Aussy melanie kent asks:
> ... travelling from Tucson wanting to see a bit of New Mexico and
> back to fly out of Phoenix. We have 5 days all up in early September.
Early September weather should be marvelous outside of Phoenix where it will likely still be over 40 degrees C.
You don't give your budget, so I'll make assumptions.
Day 1 - From Tucson, drive N on Rt-77 to Globe and then follow Rt-60 to the Mogollon Rim. You'll stop by the Salt River Canyon, but it will be pretty hot down there. Once on the rim, you will be in comfortable temperatures in the 30-35 deg C range for a high with nightime lows around 20.
Continue on Rt-60 into NM and see the VLA along the way along with some really classic Western scenery on an uncrowded road.
Stay in Albuquerque that night. Ride the Tram and watch the sunset. There is a restaurant you can spend some time in at the top.
Day 2 - Drive to Santa Fe and spend a few hours there. Drive to Taos, check into a hotel and then visit the Rio Grande Gorge and possibly drive up to the Ski Area.
The Taos Box area of the Rio Grande Gorge between Pilar and Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico
Day 3 - continuing to stay in Taos, drive to Antonito and ride the train:
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
I recommend you ride to the middle for lunch and ride back rather than go the whole way and take the van back.
Day 4 - head to Arizona and see Canyon De Chelley and Monument Valley - staying in a hotel in Kayenta.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)
Day 5 - if you have to leave on this day, then just drive back.
If you have the day - leaving on day 6, visit the N rim of the Grand Canyon and then drive back to Phoenix.
Try to stop along the way a lot. No matter what anyone says, resist the temptation to take side trips to this or that place, but rather get out and walk around the places you are staying. You won't remember much about being in the car and driving, but you will remember lots of details about the things you saw and touched when you were strolling around the Crest, Taos town square, Taos ski area, Monument Valley, and the Grand Canyon, etc.
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