Balloon Festival, Zuni Pueblo and what else?
Apr 4th, 2016, 07:47 PM
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Balloon Festival, Zuni Pueblo and what else?
We are meeting friends in Albuquerque for the balloon festival this fall and will stay there for two nights, Saturday and Sunday Oct. 8 and 9. We have reservations in Zuni for Oct. 10 and 11. Our friends need to be in Santa Fe on Friday afternoon, Oct. 14th. Where would you suggest we go for Oct. 12-14? We like to hike, love Mexican food (thus the need to hike), like cultural activities, some museums and art galleries, maybe a little shopping but not a lot, and national parks and monuments. Since they will have the weekend in Santa Fe we would like to spend the three days before Santa Fe someplace else. Thanks for your help!
Apr 5th, 2016, 05:23 AM
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Have you been to Chaco Canyon (north west of Albuquerque), or Tent Rocks (between Albuquerque and Santa Fe) or Bandolier (near Los Alamos west of Santa Fe)? All are well worth a visit but Chaco is a bit of a drive on a gravel road so check conditions before you go.
You might like to hike up elMorro/Inscription rock not far from Zuni or take the tour of Accoma Pueblo on the way to Zuni.
If you have a Civil War history buff, you might want to visit Glorietta Pass on the way to Pecos Ruin, east of Santa Fe.
Of course if you don't mind a drive you could go down to Carlsbad Caverns.
You might like to hike up elMorro/Inscription rock not far from Zuni or take the tour of Accoma Pueblo on the way to Zuni.
If you have a Civil War history buff, you might want to visit Glorietta Pass on the way to Pecos Ruin, east of Santa Fe.
Of course if you don't mind a drive you could go down to Carlsbad Caverns.
Apr 5th, 2016, 05:42 AM
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"We have reservations in Zuni" Curious as to what you plan to do there?
emalloy has some good options. Carlsbad would take you a day down, a day at the Caverns and a day back but would be so worth it. You won't see anything like this anywhere else in US. There are stops you can make along the way to make it more interesting.
You could also drive about 4 hours and hit southwest Colorado and spend a day at Mesa Verde National Park and stay in Durango and enjoy the really nice little town with great restaurants. A day drive to get there, stopping at Chaco Canyon, Aztec Ruins; a day at Mesa Verde and then drive the scenic route to Santa Fe.
Hwy 160 to Hwy 84 is a beautiful drive. You'll drive past Chimney Rock National Monument, Pagosa Springs, Chama, NM (Cumbres - Toltec Railroad), Ghost Ranch and Abiquiu...lots of opportunity for stops to check out additional scenery.
On that route, south of Chama is the small town of Los Ojos is Tierra Wools, a weaving studio, yarn store with a great story. Just off the road so a quick and easy stop. www.handweavers.com/
Also while passing through Abiquiu you could stop and take a side drive to see a lovely lavender farm, Purple Adobe Lavender Farm. You can see quite a bit from your car or very short walk. www.purpleadobelavenderfarm.com
emalloy has some good options. Carlsbad would take you a day down, a day at the Caverns and a day back but would be so worth it. You won't see anything like this anywhere else in US. There are stops you can make along the way to make it more interesting.
You could also drive about 4 hours and hit southwest Colorado and spend a day at Mesa Verde National Park and stay in Durango and enjoy the really nice little town with great restaurants. A day drive to get there, stopping at Chaco Canyon, Aztec Ruins; a day at Mesa Verde and then drive the scenic route to Santa Fe.
Hwy 160 to Hwy 84 is a beautiful drive. You'll drive past Chimney Rock National Monument, Pagosa Springs, Chama, NM (Cumbres - Toltec Railroad), Ghost Ranch and Abiquiu...lots of opportunity for stops to check out additional scenery.
On that route, south of Chama is the small town of Los Ojos is Tierra Wools, a weaving studio, yarn store with a great story. Just off the road so a quick and easy stop. www.handweavers.com/
Also while passing through Abiquiu you could stop and take a side drive to see a lovely lavender farm, Purple Adobe Lavender Farm. You can see quite a bit from your car or very short walk. www.purpleadobelavenderfarm.com
Apr 5th, 2016, 05:44 AM
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I should add that the time frame that you will be here is THE best time of year to be here, so it will be busy. Be sure to have reservations for hotels where ever you chose to stay.
And one more thing - we have NEW Mexican food here
And one more thing - we have NEW Mexican food here
Apr 5th, 2016, 07:52 AM
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New Mexican cuisine is better than Mexican. Evidently, it's also newer.
Tent Rocks is nice. And if you want to work off the enchiladas, take the high road for your hike.
