parts of NM also, but if you have just 6 days (and I'm assuming day 1 is flying in, day 6 is leaving), those 3 will be plenty.

I'd definitely echo everyone else's recommendation for Meow Wolf. It was an experience I don't think I'll ever forget.

I'd also highly recommend eating at Gabriel's, just outside of Santa Fe. If you are into opera, it is very close (you want to avoid it on nights when the opera is happening, as it will be insane). I really liked the Homewood Suites at Buffalo Thunder, so much that I've stayed there at least 3 times.

During a roadtrip I was able to visit Lake Abiqui....and yes it was worth the drive. If you want to really get away, you can stay at a monastery out there.

AZ_MISMAN

Last i knew, the monastery was closed to overnight visitors. https://christdesert.org

aztimm

According to their website, the guesthouse is closed to overnight visitors, but the gift shop is open for day trippers.