You may want to stay in or near Albuquerque - there's no guarantee that the balloons will fly either day you go to the Fiesta. It's highly weather dependent and there's no mass ascension if the wind is > 8 mph. Albuquerque is on a plateau east of the ridgeline, it gets windy.
Definitely go here: The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History (http://www.nuclearmuseum.org/).
And don't throw any gawdang pizzas on Walt's roof.
Tent Rocks is nice. And if you want to work off the enchiladas, take the high road for your hike.
You may want to stay in or near Albuquerque - there's no guarantee that the balloons will fly either day you go to the Fiesta. It's highly weather dependent and there's no mass ascension if the wind is > 8 mph. Albuquerque is on a plateau east of the ridgeline, it gets windy.
Definitely go here: The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History (http://www.nuclearmuseum.org/).
And don't throw any gawdang pizzas on Walt's roof.
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Apr 6th, 2016, 07:02 AM
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Thanks so much for the suggestions. Where would you suggest staying near Tent Rocks and Bandelier, other than Santa Fe? Any off the beaten path places? We live in Arizona and have been to New Mexico several times, but our friends have never been there, so we'd like to stay in NM.
Apr 6th, 2016, 07:21 AM
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Big Russ is correct about balloons not going up unless near perfect conditions. Oct 8 & 9 are the last 2 days, so if you wanted to hedge your bets, you'd need to get to ABQ earlier; staying nearer to ABQ on the 10th and 11th won't help any.
And don't throw any gawdang pizzas on Walt's roof. haha
I would do Bandelier out of Santa Fe.
Tent Rocks is in between SF and ABQ. Can't think of any off the beaten path places to stay. If you find any, run them by us here, we can give input as to good or not.
And don't throw any gawdang pizzas on Walt's roof. haha
I would do Bandelier out of Santa Fe.
Tent Rocks is in between SF and ABQ. Can't think of any off the beaten path places to stay. If you find any, run them by us here, we can give input as to good or not.
Apr 6th, 2016, 08:35 AM
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Debit has given some good advice.
If you wanted to be closer to Bandelier you could stay in Los Alamos and once we got a great price to stay in the Santa Claran Hotel/Casino in Espanola, just a bit closer than Santa Fe.
For Tent Rocks, either a place on the north side of Albuquerque or the south side of Santa Fe would be closest or it could be planned for a day when you are traveling between them.
If you wanted to be closer to Bandelier you could stay in Los Alamos and once we got a great price to stay in the Santa Claran Hotel/Casino in Espanola, just a bit closer than Santa Fe.
For Tent Rocks, either a place on the north side of Albuquerque or the south side of Santa Fe would be closest or it could be planned for a day when you are traveling between them.
Apr 6th, 2016, 11:12 AM
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>
New Mexico population distribution is somewhat akin to Egypt only I-10, I-25 and I-40 substitute for the Nile: 75-90% of the state's population lives within an hour of one or more of those three highways (usually I-25). There's a lot of arid nowhere away from those interstates.
Albuquerque and Santa Fe are thisclose - like 65 miles apart. Tent Rocks is south of SF, so it's close enough to Albuquerque to hit while you stay in Albuquerque. It's not like there are a bunch of places in between the two towns.
Bandelier is over an hour north and west of Santa Fe. Not a whole lot more there there either. Thus, the best base from which to explore it is Santa Fe.
New Mexico population distribution is somewhat akin to Egypt only I-10, I-25 and I-40 substitute for the Nile: 75-90% of the state's population lives within an hour of one or more of those three highways (usually I-25). There's a lot of arid nowhere away from those interstates.
Albuquerque and Santa Fe are thisclose - like 65 miles apart. Tent Rocks is south of SF, so it's close enough to Albuquerque to hit while you stay in Albuquerque. It's not like there are a bunch of places in between the two towns.
Bandelier is over an hour north and west of Santa Fe. Not a whole lot more there there either. Thus, the best base from which to explore it is Santa Fe.
Apr 7th, 2016, 06:38 AM
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Jemez Springs is a very small community and if you blink you may miss it ;-) . I'm not sure what you are wanting to do but you can visit Jemez Springs from Santa Fe easily as well as the Valles Caldera. I would stay in Santa Fe as a base for these easy day trips. October can be sunny and beautiful with the changing colors or you could get a surprise cold snap with rain. However, early October should be really nice for outdoor activities. Layers work well.
Apr 7th, 2016, 06:58 AM
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If you are just looking for a different area to stay in, consider Bloomfield or Farmington, not cute or fancy, but you could do a day trip to Chaco Canyon and also visit Aztec Ruin and Salmon Ruin for some history.
Apr 7th, 2016, 07:29 AM
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